Santilli & Forster Construction

I used Mario when I renovated my loft in West Oakland. It was a big job, we installed a loft bedroom, with a custom bathroom install, which included some very creative plumbing solutions.
The result was stunning. Mario located some amazing/​vintage douglas fir beams, did a custom/​floating staircase and turned my loft into a showplace. The rails for the loft and the staircase were custom welded, a giant soaking tub had was placed on a pedestal etc etc.
I found him easy to deal with, and his staff were professional and courteous. It was a good experience.

I am not one to write negative reviews, but I feel I need to share my experience with Santilli & Forster Construction.
After a two month search and multiple quotes I chose Santilli & Forster due in a large part to the recommendations I received for Mario Santilli’s work on our street and at a friend’s house. Apparently, although they share the same business name, Mario Santilli and John Forster run somewhat autonomous contracting outfits. Although our recommendations were for Mario, we thought having John would mean we would be blessed with the same level of service we heard so much about. However; John was our General Contractor (GC) on our double bathroom remodel.
The job John managed was focused on replacing windows, replacing rotten boards, replacing the shower, adding a bathroom fan, replacing a bathtub and retiling the bathtub and shower. I completed the rest of the bathroom remodel (painting, tiling the floor and replacement of medicine cabinets and sinks).
In short, although everybody was very nice on the job site, I should have probably just done it all myself. I had to micromanage the project since the GC only came by or called if I had a complaint or there was a milestone that required a payment. I had to remind them to replace the rotten wall studs (the main reason for the remodel) since they were just going to seal it all up behind the shower?! The tilers (subcontractors) went in after the walls were repaired and started working and they did a great job, even accommodating a design change part way through.
As soon as the contractors were done, we took a shower… and there was a leak in the drain pipe. They came back and fixed it. Then I noticed the subfloor was wet when I was under the house… and asked them to come back again. They came out and said they fixed it. I went under the house again a week later and the floorboards were still wet. There was some back and forth with the GC who did not believe me that it was leaking so I called the building inspector for a consult and he came out, verified it was leaking and told the GC they needed to fix the leak before final inspection was signed off (thank goodness for building permits and codes!)…he also had them fix some issues with the drain pipes. The GC sent someone out to fix the leak, and it kept leaking. The came out again and finally fixed the leak in the supply pipe.
The building inspector finaled the project, then I went under the house again and saw another drain pipe leak. I decided not to call the contractor and just do it myself. It no longer leaks. I am not sure if they were stretched too thin or didn’t think my job was important, but for nearly $ 20,000 I expected SO much more — a three week project that turned into a six month long battle for bathrooms that work.
I really want to be able to recommend them due to the pleasant and accommodating nature of the GC’s staff and subcontractors, but I just can’t due to the GC’s lack of oversight and quality control procedures.

Hmmm… I wonder who put these guys in here? Honest, it wasn’t me!
Well, I can’t vouch for their abilities to remodel my home, because I have never hired them. I have however worked for them for nearly a year and I have to say, «It’s been pretty good.» Therefore I can vouch for their home remodeling abilities, because I see it and do it every day. These guys are excellent. Nice principles. Knowledgeable leads. Impeccable carpenters, if I do say so myself…