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About The Hammer CC
The Hammer Construction and Consulting is a professional renovation company operating in the Indianapolis area. The company is owned by the esteemed TV personality, Thadeus Starsiak from Good Bones. We focus on transforming older houses into stunning and habitable homes in neighborhoods across the city.
At The Hammer, we take pride in our versatility and adaptability. No project is too big or too small for us to do. Whether it’s a minor repair or a comprehensive restoration, we approach each task with the same level of dedication, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Our commitment to excellence and our unwavering can-do attitude ensure we deliver results that exceed expectations, regardless of the project’s complexity.
If you’re looking for further information about The Hammer CC, please contact us for further details.
ABOUT THE HAMMER TEAM
Thadeus Starsiak
Founder/CEO
My name is Thadeus Starsiak. I’m a native Hoosier, and I grew up on the Westside of Indianapolis. I attended Cardinal Ritter High School and IU. For the past three years, I have owned and operated Hammer Consulting and Construction. Prior to my own business, I worked for Two Chicks and a Hammer as their in-house GC and starred on HGTV’s Good Bones for 8 seasons. I am an expert in older home remodeling, but we do it all. It has been one of my greatest joys owning my own construction company. I receive a great sense of fulfillment in bringing homeowners’ visions to life with our incredible in-house team and subcontractors. Hopefully, we don’t just get to be your contractor, but maybe your friends as well. Much Love.
Austin Aynes
Admin/Project Manager
Austin Aynes is a driven individual hailing from Speedway, IN. He has been involved in the construction industry since his college graduation in 2015. Throughout his career, Austin had the opportunity to showcase his talent on an HGTV show for nearly a decade. This displays his commitment to excellence and his ability to handle complex projects. With a focus on home construction, Austin’s expertise extends to various areas within the field. His profound understanding and passion for creating exceptional homes are evident in every project he undertakes.
Juliana Barnett
Social Media/Marketing Manager
Meet Juliana Barnett, our passionate and talented Social Media/Marketing Manager at The Hammer Construction Company. Residing in Indianapolis, IN, Juliana is at the forefront of our online presence, utilizing her expertise to drive engagement and create captivating content about our company. Juliana’s genuine passion for social media and home renovations sets her apart. Growing up in a family of contractors, she developed a deep appreciation for home renovations and an innate ability to create compelling content around the subject. Her love for capturing the essence of our projects and showcasing our craftsmanship is reflected in her meticulously curated social media posts.
Jon Duncan
Lead Man
Introducing Jon, a dedicated construction professional fighting out of Greenwood, Indiana. Jon’s expertise lies in transforming patios and fences into stunning works of art. While also excelling in the art of crafting beautiful and smooth countertops. With two years of experience under his belt, Jon’s passion for his work shines through in every project he takes on. Jon’s attention to detail and commitment to precision make him an invaluable member of the team. His enthusiasm and jovial spirit make him the rootinest, tootinest cowboy you’ll find in the field – it’s Jon, Mr. Grump Duncan!
The Hammer Construction Process
Step 1: Phone Consultation
Hammer Construction is all about pre-planning and organizing from the jump. A phone
call helps give shape and dimension to the project(s) you have in mind. This would be
like the broad paint strokes in a painting or setting the cornerstone (pun intended) of the
project. It gives Hammer Construction a chance to ask critical questions about the
project(s) you want completed and allows us to get to know each other as well. Client
and GC compatibility is extremely important to us. We want you to be happy and feel
excited for your project(s) and we want to make sure we are working for a reasonable,
down to earth client! A phone consultation gives us a leg up on what work we might
perform once we get to our next step, an in-person consultation.
