Customer Testimonials

We love our customers! Take a look at what they have to say!

We had a fantastic experience with Hill Country Building & Renovation! Calvin and his crew built a detached garage for us and also added an interior wall in our foyer. We’re extremely pleased with the way that both projects turned out. We’ve been through this type of project in the past and we know there will always be little bumps along the way, but Calvin always worked with us to make sure any issues were resolved to our satisfaction. He bent over backwards to make sure the stucco, paint, and stone colors for the detached garage would match our home. We love the way it turned out! We really appreciated the fact that Calvin came to the site every single day that someone was here working, that he was great about keeping lines of communication flowing so we always knew what to expect, and that he was always responsive to phone calls or texts. He also offered advice and options when we asked – it was his idea to slightly recess the foyer wall we added to give us a little more space for the cabinet and to help match the look of some columns we have in that area. He was truly a pleasure to work with. It was such a great experience that we’re already discussing our next project with him!

HCBR Response:

Thank you Angie for your kind words and your awesome helpful participation in your project. We really enjoyed working with you and Chris, well, and Charlie the dog as well. I know you will enjoy your new workout space in a really nice detached building.

See this Project Highlight Here

After getting 3 quotes for the addition of a mother-in-law suite to our home we chose Hill Country Building and Renovations. They provided the only detailed quote of what they would be responsible for and we would be responsible for allowing us to plan ahead. This gave us the flexibility to choose finishings we liked. Calvin and his crews were easy to work with and stayed in constant contact with us. They did Concrete, plumbing, electrical, framing, insulation, sheet rock, texturing, carpeting, tile, back splash, flooring and carpeting and installed all of the fixtures we selected without a hitch. They completed the job to our satisfaction in the desired time 90 days. We highly recommend them for any project you may have and hope to have them back to renovate our decking in the coming year.

HCBR Response:

Thank you Tom for your awesome review.  You were also a major part of the success of your project.  You as a customer sets the tone of the project and together we worked through some unforeseen issues and found solutions that worked out very well.  You have proven once again that a business relationship does not have to be a them verses us arrangement but a collaborative relationship that includes mutual trust and respect.  All our workers and subcontractors enjoyed the project as well.  Let’s do it again when your ready.

I simply can’t say enough regarding how pleased I am with my new custom workshop built by HCBR. I’m a retired Naval Aviator and former ship Commanding Officer with recent work experience in residential construction management so my expectations were for nothing less than the highest standards of design and quality workmanship. Calvin was a consummate professional throughout the entire process and an absolute pleasure to work with. The entire project came in right on budget and was completed two weeks earlier than originally estimated. He kept us well informed throughout the entire process and was exceptionally resourceful with design ideas and material solutions that ultimately resulted in a construction project that exceeded all my expectations. Calvin has earned my highest possible recommendation and I won’t hesitate to contact him when we are ready for our next major home improvement or new construction project. Absolutely first-rate work from start to finish! James T. Cox, CAPT USN(Ret.)

We got a referral from our neighbor in Highland Terrace, Canyon Lake for HCBR.  They had a major balcony repair completed and were very happy.  Calvin and his crew really did a great job.  It wasn’t easy and there were some issues that came up that they took care of without extra cost.  They were not the lowest bid we got but we really felt we our monies worth and then some.  We highly recommend HCBR for any and all work.

“Could write an essay, but don’t have the time: We contracted HCBR to restore our pool room after sustaining water damage from a pipe break, and the stucco ceiling had to be replaced. Calvin is an unusual contractor for this area: He shows up when he says he will, he calls when on his way and gets done what he says will be done. He stays on top of his subs and makes sure that any work is done correctly. We are very pleased with the final result and highly recommend Calvin / HCBR. It was a pleasure to work with him!”

“I absolutely love my newly remodeled bathroom. Juan is great at what he does. He’s very professional and dependable. Calvin showed up everyday to check on the project and make sure everything was going as planned. They actually finished a week ahead of schedule. I will definitely be hiring them for my next project. “

“We updated our kitchen. So happy with the results. Calvin and his crew are professional, trustworthy, dependable, and so friendly. We would definitely use Hill county B&R for future projects. Juan is definitely an artistic craftsman. Great Crew. “

“Once again, Calvin and his workers knocked it out of the park! He had done our kitchen two years ago, which is why we hired him again for this job. He was on time every day, worked quickly, and handled problems that came up (very few, I might add) with no drama. The biggest issues were none of his doing. Things like delayed special order items from our supplier and a VERY slow cabinet maker were beyond his control. We are thrilled with the final results! We remodeled our master suite which is an en suite master that, aside from the water closet, is one open room. The new design involved removing part of a wall to create a door-less, walk-in shower.”

