“We have been working with Gar-Cal and Angel for several years on home improvements and maintenance. It should be understood that our home is essentially a custom hilltop home with a bay view —the result of an extensive rebuild decades ago in which we did a lot of the work ourselves. Consequently, we are more knowledgeable and much more demanding than the typical homeowner.

Recently, we contracted with Garcal to upgrade two bathrooms and our kitchen. The process began with a discussion with their in-house designer, Marcos, who subsequently produced plan and elevation views of the designs. We were then introduced to their countertop and tile vendor and shepherded through the process of making those critical decisions with many helpful suggestions along the way. With material decisions completed final plans were drawn.

Through the execution phase, Angel’s crews were very mindful of keeping the workplace as clean as possible and allowing us space to live in our home while the process unfolded. As the project evolved, so did our goals—we requested many upgrades and minor changes along the way and added many minor tasks. Many of these tasks required some ingenuity on the part of the craftsmen and they did not disappoint. All of these were professionally and kindly addressed with little or no additional costs. As previously noted we are demanding, and occasionally we found defects in the work. These, too, were always promptly and thoroughly addressed without question or complaint.

We have worked with many contractors over the years, and have found Angel and his crews to be among the very best. They are honest, very hardworking, and mindful of quality workmanship. Gar-Cal produces high-quality results at a good price-point and is a pleasure to work with”

Reid, Natasha, Wallaya | Oakland, CA

“We had a terrific experience working with Gar-Cal. Angel, Marcos, and the team were communicative, friendly, flexible, and responsive to our evolving needs. Even though our construction started right at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, the process was smooth and the Gar-Cal team worked diligently and safely and helped us overcome any unexpected challenges. Angel and his team helped us problem-solve in creative ways and were professional and knowledgeable throughout the process.
Thank you!”

David & Vivian | Moraga, CA

“We had a great experience working with Gar-Cal.
We originally chose them for a series of renovation projects based on their positive reviews and competitive pricing. Since the project started, we’ve been very happy with that decision. They’ve done high-quality work and provided really top-notch customer service. Angel checked in with us almost every day throughout the months of work. He always did a great job of walking us through our options, providing helpful input on design, and raising issues we hadn’t thought of. He was totally flexible about changes we wanted to make throughout the process. And the few times we raised concerns about a missed detail, he was always happy to make it right.
We’ll definitely reach out to Gar-Cal again the next time we do a renovation project. ”

Hanson Family | Livermore, CA

“Gar-Cal is more than a construction company, they are consultants. They’ve got a great eye for design and have given us many helpful suggestions.
After our second job with Gar-Cal, we won’t have anyone else except them work on our house.”

Carol K. | Livermore, CA

“Angel and his team were wonderful to work with. They completely renovated our kitchen, added new doors, and installed a beautiful gas fireplace and custom surround. We will definitely be calling when we are ready to do the bathroom.”

Terry & Nancy | Castro Valley

“It is my pleasure to write this review on behalf of Gar-Cal Corporation and Angel Garcia. Angel was the general contractor for a project on the exterior of our home in the spring of 2020. We had no prior relationship with Angel, who we found through Diamond Certified. The scope of the project involved:
• Build a 12’ x’12’ redwood deck, raised 5 feet off the ground, including footings, roof, cable railings, electrical outlets, and lighting.
• Reroof the entire house, approximately 1600 square feet.
• Repaint the house, including removing existing peeling paint where necessary, sanding, and power washing.
• Replace existing brick stairs with cement, including demolition of the existing structure, build proper footings and retaining walls, design and build the cement staircase, walkways, and planters. Budget of just over $72,000.
While major projects like this are naturally stressful for any homeowner, Angel’s services as a general contractor were exemplary, and I am extremely pleased with the result.

