Acme Builders Incorporated

History

After years of doing computer work and finally getting dotcom burnout, I decided to return to doing carpentry. This was not just a coincidence - we were proud new owners of a Fixer-upper Victorian and I was buying all the tools again anyway. I worked at a construction company that over-expanded and collapsed, and then a couple of smaller shops (and I'm still good friends with them.) But it was time to do what I should have done a long, long time ago and I got my contractor's license and then the dreaded chores of small business ownership - workman's comp, liability insurance, payroll, business taxes, etc. It started out very small by word of mouth and has become comfortably not so small but not so big - still by word of mouth. Yelp is word of mouth, too, and that is the kind of referrals we look for. We have stuck with the original plan, which is to have just one crew and do just one project at a time, and not leave until it really is done.

Specialties

We specialize in residential and commercial remodeling projects when the owners want things done right! We are staffed to be able to handle kitchen and remodels almost entirely in- house (including tile, electrical and plumbing). What does this mean for you, the client? It means that work windows are smaller because there are fewer conflicting schedules to worry about! Something we are always happy to take on are deck projects. Decks are just plain out, fun to do, projects! We also enjoy building new additions because starting with our own framing and foundation means that there will be fewer roadblocks and surprises as we move through the project. This wouldn't be California without earthquake seismic retrofits. Our scope of experience ranges from basic insurance requirements to heavy steel installations. Of the hundreds of doors and windows that we have installed, we have yet to get the call that someone needs to come fix a leaky window/door. This is because we use professional grade waterproofing materials according to product specifications, that you cant get at your local home improvement store. Finish carpentry is always a much anticipated aspect of any project. Small details, like installing trim over framing that you know has been done correctly, really can pull the whole thing together. We take pride in bringing Paul's Style of New England craftsmanship into the East Bay.