“My wife and I have built eight homes as General Contractors and Home Designers. And, we have rehabilitated four others. We know what quality construction is. We know the work that is required to build a home. Calvin Paulsen delivers quality and integrity with a smile! He has an indefatigable work ethic and is honest in his dealings with his clients. If you can define what you want, he can build it. I have seen some amazing projects he has worked on and they are the best quality you can find. “

“I have seen so much of Hill Country’s beautiful remodels and general contracting. They are really professionals and honest, too! I highly recommend them. Ask him about custom staircases – gorgeous work!”

He has a through knowledge of the construction industry!!!

“I have known Calvin at HCBR for approximately 10 years and have had them complete some pretty amazing work. As a design professional and engineer, I have observed his construction means and methods and found that he is very competent, skilled and effective in completing projects on time and on budget. I have also followed his career and taken note of the varied complex projects he has completed. We have discussed recent projects where he approaches challenges with solid solutions. He never cut corners leaving undesirable or hidden defects. His work is excellent. I have seen reviews, spoke to and observed other clients projects and found that he pays the same attention to detail in every aspect of custom home building as he has mine. He has a through knowledge of the construction industry and I would recommend his abilities building a house without question”

“If we ever decide to build a new house, we’d hire him in a heartbeat!”My husband and I contracted with Calvin to completely remodel our kitchen this past February. We could not have asked for a better contractor! He was on time every day. He completed the work in (what we considered) record time. Best of all, he did an absolutely beautiful job! He has an eye for detail and can solve problems, should they arise, with minimal fuss and disruption. If we ever decide to build a new house, we’d hire him in a heartbeat!”

If you expect experience based professionalism, I highly recommend Hill Country & Renovation

Once you decide to have your dream home built, making a commitment to your most desired style and floor plan can be a challenge. Then comes the most critical decision of all, selecting your builder. This choice will determine your interim stress level and your future satisfaction. The individual who is responsible for your building project should see that your dream becomes a reality…professionally, on time and as expected. If Calvin Paulsen is in the running and you are trying to make a decision, please let me provide input regarding my custom-home building experience with CP in control of the work. For my husband and I, the fact that we had a hands-on professional in charge was a key ingredient to the success of our project. CP was on site all day, every day. Another contractor who was juggling projects and traveling between properties would not have been able to provide the continuous supervision and motivation the tradesmen and laborers needed to maintain high building standards and maximum productivity. The most valuable personal traits we grew to trust and in CP were his integrity and his positive attitude. Not by focusing his updates on what we wanted to hear. Not by sugar-coating bad news. Not by blaming others for problems. He always leveled with us and provided realistic solutions when there was an obstacle or any kind of blunder. If an honest, hardworking, positive person with honed communication and management skills, I highly recommend Calvin Paulsen. If you expect experience based professionalism, superior craftsmanship and excellence over all, trust the man who proved himself when he built our house. Hill Country wasn’t the lowest bid but it turned out to be the best value for services rendered.”

The whole process was very smooth

The whole process was very smooth. We had confidence from the very beginning and didn’t worry really about anything. We met when it was necessary to go over details and Calvin kept us informed with budgets and schedule. We selected our own fixtures and such with the budget we were given and that was our shopping list. The budgets worked very well and of course we spent more than we planed but it was our choice to upgrade from our original choices. All the subcontractors were thoroughly scrutinized and signed a contract for the work they did. Everything the subcontractors did was inspected and approved before moving forward and payment made. I know may problems were resolved before they became problems because of the inspections Calvin made. We knew what we were getting from the very beginning because it was all spelled out clearly and easy to understand. We made some changes and added things which was taken care of easily because we met often. In the end we got what what we wanted and more. The quality was higher than our expectations. There was no detail ignored. Now I have to say that the price tag at the beginning was more than we originally wanted but we felt Calvin was the right person to do the job. Now looking back the price tag was really a bargain. We have followed Calvin’s renovation work and it is amazing how he can take a real mess and turn it into a thing of beauty. Would we recommend Calvin at HCBR without any reservation whatsoever.

