Client Comments

Mark Thomas did an exceptional job organizing and managing the remodel process. The subcontractors he brought in (Demolition, Plumbing, Electrical, Drywall, Carpentry, Cement, Tile & Flooring) were to a person quality and professional individuals. Work was performed on a timely basis and we are happy with the results. We highly recommend Straw Dogs Construction, Inc. !!!

Our small house near UA had lived through over 15 years of our kids college and grad school years and was starting to have major issues with plumbing. We decided to remodel the whole home and Straw Dogs was our choice. From the drawing of plans, the changing of plans and through the entire remodel process Mark was an outstanding contractor. He kept me appraised of everything, assured we stayed on budget and has a fantastic team of professionals who made this house into an amazing place. HGTV should have filmed this transformation for it is truly a beautiful open concept home now. Mark, Kristy and all the folks associated with Straw Dogs are professional, trustworthy, reliable and honest. We even finished several weeks earlier than projected! I highly recommend Straw Dogs construction for any remodeling you may need.

Mine was a small project getting my town home ready to be put on the market. Mark from Straw Dogs Construction is very personable and professional. He had excellent ideas saving me money, worked with outstanding subcontractors, and project came in under estimate. Superb clean-up too! A clean home inspection report was the result :)

Straw Dogs Construction did a great job on my remodeling project. The project included multiple stages, and Mark took it from a dream in my head through the planning and permit stages and to completion. He was very flexible to work with, allowing many pieces to be completed by my son. He was always pleasant about my many changes and additions, and continued to stay in touch and offer assistance with the pieces of the project that we did outside of the contract. His subs were the best, and I am very pleased with the outcome.

Good communication, good subcontractors, and good pricing. These are the things you want when you hire a contractor to work on your home. Mark Thomas of Straw Dogs Construction is excellent at all three and we highly recommend him. Mark and his crews completely gutted the smallish original bath in our 1935 home in October 2013. Before the work started, he spent time with us to get to know us and make sure he knew what we wanted and needed, and that we understood the contract. He is also more than happy to suggest ways to save money on the project—this is not to be confused with cutting corners. For example, he offers you the chance to do some of the work yourself which in our case included shopping for the fixtures and tiles. He sent us to good vendors who provide good quality products and helpful suggestions. During the work he kept in close contact with us as well as the subs he uses so we all knew who was going to be working and when. He was juggling several other jobs besides ours at the time but always kept the work moving efficiently. The subs all did excellent work. Our project was quite small as remodels go but everybody treated it like it was just as important to them as it was to us. Babich Tile did a beautiful job with the floor and tub tile and made helpful suggestions with details. Hartman Glass provided a really nice set of doors and glass surround for the tub that work and look great. Tile and glass are obvious because those are the things you see the most, but we were also impressed by the work done and suggestions by the electrician, plumbers, sheetrockers, and even the stucco repair crew where plumbing work went outside the house. Mark offered us the opportunity to save money by painting the bathroom ourselves. When we declined, he did the work himself and made it look easy while doing a perfect job. Mark takes great care to protect other parts of the house and traffic areas so there is no damage anywhere else. He also emphasizes that he guarantees all the work, even after a year. At this point, we can’t imagine needing to call him to fix anything that’s gone wrong because the work was so well done to begin with. All-in-all, we found Mark and Straw Dogs to be honest, efficient, fair, and excellent at the work, and would highly recommend him. He will go the extra distance to make things work and look great.

After my initial contractor quit because his ambitions outscaled my modest budget, I lamented this latest downturn in my seemingly endless kitchen remodeling project to a fellow neighborhood dog-lover as we walked our dogs. Serendipitously it was Mark Thomas, and when I asked him, he informed me that he did indeed know of a good contractor -- himself!. It was no idle boast but the absolute truth. In only a few weeks after we signed the contract, my horrible, dark, dingy, tiny old 1948 kitchen has been transformed into a big and bright and beautiful cook's kitchen. The subcontractors he worked with were all top notch and did first rate work. Mark kept me well informed about the progress, and his continual emphasis on quality maintained my confidence throughout his very successful involvement in my kitchen renovation. And he brought the project in UNDER budget! I hope in the not too distant future to have the pleasure of working with Straw Dogs and Mark Thomas again when I remodel the bathrooms...!