Categorically, I would give Angel high distinction in the following areas:
1. Quality of work performed: The quality of work done was consistently top-notch. Angel and his team were knowledgeable, skilled, and competent in their work. They were conscientious about following project specifications, and their work product rarely needed improvement or revision. They had solid work ethics and habits, a strong safety mindset, and emphasized getting the job done right rather than doing it fast. Their pride in their work was evident. They tidied up at the end of each workday. I also found them to be trustworthy, and my husband and I felt comfortable with allowing them access.
2. Quality of work crews: Angel’s team members were professional, reliable, courteous, and respectful of the homeowner’s property and privacy. Angel was integrally involved with them to ensure his standards were met and we were happy with the outcome.
3. Project management and coordination: Angel’s experience working in construction really paid off. He was knowledgeable about all aspects of our project and was able to plan, coordinate and manage the activities of the work effectively. His excellent attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and commitment to follow-through are assets that enabled him to juggle the extensive details involved in our project without missing a beat. Angel’s familiarity with building codes and calmness and demeanor in dealing with a very picky client (my husband) also facilitated a smooth and hassle-free process.
4. Integrity and professionalism: Throughout the project, I was impressed with Angel’s commitment to generating a top-quality product, rather than maximizing his profit margin. There will always be hidden problems that were not apparent until work has begun. When situations arose where extra work was needed, Angel either (if it was relatively minor) took care of it or (if it was more extensive) involved us in an informed decision-making process that concluded in a change order which was fair.
5. Effective communication: Angel kept us closely informed of work crew schedules, delivery dates, and projected completion dates of different phases of our project. His communication (whether in person, by cell phone, or email) was always clear, informative, and helpful. He was either available on his cell phone or returned my phone calls or texts promptly. We never had a single miscommunication throughout the project. His communication with the work crews was just as effective.
6. Flexibility and effectiveness in dealing with unexpected developments: When unforeseen problems surfaced, Angel worked diligently with us to identify a solution that was acceptable to us. He utilized resources effectively and creatively and made the changes needed to implement the solution.
7. Responsiveness to homeowner’s needs and concerns: Angel’s commitment to homeowner satisfaction was evident in his actions. On the few occasions when I brought a request or concern to his attention, he listened attentively, and always took appropriate action that demonstrated responsiveness to my needs or concerns. His service-oriented outlook is admirable.
8. Truth in advertising: In his proposal, Angel gave a clear breakdown of costs for each facet of the project. His contract was just as detailed in describing the work to be done and the itemized costs. Same with the change orders. When the project was completed, all the work was done as described and agreed upon, and there were no hidden costs, extra expenses, or unpleasant surprises. As a homeowner and customer, I felt Angel delivered exactly what he had promised, at the agreed-upon price.
9. Value: We had solicited five bids for this project. Although he was not the lowest bid, after meeting Angel and considering his recommendations we were convinced that he would deliver the best value for the price, which he did. Angel has our highest recommendation.”

Pleasanton, CA

“We contracted with Gar-Cal Construction for an outdoor pavilion with a kitchen and a bathroom. Working with the Gar-Cal team was great - they handled everything from design, permitting, construction to follow thru. We called the team the “Can Do Team” which was very important on a large project. We were never surprised by change orders which happen no matter how well you plan!. The teams were responsive and considerate. We were referred to Gar-Cal by another contractor and feel confident in recommending them for any project.”

Victoria | Fremont,CA

“I’m sitting on my lovely new IPE deck as I write this review. Working with Angel Garcia, the owner of Gar-Cal Construction, was the best experience we have ever had with a contractor. We got several estimates for the replacement of our siding. Angel was the most helpful, giving us several options and taking the time to review the pros and cons of each option. We opted for Hardie board to replace our wood siding. The city of Fremont requires that a second siding be visible from the street. Again, Angel and his office manager Marcos could not have been more helpful-we chose stone veneer and had to submit the design several times to the city before it was approved. The Gar-Cal crew was polite, hard-working, and precise. Our new siding is beautiful, it looks like a completely new house. We had an old Trex deck and wanted to reuse the spindles from the railing-they made us beautiful custom railings for our upstairs balconies. When we weren’t thrilled with the first prototype, they redid it so that we would be completely happy with the result. That was the case throughout the project, there were a number of small changes made so that we would be completely satisfied. We were so impressed with their work that we also had them replace our Trex deck with IPE, and redo our retaining walls. Any minor issue or damage was promptly addressed. Angel was readily available by cell at all times and was on-site most days. All delays were explained to us. There were no cost overruns-we paid exactly what was quoted. In fact, the crew took care of a number of small repairs at no additional charge. Angel Garcia was a pleasure to work with-he is honest and ethical, he takes real pride in his work, and he is a genuinely nice human.”