Calvin Paulsen delivers floor to ceiling excellence

I highly recommend Calvin Paulsen of Hill Country. Calvin’s work is high quality, thorough and beautiful! Calvin’s years of home building and renovating experience makes him a well-seasoned candidate who knows the trade inside and out. He is very hard working and doesn’t waste any time delivering the best in all that he does. I have enjoyed following his work and admire all he does from kitchens, bathrooms, to building custom homes. Calvin Paulsen delivers floor to ceiling excellence”

We would definitely recommend Calvin and Hill Country B&R to any and all,y’all

We would definitely recommend Calvin and Hill Country B&R to any and all!!!  Things went very well as we met often to go over the progress and planning for the next stage. The subcontractors were managed very closely and a lot of inspections were made before moving forward. A few issues were handled to our satisfaction but they were pretty minor. We moved in on time and the only overruns were our doing. At the beginning we did expect more problems and overruns because you always hear the stories from friends but that wasn’t the case for us. We would definitely recommend Calvin and his guys.  Description of Work: After a long search we found Calvin at Woodscape Homes a few years back and felt he was the one to build our dream home. So we had a 3400 sf home built and we couldn’t have been happier. We had our goals and wants and with the budget we had were able to get most everything. Calvin was very through in the budgeting stage and we knew what we could afford and what was just too much. Overall we were just thrill”

Everything went very well.

Everything went very well. The dust was kept under control as much as possible and we really appreciate that. Calvin was so easy to work with, we had a few changes and additions but he would just say, no worries and they got done. Some of the changes he didn’t charge us a thing for. We would recommend Harbor Renovation to anyone looking for quality and professional work. Description of work: We had an old out dated kitchen. Calvin of Harbor Renovation came in and completely tore out the whole kitchen. At first it was a shock to see it all gone. The whole process was very organized and Calvin was there every day until it was done. Not a lot of strangers in and out of our home. It was all finished in 5 weeks and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

We would definitely recommend Calvin and Hill Country B&R to any and all,y’all

We would definitely recommend Calvin and Hill Country B&R to any and all!!!  Things went very well as we met often to go over the progress and planning for the next stage. The subcontractors were managed very closely and a lot of inspections were made before moving forward. A few issues were handled to our satisfaction but they were pretty minor. We moved in on time and the only overruns were our doing. At the beginning we did expect more problems and overruns because you always hear the stories from friends but that wasn’t the case for us. We would definitely recommend Calvin and his guys.  Description of Work: After a long search we found Calvin at Woodscape Homes a few years back and felt he was the one to build our dream home. So we had a 3400 sf home built and we couldn’t have been happier. We had our goals and wants and with the budget we had were able to get most everything. Calvin was very through in the budgeting stage and we knew what we could afford and what was just too much. Overall we were just thrill”

Work was done done in a professional manner Description of work: Ceiling drywall repairs after upstairs bathroom leak.”

Work went very well even after running into a problem with the ceiling holding a surprise main brace. Which had to be moved. This created further problems, one with the kitchen ceiling and another with fitting of the kitchen cabinets that were already made. Calvin did a remarkable job in figuring out how to make it work without adding more time or cutting the cabinets. He always made sure we were informed on a progress; and when there were problems, he would contact us and have a solution. He was always very professional and knowledgeable about the construction process. Though we always had the last word on all parts of the job, Calvin usually discussed with us what would work best. He is very easy to communicate to. He maintained a clean work area throughout the renovation and at the end of each day all tools were neatly stored out of our way. After work was done and we started to put things back in place, we noticed that some cabinets needed additional adjustment. Calvin came back without any hesitation and made the final adjustments at no additional charge. We are completely satisfied with the work he did, would hire him again, and will recommend him to our friends. Description of work: Remove popcorn ceilings in three rooms (living room, dining room, and kitchen); demolish the entire kitchen, pantry, and entryway mirror. Install new kitchen cabinets and make existing pantry more spacious with doors to match the new cabinets. Also in the kitchen, install granite counter-top, sink, facet, stove, recessed lighting and stove hood. Keep existing dishwasher. Put in wall receptacles to match new light switches. Replace exposed concrete with new ceramic tile. Put subway tile above the counter-top, stove hood and stove. Replace doors to laundry, patio, and garage. Replace doors to main house entrance and the hallway closet. Make a small pantry w/door near the door to patio. Paint kitchen, living room, and the entry way. Light texture and paint ceiling in the kitchen, living room, dining room, and entryway.”

