Ashkenas Construction Company Profile

You have a lot of time, money and expectations wrapped up in your home remodel, so you need an Alameda County remodeling contractor who offers you the personal service you deserve.

 

That's why we interviewed Tom Ashkenas, owner of Ashkenas Construction in Berkeley CA. They're the remodeling contractors clients say are known for giving clients individual attention. That's because they're the Alameda County remodelers who only do one project at a time, have a handpicked crew of dedicated builders led by owner Tom Ashkenas, and offer personalized design and build capabilities.

Individual Attention for Your Remodel from Ashkenas Construction

A common complaint of homeowners in Alameda County is that remodeling contractors don't finish jobs in a timely manner because they're tied up with other projects at the same time. But that's not a problem with Ashkenas Construction, "We do one project at a time, and we give that personal attention because we don't bounce around between jobs," explains Tom Ashkenas. "When companies take on several projects at once, that creates a strain on the workers and the work suffers because the crews are trying to juggle too much. Instead, we do one job at a time so we can keep control of the timeline of every job and do quality work."

During a research phone call, a homeowner named Shelly raved about the individual attention she got from Ashkenas Construction, "They were very professional. They showed up when they said they would. They completed the project from start to finish without going somewhere else."

Construction Leadership from Ashkenas Construction owner Tom Ashkenas

Many remodeling companies have estimators that write the bids, foremen that lead their crews, and office staff that act as customer contacts. But that creates gaps in communication that are frustrating and costly, and leaves customers without the benefit of personal attention from the owner of the company.

That's why clients are thrilled to find that the owner of Ashkenas Construction, Tom Ashkenas, is the project leader for every remodel. That means they get personal service because he's on every job and when clients have questions, he's the one that they deal with. Tom assures, "I keep things organized and moving smoothly. I'm good at seeing two to three steps ahead of where our crew is so that the whole process moves forward and there's no lag time."

During research phone calls to randomly selected customers, one client named Ed attested that what he liked best about Ashkenas Construction was, "The personal attention I got from the owner." Another client named Dave raved, "I liked Tom's accessibility, flexibility and good and caring nature."

A Smaller, Hand-Picked Team of Remodeling Professionals

When other remodeling contractors in Alameda County take on jobs, they often have to rely on subcontractors and even day laborers to do the work. But that's not the case with Ashkenas Construction. "We have a small and dedicated crew that are qualified, great builders," explains Tom Ashkenas. "They've been with us a long time, and they're experts at what they do. So we can handle every aspect of the job from sheet rocking to painting and everything in between." Ashkenas Construction also has an expert plumber and electrician on staff so they don't need to hire outside help for those parts of remodels like most other remodeling contractors do.

What do clients say about the professional crew at Ashkenas Construction? During a research phone call, one named Robert told a researcher, "They worked hard." Another client named Ben enthused, "They worked quickly to finish the job." And a homeowner named Eileen raved, "They were very personable, professional, clean, and they were on time."

Design and Build Remodeling Services from Ashkenas Construction

Often, questions and miscommunications arise between the architect and the contractor. This can be costly for the homeowner, and can result in your project not being finished on time or even mistakes in the construction that don't get you the design you wanted.

So that's why clients are so pleased to find that Tom Ashkenas is an experienced design and build contractor that personally designs and builds their remodeling projects. Tom explains, "I'm very good at integrating the existing structure with the new work, so we're qualified to design and build remodels. We take pride in offering comprehensive services that eliminate those problems that so often happen when a homeowner tries to work between architects and builders."

And homeowners who received independent research calls backed this up. One client named Keith told a researcher, "I can talk to him and we can go over the plans. He does his job well. He is a handy man." Another client named Blain emphasized, "They are quick, reliable, thorough, imaginative, and good at problem solving."

Tom Ashkenas, owner of Ashkenas Construction in Berkeley CA

Tom Ashkenas started building when he was in college. "My brother, our friends and I repaired homes that were going the market, and we'd do construction, handyman projects and whatever needed to be done in order to spruce them up so they'd sell," explains Tom. They also learned about design and carpentry from their mentor and friend, an older gentleman who Tom credits for teaching them the finer points of building and carpentry. Tom graduated from UC Berkeley and went on to graduate school, all the while continuing to build. But after school, Tom missed the creativity and hands-on nature of construction, so he returned to his passion and started Ashkenas Construction.

Tom now lives in Berkeley CA with his wife. The couple has three children and shares a love for gardening, putting in an extensive vegetable garden and fruit trees at their home. Tom Ashkenas is also known for his dedication to his company, his clients and his community. He's been a house captain five times for Rebuilding Together, a national organization that provides home repair and renovation services that revitalize local communities. Tom explains, "I get my crew and other local construction professionals and friends together, and we go to a local home and build or fix whatever they need. We specifically work for older individuals or lower income families that own their own homes but can't afford to do some of the maintenance to keep it in good shape. It's fun and it's good for our community."

So for individual attention from a local remodeling contractor in Alameda County, do what others have done and call Ashkenas Construction in Berkeley CA. Tom Ashkenas is available to take your call Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at (510) 524-3367.