George & Judy | Pleasanton, CA

“We hired Gar-Cal Corporation for a complete exterior remodel of our Pleasanton home and were very happy with the final results. A design firm in Dublin drew up the plans which included roof, siding, stucco, front & garage doors, decorative stone on the house and driveway, and a remodeled balcony requiring city permit and inspections. Gar-Cal worked patiently with us to revise the original design as the original design’s cost would have greatly exceeded our budget, despite having clearly stated our budget requirements to the design firm. Gar-Cal was able to retain the key elements of the design while reducing the bottom line to within our budget constraints.
The Gar-Cal team completed the remodel so rapidly even our neighbors noticed how quickly the project progressed. We have received many compliments from friends and neighbors during and after project completion. Gar-Cal’s communication with us was exceptional, always following through with written and oral agreements, and was a primary reason we later hired them to remodel three bedrooms. We would not hesitate to hire them for future projects.”

Mark Rodriguez

“I am a professional Realtor with 35 years of experience. I have referred Gar-Cal and its owner Angel Garcia to a number of clients. Angel is very knowledgeable and does an amazing job. My clients have been very happy with their work. Each home he has helped renovate has sold for much more than it would have without the renovation and each client more than recouped the renovation expense. I can strongly recommend Gar-Cal.”

Brandon B. | San Ramon, CA

“We did a kitchen remodel, drywall touch-ups, and various other projects around my home. I’m very happy with my experience with Angel and his crew. Angel was super responsive to all my needs and questions. The quality of work went beyond my expectation. I look forward to using Gar-Cal for other projects I have planned around my house.”

The Stasium Family | Livermore, CA

“From start to finish Gar-Cal was the most professional company for our backyard improvement. They were very responsive to our needs and their pricing was very competitive to their competition. They were very responsive to all our specific wants and made all the necessary adjustments to WOW us. Angel helped us figure out exactly what we wanted and was able to give multiple suggestions/ideas on ways to help beautify our backyard deck. I would definitely recommend Gar-Cal for any project and I look forward to working with them again on our next!”

Andrew S. | Livermore, CA

“We have had a relationship with Angel and Gar-Cal for over 4 years now, completing close to 10 different projects at both our old and new houses, and it’s fair to say we feel like we’ve hit the jackpot.

He is fair and upfront about labor costs, and is happy to quote labor-only if we’ve wanted to buy the materials directly. He is responsive, his team is excellent, and they can do just about everything. Angel’s team has done 2x bathrooms (complete remodel), 2x backyards (at the old and new house) - the one at the new house included pavers, an BBQ island, multiple planter boxes and turf/irrigation. He’s done electrical work, a ton of tiling in the kitchen, painted - you name it. We’ve also found a significant cost advantage vs. other contractors (sometimes up to 50% cheaper than the next lowest quote for the same scope).

We wouldn’t consider using anyone else for any project. In fact, he is going to do some work for me this weekend, and next year we hope to do another full bathroom remodel with him. ”

Kubitz Family | Castro Valley

“Gar-Cal redesigned our entire kitchen, two bathrooms, took up all of our carpet, refinished the wood underneath, and painted our entire interior. They listened to exactly what we wanted and had to say, laid out a plan and let us ask as many questions as we wanted. We left our house for a quick trip and when we came back, we had a completely new house. Very professional, meticulous and talented. We could not have been more satisfied. We will be calling them for more jobs and recommend them 100%. Gar-Cal is very professional, flexible and super easy to work with.”

Lowry Family | Castro Valley

“Gar-Cal Construction pays uncommon attention to detail and has a great knowledge of what techniques work best. Gar-Cal has unfailingly honored their schedule commitments and are a pleasure to deal with.”

Chris Knepper

“There aren’t enough stars to appropriately rate Gar-Cal. I’ve used them for two projects on my home and plan on using them for future projects as well. The first project was a complete remodel of my kitchen, a new roof, and all new electrical. The second, and the most recent, project was a remodel of my bathroom where we removed everything and started from scratch. New plumbing, toilet, shower, vanity as well as flooring, doors, and paint. Every item was installed correctly and functions properly. THE FIRST TIME! Angel, the owner, and his team are incredibly professional and do their utmost to ensure that their work is efficient so you can get back to your life as soon as possible and with minimal disruption. Our project was completed on time and under budget, which from what I’ve seen of friends’ projects, seems to be uncommon, to say the least. If you’re looking for a contractor that actually listens to your concerns, communicates in a timely and effective manner, and puts the customer first; Stop looking, you’ve found them. I highly recommend Gar-Cal for any home project.”

Dave Martin

“Angel and his team have now performed two projects for me and both have been delivered on time and on budget. GAR-CAL goes over and beyond giving you a professional project with many no-cost improvements along the way. I would recommend them to anyone for just about any home improvement project.”