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Craft Builders Construction vs Simtek Electric
Santa Clara Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Craft Builders offers multi-trade capabilities with workers comp protection, while Simtek brings deep electrical specialization but lacks workers comp on file.
| Craft Builders Construction | Simtek Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.6 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 11 years | 37 years |
| License # | 1005138 | 541101 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Morgan Hill, CA | Gilroy, CA |
| Website | craftbuilders.net | www.simtekelectric.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Craft Builders Construction
Customers consistently praise helpful communication, professional conduct, punctuality, and thorough explanations throughout projects ranging from electrical to roofing to kitchen remodels.
Key Takeaway: Craft Builders has substantial documented customer feedback demonstrating service reliability, while Simtek's limited review history makes it difficult to assess current customer service practices despite decades in business.
Customer Reviews
Craft Builders Construction
Craft builders did an amazing job remodeling our kitchen! Jennifer's communication and scheduling made everything run smoothly and she was so helpful with letting us know what we needed to decide next...
Craft Builders are very professional and went beyond to make sure I was satisfied with my project
I would highly recommend Craft Builders for any construction project. We had them replace our roof and couldn't be happier with our experience. Chris and Jennifer were great to work with. They are...
Simtek Electric
Always great to work with!
Consider Craft Builders Construction if...
- ✓ Your electrical work is part of a larger renovation project like a kitchen remodel where coordinating multiple trades under one contractor simplifies scheduling and accountability
- ✓ You want documented evidence of customer satisfaction, particularly around communication and professionalism, before committing to a contractor
- ✓ Workers compensation coverage is a priority for your peace of mind and liability protection
- ✓ Your project involves multiple trades such as combining electrical upgrades with roofing or structural work
Consider Simtek Electric if...
- ✓ Your project involves complex electrical diagnostics or specialized commercial-grade systems where 37 years of technical expertise provides meaningful advantage
- ✓ You're comfortable verifying insurance details directly and potentially accepting liability considerations after thorough discussion
- ✓ You have strong personal referrals from people who've used Simtek recently and can vouch for their current work quality and reliability
- ✓ Your project is strictly electrical with no connection to other trades
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Simtek: Ask directly about workers compensation coverage status and request proof of current insurance. Confirm what happens if a worker is injured and verify whether your homeowner's policy would become primary liability coverage.
- → For Simtek: Request recent customer references from projects completed in the past 12 months to assess current reliability, communication practices, and quality standards.
- → For both: Ask for a detailed scope of work specific to your electrical needs and how each would approach diagnosing any underlying issues before beginning work.
- → For Craft Builders: Clarify which electrical work they handle in-house versus subcontracting to specialists, and whether their workers comp covers electrical subcontractors if applicable.
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Craft Builders Construction is the safer choice. Their workers compensation coverage protects you from liability, their documented customer feedback demonstrates reliability and professionalism, and their multi-trade capability handles electrical work alongside related projects. The 11 years of licensing provides solid experience for residential electrical needs. Choose Simtek only if you have a highly specialized electrical project requiring deep technical expertise, you can verify they now carry workers comp or you're comfortable accepting the liability risk, and you obtain strong recent references that address the customer feedback gap. If Simtek cannot provide proof of workers comp coverage, the risk to your financial exposure makes Craft Builders the clear choice regardless of Simtek's experience advantage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Experience matters, but workers comp protects you from financial liability if someone gets hurt on your property. A contractor working without it shifts risk to you. Before hiring Simtek, verify their current insurance status directly and consult your homeowner's insurance agent about your exposure. If they've since obtained coverage, that changes the equation significantly.
Craft Builders has documented experience with electrical installations including recessed and pendant lighting, suggesting competency with residential electrical projects. For standard electrical upgrades, panel replacements, or lighting installations, their 11 years provides adequate expertise. For highly specialized commercial systems or complex diagnostic work, ask specifically about their experience with your project type and whether they bring in electrical specialists.
Longevity proves they've sustained a business, but customer feedback reveals how they actually operate: communication quality, responsiveness, cleanup practices, and handling of unexpected issues. Without recent reviews, you're relying entirely on their word and whatever references they provide. Ask Simtek for multiple recent references and actually call them to fill this information gap.
Both serve Santa Clara County and the towns are neighboring communities, so location shouldn't be the deciding factor. Focus instead on insurance protection, documented customer satisfaction, and whether you need a specialist electrician or prefer a multi-trade contractor who can handle related work. Travel time between these locations is minimal and shouldn't significantly affect service quality or pricing.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in Santa Clara.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 13, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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