I happened upon Kevin by word of mouth at the perfect time! I was visiting my sister and the water damage in her bathroom was well beyond my ability to cope with. He also dealt with some rot around her windows and managed to fix her deck that had been a hazard for far too long. read more

Kevin is great! I had him come and install an oddly-positioned custom gate in my backyard and the quality was top-notch! Kevin not only does great work, but he is easy to communicate with and has an excellent customer service orientation. I was so impressed with all his work, that he is now my go-to handyman for all jobs in Berkeley. He is also very reasonable and fair in pricing. I highly recommend Kevin for any projects that you may have around the house. read more

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I contacted kevin for a consultation on some dry rot issues. He came by, on time, and gave a very thorough walkthrough on the issues he saw, potential causes, and solutions. He even pointed out other issues he saw with my house and how he would prioritize them. As a first time home owner, it felt daunting but reassuring at the same time to know about these issues and what to watch out for. Kevin spent 90 minutes sharing his opinions and was very open about his rates and process. I've talked to so many contractors for my project and he's one of the few good ones! I didn't end up hiring him as I needed someone licensed but would recommend him if you need a consultation or work done that doesn't require permitting. read more

I believe that a glance at my review history will assure the reader that I strive to be fair and rational in my reviews. I give praise when earned, and I criticise when I believe that a service provider has been unreasonable, unethical, or has provided inferior service. Here I will neither praise nor criticise, but simply provide as objective and respectful a summary as I can muster. I am confident that Kevin's work is every bit as masterful and professional as other reviewers have noted, but unfortunately we never got far enough for me to experience it. Yesterday, I called Kevin Finney about our bedroom closet. Years of use and some heavy contents had resulted in sagging, causing the doors to slip off their tracks and rendering the drawers almost immovable. Over about ten minutes, I described the problem and answered Kevin's questions. Kevin was in the middle of a job, and was unable to write down my name and contact information. He told me to send him an email with all of the information I had already given him. Once he had time to read my email, he'd get back to me within a few days, come within a week to look at the job, and it would be about a month before he could do any repairs. I complied with Kevin's instructions, and he sent me back an email a few hours later saying he could swing by today on his lunch break and look at the work, without specifying a time. I responded asking him to call before he came. Rather than call, Kevin simply showed up at my door at 12:25, as I was preparing my lunch. He examined the job and began explaining causes and potential remedies. After about ten minutes, I interrupted to ask whether he could provide me with an estimate of time, cost, and scheduling. Kevin replied that a job like this could only be done on a "time and materials" basis, and it would take as long as it had to take: his regular rate is (I believe) $50 an hour or $400 a day. When I asked for a ballpark estimate, Kevin said that it could take a day or two. I said that it was important to me to know what the maximum charge could be. He responded, "We could cap it at, say, five days..." and then seeing my expression quickly added "or three, or whatever was relevant." He added "I haven't even decided whether I'm going to do it for your or not," and "it would probably cost you a lot less if you do the finishing work yourself -- puttying, sanding, and painting." I told him I could not do any of that, and he asked me if I wanted him to paint the entire surface of the repaired portion or just "touch ups," and I said he should quote for both. I suggested that Kevin get back to me with a written estimate in his own time rather then take up both of our time while he continued to explain the details to me. He responded, "No, explaining the details is part of thinking it out for me," and continued his monologue. He then noticed that his hands had become greasy while feeling his way along the door rails, and he walked into my kitchen, where I was preparing food, and washed his hands in my sink, over my dishes. Kevin returned to the bedroom, replaced a drawer he had removed, and then announced that he had decided to pass on the job. "I'm sorry if you feel I wasted your time," he said; "but I'd rather not take the risk. You know how these jobs are; there tends to be a certain amount of scope creep, and I'm not comfortable estimating at the outset how long it will take or how much it will cost." We shook hands, and he left. read more

Kevin is awesome. I have had him up to the house twice and he has completed my "honey do" list both times. In his two trips to our house, he has: Fixed the kid's play structure that had suffered from poorly anchored 4x4s and a rotten 2x12. Well, I should say that it had poorly anchored 4x4s and a rotten 2x12 and then suffered from a 220 pound man stepping on it and causing it to crumble. Kevin came out, dug holes, poured concrete to properly set 4x4s and then bolted the 2x12 to the 4x4s - vastly improving both the stability and the safety of my kids play structure. He fixed the door to the green house, which had been hanging cattywampus since we got the house. He shimmed and carved out the door of the wood box our PG&E meter sits in so that the door closes. PG&E installed the old "smart" meter, but the new bubble was too big for the gol dern'd door so it stood open for about a year. He finished all the downspout connections so that the water off of our roofs makes it into the drain system instead of ruining our yard. Replaced a plank on our front gate where my wife had run into the door. Fixed a part of the yard's fencing that was falling apart. Did a rough tightening and repair of our deck - Tightened all the bolts on the deck, reset all the troubled nails and added screws for additional stability of the railings. He does time and materials. He works quickly, his prices are fair, and he does really nice work. He has a special place in his heart for reusing and recycling wherever possible and has an expertise in rainwater recycling systems which he can install and make useful. I can't recommend him highly enough. Kevin gets 4 stars for greatness and a 5th for completing my "honey do" list... twice! read more

