Younger Brothers Builders (YBB)

Lauren Daffurn Simpson on Younger Brothers Builders (YBB)

When the plumbing in both of our upstairs bathrooms failed, we opted to expand the space and redesign the layout, which required also making adjustments to the front of our home. Thank goodness we opted to work with YBB on the project. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

From the very start, the YBB team demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism and expertise. They took the entire project down to the studs, completely reimagined the layout, and delivered a finished result that exceeded every expectation. What truly set them apart was their ability to manage every moving part seamlessly, from navigating the permitting process with the City of San Ramon with ease, to coordinating an outstanding architect, to keeping the daily schedule running like clockwork.

One of the things we appreciated most was being able to see real, visible progress every single day. It gave us tremendous confidence that the project was in the right hands.

A very special thank you to Edgar, Julian, Phil and Sam, four of the knowledgeable employees, whose attention to detail, project management execution and deep knowledge of building codes and regulations made all the difference. Their expertise was evident at every stage, and their commitment to doing the job right was apparent.

If you are considering a remodel and want a contractor who will handle every detail with care, communicate clearly, and deliver beautiful results, look no further than YBB. We were one of their smaller projects. I can only imagine the peace of mind they provide with a total home renovation. Thank you, YBB team - we love our new bathrooms!

Christopher Canoles on Younger Brothers Builders (YBB)

We were looking for a general contractor to execute our architect's plans for a whole home remodel. We met with several contractors before YBB but couldn't find the right fit in terms of style/approach, budget, and pricing structure (fixed price vs. T&M). When we met with Cam (the owner), he was professional but laid back, honest and upfront about what was realistic in terms of timeline and budget for our project, and asked questions about what were the most important elements so we could think through areas to prioritize to meet our budget. We ultimately decided on completing the project in two phases. Phase 1 included demolition (including new foundation) and remodel of the front half of our home, including kitchen remodel, living room, guest bathroom, adding a bedroom for our daughter, mudroom, and new garage. Cam and his team continued to work with us during the pre-contract phase to keep us updated on their project calendar and when might be a good time to start the work. We couldn't have been happier with the entire YBB team during the construction phase – overall they are all very available and responsive via text and email, kept all the subs on track and informed of project details, and pushed where needed without creating additional stress and burden on us. The YBB crew was respectful of our home and space and we always felt like we were in good hands and well-cared for. Specifically: - Sam (office manager) coordinated the project via email and text like a master conductor or JFK air traffic controller. She kept us up to date on the various workstreams. She also has quite an eye for design and we appreciated her input on the project. - Julian (Foreman) is kind, trustworthy, and patient. He was a calming presence directing the crew on site and is a skilled craftsman in his own right, installing custom pantry shelves, wainscoting, and general woodworking. - Cam (owner) was the perfect combination of professionalism, candor, and personality. He was calm in every situation and we were never worried about the status of our project. He took ultimate ownership, was very realistic about budget and timeline, and when we had questions, he always made sure to respond directly via phone or email the same day or directed us to appropriate members of his team and made sure they addressed our concerns. One of Cam’s best qualities is his ability to connect on a personal level and not take himself too seriously, imparting a sense of calm and levity during what is typically described by people as a stressful time in their lives. The YBB team delivered the project on schedule and on budget, despite dealing with covid restrictions and working on multiple clients' projects concurrently with ours. They were a true pleasure to work with. We will definitely be working with them when we are ready for phase 2 of our remodel.

Michelle Kitchen on Younger Brothers Builders (YBB)

YBB was an extreme joy to work with. We bought our house site unseen and between Sam, Cam and Julian we couldn't have been in better hands. The scope of work included the gutting and updating of 2.5 bathrooms, retexturing all existing "cave like" walls, floor replacement, lighting/electrical and pretty much removing all traces of an older style. The overall feel of the project was an almost whole house upgrade/renovation. Sam's patience and attention to your design style was warming and thoughtful (very much appreciated). Cam's practical approach to where to put your money and improve the home was amazing and refreshing (which always was accompanied by some kind of joke). Julian's eye for detail and precision did not go unnoticed. My family and I keep hunting for projects to call them back to do but unfortunately they left us a beautiful and warm home that for the first time we can really say feels like us. For that we will always be thankful to YBB.

Sherry Steinmetz on Younger Brothers Builders (YBB)

In hindsight, it should have been a red flag that Cam was complaining about how picky his current clients were being. He was wrapping up a large remodel and was terribly annoyed by all of the “nitpicking” his clients were doing. Well, one year later, it was me that he found annoying and thought was nitpicking.

I added 1000 sq feet to my home in Alamo, remodeled most of my existing house and I built an ADU in my backyard.
Younger brothers builders consisted of owner Cam, admin Sam and Foreman Julian. They were the 2nd most expensive bid I received, but I wanted great quality and was willing to pay for it.

Positives: Cam noticed, and thus my architect corrected, a few items that were not included in my plans, that had they gone unnoticed, would have led to a major disappointment in the final project. Julian was a great foreman and wonderful to work with when he was on the job site. Julian has excellent customer service. The plumbers, electricians, concrete guys, roofers and framers all seemed to be great.

Negatives: I won’t list all of the cons, just the major ones. In general, the customer service was not good and there was a general “don’t bother me” attitude by Cam. Even when the HVAC guys forgot to reconnect the heater over Thanksgiving week. Cam wouldn’t come reconnect it until Monday morning. He lived 15 minutes away.

The calendar / schedule rarely reflected what was actually happening.

The finish - Sheetrock, paint, stucco are so important because that’s what you end up looking at.

The Level 4 drywall had many blebs and most frustrating- many nail heads were showing through the drywall, which Cam said was normal (it’s definitely not something a client should be left with) and he’d only fix for additional cost.

Paint - I’ll just summarize by saying it was very sloppy. The junctions between tile and paint were not clear, there was overspray on many windows and skylights, there was paint / overspray on my new floors and along the baseboard, there was tape sticking out from underneath the baseboards. Overall, just poor quality.

Stucco - my house was old and the stucco had many crack lines and was generally dingy looking, so I decided that I wanted to re-stucco the entire house rather than just the addition. I was given options on colors, but I said I just wanted something close to what I had already in texture and color. I didn’t even realize when the stucco was finished. I thought it was a base layer because it was so smooth. It started cracking and chunks were falling off the corners and bottom edges almost immediately. I was so upset. The reason I decided to stucco the entire house was to make it uniform and to fill in the cracks that I had in my existing stucco. The weather was very mild at the time, and Cam told that there was nothing they could do… It was just the soil in Alamo. He agreed to have the stucco guy come back once (and was clear it would be only once) for touch up, but he was clearly annoyed with my request and Cam at this point was acting like every request I had was annoying him. He had moved on to other projects months before and I was now that client who was “too picky and annoying”… just like the one he complained to me about.
Well, the stucco repairs were done poorly. The color was too light and it was piled on too thick. The sub, “Paddy” said he hand mixes the color and he can’t be sure that when it dries, it will match. None of his repairs matched well and are still noticeable. It’s now a year later and there are more cracks and edges broken off of the stucco on my home than on the old stucco that I was replacing. Cam’s solution was that, at my own expense, I should hire a painter and put a coat of elastomeric paint on.

Michael Watson on Younger Brothers Builders (YBB)

We were very happy with the remodel/renovation work that Cam and his team did on our home. Cam had several great ideas to improve the living space and resolve various issues we had with the original layout. He remained sensitive to the budget and timeline, and set realistic expectations right up front. Cam's communication was always clear and thorough, and the team were always prompt and professional.