Not the service we expected or paid for.
We do not recommend working with Ashton Renovation.
Having lived in our 100-year-old home for nearly 15 years, we were particularly keen on hiring a contractor who could provide quality service, a positive customer experience, and a solid output for a kitchen renovation. Our experience did not meet our expectations:
The project began on February 5, 2024, and was completed on August 22, 2024 (nearly 7 months). It involved renovating a 12-by-14-foot kitchen, including removing one wall (non-load bearing). We began this project with an existing design (completed by a separate company), and most features were already selected (e.g., kitchen layout, cabinetry design, countertop, appliances).
There needed to be better coordination between Ashton Renovation and the cabinetry company we were asked to work with. It became apparent near the end of the project that Ashton Renovation, the cabinetry company, and we, as homeowners, were all working with different information. This led to several important details being overlooked, unnecessary frustration, and last-minute decisions that affected the desired outcome.
Mark (Lead contractor) failed to provide project oversight and management. We found his communication condescending and lacking understanding for homeowners to be without a kitchen for several months, with lengthy periods of inactivity between project tasks. He did not take accountability for project requests that were either unmet or had gone in a different direction than we had hoped for. Our concerns were often addressed by comments about his several years of experience. Despite these assertions, we did not see this experience reflected in how he communicated with us, the lack of project management and the lack of foresight in handling unexpected issues that would arise during a renovation of an older home.
We repeatedly told Mark that we had lost confidence in the process. We felt he should have shown more interest in correcting his processes or being flexible in accommodating our concerns. When we chose to withhold the remaining ~4% of the project budget (about $5,000) until the final activities were completed, he threatened to sue us despite having paid all invoices within 24-48 hours upon request.
After completing many major renovations in our home, our experience as homeowners tells us it doesn't have to be this way. We recommend finding a contractor who will value your patronage and work with you closely to get the most value for your money and time.