Diamond Certified Company Report

Gar-Cal Corporation

Diamond Certified Company Report

Gar-Cal Corporation

Diamond certified ratings dashboard
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION i
Customer LOYALTY i
Helpful Expertise i
Company Credentials i
  • Workers Compensation
  • Liability Insurance
  • License Verification
  • Business Practices
  • Current Complaint File
  • Legal & Finance
Phone SURVEY RESPONSES FROM 38 VERIFIED CUSTOMERS i

Alison G.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

1 of 38

Quality 10
10 10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They are very professional and very nice. They will give you options and they will do anything that you ask.

I felt good about it.

David M.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

2 of 38

Quality 9
9 10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Great owner and great crew, they do a good job.

They did a great job.

Alex P.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

3 of 38

Quality 10
10 10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They are pretty honest, straightforward, and there are no last minute changes that will cost you more money. They do what they say they are going to do.

Professionalism and quality

Read All 38 Survey Responses at Ratings View
Diamond certified VIDEO PROFILE
Diamond certified company PROFILE

Gar-Cal Corporation provides a wide range of construction services for residential clients in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. The company handles everything from kitchen and bathroom remodels to room additions and new construction projects, and it also has the training and equipment to work on framing, foundations, garage doors, interior/exterior painting projects, and more. 

Owner Angel Garcia says Gar-Cal Corporation’s dedication to customer service has been a central factor in its success. “Our clients are very important to us, so we make sure every aspect of their projects is exactly the way they want it. We always keep to their budgets, do our best to avoid change orders and focus on completing their jobs in a timely fashion.”

Gar-Cal Corporation emphasizes clear communication throughout every phase of the remodeling process, which Mr. Garcia says is crucial for ensuring positive customer experiences. “We keep our clients involved by including them in the decision-making process and making ourselves available to answer questions. Ultimately, this type of communication is the key to providing builds that meet all of their structural, aesthetic and sustainable objectives.”

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DIAMOND CERTIFIED RESEARCHED CAPABILITIES ON Gar-Cal Corporation

Service AREA

Alameda County
Contra Costa County

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SERVICES PERFORMED

Kitchen Remodeling
Bathroom Remodeling
Additions
New Construction
Fireplaces
Flooring (Hardwood, Engineered, Tile)
Electrical Updates
Outdoor Kitchens
Pavilions
Patio Covers/Pergolas
Interior/Exterior Paint
Foundations
Framing
Garage Doors & Gates
Exterior Finishes (Siding, Stucco, etc.)
Decks
Guardrails/Handrails

DIAMOND CERTIFIED RESEARCHED ARTICLES ON Gar-Cal Corporation

A recent remodeling project by Gar-Cal Corporation

Company Profile

Gar-Cal Corporation provides a wide range of construction services for residential clients in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. The company handles everything from kitchen and bathroom remodels to room additions and new construction projects, and it also has the training and equipment to work on framing, foundations, garage doors, interior/exterior painting projects, and more. 

Owner Angel Garcia says Gar-Cal Corporation’s dedication to customer service has been a central factor in its success. “Our clients are very important to us, so we make sure every aspect of their projects is exactly the way they want it. We always keep to their budgets, do our best to avoid change orders and focus on completing their jobs in a timely fashion.”

Gar-Cal Corporation emphasizes clear communication throughout every phase of the remodeling process, which Mr. Garcia says is crucial for ensuring positive customer experiences. “We keep our clients involved by including them in the decision-making process and making ourselves available to answer questions. Ultimately, this type of communication is the key to providing builds that meet all of their structural, aesthetic and sustainable objectives.”

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Company Philosophy

“Our goal is to maintain long-lasting relationships with our clients, so we take a lot of care with their projects and treat their homes with the utmost respect. We understand that renovating a house is a big investment, so we’re focused on ensuring each client is completely satisfied with the final product.”

