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On Angi, the company describes itself as locally owned and operated with over 30 years of industry experience, and says it specializes in handyman and carpentry work. It holds 4.4 stars there from 16 ratings. A 2018 customer said John came by for an estimate the first day they talked on the phone, and that two days later he and his assistant arrived exactly at the scheduled time. That 2018 customer wrote that the project was done in less time than estimated and cost less than originally thought. A 2018 customer wrote that John took on extra tasks added midway through and still finished within the original timeframe promised. A 2013 customer described a very well built staircase. A 2018 customer said Mr. McGovern's employee did the actual work on a kitchen job while he issued directions, that shaved parts were put back together and left unfinished, and that his rate was much higher than he had led them to believe. A 2013 customer called the work over priced and said wind still came through after work on the doors. A 2012 customer described cosmetic and structural issues with the craftsmanship and said the labor charges were refunded but the project needed redoing.
John was so accommodating and made my project a priority in his schedule. I was able to have the entire job done within a couple of days of meeting with him. I added additional items to the scope midway through and John was more than willing to take on the extra tasks and still finished within the original timeframe promised. I am looking forward to working with him again on other home improvement projects.
Mr. McGovern's work was extremely disappointing. I asked Mr. McGovern if he intended to completely finish the job I hired him to do. He said he would make the work look like it had been before his employee began the project, with reservations. Since Mr. McGovern told me he was a carpenter and a builder, I naturally assumed (wrongly) that he would work on my project himself. This was not the case as Mr. McGovern's employee performed the actual work while he only issued directions. Some parts of my kitchen had to be removed and shaved down as the kitchen door was too tight to open. The parts were shaved, put back together and were left without finishing the job. The pieces that were put bank in place and the door were left in a very ugly state. Then Mr. McGovern handed me an invoice which was also a big disappointment because his rate of remuneration was much higher than he had led me to believe. However, I paid the invoice and asked Mr. McGovern if he was going to complete my project at that time. He told me NO, not today because he had to leave my home to go to another job. I asked him if he would come back to finish the very ugly and unsightly job he left me with. I asked him when he would return to my home. He told me he would call me and let me know. I also asked him if the finished work would be included in he higher rate of pay that I had given to him. He told me it would not be and I would have to pay him again to finish the ugly job he had his employee do in my home. After I thought about the mess he made in my home and left the ugly job he left me with, I decided to call Mr McGovern and tell him NOT to return to my home again. I would have someone else look at that terrible job. I would never hire Mr McGovern again nor would I ever recommend him to anyone, in the event that he might rib off someone else as I feel he took advantage of me. It was an EXTREMELY BAD AND DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE, TO SAY THE LEAST! If other people were satisfied with Mr. McGovern's work, it is evident to me that he did NOT bother to do the same for me, and that he also over-charged me, which I did NOT appreciate. Once again, I shall NEVER have anything to do with Mr. McGovern hen it come to repairs in my home. If other people like him and would hire him, all I can say to that is, you can have him. He is NOT for me!Show
Quick, clean and done with quality in mind.
On the first day we talked on the phone John McGovern was able to come by for an estimate which was honest and reasonable. Two days later he and his assistant arrived exactly at the scheduled time and started working quickly and efficiently. The project was done within less time than estimated and therefore cost even less than originally thought. John McGovern and his assistant were professional, competent, efficient and pleasant. I was impressed that he even took this relatively small job in spite of the fact that he can do much more complex projects. It was a positive experience and I will definitely hire him again for future projects.
Great over all service! I will have him back to help with additional projects soon!
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1 change recorded — last scanned Oct 14, 2026.
Typical Connecticut range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from John McGovern Carpenter. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
A typical single-level deck is 12×16 — about 200 sq ft.
Estimated range
$7,300 – $13,600
Typical carpentry project around $10,500
Deck builds5.0
Thermofoil cabinet repair matched in color and texture5.0
Estimate matched the final cost5.0
Entire first floor opened up in one remodel5.0
