Testimonials

Our job required attention to exacting standards and extreme finishing detail. We couldn't recommend Steve Tappan more highly. He completed the job on schedule despite some major unforeseen difficulties, and created a beautiful new home for our family. His primary qualities are dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, and his honest, trustworthy approach to the business end of the job. He paid keen attention to details, and has a very approachable communication style, which is a real asset when the complex issues need to be faced and agreement must happen. We would definitely work with Tappan Builders again.

-- The Fernandez Family, Piedmont, CA

Three words: “professional, caring, and meticulous”, these are the words I use to describe Steve Tappan of Tappan Builders. I have worked with Tappan for over 15 years on many projects large and small. As a result of our association we have won numerous awards and have many satisfied clients. During construction Steve Tappan is the key team player. Steve’s role as a leader during the construction process enables him to manage the entire process. He has strong administrative abilities enabling him to implement and coordinate the work. He communicates well with the clients, the architect and engineers, subcontractors and suppliers and involves the appropriate parties at the proper time. Paperwork for estimates, project correspondence and change orders is timely and accurate. Most importantly he follows up to complete the project leaving the homeowner with 5-10% more than they expected. The last 2% of the project is the hardest to complete and Tappan makes sure that the homeowners are pleased with the result. When I need to refer a contractor with the right timbre, I refer Tappan Builders.

-- Robert Alan Wolf AIA

R.A.W. Concepts Architecture and Interiors

"I have worked with Steve for years and would highly recommend him. Steve is an excellent contractor and I alway enjoy working with him. He is very knowledgeable, solution oriented, and always professional. HIs work is of the highest level and craftsmanship. I can count on Steve to not miss a single detail and as a designer that is really important to me. His projects always run smoothly and efficiently. His team beside being personable are hardworking, experienced and are willing to go above and beyond to get things done. I know when I refer Steve I will have happy clients and a beautiful project."

-- Suzanne Childress, Suzanne Childress Design

"Steve Tappan and his excellent crew re-built our house after a fire and his work is outstanding and his prices were reasonable. It was a very complicated project which involved a great deal of paperwork and documentation but he exceeded all of our expectations in terms of quality, budget, communication and project management. He carefully documented all change orders and I signed off on them before any of the work was started. Steve's wealth of knowledge regarding building code and permits and his insistence on doing things correctly allowed him to quickly navigate the construction through various city inspections. He managed the interaction with 3rd parties and managed our expectations and prepared me for any unforeseen findings. He continuously searched for and communicated cost effective alternatives to some our ideas and I felt we were given valid options and consequences. Steve was always available, always professional. After the construction was done and permitted, he continued to be available for questions and suggestions. I highly recommend Steve and his crew for any renovation or building project in the area."

-- Anja P., Berkeley, CA

"I have had Tappan Builders work on several projects for us in our house (originally constructed in about 1918). These projects include two extensive remodelings, one of which required us to move out of the house for 8-9 months. Tappan's work is first rate, and the finish on the first of these projects still looks excellent eleven years later. I believe you get what you pay for with contractors. Tappan Builders is not the cheapest--but their work and attention to detail is absolutely the best. I found Steve Tappan (the owner of the business) to be professional, friendly, extremely honest and very good about managing the time for a project. Sure we had change orders which slightly inflated the cost of things--but in every instance that was our choice and not the result of some manipulation by Tappan Builders. And as a measure of how much they value their relationships with clients, we have had Steve and crew back to our house on several occasions for touch ups or minor repairs on things long past the warranty period. They were always prompt and the bill was always negligible, and in one case waived all together because they fixed it quickly. This is the practice of a contractor who understands how important a long-term connection with a client can be for repeat business and the possibility of referrals. I have happily recommended Tappan to others throughout the last decade, and he has worked on many of my neighbors' homes in the Crocker Highlands area of Oakland. I highly recommend this contractor!"

-- Joe T., Oakland, CA

Ours was a big project, and our experience with Steve Tappan was excellent from beginning to end. Steve is knowledgeable, business-like, organized, efficient and professional. He is easy to talk to and available when you need him. He takes real pride in the work he does. He chooses talented craftspeople as subcontractors, he supervises their work closely, and he sees to it that everything is completed in a timely and skillful manner. Throughout the process, Steve worked harmoniously with our architect and, as the work unfolded, offered his own excellent aesthetic suggestions which were invaluable to the result. Now that the work is done and we think back over the process, we remind ourselves regularly how fortunate we were to have chosen Steve to be our contractor. He made the job as easy as it could possibly be. We are thrilled with the result and we really cannot recommend him highly enough.

-- Jan T., Albany, CA