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Comparative Summary

Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for remodeling contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Gar-Cal Corporation, the key to keeping clients happy is simple: always put their needs first, no matter what. “We pay respect to each client by treating their home as if it was our own,” says owner Angel Garcia. “Also, we prioritize their vision for the project. Some contractors just do whatever they want, but we always work toward our clients’ specific goals.”

Gar-Cal Corporation has been providing construction services for residential clients in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties since 2011. In addition to handling everything from kitchen and bathroom remodels to room additions and new construction projects, the company has the in-house capabilities to work on foundations, framing, garage doors and more.

Unlike less experienced remodeling contractors that are inflexible to changes, Gar-Cal Corporation is sensitive to its clients’ needs. “It’s not uncommon for a client to change their mind about something or get an idea partway through the project,” explains Mr. Garcia. “We understand that and stay flexible about late changes to ensure the final product is exactly what the client wants.”

Another distinguishing attribute of Gar-Cal Corporation is its proactive attention to quality control in every aspect its operations. “As the client chooses the products they want to use, we do our own research to verify they’re high-quality,” says Mr. Garcia. “Once the work begins, we double-check each step of the process to ensure accuracy and structural integrity.”

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Industry Info

When budgeting for a remodeling project, be sure to make allowances for building code-required upgrades.

As time goes on, building code standards continue to become more stringent, especially when it comes to safety concerns and energy conservation. With most home remodeling projects, code-compliant upgrades are required in addition to the primary work, which is why it’s important to identify key areas in your home that aren’t up to code. By finding out where upgrades are needed in advance of your project, you’ll be able to budget accordingly.

One building code requirement that has been around for many years is the installation of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) at specified electrical outlets. GFCIs are crucial protective devices that minimize the chance for electrical shock in kitchens, bathrooms and other rooms where the presence of water poses a risk. Current code standards require two GFCIs to be installed in a kitchen and at least one in every bathroom. However, since the list of areas requiring GFCI protection continues to increase with subsequent code revisions, it’s a good idea to proactively upgrade outlets in areas like garages, basements and crawl spaces as well.

A more recent code requirement is for bathroom lights and ventilation fans to have vacancy sensors. A vacancy sensor causes the power to shut off when there’s no activity in the room, which saves energy from lights or fans that were left on accidentally. Since very few homes already have vacancy sensors installed in bathrooms, most homeowners planning for remodeling projects will need to include this upgrade in their plans. Fortunately, vacancy sensors and GFCIs aren’t overly expensive upgrades, so they shouldn’t significantly affect your overall budget.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will it take to complete my remodeling project?
A: It depends on a variety of factors, but our proposal will include a detailed timeline for the job. We always do our best to ensure accuracy with timelines, and while there are always factors that can delay things, we normally meet our deadlines.

Q: Will the owner be present on the jobsite?
A: Yes. Even though a foreman will oversee the project, our owner, Angel Garcia, will stay involved by regularly checking in with you and the crew to ensure everything is going according to plan.

Q: Do I need permits for my construction project?
A: We have to pull permits for every project, but we’ll handle that process for you and do our best to avoid permit-related delays.

Q: Will I be able to see a visual concept of my project?
A: Absolutely. Besides providing conceptual drawings, we can do a digital 3D presentation to give you an accurate portrayal of the final product before work begins.

Q: Can I trust the people who will be working in my home?
A: We understand that many homeowners are uncomfortable with workers entering their home. That’s why we try to maintain a consistent crew and introduce each member to the client before work begins. Also, we only use trusted subcontractors who we’ve worked with before.

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SELECTED PHOTOS FROM Gar-Cal Corporation

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DIAMOND CERTIFIED EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR ADVICE & TIPS FROM Angel Garcia

Expert CONTRIBUTOR PROFILE
  • Angel Garcia is owner of Gar-Cal Corporation, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 346-5017 or by email.

