Reviews of local pros in Aptos, California

We worked with Talmadge Construction after having a nightmare experience with another contractor. Jeff and his team listened to our needs and wants, put together multiple options and executed beautifully on the construction. Talmadge Construction delivers quality and craftsmanship.

My wife, Sara Lively, and I have known Jeff Talmadge for 30 years, beginning with his work with Sara to remodel a shelter for battered women for her organization at the time -- requiring great sensitivity and respect for residents and staff at the shelter, in his role as general contractor.

Beginning with that project, Sara and I have trusted Jeff to manage every project we needed at our home: a significant remodel before we moved in, followed by the demolition of a second-floor balcony, a kitchen remodel, mold elimination and rebuilding due to leakage, and more. Over the years Jeff has given us invaluable advice about our home improvements and maintenance, and we've come to think of him as a friend.

Through all these projects, Jeff and his team have done a superlative job on all tasks that we couldn't possibly have managed ourselves. From planning to completion and inspection, the folks at Talmadge make sure that we're comfortable with all decisions, and are careful to respect our needs and schedules while working in our home. Never has a project been completed late. If there are any glitches or problems, Talmadge Construction immediately makes them right.

We're already planning our next home project with Talmadge Construction, and can't imagine using anyone else!

Talmadge Construction is top notch from design, planning, personnel and follow through. Jeff Talmadge and his employees were a joy to work with and became part of the family. Our home's interior was transformed into a beautifully designed and functional living space. If you want to do it once and do it right, Talmadge Construction is the company for you...our pics are featured on the Talmadge website. My wife and I couldn't be happier! Well done Jeff, Danielle, Jason and crew!

Talmadge Construction Review, October 20, 2019

I recently did a “make-over” for my 1920’s/added onto in the 60’s little house. O.M.G.!! Talmadge Construction honored the charming things about my little old house, while transforming it into an elegant, livable home.
They are, hands down, the best! Not only are they artisans when it comes to building and design, when you work with Talmadge
Construction, there are no unpleasant surprises. They do the design work (listening closely to what the client wants) and set up everything ahead of time. Once they start the remodel, there is a clear time trajectory, and they stick to it! The only delays that happened on my remodel were from additional requests I made. Ditto for financial expectations.
I would recommend Talmadge Construction to anyone looking for exceptional workmanship and accountability.
Sincerely,
Melinda Kralj

Talmadge Construction took our vision and made it a dream come true. The quality of the workmanship is beyond compare.

We loved working with the entire Talmadge team, from start to finish they took every step to fulfill our needs and honesty we were so pleased it took our breath away! We know that any future project we consider, Talmadge will be our choice.

Thank you all!

I contracted Talmadge Construction to remodel my farmhouse entryway into a working porch and mudroom. This was not your standard request, and Jeff and his crew performed beyond my expectations to assure that what they created was exactly what I wanted. They asked all the right questions, were absolutely attentive to detail, and were vigilant and exacting in providing the best quality work. Jeff sought the best craftspeople for such requests as fabricating a traditional outdoor washing sink and an installer to work with my own tile collection to lay the mudroom floor. The results are practical, beautiful, and holding up well to rugged daily use. I highly recommend Talmadge Construction.

My husband and I hired Talmadge Construction for a full house renovation of our tired 1980s townhouse and they turned it into a modern and awesome place to live - photos are on their website (Contemporary Aptos Townhouse). This was our first time remodeling and Jeff Talmadge held our hands through the initial planning and budgeting phase and remained available throughout. The design process was very smooth, every inch of space was considered, rooms were re-imagined and the perfect finishes were chosen.

During construction, our project manager was great: everything ran on time, we received weekly updates and there were no surprises. The craftsmanship was everything we hoped for and the team followed up with us until every detail was perfect. I recommend Talmadge Construction to anyone looking for a contractor in Santa Cruz county – they are friendly and helpful and will do anything to make sure you are satisfied with their work.

We worked with Jeff and his team to design and remodel our 60 year old mid century modern home in Capitola. They did an amazing job in all aspects of the design and construction during less than ideal circumstances of COVID and the Santa Cruz fires. The quality of their workmanship, oversight and sub contractor relationships were outstanding. Jeff and his son Andrew are actively engaged owners and their people work hard to get the job done with care and expertise while guiding us through all the challenges that can come up with a remodel of significant scope and magnitude. The most direct thing I can say is that not only are we thrilled with their work and follow through on a handful of issues that have come up since construction was completed but also that we would only use the Talmadge team again for any future projects or additions we might consider. They are that good. I recommend them highly. You won’t be disappointed.

Everyone I interfaced with at Talmadge was knowledgeable, professional, friendly, service-oriented and caring. The construction manager, Jason Anderson and his team did top quality work. I'm thrilled my new deck!