In the spring of 2013, we added a small sitting room/office onto our master bedroom, and extended a patio roofline to create more covered outdoor space. For our contractor we chose Mark Thomas of Straw Dogs Construction, Inc. We now look on our completed project with great satisfaction, and are extremely pleased with our decision to use Mark. During our search for a contractor, we hesitated with the selection process, but Mark's name kept coming up, especially with a strong recommendation from Grant Road Lumber. We spoke with Mark early on, and occasionally he would call to see if we had any questions. We respected the fact that he never put any pressure on us, but was supportive and helpful. For instance, he steered us to a draftsman who could draw up the plans needed for a bid. Mark knew how to maintain courteous contact while still allowing the final selection of contractor to be our own decision. In the end, we sensed that he was the right person for the job. By the time we signed the contract, we felt as if together we were already a team with a common goal. Groundbreaking was a couple of months after we signed. During that time, Mark was arranging the sub-contractors schedules and acquiring the necessary city permit. Preparation time would surely vary depending on his workload, and the client's needs. Once the job was underway, Mark kept the ball rolling. Sub-contractors showed up when planned, or if there was a change (only occasionally), we were notified ahead. Without fail, each sub-contractor was extremely professional, reliable, and set high standards for themselves. It was clear they were experts in their respective fields. Yet also, they were friendly and approachable, willing to answer questions. There was an implicit trust in the team of people Mark assembled. In fact, it was a pleasure to meet each new group. Throughout, Mark was on the site most days, checking in with workers, and several times even lending a hand himself when needed. He was visible and involved at every major step, and in-between too. One of Mark's strongest traits is his level of communication. He understood our overall goals, but took time to work out the small details with us. We always were well informed about who was showing up next, and when. Knowing that he juggles several jobs at once, it was amazing to watch how effectively he fit the pieces together, mindful of everyone's time. He once said that each evening he writes notes on that particular day's jobs. We firmly believe that. When talking to him, his memory of details is often astounding. He is a consummate professional, as was everyone else we met. Many comment that Mark becomes like a friend. This is so true. Having a conversation with him is natural. He really listens to people. In addition, you respect the man for his honesty, integrity, and hard work. You also intuitively sense the deeply solid business partnership he shares with his wife. Kristy. She handles most, if not all, of the paperwork, billing, and emailing. Together they are a T-E-A-M we would recommend without hesitation. Definitely consider Mark Thomas if you are searching for a contractor. Give Mark and Kristy of Straw Dogs Construction, Inc. a try.

Thank you, Mark, for the incredible work you and the guys did at the Ben's Bells studio! We are thrilled with our new counter, shelves, and door and are beyond grateful for your kindness in donating your time. We loved working with Chris - what an artisan! We at Ben's Bells want everyone to know that Straw Dogs does amazing work, and they are incredibly KIND! Thank you!!

We have had the experience of contracting with Straw Dogs and Mark Thomas for work required in two locations in Tucson. On 2 occasions we had windows replaced in a rental we own. Both of these change out were done with renters on site. The work was done with very little disturbance to the renters and the mess being contained to a local area and cleaned at the end of the work day. The quality of workmanship was very good and the jobs were within quoted price and accomplished as per schedule. Recently I asked Mark to give me a price on upgrading our kitchen with quartz counter tops and back splash with a tiled section up another wall. This work went good as well with the sub contractor for the counter being held to the quality of work Mark commits to and we expect. Mark's wife Kristy, of Kreative Designs, consulted with my wife to help in color and counter top selection. She knows her business and we were both very pleased with the outcome. The relationship we developed with Mark over these jobs is comfortable for my wife and me and we would recommend for any home renovations being considered.

We would wholeheartedly recommend Straw Dogs Construction for any home construction or remodel project. Our home was extensively remodeled by the company and they came in on time and within the agreed budget parameters. They are a creative bunch who demonstrated skill and reliability in completing their work. We were also pleasantly surprised by their high quality standards which made the whole process easier.

We connected with Mark and Kristy looking for a contractor to remodel our town house in Arizona. At our first meeting, we knew they were honest and forthright. With us living in Anchorage, Alaska we were able to trust them implicitly. They kept us informed every step of the way. There were NO surprises. And because of their very good taste and concern that we received the very best, our new home in Tucson is more than we expected. And the extra bonus is that they have become very good friends. The next home in Tucson we buy will certainly receive their excellent care.

If you have to pick what Characters are going to show up very early in your Mornings - PICK THESE! Straw Dogs is the finest of the Fine. From the visioning process and throughout its completion, not a detail gets missed. The expertise is there should complications set in, and if needed, they work well with architects and other appropriate others. Their accountability is unsurpassable, and they are absolute professionals. Straw Dogs works with you and treats you as if you're Kin and it's their house.

They've won my Heart. Each Person - and that includes their Subs. This can be a chaos-rendering experience unless you're working with the BEST and the most Respectful. It lifts my spirits to see them coming. My home is going to be fabulously strong and beautiful for many years to come, and I hope Straw Dogs will call me Friend forever..

Mark Thomas and his crew have done some amazing work on what was once a run-down 1940's nondescript rental. We continue to turn to Mark for his expertise and knowledge about remodeling and making general improvements to our property. He has helped make this house our home and retreat

Thank you, Mark Thomas, for our new deck! We knew when we purchased our home that we'd need a new deck. After we decided to have a TREX deck built we inquired about finding a good contractor. We were given your name and company, Straw Dogs Construction, with a good recommendation from Grant Lumber. After talking to us about our plans, you gave us a reasonable bid and we said, "Build it." The results have given us a beautiful addition to our home which we'll be able to enjoy for the next 25 years or more. You and your crew were professional, friendly, courteous and accommodating, plus you had the expertise and skills to build our deck. We are now enjoying a very special well-built and attractive deck.