Angel Garcia: Expanded Expertise

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

LIVERMORE — Starting out in a subset of the remodeling industry, Angel Garcia gradually expanded his expertise to encompass all aspects of construction. “Several of my family members were in construction, so I basically followed in their footsteps,” he recounts. “My first job was installing garage doors when I was 18 years old. Later, I started doing handyman services, which I enjoyed so much that I decided to get my general contractor’s license. In 2011, I started Gar-Cal Corporation, and today we handle every aspect of construction, from foundations to framing to whole home remodeling.”

Angel says his favorite part of his job is the opportunity for creative ingenuity. “I enjoy customizing our designs according to our clients’ needs. Even when we’re doing smaller jobs, we’re able to come up with something unique from what most other contractors are doing.”

A resident of Livermore (where he lives with his wife, Paula, and their two children, Juliet and Ezekiel), Angel spends his time outside of work on a variety of pastimes. “I like exercising, watching sports on TV and hanging out with friends on the weekends,” he details. “Also, my daughter plays volleyball, so we’re pretty involved with taking her to out-of-town tournaments and things like that.”

In his life and career, Angel espouses the importance of customer satisfaction. “I always make sure we provide what the customer is expecting and confirm that they’re pleased with the final result,” he affirms. “We have customers whom we’ve been working with for five or more years, and they always recommend us to others. I always do my best to keep them happy because those referrals are crucial to the growth of the business.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Angel says he’d quickly get back to work. “I don’t think I would retire. Somehow, I would continue doing what I’m doing, even if it was on a less labor-intensive scale, like management.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite sports team?

A: The San Francisco 49ers.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?

A: IHOP.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Brazil.

Q: Do you collect anything?

A: Wrestling memorabilia—I’m a big WWE fan.

 Q: What’s your favorite snack?

A: Mixed fruit.

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Expert articles
  • The Importance of Project Preparation

    LIVERMORE — No matter what kind of home improvement project you’re planning, chances are you’ll need to invest some time and money into preparation. Doing so will allow you to get the best possible result with your project. Here are two examples of why preparation is important:

    Tile flooring

    Before laying down floor tiles, the subfloor needs to be assessed and prepared. Due to tile’s rigidity, if the subfloor isn’t level, some tiles will sit higher than others, resulting in “lipping” that can cause both an eyesore and a safety hazard. Waterproofing measures are also needed to prevent water intrusion issues after installation. By taking the time to ensure a level, waterproof floor, you’ll avoid long-term problems.

    Painting

    Preparation is crucial for ensuring paint’s integrity over time, especially when it comes to exterior painting projects. This begins with scraping and sanding off any loose paint to create a clean, smooth surface. Next, repair any areas that are affected by dry rot (if those are painted over, they’ll continue to get worse) and use caulking to fill and seal cracks, joints, and gaps in siding and trim (this will prevent water intrusion). Finally, thoroughly prime the surface before applying the paint.

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Expert video tip
  • Video: The Importance of Preparation

    Complete Video Transcription

    LIVERMORE — Host, Sarah Rutan: When undertaking any home project, proper preparation is crucial to ensure good long-term results. Today we’re in Livermore with Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Angel Garcia of Gar-Cal Corporation to learn more.

    Diamond Certified Expert Contributor, Angel Garcia: If you’re thinking on taking a project at home, a couple of tips from me will be, for example, on tile, the preparation is the main key. Self-leveling, waterproof, there is couple of products on the market pretty easy to work with in order to do this. Another tip will be on painting. Painting, just make sure the areas are clean, completely seal so by the end of the project it looks spotless.

    Host, Sarah Rutan: To learn more from local, top rated companies, visit our Diamond Certified Expert Reports at experts.diamondcertified.info.

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Gar-Cal Corporation WEBSITE AND EXTERNAL FEED
Diamond Certified RATINGS ON Gar-Cal Corporation
Diamond certified ratings dashboard
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION i
Customer LOYALTY i
Helpful Expertise i

Each surveyed customer was asked, “If you needed any helpful expertise, did this company provide that expertise?” To calculate this score, total “Yes” responses were divided by total responses (excluding those that stated they hadn’t needed any expertise).