Went very well. Prompt and dependable service, did excellent work and really went the extra mile because this is my only bathroom and I have an adult son with autism. He really made it possible for this to happen and I have a beautiful bathroom. It is gorgeous and we survived the remodel with dealing with autism issues. Wonderful and a great experience, considering everything he had to deal with and how hard it is for my son to deal with change. High kudos for Calvin. Many thanks. Description of work: Redid my bathroom. Total redo pretty much.”

Full gut kitchen remodel. Calvin kept in touch. The project went as planned and details were exquisite. Calvin is a professional and a perfectionist. I hope to have him work on a second major project for me. I am extremely pleased with the high end results achieved.”

We thoroughly enjoyed Calvin & his cousin Carl, who worked as a team on our project. We had a Jack & Jill bathroom that he converted into a Master bath.he removed the tub and replaced it with a built in tile shower & tiled the floor as well. He took out all fixtures, but we kept the cabinets & he painted them & replaced the hardware. He opened up the small closet that was there into the hall closet to make a roomier walk-in style, tiled it & added shelves & new hanging rods. He added crown molding to the master & painted it. He completed the painting & tile job in the hallway that was to be completed by the last (nightmare) contractor we had & did not ask back.. We purchased all items before we started as was a requirement of Calvin. That worked out well. Although, I made a mistake in putting all the items in the closet, thinking I would be helping him, so he wouldn’t have to go to the garage to get them. I assumed he would do one project at a time….my bad. He started the closet at the same time as the others, so he had to move all the tile & fixtures, etc. anyway. The only work done by a sub contractor was the granite cabinet top. We only had one problem when Calvin used the shower tile to tile the floor in the bathroom as well. However, it turned out better than the original would have been. He says we can blame Carl for the mistake, but he’ll take credit for the win with the better looking floor. I was apprehensive at first, worried that it would be another horror story like the last contractor, but Calvin was not like that at all. He told us 6 weeks & completed all parts in 4 weeks. He was great to work with & was always on time everyday. Answered all phone calls & text messages promptly. He had one other thing going for him, that others may not get to take advantage of like we did. That was Carl, a true bonus to the job. Carl left us just before the job ended to go back to Arkansas for awhile. We missed him & I know that Calvin did as well. He had gotten used to the little things Carl did. Overall as remodeling goes ……this was a great experience for us. He’ll come back for the other bathroom when we are ready for it. Good job, Calvin!! Description of work: Remodeled a Master Bathroom, enlarged the closet for the Master Bedroom, added Crown Molding & painted the Master.”

Calvin was very easy to work with. He worked on our living area, installing sheetrock over existing paneling, and added recessed lighting on the ceiling while we waited for the kitchen cabinets to come in. He also removed the cracked tile floor. When the cabinets came in he put them together, installed them, and a very good granite subcontractor installed the countertops. He then installed the tile backsplash, put in the sink and appliances and added more lighting to the kitchen. I have had many compliments from friends on his work, and I am very happy with the way everything turned out. He even returned 3 months later to finish up on a couple of parts of a cabinet that came in late. He did excellent work, and I would definitely call him again and recommend him to friends!”

What can I say? Working with Calvin was great. I had wanted work done for quite some time but dreaded the thought of renovating. Calvin took all the worry and stress out of the process. Not only is the work he did stunning he was a real pleasure to work with. He understood my wants and needs in regards to price and schedule and was more than willing to make it work. I have a special needs child and he made sure that what he was doing would not interfere with her daily routines. He was on time each day and finished at nearly the same time each day, each time at a stopping point that wasn’t overwhelming. At no point did I feel my house was completely turned upside down. He works quickly and efficiently. He was able to remove the old flooring from my entry way, my downstairs powder room and conjoined entry way as well as the upstairs hall bath. Once removed he put tile in each location. He had a great idea to use tile for the base board trim- the same as on the floor – and I love it! In the hall bath ( aka the kids bath) he suggested tiling up the wall near the tub about half way to help with the water damage little ones can cause. We’ve had problems with overflowing tubs in the past but now I won’t have to worry any more! He also added wainscoting in with a chair rail and bead board in sever locations and it’s beautiful. I had worried about the floor transitions from room to room but the thresholds he suggested look great. All in all this guy knows his stuff. I am so happy we did this and even happier we chose Harbor Renovation. I will definitely be calling him again when it’s time for the next project. Description of work: Tiled entry way, remodeled powder room and upstairs hall bath, wainscoting.”