Here’s what you can
expect from a phone consultation:
– 20–45-minute free phone conversation
– Identifying what the projects are
– Asking questions back and forth to help get a better understanding of scope and
potential cost
– Sharing inspiration photos
– Sharing potential timeline and start dates
Step 2: In-Person Consultation
An in-person consultation will happen after we have communicated on the phone about
your project(s). A phone call is great, but the in-person meeting is where we try to get as
granular as possible with you on the project scope from the macro details down to the
micro. These conversations range from paint colors, trim profiles, cabinet material,
brainstorming best layout for the space, hardwood vs LVP, quartz vs. granite, finish
colors etc. The more details we can get out of the in-person consultation, the better! The
more details Hammer Construction has, the more accurate we can be with your
estimate. All these details can be a lot to try to work through, however. So sometimes
we will email over PDFs of different catalogs or leave brochures for you to browse and
let us know if there’s anything that you like. Once Hammer Construction has completed
the in-person consultation, we have a 90% complete vision of what you are wanting to
achieve.
Once we have that much of the vision figured out, Hammer Construction will
give you a precursory budget. If that budget seems reasonable and at market value, the
next step is getting back to the office and getting your estimate put together. If we are
talking a bathroom or kitchen remodel- 1-2 weeks to get your estimate approx. If we are
talking a larger project, 2-4 weeks is typical, but can vary on project size of course.
When we send over our estimates, Hammer Construction always sends over our
certificate of insurance, bond, and license so you know you are working with a legit
construction company. Here’s a brief review of what to expect during your FREE in-person consultation.
In-person Consultation Overview:
– 45-90 minutes meeting on site to review your project(s)
– Exploring the space together and really solidifying ideas discussed during the
phone consultation (or sometimes scrapping them and starting over! It happens)
– Taking measurements and photos/videos of the existing space
– Review of the next step- estimate, deposit, vendors, timeline
Step 3: Pre-Construction Phase
If we are at this phase this means the ball is rolling! You have accepted our estimate
and have made your deposit. Deposits can range depending on the project scope and
cost- typically it’s 50% for jobs $40,000 or less. During the pre-construction phase we
get meticulous with everything. The pre-construction phase is arguably by far the most
important. If we plan things correctly, the job should be a walk in the park. During this
phase, we will pick materials (countertops, tile, flooring, etc.), finalize the design, talk
timeline, and the project management. As a client, you’re really going to want to know
how the job will be run and what to expect. We exceed all expectations in this category
hands down.
At Hammer Construction, the first two phases, phone and in-person
consultation will be handled by the owner/GC Thadeus! During the pre-construction
phase you will be introduced to the one and only Austin, Hammer CC’s PM. Before the
project begins, Thadeus and Austin will meet you on site to do a pre-construction
meeting one final time. At this meeting, we will review the estimate with you and all the
details to ensure we start and end on the same page! There’s a lot that goes into this
phase. Here’s a review below:
– The estimate has been authorized
– Deposit has been made
– Connecting you to our vendors
(most provide discounts due to the business Hammer Construction gives them!)
– Finalize materials and design
– Introduction to Project Manager
– Final pre-construction walk to ensure all parties are on the same page
– Review of start date and project timeline
– Manage expectations (Is there a lockbox?
What times can we work to and till? What are your
pet peeves, do you prefer phone call, email, or text?
Where can we set the dumpster? You get it!)
Step 4: Construction Phase
The construction phase is where all the pre-planning pays off and the magic begins to
happen. Hammer Construction excels at staying on time and keeping you as happy as
possible. At Hammer Construction, we absolutely excel at communication. Each
evening, you will receive a text from our group chat with Austin and Thadeus stating
what time the team will arrive and what will be accomplished that day. Between our in-
house team led by Jon and our professional subcontractors you might end up being sad
once we are gone, most clients are!
Here’s what you can expect during the construction phase:
– Ordering materials and ensuring all materials are on site before the project
begins to avoid any delays (a favorite procedure of our clients!)
– Give you a snapshot of goals for each week respective to the overarching
schedule
– Prepping the work area each day and cleaning at the end
– Nightly communication from Thadeus and Austin for next day objectives
– Troubleshooting any issues
– 3-5 visits from Thadeus and/or Austin each week to ensure work quality