Company Credentials i
  • Workers Compensation
  • Liability Insurance
  • License Verification
  • Business Practices
  • Current Complaint File
  • Legal & Finance
Phone SURVEY RESPONSES FROM 38 VERIFIED CUSTOMERS i

Alison G.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

1 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They are very professional and very nice. They will give you options and they will do anything that you ask.

I felt good about it.

Hillary P.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

2 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Excellent communication, honest and extremely hardworking

The honest communication has been the best part of it.

John

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

3 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They were good, a really professional group, great planning and scheduling.

The logistics and quality of work

Nick D.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

4 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They are quick, efficient, thorough and one of the best bangs for the buck out there.

Just how fast everything was done, I was opening up a gym and they were busy, but they were still able to deliver.

Kelly L.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

5 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

I have already recommended them to 3 other people who have used them. I completely trust them.

They looked at the future and at the whole picture and wanted to avoid any issues that would make us unhappy. For example, they looked ahead at the maintenance and comfort of things and they wanted us to be so satisfied. They wanted the best quality for us.

George D.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

6 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

I would definitely refer and recommend them. I already have. They do very good work and the workers are very organized. They do very good quality work.

The quality of the work, the efficiency and the craftsmanship of the workers

Barbara G.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

7 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Well, I think I would tell others about them.

They did a good job.

V.H.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

8 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They are easy to talk to and they listen to me in terms of what my needs are. They explain everything.

Just the fact that they are so personable and they are concerned about me and what is right for me.

Kelly L.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

9 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Someone I would trust, they thought about the future and they helped me correct any issues that I would have down the road.

Just how I was treated with respect as a woman, and they always wanted the customer to be happy. They are all honest and I felt comfortable. I still contact him with questions and he always answers my call, even if it doesn't have to do with his work.

Terry D.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

10 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

He is the only person in the area who I am satisfied with.

He communicates and he provides a fair price.

Tim B.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

11 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They are very honest and upfront about what needs to be done and how to do it. They give you alternates that would be more cost effective and they do very good work.

I think the quality of work that they do, I was very happy with that.

Doug C.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

12 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

I have already recommended them to friends.

They were very good at communication. They were helpful and knowledgeable.

Dave M.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

13 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

The biggest thing is to know what you want when it comes to projects. He will say we can do this or that, spend more money here and cut back there, and he is always right. When he says he is going to do something, he does it.

His finish work

Brandon B.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

14 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

I have already recommended them to a lot of people. Angel is great, responsive, and very available.

Professional

Mark R.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

15 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

The owner, Angel Garcia, is involved in the entire process and has been able to point out things prior to starting the project that will be an additional cost or something that needs to be fixed. I am in real estate and have used him about 15 times. Every experience has been the same. The first experience was awesome and never deviated.

He is hands-on in every aspect of the project, electrical, construction, and design. He gives great advice and is very trustworthy.

Robert G.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

16 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

We were very pleased with the quality of the work, speed, reasonable timing, and our overall satisfaction was excellent.

The quality of the work and dedication

Carol K.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

17 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

I really liked their patience with me. I change my mind a lot when it comes to choosing features. They never said no, but gave me a lot of options, and after thinking about it, I always went with their suggestions. That's how you can tell they have been doing this for a long time.

Attention to detail, they took everything into consideration and their communication was really great. I always knew when someone would be there.

Bianca W.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

18 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

They are very responsible and do really good work.

Very responsible, worked quickly, but kept the quality, and did a really good job

Manuel F.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

19 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

Angel knows what he's doing.

I liked the way they performed in a timely manner.

Michelle V.

VERIFIED Gar-Cal Corporation CUSTOMER

20 of 38

Quality 10
10
Loyalty Yes
CRITIQUE

He did some work for me. I was so stressed out and lost my cool, but he was super patient. He did an excellent job and I highly recommend him.

He was super professional and tried to give deadlines. He went a little bit over, but totally within reason, just like a day or so.

Read All 38 Survey Responses at Ratings View
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