Calvin did a major bathroom job for me. Because of that, he agreed to do this little job (my words not his). The previous contractor had done the bath tub so that hot water came out cold and cold water came out hot. My granddaughter on a visit did not know it was broken and took cold showers. I did not want someone in the future to do this or on the other hand to get burned. Calvin came out and it took some major diagnosis to figure out what the cause was. But he cut through the wall, put in a new valve, fixed the sheet rock and textured and painted the repair. Then in true Harbor renovation custom, he called back after the repair and asked how it was. I said that I guessed that it was alright as the location was in a room that I don’t use (guest bath) . He insisted that I go right then and check the paint. I did and told him that one small spot on the bottom was not smooth. He came back out and fixed it. He will always follow up with his jobs and I have never ever had anyone do that. Thank god I don’t have anymore najor repairs to do but if I did, he would be the only one that I would call. He has a good sense of humor too.”

He came in on Monday and did the demo work and within two weeks it was completed. He basically gutted the bathroom and installed new tub, new cabinet and vanity. Tiled above the tub for the shower. It looks great.

Calvin is doing outstanding work. He is always is on time. He brings the necessary supplies and tool each day. He is a hard worker and does not waste time. He always uses new material and never reuses material that he replaces. He always works from a print and always asks for permission to deviate. He is worth every cent that he charges to do the job. The primary reason for this remodel was to combine an ad-on kitchen to an existing dining room. This necessitated removing a permanent external wall between the two rooms.This resulted if a seamless ceiling between the two rooms.Thus providing an open concept. The next step is finishing the walls and installing new flooring and complete cabinetry with associated electric connections and plumbing. Harbor Renovation has now finished my daughter’s major kitchen remodel. it is absolutely stunning down to each little detail. Calvin really knows the remodel process inside and out. He was never stumped when it came to making everything work out and dealing with various issues in this old house. There were a couple of issues that we said we could live with but Calvin said he couldn’t, so he somehow came up with solutions that were much more acceptable and resolved the issues very nicely.–Would we recommend Calvin?—Without a doubt, and without any reservation. On a personal note. I was there every day observing the remodel. We lunched together and it became a tradition that I provided cokes, On my birthday Calvin brought a cake complete with candles. He was so much fun and easy to work with.”

Calvin came in with an estimate that I thought was fair and started right when he said he could. He took down two walls and opened up the kitchen just the way we imagined. We ordered the cabinets we wanted and he installed them beautifully. He was a big help when we got stumped on color coordination. He installed the can lights in the kitchen, dining and family room that really brightened up the spaces. We are going to hire him again to reno our bathrooms. This guy can do it all. I highly recommend Calvin and look forward to working with him again. GREAT JOB CALVIN!!! THANK YOU!!! Description of work: Calvin was awesome to work with. We have been wanting an open concept kitchen and he delivered.”

Calvin. Is. Awesome!! That?s the only way I can describe our experience with his doing our kitchen remodel. We did 99% of the demolition on our own. Calvin came in, at 8:00 am on the promised day, and started working his magic. Less than 4 weeks later, we now have a gourmet kitchen that is stunning. He went to bat for us when we had a problem with the company doing the countertops (big mistake on my part to use that company). He made suggestions when he thought an idea of mine wouldn’t quite work out. Yet, if I had my heart set on something, he would gladly oblige. We ran into a few unforeseen problems, but Calvin never got rattled and always found a reasonable solution. Calvin is honest, hard-working, FAST, and thorough. He pays attention to every last little detail and makes absolutely sure the job is done correctly. He replies to emails almost immediately. If you call and get his voice mail, he returns the call usually within the hour. He even made friends with our younger cat who fell in love with Calvin. We may have to set up a visitation schedule since the cat looks for Calvin if he’s not here by about 8:30 in the morning. I would hire Calvin again in a heart-beat! And, I’ve been singing his praises to all my friends and neighbors! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Calvin, for making the kitchen of my dreams a reality! Description of work: Complete kitchen remodel, starting with bare walls.”

When I first called his first opening was about maybe 4 months away. The time went fast. He has you order all the supplies so that he cannot be blamed if you decide that you don’t like something and if something happens. Such was the case for us. We ordered a vanity from home depot and the granite top arrived broken twice so it had to be reordered and shipped each time. So what was suppose to be a two week or so project turned into 2 months through no fault of his. His part in the whole home depot fiasco was understanding, disbelief, and the ability to go with the flow. He also said that because of that, we were very easy to work with. His work was exception and beautiful. I have had very few business people who respond to my texts or phone calls almost immediately. He had very good communication skills.”

