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. Gar-Cal Corporation is now a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).
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.”
“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.”
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.
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.”