WOW. Kevin is great. I called asking for his services. We needed concrete work in our yard to contain bamboo from invading our neighbor's yard. Kevin gave me FREE advice on what to do and how to do it, including where to go for materials. Kevin's honesty, advice and sincere nature is a refreshing change in today's capitalist economy. I would contact him in a heartbeat for any other jobs we need in the future. read more

Kevin is a superb craftsman and problem solver. He never cuts corners and pays close attention to details to make sure the work is done right and will last. He is a specialist in dealing with dry rot and its prevention. Anticipating aging in place in our home, Kevin built beautiful handrails for our stairs, both inside and out. He rebuilt a deck and balcony including the columns which were showing decay due to the original poor construction, treated the wood features around the house to prevent dry rot, and replaced a cracked vanity mirror in the bathroom. He always gives clear information and advice and has a great work ethic. Home maintenance is like bridge painting--it's never done, but it's so great to have someone with Kevin's skills and dedication to help keep on top of the process. read more

Kevin built a beautful gate for me from scratch, making sure it would be sturdy, long-lasting, and beautiful. He is very knowledgeable, skilled, conscientious, and patient in explaining how he is going to perfect the project. He goes "above and beyond" in attention to detail so that everything works perfectly...and then some! I would recomment Kevin as a carpenter and have him on my list to call for other handyman projects. read more

I have called three times over a week. His mailbox is full. There is no way to reach him.

Kevin is a skilled much-more-than-handyman (handyman plus plus plus), who has done excellent, very high quality work at our home over the past year or so, mostly outside, including small, medium and large jobs, repairs and new-from-scratch projects. It started with a simple screen door installation. We wanted to test this guy out before maybe moving on to bigger jobs. Fast forward from there to extensive rainwater drainage work, deck and staircase demolish and re-build, yard re-scaping, path building, bespoke fence from reclaimed cypress, raccoon-proof chicken coop, interior wall installation to complete our baby's nursery, and earthquake-proof shed... I have to ask myself, is that everything? We deeply appreciate Kevin's thoughtful approach, ideas, resourcefulness, and high quality finished product. He started in carpentry, still loves working with wood, and it shows in the attention to detail in all his woodworking. He is also a thoroughly nice guy, conscientious and principled. We got very lucky when we found Kevin. We had our first baby this year and there is no way we could have completed a fraction of the work projects we've completed without Kevin and his team. We know we can trust his advice, skill and the quality of the finished job. And if an earthquake hits? We're all moving into the shed. read more

Kevin just left today, having started with what I thought was a simple "please replace the sheetrock that is water damaged" (and letting a gazillion spiders inside, 17 of which found me tasty) to replacing studs and the outside plywood of the house damaged over the years by poor water control. In addition he preventively redesigned the steep hill's water flow, overseeing a ditch and berm hillside landscaping -- even using cuttings from my nearby plants to hold all in place ingeniously. He created a French drain system, which included cutting a cement slab and thoroughly sealing nearby areas, fixed the all too level gutters so that the water and leaves would successfully go elsewhere, cut down a tool shed door that was dragging, assembled an Ikea closet system (and didn't laugh with my participation turned out to be installing pieces incorrectly), reinforced the deck pillars my 80 lb. dog tugged loose, replaced rotted plywood, and and and. I would have liked him to do about a gazillion other bits and pieces but he had promised to start work elsewhere when it was supposed to be a simple job of one task and it was time for a break here. His prices are reasonable, his careful accounting generous. Stefaneer L. has it right about thoroughness and safety as well as showing up. We all have horror stories about laggards. I hope to bring him back later. In fact, I've decided to start a list of Kevin future rescues! He is a good communicator, listening to and explaining well (sometimes more than once without complaint) what he suggests as a solution as well as what the consequences might be for extensive or light repairs. Or what he's done. He is a gentle educator. I learned interesting angles on everything we discussed. He is flexible, careful, is nicely proud of the quality of work he does, has high integrity and listens to National Public Radio to keep that mind busy while the hands are working, ie. smart and using his brain to solve YOUR problems. I trusted him to solve difficulties without fear after getting to know the quality of his work. I really shouldn't go on like this. Most likely you'll hire him; then he'll end up being so busy that I'll never get to have him back. Bandit the dog hopes to see him again. Me too. read more