His price is reasonable, but the way it works is that he needs the home owner to purchase ALL of the visible parts on the premises prior to his arrival, the tile, the faucets, the counter top, the grout, the paint etc. This is because he works fast. The majority of the master bathroom was done in 2 weeks. (Only the stain on the cabinets did not dry in a timely fashion.) His estimate covers not only his labor, but also the things one does not see, the plumbing pipes, the glues, etc. He does negotiate with the home owner in terms of determining where the messy work with tile and wood are best to take place. He does clean up the work area, but I did have to go over the mirrors and glass to remove some of the fine grout, that is to polish the surfaces. He is good about returning telephone calls or texts because he truly wants to know any dislikes or concerns early on so that corrections can be made. He arrives on time unless he is going to the home improvement store first. He will let the owner know this if needed. He is ethical in his workmanship. When the old shower and tub were pulled out, there was wood rot, old termite damage, and mildew that had to be removed in some of the supporting structure. He coordinated with the representative from our termite company who had to apply a treatment into the ground where the new shower drain pipes would eventually go. We were grateful that the repairs for the rot set us back only an additional $500.00. He took the time and treated the old and new wood in place with treatment to prevent future mildew and added hardiplank and sealant so that water from the shower would never enter the wall again. He could have nickeled and dimed us for every additional component of the job that was specified in the original contract. Instead he believes it is just part of the quality of his work. I learned that he can forget some of the little things. If you want to keep ANY fixtures, outlet covers, window blinds, instructions that come with the new fixtures, or the packaging then it is best to write down and give him a list of the things that you do not want him to discard. Otherwise, it is gone. Finally, when I had questions on which type of paint or tile to use in a particular location, he had good answers based on experience. I gave him “artistic license” to create designs which was a good move. He then could turn a plain design to a very nice design. When the stain had not dried on our bathroom cabinets within 2-3 days he bought over a new dehumidifier that day in order to speed up the drying. It ultimately took an additional week for the stain to dry. Needless to say, he did not use that same stain on the kitchen project. He has also remodeled our kitchen and will remodel our guest bathroom soon. Description of work: During the month of October, 2014, Calvin renovated our master bathroom. (This was the first of 3 projects.) The outcome was beautiful.”

Calvin tiled the tub surround, installed all new fixtures and hardware. He installed a new window and improved the insulation and electrical in the bathroom. This being my third remodel project with Harbor Renovations, I was prepared when unexpected problems arose due to the age of my home. As before, Calvin was able to remedy the problems quickly and easily with out having to call a plummer or master electrician. Calvin always does quality work, in a timely manor. Even with unexpected problems, I had no unexpected costs. Because of his many years experience, the suggestions and ideas he made, made my project turn out so much better then I imagined. Calvin was at my home every day until the job was done. He does all the work himself. I trusted him completely. I wish I had another remodel job for him to do!”

He handled the demo new electrical plumbing drywall cabinets tile and trim. The bath rooms the kitchen turned out beautiful. I’m going to try to get him back in the summer to build an outside kitchen for my wife and I. He does all the work himself no one is in and out you feel like he’s got your back when you can’t be there. His color matching is awesome. I have use him on three other jobs which i will write a review on soon.”

Calvin was always punctual, professional and detail-oriented in his bid and his work. His bid was a little higher than others, but due to the details in his bid, I was confident there would be few changes (added costs) during construction. It was refreshing to work with a contractor that strived to deliver quality in a timely manner. Calvin delivers on his word and his work!”

Cal is exceptional in doing what it takes to get the job done right, in a timely manner and at a fair price with an eye for staying within budget. His work is top notch. As a comparison, we had some water damage earlier this year and went through an insurance agency who brought in various other contractors for repairs. Though they were polite and the work was acceptable, it took forever for them to perform the work. There were constant delays or no shows. The house was always a mess and there was always something we would need to clean up that was left behind. This was not the case with Harbor Renovation. Cal was on the job when he said he would be and he always left the area clean at the end of the day or provided measures to keep dust from spreading around the house. My wife is very allergic to mold and dust so that means a lot, especially since we stayed in the house during renovation. They say that the finish product is only as good as the foundation it rest upon. I work as an engineer and deal with many contractors on some very large construction projects that require competitve bids. As a result, some contractors try to get by by meeting minimal requirements and providing marginal results even though what is required is spelled out clearly in the construction documents. It shows a lack of care, pride in thier product and leaves the owner with a decision as to whether the work is acceptable. No such concern resulted with Harbor Renovation. Cal never surprised us with extra costs that seemed spurious or contrived. He was very clear as to what his bid included, was efficient, competent and professional. The workmanship and care taken in preparation of bases to accept finish surfaces and equipment was superb. Plumbing was neatly installed and routed. The same with electrical. Cal was always polite and easy to deal with. Absolutely no pressure tactics. My wife likes the fact that he didn’t swear or use bad language and seemed happy to be on the job. Tile work seems to be one of his specialties. In the end, it all turned out beautiful. Best of all my wife is very happy. And when she is happy, I am happy. I understand that Cal has moved his business to Texas. I am sure he will do well there.”