We couldn't be happier with Talmadge Construction. They did our whole house remodel and the process was absolutely amazing from start to finish! They kept us updated on a daily to weekly basis depending on how much work was done. Design process felt like we were on an HGTV show which was very unexpected but a really fun experience. Construction site was always clean at the end of the day which was a nice touch when we wanted to take a look at the progress or bring a family member or friend by. Talmadges team is by far one of the best in the area!! The attention to detail and craftsmanship of the work and vendors really shows throughout the house. You will not be disappointed if you go with Talmadge!

I can't say enough good things about Talmadge Construction.
For 40 years they have been known for their 5-star quality work, business ethics, and customer service. The entire Talmadge crew is fabulous. Skilled, friendly, helpful and attentive to their clients needs and building/re-modeling goals. The subcontractors they enlist to help with their projects are also 5-star. And equally important, in my opinion, is the support and hands-on help they offer to our community. Their generosity and giving spirit have benefited many, many local non-profits and individuals.
WELL DONE TALMADGE CONSTRUCTION!!

Every so often a company and leadership comes along whose hallmark is trust and integrity and whose delivery way exceeds expectations. Talmadge Construction and Jeff Talmadge is one! When we desperately needed serious remodeling, after significant earthquake damage, Jeff gave us a quote written on a napkin. We then departed for Africa and left him and his crew to tear down walls, jack part of the house up and use his better judgment. The result was way beyond what we could even imagine including a fireplace between the living room and the master bedroom, a stroke of design genius. I recommend them as highly as possible, kudos!!

We just finished our third project with Talmadge Construction and are extremely happy with the completed remodel.

Our job was completed earlier than our estimated date and on budget as well.

Our project manager, Jeremiah Trask was exceptional. He was helpful, courteous and so skilled in his carpentry. He always had creative ideas to solve complex problems.

Quinn Pearlberg oversaw our project and was a real pleasure to work with. Always upbeat with a smile, and responsive to our concerns and questions.

It was a relatively small job for Talmadge, but they treated it with the attention they would give to a major remodel. We definitely recommend Talmadge Construction.

We first worked with Talmadge Construction over 20 years ago on a house remodel, and have pursued additional build, consulting, and remodel projects since. Not only are they top-notch in quality, they are responsive, friendly, and professional. Their advice and ideas are creative, they meet expected schedules, and get results. Jeff Talmadge went above and beyond for us in dealing with a vendor on a substantial project! We have the utmost confidence in Talmadge Construction.

I can't say enough great things about the Talmadge team! It's refreshing when you have a plan and detailed estimate from the beginning of the project, and the attention to detail while in construction and on site is unparalleled. One of the key benefits of working with Talmadge, is every detail is handled; all materials are ordered, all of the specialty trade contractors are coordinated, and we had weekly project updates from our project manager. We couldn't be happier with our home and we have the peace of mind knowing that everything was built by true professionals!

Our experience with everyone at Talmadge Construction has been amazing through our kitchen remodel! The old kitchen was demolished to the studs, a wall moved, another wall enclosed, and new paint, a new ceiling, lighting, and floors were refinished in the adjacent spaces. In addition to the workmanship being high quality, on time, according to the estimate, attentive to every detail and same day response time to any questions, the job site was left amazingly clean and tidy at the end of every day. Over the 6 months, crews came and went and every time we stepped into the space it was obvious they cared as much for our home as we did!

Thank you Talmadge Construction for creating a beautiful and functional bathroom in such a small space. Your crew was easy to work with and thought of the smallest detail to give us 10+ years "Aging in Place" in a home we love.

We had a wonderful experience with Talmadge. Starting with fantastic design support and every step along the way. The Talmadge team made navigating permitting and other city processes so much easier, and we love our finished project.

Just completed another super successful home remodel project with Talmadge Construction! This is my 4th time with them for various updates and I couldn't be more thrilled! This renovation was scheduled for 3 months and it was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. That never happens! With Talmadge it does, and this 100 yr. old bathroom is now a stunning work of art! The construction team is beyond professional and courteous, along with a full service shop with the most insightful design and architecture staff. I was overwhelmed with my own indecisiveness on color, materials, extent of how much to update, etc., and this team held my hand til the final day with my appreciation. Side note: due to the age of the home, some amazing relics were revealed behind the gutted walls. The team was so thoughtful in not destroying any of it, checking with me about my interest in saving any of the old materials discovered along the way, some dating back to the late 1800s (so cool to see SC Sentinel newspapers used as wallpaper backing, from 1909!). I can't recommend Talmadge more highly, and am already counting on them for my next project. History: My parents loved the work Talmadge did for them on their home too, dating back to the '80s. I learned about the Talmadge team from my folks, and have been my go-to for any construction/contract needs, large or small, since.

We are VERY happy with the work done by
Talmadge Construction! They were great with the design and the installation, and also the communications with us throughout the process. They made it very easy on us, and did a super good job. The new kitchen is wonderful.

Talmadge Construction helped us do a total condo remodel in Aptos, CA! We could not have hoped for a better group of people to help us! At the time, we did not live locally and they were so responsible, trustworthy and made the project seamless. It took 5 months to wrap up the project and they adhered to the proposed timeline!
Their support also after the project is done is remarkable.
Jeff, Mena and David, you guys rock!