Marius Construction

We just finished a kitchen remodel in Berkeley with Marius and his crew, and it was a fantastic experience. From the beginning to the end, everything was great. Reasonable cost? Check (about a third of some others). Finished on schedule? Check. Within budget? Check. Good quality work? Check, check. Knowledge of /​experience with managing the permit process, so that the permit was pulled and final sign-​off received without any hiccups? Check, check. A pleasant experience? Triple check. Marius and Vali are not only great contractors, they are great people. They took good care of us, were flexible and problem-​solving when needed, and even did little extra projects that came up during the job without charging us labor. An ideal contractor experience. I could not recommend them more highly.

Two neighbors used Marius for their recent remodels/​additions and based on their recommendations we selected him for our second story addition/​remodel. When we signed the contract with Marius we thought he was going to do the work himself — we had our architect vett his skills and knowledge — but without checking with us or letting us vett the new GC, Marius subcontracted the job to someone else as GC who Marius did not seem to be able to control and who did not complete the job. I had numerous arguments with the GC about problems (including improperly constructed tarps during the rain that filled with water and tore loose in the middle of the night requiring me to go over to climb on the roof to secure them at midnight and having Albany Police show up with guns drawn, threatening to walk off the job unless I gave him a payment when all of our new windows and doors were just delivered and stacked in the driveway, improperly configured roof trusses that required over a month to correct delaying the completion of the project, using a stepstool without rubber feet that dented our new hardwood floors in numerous places and more).
I had hoped that after the GC took his tools and left with the job incomplete in September that Marius would step up and finish the work that we had agreed to (including passing the final inspection). It has been almost five months and Marius has, after repeated nagging, shown up for a day or so at a time to finish one or two incomplete/​broken elements (like reinstalling the rear sliding door that was installed out of plumb and wouldn’t lock) but then doesn’t return to complete the work. There are foundation bolts that haven’t had the nuts tightened, there is a dangerous trench in our backyard, a broken window and medicine cabinet, etc. etc. and yet Marius has not been seen or heard from for over three weeks.
I really wished Marius would come through after our bad experience with his sub-​GC and I could write a positive review but I’m now giving up on him and looking for another contractor who can finish the work and fix the mistakes made by Marius’ sub.

When you get bitten by the ‘reno’ bug or watch too much HGTV, you want to improve continuously!
After our kitchen renovation 2 years ago, my husband and I bought a new small house/​cottage that we knew would need updating. Knowing that we could hire Marius and his crew again, made the purchase of our new ‘fixer upper’ possible.
We saved for two years and after a 4 month renovation, the final inspection was completed today! Marius’ team of Vali and John did incredible work, once again!
This time, the project was much bigger than a relatively simple kitchen make-​over.
We redid almost everything–
New hardwood floors
New kitchen with new cabinets, sink, back-​splash, counter, the works
Two new bathrooms with complete updates including new tile floors, new showers/​tub, new fixtures, paint, lighting, etc.
A new loft above our bedroom to create a reading nook
A new walk-​in closet to connect our bedroom and bathroom, resulting in a true ‘master suite’
The pictures tell the full story.
Everything came in on budget and except for the Holiday break, Vali worked 6 days a week to complete the project on time, even though we added an extra project (loft) mid-​way through construction.
When you hire Marius Construction, know that what Marius does best is understand your vision, then put together a talented team of people to deliver. Marius doesn’t need to be ‘on site’ every day, he knows his people (like Vali and John) will get things right and uphold his reputation as a General Contractor.

Marius and his crew built our new roof deck last year, did a beautiful job at a very reasonable rate. Great communication throughout the process. Project took longer than we wished, but it was more important to get it done right. Marius was also very flexible with changes. Highly recommended for the value.

Marius’ brother, Benjamin, just finished a bathroom at our house and all I can say is WOW!
Here are the reasons why I will hire either of these brothers for any other project at our house:
1. They are easy to work with and respectful towards any ideas you might want to incorporate into your project. (For example, they tied in our shower and sink to our preexisting gray water line, and installed a saniflo toilet, which takes special plumbing).
2. They show up every day at 8:00 AM and work extremely hard.
3. They take their job seriously and have real pride in their work. (If you pay attention to finishing details, etc. their work is seriously impressive).
4. Benjamin is able to figure out creative and good looking solutions for our funky house (for example, he boxed in some exposed wood in such a professional way that it looks like a design component).
5. They go the extra mile to be sure you are happy with their work – I can’t emphasize enough their high level of professional pride!
6. They have all of their own guys who do the electrical, plumbing, etc.
7. They have a positive, friendly attitude and they stay on schedule.
8. They are reasonably priced!
If you need work done in your home don’t hesitate to call Marius and Benjamin!

We worked with Marius and his crew to remodel my kitchen and master bathroom. My house was a 90-​yr old craftsman. Marius seemed knowledgeable and was creative to come up with practical solutions for problems encountered working on this old house. We had a minor leakage in our kitchen shortly after we moved in. He was very responsive and fixed the problem the next day. This gave us peace of mind knowing we can count on his service. Would definitely recommend him.

Once you’ve found Marius, you need look no further.
Our project was an extensive remodel, involving a cathedral ceiling, all new windows (big heavy ones!), new walls, 2 new bathrooms and lots and lots of details.
Marius laid out a clear plan, stayed on schedule, dealt with unexpected surprises as they came up and was a joy to work with.
He and his crew were sensitive to the fact that we had a little boy running around the work site. They cleaned up every night, making things safe and tidy so we could continue living there and always had time to talk to me, my wife and our son.
On top of all that, Marius hit his schedule and cost estimates. Anytime we have a project, we no longer have to search the jungle of general contractors.

Just to add a note on Marius Construction… He just finished a fabulous roof for me. Finished out the attic, designed the actual roof with care and reshingled the South side of the house. I can’t imagine having any more trust in a contractor than I do Marius. He is a real problem solver… think 100 years of three layers of roofing shingles need to come down with only 18″ separating my neighbor’s home from mine. I was THAT nervous. But I need not have been. With Marius Construction you can breathe easy rather than worry how in the world you ae going to make it through the remodel.

My kitchen interior designer flaked out on me and disappeared when I needed help the most, but thankfully Marius, owner of the Marius Construction company, was there. He came highly recommended but as I’d had less than agreeable expectations from other contractors, I had my doubts. Well, I was NOT disappointed. Marius was wonderful! He went above and beyond my expectations. I had a very small budget so I was very grateful to Marius for kindly suggesting ways to extend usable space in my tiny kitchen. He saved me money, time and materials, and was able to offer extremely usable advice. Marius also did some extra work, free of charge, one of which had nothing at all to do with my kitchen!
Friendly, flexible, tidy and cheerful and professional, I would highly recommend Marius and his crew. He is an all around very likable guy