A1DesignBuild

A1 was a good partner in the design of my remodel and were well organized, efficient, and helpful during the building phase. My A1 team members provided regular, clear communication, helped me stay on track with my necessary contributions, and treated me with respect and consideration. Project Manager Thad worked out safe and secure workarounds so we could stay in the home as much as possible during construction, and adapted my real-time tweaks to work with the plans and code requirements. I'm pleased that the warantee will take care of anything not quite right now that the work is done. Thanks, A1.

We did a major outdoor remodel to facilitate our big dog. The design process all the way to the finished product was amazing.

Working on our second project with a
A1 now. Wouldn’t trust anyone else with our home projects!

When you buy the perfect house, but the bathrooms are 20 years old – you plan for the perfect ensuite remodel we knew would be a total gut job. After considering several companies, we hired AIDesignBuild Coop for the project. What initially attracted us to this local Bellingham company is their focus on sustainability, community, local contractors and their upfront acknowledgement that they do a handful of jobs a year because they are relatively small. The design and build work are handled within the same group which gave us complete confidence in the accountability of all involved. The design process was so thoughtful that we only made 2 small tweaks in the space. As we went through the build, I realized that we knew at least half the staff by name and face and I appreciate that they are listed on the “who we are” page. We’ve been through many remodels over the years and this one was so stress free and seamless. As for the finished work, we have an ensuite bathroom that feels luxurious and spa like, with a new enclosed toilet room that we lacked before, heated floors, lots of reflective light and soothing colors. I really couldn’t be more thrilled with the new bathroom. I follow the A1andAll commitment to community work on their Facebook and it makes me so happy I chose a company that cares so much about our local community. I almost wish I had another room that needs remodeling so I could continue working with this amazing group of people.

The people at A1 Design-Build not only care about their craft and their clients, but their commitment to their staff and their focus on reducing the environmental impact of their work is inspiring. They are highly organized, thoughtful humans that endeavor to do their best in all aspects of their business. If you are considering a remodel, energy retrofit or new home I fully heartedly endorse A1. You will not be disappointed.

Do not recommend.
We’ve done three major remodels over the years and working with this company has been by far our worst experience. Covid issues aside, it became obvious as the project progressed that this remodel was outside of their ability to handle effectively. Throughout the job there was a lack of communication and total lack transparency in costs (two major red flags). In the end it appeared that they simply lost interest and getting the job completed and what they labeled as “finishing touches” done took months. While the initial design work and basic carpentry was quite good, the finish work and sub-contractor work was sub-standard. Cabinetry work is low quality, painting was sloppy, shoddy plumbing resulted in water damage from an improperly installed drain, and overall all workers showed a lack of respect for property. After the contractors left, we dealt with bags full of trash, remains of half eaten moldy lunches, paint and texturing overspray on windows, and graffiti etched into dust left on the windows. Outside, shrubs in the yard that were moved to accommodate work trailer were not replaced and they only repaired the ruts their trucks left in the mud after we complained. Inside, when the company was asked to clean up after themselves, they pointed out that their contract stipulated “broom clean” only and other cleanup was the responsibility of the owner. It really breaks my heart to not be able to recommend this company as they do seem to give back to the community and do have some lovely people working for them. We would have loved to be able to use them for additional work we had planned for this property, but as it is I don’t trust them to replace a lightbulb let alone a deck.

A-1 recently completed a remodel of the galley-style kitchen in our condo. Sharon made the design process easy. She was really in sync with what we were looking for. Mark, the project manager, went the extra mile on many occasions to make sure things were done well. It was a pleasure to work with everyone in an organization so committed to excellence. We also appreciated their commitment to sustainability and the local community.

This past winter I undertook a major infrastructure improvement of my home. The weather was challenging (cold, rain, snow, ice) but everyone carried on as best we could. Completion took longer than planned because of the weather but the end result was all I could have wished. There was very little by way of loose ends that required further action. And that was attended to promptly. The worksite was the whole house, and cleanup by A-1 left very little that I had to do. The whole place needed spring cleaning anyway.

This isn't my first project with A-1 and I keep coming back to them because of ongoing good experiences.

A1 did a complete renovation and small addition to my 70-yr-old home. While the work was being done (starting in late May), I lived in my garage and was concerned I would be back inside before the dark wet days of fall. They stayed on schedule. Any set backs were communicated right away. After settling in I realized that Sharon, the designer, implemented EVERY idea I suggested for improvements. Thad, the project manager was on site nearly every day and when he was not, I knew ahead of time. I highly recommend this design/build team of energetic, caring, professional, skilled, bold, and creative individuals!

A-1 did a complete remodel of my kitchen last year. During the entire process I was kept informed and involved at each step. Chris, the general manager for my project, was great at coordinating the many subs, a skilled craftsman with a sense of humour (necessary quality). The final kitchen was exactly what I wanted.

I have had a wonderful experience working with A1 as a subcontractor. They have demonstrated excellent communication, high quality work, and at a reasonable price.

We've used A-1 Builders twice for home repairs and plan to use them again. They are good communicators, are thorough, do a professional job, and are a pleasure to work with. They aren't the cheapest, but they provide very good quality and are worth the price.

A-1 has done two major remodels for us in the last 8 years. They're quality of work is excellent, their pricing fair for the value received, and they're friendly, honest and trustworthy people.

I hired A-1 to design and execute a fairly involved remodel of an 80 year old home. The remodel included a completely new kitchen and 2 new bathrooms with structural work to true the house to level enabling the successful completion. Throughout the project, lines of communication were open and the A1 team was responsive to include an on-line project page and practically daily updates as needed. The job site was left in good shape, cleaned up and debris removed. I would use them again if ever needed and don't hesitate to recommend to others.

We here, at Gary's Plumbing and Heating would like to make a recommendation for one of our partner builders.
A-1 Builders and Adaptations is a pleasure to work with. Their attention to detail is unsurpassed. When working on projects they communicate daily during all phases of construction, and we always feel very comfortable working with Cindy, Maggie and their team. We couldn't be more proud to partner with this company and highly recommend you give them a call!