Question 1

Do you provide free estimates?

Accepted Answer

The walkthrough is free and it always will be. I come out, we go through the project together, and you get a written proposal with a firm number within 48 hours. No charge for any of that.What I won't do is give you a number over the phone. A price I can produce without ever seeing the job is a price I made up, and you'd end up hearing a different one later. Book a walkthrough and you'll get a real one.

Question 2

What happens during the initial walkthrough?

Accepted Answer

About 45 minutes. You walk me through what you're thinking and I mostly listen. Then I ask questions, look at the space, and tell you honestly what I see, including anything I think could be a problem. At the end one of three things is true: it's a fit and you get a proposal in 48 hours, it's not a fit and I'll say so straight, or you need time and we agree on when I follow up. Bring whatever you've got. Photos, plans, a Pinterest board, an estimate somebody gave you two years ago. All of it helps.

Question 3

What types of projects do you accept?

Accepted Answer

Kitchens, bathrooms, additions, ADUs, basement finishing, decks, siding, roofing, and full renovations. Residential and commercial both. If you're not sure whether yours fits, call and ask. Worst case I point you at somebody better suited to it.

Question 4

Do you handle permits and inspections?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I pull the permits and I meet the inspectors, and it's written into your contract so there's no confusion about whose job it is. If somebody offers to skip a permit to save you money, that isn't a discount. Unpermitted work shows up when you sell, and it can give your insurance company a reason to deny a claim.

Question 5

Are subcontractors licensed and insured?

Accepted Answer

Every one. Before anybody sets foot on your property I've verified their license with the state and I have their certificate of insurance on file, general liability and workers comp both, with Alves Coastal Construction named as an additional insured. That last piece matters more than it sounds. If a sub gets hurt on your property and his coverage isn't right, that tends to become the homeowner's problem. Not here.

Question 6

How far in advance are projects scheduled?

Accepted Answer

Depends on the job and the trades it needs. Something small can start inside a couple of weeks. A kitchen or an addition needs permits, material lead times, and several trades sequenced in the right order, so plan on longer. You'll get a real start window with your proposal, with the conditions named. If a contractor gives you a hard start date before he's pulled a permit or ordered a cabinet, ask him what happens when the cabinet runs six weeks out.

Question 7

Can customers remain in the property during construction?

Accepted Answer

Usually, and most people do. It depends on scope. A bathroom renovation in a one bathroom house is a different conversation than a kitchen when there's a second one downstairs. We'll work it out at the walkthrough. If you're staying, you'll know which days are loud, when the water or power goes off, and what part of the house is off limits. Occupied jobs run differently than empty ones, and they get planned that way from the start.

Question 8

What does the workmanship warranty cover?

Accepted Answer

Twelve months on my workmanship, in writing. If something I installed fails because of how it was installed, I come back and fix it. Materials carry their manufacturer warranties and I pass those through to you. It doesn't cover normal wear, damage, or work somebody else modified after I left. That's spelled out in the contract in plain language so nobody's guessing a year from now.

Question 9

Do you serve every Rhode Island city and town?

Accepted Answer

Registered for all 39. Most of my work is Providence, Cranston, Warwick, Newport, East Providence and Pawtucket, and I'm regularly in Woonsocket, North Providence, Coventry and Johnston. Anywhere else in the state, call me and I'll tell you honestly whether it makes sense for both of us.

Question 10

Do you handle commercial projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tenant improvements, office and retail build-outs, and renovations for landlords and property managers. It runs the same way the residential side does: written scope, one accountable person, no confusion about who's doing what. If you manage multiple properties, that's exactly the kind of relationship I'm looking to build.

Question 11

Why do estimates from different contractors vary so much?

Accepted Answer

Because you're rarely comparing the same job. One number includes the permit, the disposal, the electrical that wall is going to need, and a real quote from a licensed plumber. Another one is a guy who eyeballed it and left out the parts he plans to come back for. The spread usually isn't profit. It's scope. So before you compare two prices, compare what's written underneath them, and ask each contractor what he's excluding. That question tells you more than the price does. My number holds because I get written quotes from the trades before I hand it to you, so it isn't a guess I have to renegotiate with you in week three.

Question 12

What's the difference between an estimate, a quote, and a proposal?

Accepted Answer

Three different things, and mixing them up is how people get surprised. An estimate is approximate and expected to move. A quote is a fixed price that's binding once you accept it. A proposal is that quote wrapped in the scope, the allowances, the exclusions, the timeline and the terms. What I deliver is a proposal. The price inside it holds for 3 days, and that isn't a sales tactic. My suppliers are only holding their numbers a week or two right now, so I can't hold mine longer in good conscience. If your timing slips, just tell me and I'll re-issue at whatever the numbers are then.

Question 13

What should I have ready before I call you?

Accepted Answer

Not much, and don't let this stop you from picking up the phone. But the calls that go fastest usually have four things: a rough idea of what you're trying to accomplish, roughly when you'd want it done, whether anyone else is in on the decision, and a number you'd be comfortable spending. That last one isn't me fishing. It's how I tell you early whether what you want and what you want to spend are in the same neighborhood, instead of both of us finding that out three weeks later. If you don't know yet, say so. That's a real answer and we'll work from there.

Frequently Asked Questions