Juan Ramirez of Gasca Fancy Construction has the unique talent of being able to explain things very matter-of-factly—even if it’s something in his imagination. When it comes to handling unforeseen situations, like say a pandemic or client whims, he knows what it takes to really be prepared. Seems like he’s got his work in the Bay Area cut out for him. 

How did you get started and what are your specialties?

My stepfather got me into the trade, and I worked with him from the beginning, starting in 2012. I eventually started my own business in 2019. Gasca Fancy specializes in commercial and residential buildings, and we do everything in-house. It’s always our own crew, our own guys. That way, the homeowner sees the same faces every time and we can build skills and trust.

What was it like starting your business just before the pandemic?

The beginning was pretty hard because of the shutdowns and tight mask restrictions. During that time we worked on a three-story condo unit and we were dealing with shortages and price increases. It eventually got completed and turned out really well. Above all it taught us what it really means to be prepared. If you only think you’re prepared, you’re not prepared.

What other challenges have you tackled?

We just finished our first completely custom home in May. It was a second story addition, and a complete gut job. The client was very particular about how he wanted things, and emphasized perfect symmetry. It was tough work, and we’re still not out of some of the difficulties of the pandemic, but it is definitely the highest quality home we’ve done. It’s the client’s forever home and we know he’s going to be happy with it for a long time.

Does Block make your work easier?

Block is so on top of their game and really proactive. We used to work with a competitor, and in addition to going out of business, they were just a lot more hands off. Block has fast support, good communication, and is just high quality all around. They make us wanna be on top of our game too.

What sets you apart from others?

I’m very good at helping homeowners visualize stuff they maybe can’t see yet, and flagging things they might want to do along the way. I like to get a feel for what their goal is, their taste and style, and give them suggestions and show them other work we’ve done to help them get there. I think that helps them feel at ease, and saves us from doing change orders. We keep our timelines and don’t have to do something again and again.