Kevin's work is precise, beautiful and functions perfectly. He communicates clearly and completely. And the pricing is more than reasonable for the high quality work. The first job he completed for me was a replacement of another worker's substandard fence and gate. Even after six years both the fence and gate are solid. The gate is very heavy but it is still perfectly balanced and closes easily. During the last windstorm another gate was ripped off its hinges. It was braced backwards, opened the wrong way, and the hardware was misaligned. Could he fix all of its sins? Oh yes! For the first time in seven years the left and right sides of this gate are at the same height. The gates are balanced and swing shut and latch. What is especially noteworthy is that Kevin took the other person's funky gates and posts and was willing to re-work them into a highly functioning entrance, without requiring a very expensive replacement. Bonnie B. read more

Kevin does everything he says he will, and does it well. He has an eye for beauty and a mind for thoroughness and safety. If you're tired of calling people and not getting calls returned; if you're tired of not being able to figure out how much a project will cost; if you're just wanting someone to do a good job without a lot of drama, Kevin's your guy. read more

Kevin is fantastic. He did a custom fence and gate that is beautiful. The quality of his work is is evident at first glance. Kevin also just finished rebuilding our front steps and securing the handrail. The steps are now so well built that the dog no longer barks when the mailman delivers the mail! He explained everything he was going to do in detail before starting work and communicated well during during the process. We will definitely call Kevin for our next project. read more

Kevin is a really skilled workworker. I have commissioned cutting boards from him as wedding presents for friends, and am continually impressed with the quality of his work. When my gardening clients need fencing or gate work, he is the first person I turn to. I can always count on him to get the job done in a timely manner. read more

I have had Kevin out to our condo to do work three times. After assessing what needs to be done, he gives a fair estimate. Another reviewer gave him poor marks for his careful examination and his questions, but I appreciated his investigating carefully. Among other things this last time, for example I wanted him to caulk the bath tub. He thought there might be some problems with water damage in a corner of the wall covered by tile, damage possibilities he later explored, finding none to my relief. Why wouldn't I want to be warned in advance of possible repairs there? I value an honest and careful estimate. What's to resent? And after all work was completed, before leaving, Kevin talked to me about how to clean the new caulking and make minor repairs myself. So I also value having an ally in home repair. I find Kevin to be really good problem solver. When things didn't quite work, when it was a case of shoddy fastening on a bath shelf or the tub not being square to the wall, he'd come up with a fix that worked. Basically he's smart. Plus, he's easy to work with, communicating about times and arriving on schedule, pleasant in his manner, working steadily and efficiently, open to our ideas. So glad to find someone local I trust and can call on. read more

Kevin is an excellent worker, thorough, competent, and reasonably priced. He put up a deer fence in our backyard. It looks very nice and I no longer need to wonder if my lettuce will be there in the morning. read more

Kevin answered all my questions quickly and thoroughly. He arrived on time (unlike the Home Depot contractors who never showed up or called to apologize) and was very professional. His bid was also very competitive, which was a bonus! read more

From the moment I met Kevin, I knew we had found a conscientious, intelligent, and skillful contractor for our fence project which covers of our property in Berkeley. I found him on Yelp and called him because he lived in close proximity. He came to speak with me that day on his lunch hour. Within days he was able to give me an estimate, pictures of his work and references. What amazed me about Kevin's references were that they took the time to call me back and share their experiences of him saying how well his work and his person were received by them as well as his willingness to return and fix any problems that might occur after the work had been completed. Their compliments and recommendations sold me. And now 3 months later, after 2 phases of tearing out and rebuilding fences, we have a fence and 3 gate doors hand crafted by Kevin himself, we have a fence that was built with quality and longevity in mind. Kevin and his crew do a superb job educating us along the way. There are 3 other people who live in the house. Each of them had questions as the project was happening to which Kevin always took the time to answer their questions explain the process. Kevin communicates well and is quick to return calls. Even when challenges presented themselves, he was quick to offer suggestions and solutions. We had to build the fence in 2 phases because of a tree removal on an adjacent neighbor's property. This took some time to complete and Kevin adapted and fit us into his busy schedule never sacrificing quality and attention to details. To Kevin and to everyone who helped on this project, thank you. All us of who live here on Milvia St. in Berkeley highly recommend you. read more

Had a fence, gate, and outside stairs redone by Kevin. I found him responsive, thorough, and helpful. His price was reasonable and the work is done very well. He went the extra mile to make sure I was satisfied with the job. I would recommend him highly. read more

Kevin gets stuff done and done right! He installed my new backdoor, which was more than tricky because nothing about the frame was straight or standard. He also replaced moldy walls, installed sub-flooring, and put in a sheetrock ceiling. He did a wonderful job and I am very pleased with all the work he has done. I highly recommend Kevin and will definitely call him again when I start my next project. read more

Kevin recently solved a problem with the iron handrails that lead up to our front entrance. They were loose and extremely dangerous. We had them "fixed" several months ago by someone else, but they were still very wobbly. Kevin found a way to attach them securely. I think our handrails are now safe. Kevin worked quickly and he charged a reasonable price. We will have him back as soon as the right project comes up. read more