It went great! Top quality work, he’s a real craftsman. All was done ahead of schedule, clean as a whistle and beautiful. I could not be happier.”

We wanted to remodel our bathroom because our house is old and I feared the unseen problems we might find. I hired Harbor Renovation to remodel my bathroom primarily due to the reviews I read on Angie’s List. After meeting Calvin I was sure he was the one to do our project. Unlike others we considered, I felt confident that he knew what he was doing and had a lot of experience in the field of remodel. We did have some other issues with our house such as the electrical panel and Calvin was able to resolve the issue with minimal expense the same day! Our quote was very clear and easy to understand. It gave us our shopping list for the items we needed to make decisions on. The other bids were hard to figure out what we were getting and even what was not included. My tile supplier made a mistake and we didn’t have enough 12×12 tile to do all the shower walls. I was so stressed and didn?t know what to do. Calvin met me at Home Depot and after looking at our options and not finding something that was going to work he suggested finishing the shower with a 6×6 tile from the mosaic accent to the ceiling. We quickly found a complementary color and we were back in business. In the end the fix to the problem turned out much nicer than I had originally planned. I am thrilled with our new bathroom and even more thrilled with the professional manner that Calvin operated every day. I was kept informed every step of the way and problems and issues were handled and resolved quickly and better than I could have imagined. Last year Calvin also did a complete renovation of my kitchen and even after a year I am still so thrilled I can?t get over it. My husband who was afraid of spending so much money loves it so much he spends extra time in the kitchen. PS ? I noticed a review below that was a huge surprise to see. The person he describes is certainly not Calvin at Harbor Renovation. My experience has been nothing but wonderful and we are looking forward to the next bathroom down stairs.”

Calvin was friendly, honest, and punctual. His work is fantastic and he finished on schedule. Our daily lives are so much easier now! Thank you!”

I had been dreaming of a kitchen remodel for fifteen years. Calvin, with Harbor Renovation made my dreams come true! Truthfully it was more than I dreamed because he had ideas that I hadn’t dreamed of. Calvin guided me through the decision process with colors and styles and I couldn’t be happier! Because he does so many remodels, he has seen a lot of obstacles and challenges, and could found a solution to any problem. At least three other people looked at my kitchen to give me a bid and explain their service. Calvin was the only one who did all the work, start to finish, includingpatching my hard wood floor. I’m sure this made the finish work more precise because there were no other workers to blame anything on. Harbor Renovation is a full service company completing every aspect of the job, not just parts and pieces. Calvin came every single day, and worked a full day, sometimes longer in order to finish a particular job. It was clear that he took great satisfaction and pride in his work. I quickly learned that I could trust Calvin and would leave my home for hours without any concerns. The finish project was beautiful and of highest quality! I couldn’t be happier!”

It went well in every aspect. He was responsive to us from the get go. his work is true craftsmen quality. He also was thorough in replacing substructure where it needed it and updating the plumbing. The shower is gorgeous.”

Calvin Paulsen did an excellent job of renovating three bathrooms and updating a basement family room and a hallway by installing tile flooring. In addition, he removed an old brick fireplace of that jutted out into the basement family room and the living/dining area on the first floor. All the demolition included removal of all material and installation of new materials where needed. Much of the work was done working long distance from owner and Calvin sent almost daily text messages or e-mails with photos to keep owner aware of progress. Issues were communicated and discussed as needed and solutions arrived at between owner and Calvin. Calvin does almost all the work on his own and only uses additional help as needed for demoliton or moving materials. This allowed him to be in control of the work from start to finish. At the completion of all the work, a few minor details required Calvin to return-which he did to immediately take care of the issues. The owner felt Calvin was professional, trustworthy, and did excellent work, and work hire him again. Description of work: Remodeled three bathrooms, tiled showers and tub surrounds, installed tile flooring in bathrooms and a basement. Removed an old brick fireplace surround from a basement floor and the living room, and installed a gas burning fireplace in livingroom. The entire renovation took approximately six months.”

