The Handy Frenchman

AirhornAnnie B.

Patrick has now completed two substantial projects at our home - an extensive water-proofing and exterior painting project (on one side of the house), and the renovation of our infamous ""Room of Shame"". The water-proofing project consisted largely of stucco removal, window replacement and siding installation. Due to severe decades-old rot issues, reinforcement and framing of the wall of concern was needed. Patrick handled several unfortunate and age-related ""surprises"" that arose during the project with utmost fairness and professionalism. We knew how much the project would cost, when payments were expected and how long the job would take. Patrick's meticulous attention to detail was (& still is) much appreciated. The result of the first project is that, for the first time in 20 years - we don't have to worry about leaks every time it rains.

Patrick also replaced rotting French doors at our front porch/mudroom and built a handsome portico to permanently keep the rain out. It was money well- spent and every single day I admire the work he did. Our 96-year-old home is happy about it, too.

Now, on to the ""Room of Shame""...

Thanks to The Handy Frenchman, we now have an absolutely gorgeous, natural light-filled bedroom and bathroom, complete with new windows, bamboo flooring (in the bedroom) and lovely natural tile in the bathroom. The former ""Room of Shame"" (R.O.S.) consisted of (repulsive) wall-to-wall royal blue carpeting, painted (atrocious) wood paneling walls, a drafty not-sliding glass door and it was altogether so shameful that it was unsuitable for anything other than storage. Patrick and his team reinforced some under- dimensioned and/or missing framing in both rooms, repaired extensive rot around the former shower and gave us full use of our 3rd bedroom and 2nd bathroom.
For the first 20 years, we lived as if our house consisted of only 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, because the R.O.S. (an awful addition built by a previous owner) was just plain gross. We now enjoy a beautiful, light-filled space that is well-insulated and inviting.

And should I brag about the freestanding bidet in our bathroom? Having the good fortune of spending lots of time with my father's family in Italy, I knew before I purchased this house that I would someday have to have a bidet of my own installed. It is honestly still hard to believe that such a beautiful bathroom is actually ours to keep. It's like waking up on vacation every morning.

When the time came to decide on flooring, tile, plumbing and lighting fixtures - Patrick was there to help. He has an excellent eye for design and collaborating with him on the bed/bath project was great fun! I understand that renovating a space within one's primary residence can be both daunting and stressful, but for us, it wasn't bad at all. Patrick and his team were just lovely. They worked efficiently, kept their workspace clean and were respectful of our home, time and pets.

We enthusiastically recommend The Handy Frenchman!

- Anna & Mike
Richmond, CA

B T.

Unfortunately, I got no response from this provider. It is so sad when the service provider ignores your inquire.

Gene T.

Patrick has been the salvation of our aging home. Beginning in 2017, he has painted, drywalled, tiled, and rewired it to a state of beauty and respectability. He has installed all manner of windows, doors, shelves, and fixtures in the course of rebuilding our dilapidated deck and remodeling two moldering bathrooms and a bedroom. As a labor of love, he also constructed a wine cellar--now my favorite room in the house!

Thankfully, he takes great satisfaction in solving intractable problems, which old houses are loaded with. (Wireless light switches--who knew?!) And whenever my wife and I couldn't agree on paint colors, he always came up with a recommendation that pleased us both. Add to that his pleasant personality, ingenuity, attention to detail, and reliability, and you have all the ingredients for a successful project. We're already dreaming about our next improvements!

P B.

Patrick is totally awesome!

He has completed a variety of projects around our house over the last couple years including removing a failing deck, repainting several rooms, repairing a rotting wall in the bathroom (as well as the leak which caused it to rot), designing and building a beautiful and functional bench for our dining nook, building small deck and stairway, replacing a failing wall in the garage... and a myriad of smaller projects! And he does all of this while being simultaneously highly professional (always punctual, organized, tidy, responsive, as well as super competent) and personable (warm, funny, good company!).

Here's what stands out most about Patrick for me: what he does is not just a job to him-- he takes a lot of pride in his work. I think it would be easy, in this profession, for someone to just go through the motions or do the minimum, and most clients might never realize that. But it's very clear, when you work with Patrick, that he is taking any problem you give him very seriously and working hard to find the optimal solution. His creativity, intelligence, and work ethic are obvious throughout his work.

I feel SO lucky to have Patrick's help in keeping our old house in shape.

Renee L.

Patrick's skill, workmanship and problem-solving abilities result in excellent work and a great deal of satisfaction! Once you start working with Patrick, you won't consider hiring anyone else! Renee L

Peter S.

Patrick has been a lifesaver for us. We first contacted him about a water/roof leak that two other contractors were unable to solve. Since that time, he has handled painting, carpentry and a myriad of other home repair and remodeling projects for us. He has a first-rate mind, is completely trustworthy, does excellent work, and is a pleasure to be around. We can't recommend him highly enough.

Ann N.

Thank you so much for your consultation: brutally honest but accurate. You saved me literally thousands of dollars and the finished work was both attractive and functional.