What Our Customers Have to Say...
Murph's the best. Great guy, and a real craftsman who cares about doing a thing well and doing it right. A few years back, I had a pretty disappointing experience with a different window company - window is fine, but they really screwed up the installation and left a big mess everywhere. So I know what bad service and installation looks and feels like. And when I needed to replace a few more, I decided to get a few quotes from a couple different companies. Murph wasn't the cheapest, but he was by far the most thorough and thoughtful with his inspection and assessment. So we had him replace a handful of our double hung windows in our Victorian, and after seeing how beautifully they turned out, we knew we had to call him back to do the rest. Just incredible work and well worth the price. Did I mention he's also just a wonderful person? Jason, Oakland, CA
It was a challenge to find someone who could help us restore our 103 year old sash + leaded glass windows but luckily we found Murph! We've hired him multiple times now for window restoration as well as custom window installs. He's very detail oriented and won't rush a job to get onto the next one. He's also extremely clean with his job site, trustworthy and even let our dogs hang out with him while he works! Wouldn't hesitate to hire him again!
Heidi, Oakland, CA
Murph replaced 6 wooden windows and rehabilitated many others in our bungalow, as well as replacing a door and a screen door. He is a first-rate craftsman, his work is meticulous, and the windows and doors that he installed are beautiful. His cleanup after work each day was impressive, leaving the area in better shape than when he started. He is also friendly, considerate and diligent in his communications. Because our small home is packed quite densely, the logistics of clearing the area for his work and tools were at times difficult, but he was admirably accommodating, and it was a pleasure having him work in our home. Roberto & John, Berkeley, CA
Murph was prompt, courteous and knows his stuff. He was also really great about not leaving any construction trash behind, and was respectful of my home in general. I will definitely call him again to replace other doors and windows in my home. ~ Erica, Walnut Creek, CA
It was a challenge to find someone who could help us restore our 103 year old sash + leaded glass windows but luckily we found Murph! We've hired him multiple times now for window restoration as well as custom window installs. He's very detail oriented and won't rush a job to get onto the next one. He's also extremely clean with his job site, trustworthy and even let our dogs hang out with him while he works! Wouldn't hesitate to hire him again!
Heidi, Oakland, CA
Murph replaced 6 wooden windows and rehabilitated many others in our bungalow, as well as replacing a door and a screen door. He is a first-rate craftsman, his work is meticulous, and the windows and doors that he installed are beautiful. His cleanup after work each day was impressive, leaving the area in better shape than when he started. He is also friendly, considerate and diligent in his communications. Because our small home is packed quite densely, the logistics of clearing the area for his work and tools were at times difficult, but he was admirably accommodating, and it was a pleasure having him work in our home. Roberto & John, Berkeley, CA
Murph was prompt, courteous and knows his stuff. He was also really great about not leaving any construction trash behind, and was respectful of my home in general. I will definitely call him again to replace other doors and windows in my home. ~ Erica, Walnut Creek, CA
Great work, Murph! The new windows are great, and my wife's discovery that our double hungs now open from both the top AND bottom was PRICELESS! ~ Noah, San Leandro, CA
PORTALS replaced six wooden windows and did a tune-up on another two and my front door. I'm thrilled with the results. The project was finished on time, and Murph stayed in touch by phone or email about what was going on at all stages. He also left my house cleaner than he found it every day that he was here. ~ Virginia, Berkeley, CA
Billy Murphy is a conscientious, personable, skillful, organized, and well trained window craftsman. I would recommend him to anybody and will consider him for future projects. I really love that he stays home to take care of his kids a couple days a week. He's a family man. ~ Jan, Albany, CA (from Guild Quality)
Murph replaced 12 1970s aluminum windows with all new wood double-paned casements (what the windows were back in the 1920s). It took longer than the original time estimate, but it was because there was a lot of old damage under the windows done when people were installing the aluminum ones. He fixed all that damage as part of the original cost estimate! Every day my house was left cleaner than when he showed up (except for some of his work gear that he asked if he could leave in a corner and I said "sure"), and he was ok with working around there being a lot of stuff in the room - necessary since I rent that room out! Requests like "please use a snap-line to ensure straight lines across all the windows on this wall" and "please drop the temperpedic mattress flat as soon as you're done working for the day as it shouldn't sit on it's side too long" were always an ask-once-and-it's-remembered-forever thing. He did an amazing job, my windows are beautiful, and I would certainly recommend him to anyone needing wooden window work!
~ Rita, Oakland, CA
Over several months Murph worked on two difficult door refitting/repair projects at our home. The doors were not square, had open-close issues and air gaps. Murph knew exactly what to do, had the right tools and expertise, and was professional and courteous in his communications and face-to-face dealings. The work was fully priced but fair. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Portals to friends and neighbors. ~ Michael, San Francisco, CA
We loved working with Murph. Super meticulous and caring and showed great craftsman in restoring/replacing our old double hung windows and installing seals and new hardware on casement windows on the 10th floor in a SF apartment building. He even adjusted and fixed some original steel windows by removing old paint, replacing some parts and lubricating them. He is easy going and very sensitive as he was working around my ailing in-laws. Highly recommend Murph! ~ Beni, San Francisco, CA
I had a difficult set up in my 1912 home. Murph did a GREAT job on my windows. He knows what he's doing when it comes to older homes! ~Owen, Berkeley, CA
Thank you for a wonderful job. It was a pleasure watching you work, and an even greater pleasure looking out through the new windows. ~ Diana, Berkeley, CA
I lucked into finding Portals on Yelp after running into a bunch of other dead ends. Murph came by to take a look at both windows and doors on my 1916 craftsman-style home. He was passionate and opinionated, which isn't a bad thing in my book.
I'm still hesitant on the window work he recommended, but I engaged him on the door challenge (warped and weather-tested, I hadn't been able to open and close it for ~3 months). He arrived on the appointed day and time, and finished the job in 2 days. I appreciated that he texted me photos of his work as he was going through it. Builds trust; good customer service. It wasn't cheap but I'm a happy camper. I'm a little nervous how things will fare with the next rainy season, but I trust that his work will hold up. ~ Lawrence, Oakland, CA
It is a pleasure to recommend a craftsman who practices with such skill. Punctual and easy to work with, Murph goes the extra mile to do the job right and gets an A+ for clean-up as well. Our 1916 kitchen windows and French doors were letting in plenty of unwanted cold air, till Murph added his special insulation, made adjustments to hinges and left everything neat and tidy. Highly recommended!
~Sara, Oakland, CA
Poem below by Christine, San Francisco, CA