Calvin came on the appointed day and the ripout of the kitchen was done by mid afternoon The area was cleaned up everyday so we did not have to worry about falling over items if we had to go thru the kitchen. We were also warned that there would be a lot of dust. Barriers were placed at the kitchen door leading to the living room and another was attempted at the entrance but dust came and came. Calvin advised us to cover as much as possible and thank heavens I did or otherwise I would be still cleaning up dust from every nook. The work continued for approximately four (4) weeks. Calvin discuss what he would be doing on a daily basis. He listened to our concerns and request and took action that would accomplish the idea we had for the kitchen. He managed to add things after some of the work had already been completed, i.e. adding an additional switch for the pendant lights over the island, adding additional electrical outlets on the island, etc. When he put in the tile floors he cut the tile for the kickboard that went around the kitchen, matching it to fit the height of the cabinets so it looked seamless and very professional. Throughout the project Calvin was truly a pleasure to work with. He was open to changes and handled the “wrinkles” that come with any project. He was easy to work with and that was one of the things I appreciated the most. He listened and provided me with a kitchen I could enjoy and work in. From our first meeting with Calvin, we found that he was willing to “work out of the box”. He knew we had a plan and he wanted to be able to complete our vision. Even thou he had to do some extra work he did not increase our cost. We were working on a very strict budget and we really had to watch every penny and Calvin helped us stay within budget. The only person who went over budget was me when it came to purchasing the appliances for the kitchen. I cannot tell you how impressed I have been by the workmanship Calvin has provided. I would recommend Harbor Renovations to all my family and friends. He has the qualities one wants in someone who is remodeling part of one’s home ~ honesty, professionalism, knowledge, experience, punctuality, hard working, and dynamic enough to handle all the wrinkles that come along with such a large project! Description of work: We contacted Calvin to do a complete remodel on our kitchen. The house was build in 1963 and the kitchen had never been remodeled. We had sofitts and wanted those removed to add height to the kitchen. We had the old style plaster walls and Calvin had to adjust for that issue. All the old cabinets were torn out. The lighting fixture was ancient and that was removed and the hole patched. The fan in the eating area was removed and not replaced. The kitchen was dark and 19 recessed lights were added. In addition two mini pendants were added over the island and one placed over the sink area. A window was replaced in the kitchen several years ago and it was not trimmed out properly at that time and it was a mess so this was repaired and is now back to function as a window. The slider was removed and replaced with French doors. A doggy door was placed in the brick wall that was in close proximity to the kennel that was going to be placed under the island. A desk/cabinet area was added in the area by the slider. He placed the electrical outlets for the computer and phone under desk top so that all the hook ups could be reached easily. The area above the desk had cabinets added for my cookbooks and other kitchen stuff. An island was build that could house a dog kennel and provide seating for two. Calvin installed the new dishwasher, range, hood and refrig with a water supply. He vented the range hood thru the roof providing us with good ventilation. He installed new porcelain flooring, subway tile with an accent strip on the area under the cabinet and along the area above the floor cabinets. The subway tile was placed up the back of the range to the ceiling. He elevated the cabinet to a height that was workable for us. He had to make adjustments for the appliances because they were the standard height. He enlarged our kitchen door that goes into the garage and installed a fire door for our protection. The locks in the doors were matched so that there would only be one key for entrance thru the French doors and the garage door. He worked with the granite installers to make sure the adjustment for the stove was accommodated due to increase in the height of the cabinets.”

We hired Calvin for a master bathroom renovation. First of all he was very knowledgeable & honest when we had him out to bid on the project. He noticed things other contractors didn?t & he gave a good explanation of some of the snags we may hit with changing the layout of the bathroom. He provided a very clear estimate & excellent guidance and advice on purchasing fixtures. Throughout the project Calvin was professional, friendly and above all easy to work with! He is always prompt with his communications and provides accurate estimates of how longs things will take him. The quality of his work was fantastic; I am especially amazed at his tile work around my tub. This was my first renovation experience and it went so smoothly that I am eager to hire Calvin for my next project. Description of work: Master bedroom remodel: Demo, removed closet, moved toilet, added pluming for multiple shower heads, moved plumbing for tub, added light fixtures & electrical outlets, installed all fixtures & tile, installed new door, drywall & painted.”