All Seasons Construction is a general contracting firm that specializes in foundation and drainage work for residential clients in Oakland, Berkeley, and the neighboring communities. In addition to foundation replacement and perimeter drainage/waterproofing, the company handles earthquake retrofitting, retaining walls and concrete work.
President Mark Corrallo, a former trial attorney and businessman, says proper retaining walls, concrete application and drainage systems are critical for keeping homes protected from rainfall, groundwater and runoff. Mr. Corrallo started All Seasons Construction when he noted an overall lack of professionalism in the industry and “decided to do something about it.”
All Seasons Construction’s experienced foremen supervise every job and ensure all work will stand the test of time. Likewise, says Mr. Corrallo, they work hard to build trust and lasting relationships with customers. The company’s workers are all insured employees, not day laborers, and all its foremen have been with the company for more than 15 years.
“We've all heard horror stories about people's experiences with contracting companies. We want to make sure those stories are never about us. Our goal is to make every customer's experience a positive one. We want them to be completely happy with our work and so pleased with our company that they'll call us again and give us a glowing review to others.”
Few repairs can have as big an impact on the value of a home as foundation or drainage work, so it’s important to choose a specialist.
“The integrity of your foundation is probably the most important aspect of the construction of your home,” says Mark Corrallo, president of All Seasons Construction. “You need to trust foundation removal and replacement to a firm that will do the job correctly, without any shortcuts.”
In this economy, says Mr. Corrallo, there are a lot of contractors that will take any work that’s offered to them, even when they have no particular expertise in that area. It’s very risky to hire a non-foundation replacement expert to do foundation work. A home is the biggest investment most people will make, and a substandard foundation can severely damage the value of that investment. Not knowing whether the job was done right can undermine the peace of mind people have in their home.
Because much of the work involved in foundation replacement and repair is manual labor, some contractors might be tempted to use unskilled day laborers for this work. It may save some money, but day laborers are unknown commodities. While the permanent foundation is being replaced, a temporary one has to be established to hold up the house. It’s important that the work crew knows how to correctly shore up a home, because improper shoring can result in severe structural damage, and even catastrophic failure. “A company should be able to vouch for every one of the workers that's digging under your house,” says Mr. Corrallo.
Drainage work is similar in this regard. Improperly installed drainage systems can exacerbate a water problem, requiring the removal or replacement of the system and repairs to the foundation. Hiring a contractor who knows and understands all the components of perimeter drainage and waterproofing can save you money in the long run.
When he took the helm at All Seasons Construction, Mark Corrallo, a former attorney and East Bay businessman with extensive experience working with construction contractors, introduced a new company objective: to provide high-quality workmanship while striving for professionalism throughout the process–from beginning jobs on schedule to working every day until they're complete.
All Season Construction's professionalism starts with a concentration on foundation work, says Mr. Corrallo. It specializes in foundation replacement and perimeter drainage/waterproofing, but also provides retaining walls, earthquake retrofitting and decks.
The company's responsibility for customer service begins with its vice president of operations, who visits each site at least once a day and whose sole task is to serve as a liaison and executive-level contact if customers have any questions or issues that the foreman and crew can't resolve. The responsibility continues with the foreman, who supervises day-to-day activities at the work site, and flows down to the individual members of the work crews.
All Seasons Construction's workers are insured employees of the company–day laborers are never used. Even the most junior laborer has been on the company payroll for at least two years. This experience not only maintains the company's focus on the customer, says Mr. Corrallo, but it also ensures the individual workers have necessary skills and know what they're doing. "It's very risky to hire a non-foundation replacement expert to do foundation work," he says. "You could end up with a substandard foundation, so it's important to deal with somebody who knows how to correctly shore up a home. The ramifications of improper shoring can be dramatic."
All Seasons Construction's demand for expertise goes beyond its work crews. When faced with a complex job, the company works with third-party engineers, who work for the client and not the contractor, to assess the scope and requirements of the job. "The engineer has no financial stake in the outcome or conflict of interest," says Mr. Corrallo. "He doesn't gain anything by recommending a bigger or smaller job. He's going to charge a flat fee to come out, take a look and give an opinion. Ultimately, the customer is better served by that kind of relationship."
All Seasons Construction prides itself on professionalism, customer service and expertise. A family home is most often the biggest investment a person will make, says Mr. Corrallo, and his company is dedicated to ensuring that home rests on a solid foundation.
