Bellante Construction

Michael and his crew built a large addition to our house on what was once a walk up attic. The homeowners supplied approved prints, engaged the architect, and handled processing a variance with the city. Michael acquired the permit and provided the building/contracting services. The permit was acquired in August, work did not begin until November, and the permit was closed in September the following year. Overall, Michael’s direct employees (foreman, carpenters, and painters) did a good job; finish work was excellent. However, his subcontractors (plumbing, HVAC, electrician) repeatedly caused substantial trouble and showed a lack of care/understanding in their work. Plumbers shouldn’t pretend to be electricians, and HVAC contractors should engineer their install and follow manufacturer’s specifications - it’s not a guessing game. Michael himself was at times easy to deal with and understanding (like when our attic was flooded causing damage to the lower two floors), and other times patronizing and seemingly unaware of his own subs schedules. Poor project planning early on w/material lead times (windows) lead to no attic insulation over the winter & a pest infestation. Quoting & invoicing from Michael had double counted items and was obviously copied over from a previous project, while leaving out key items such as masonry work. Multiple mistakes set the project back and cost us time, sanity, comfort, and money (some of which was reimbursed). The list includes: frying the main thermostat (multiple times), shorting out the boiler control board, reversing hot/cold water lines, leaving water to the house mostly shutoff, the list goes on… None of these problems were identified by the contractors but left for us (homeowners) to discover in a string of unfortunate test scenarios during the evening. To Michael’s credit most were fixed reasonably quickly. The HVAC subs were probably the most consternating, repeatedly demonstrating a lack of understanding in their own profession which at several points nearly derailed the entire project. As the last laugh the project was ‘finished’ without ever testing the heat in the new 3rd floor, and the A/C system still struggles with low cooling demands. We would not recommend hiring them for a major addition. We do not trust their subcontractors. If you have a simple painting, carpentry, bathroom, or kitchen renos they can probably handle it.

Excellent job installing a front entry door with sidelights in an 1840 house with all sorts of out of square/out of plumb challenges. Nice job of integrating into existing structure and trim. Very good communication regarding scheduling.

Michael Bellante has done several carpentry, tiling, window replacement, and interior painting jobs for me for the last seven years, but this was the first exterior painting his company did for me. He painted two neighbors' houses two years ago, and they still look like they had just been done. My two and a half story house faces the ocean, so it takes a beating from the elements. Almost two-thirds of the time Michael's painters worked on this project was spent on prep work: scraping, sanding, removing areas of 100 year old paint to the bare wood, removing mold and mildew, applying caulking -- even washing the existing white aluminum gutters with heavy-duty bleach to make them look like new. They applied a primer and one coat of finish in a four color combination: the upper story and a half in the base color, the first story 50% lighter, the trim a third color, and the doors the fourth. The lines where colors meet are crisp and neat; the coverage is even all over. And the price was reasonable for the amount of work that was done to make the house look great. Michael's painters are hardworking, professional, courteous, and take pride in the work they do. They arrived everyday at 7AM and finished at sunset. At the end of day, all the ladders were neatly stacked in the back yard. The site was thoroughly cleaned, and the trash was removed. The place was spotless. I am very pleased with the result. It's the best the house has looked, and I have received many compliments on the new paint job from the neighbors and complete strangers who have passed by. Michael has three more paint jobs within sight of my house this summer. I am confident to recommend Michael J. Bellante Home Services.

Michael J Bellante Home Services a contractor that I trust and respect for the quality of work, his attention to detail, and professionalism. Michael has done everything for me from crown molding, to replacing a bay window, to remodeling a bathroom. And all for a responsible price. His crew is terrific. They arrive on schedule, are skilled craftsmen who take pride in the work, and at the end of the day leave the site spotless. I wish all contractors were like Michael. I have recommended MJB Home Services to several friends, all of whom are happy that I did.

Thanks to the recommendation from a neighbor, Michael J. Bellante Home Services has been doing major construction and small repairs projects for me for the past four years. Michael is the consummate professional, who provides quality work, responds immediately to phone calls and emails, and does what he says he is going to do and on time. I have had other contractors in the past who have just given me one-price estimates with no details. Michael's estimates, on the other hand, always itemize the separate components of a project so I know exactly what each will cost. And his prices are responsible, especially considering the quality of the workmanship of his crew. To date, MJB Home Services has done a two room addition, replaced two porches, remodeled the kitchen, installed 15 windows and replaced the house & garage roofs. The next project is a new outside paint job. I highly recommend MJB Home Services if you want a good job for a fair price.