We used Champion Remodeling for a modest update of our master bathroom, totaling about $8k for labor and an additional $5k for supplies. While the bathroom ultimately looks pretty good (with a couple exceptions noted below), the tiling especially, it is extremely unlikely that we'd recommend this business to others, for a number of reasons.
First, the project was originally expected to take a week. Instead, nearly four weeks later the new tub was finally installed. That's not all Ben's fault, but I'd place most of the blame on his shoulders. I really should've expected it when he showed up over an hour late to look over our bathroom and give us an estimate, without a heads up or even an apology. Over the 20 business days the project took, we had people working maybe 7 of those days, so the expectation of a week's worth of work was right on the nose, just spread out over a month.
A significant chunk of time was waiting for a replacement for a damaged tub. "Happens all the time," Ben said. If that's the case, why not inspect all the parts on day one to be sure everything is in order, instead of on day 14? Had we known on day one we'd have had a replacement in short order. I'm certain part of what we're paying a contractor for is their experience with these matters - we're surely not capable of identifying a damaged tub seal or missing rough-in valve.
Second, and another important reason the project went over schedule, was that Ben was often late, usually by hours or sometimes even days. My wife and I have to take some time off of our busy schedules to be available, but that's expected to some degree. The problem was that the delays were almost like clockwork - almost any time a work day was scheduled, you could almost guarantee there'd be a delay. We got the feeling that our project wasn't important - but the checks of course were! So important that Ben never told us when they were expected, so when he asked for a check I had to ask him to wait to cash it because I hadn't transferred the funds yet. He didn't wait, and it wound up costing me a significant bounced check fee.
Third, there was a lot of demo material left behind in our garage. Ben eventually picked some of it up when the tub was finally installed, but he left a lot of it behind - a large tub box, and a bunch of concrete and tiling we just ended up having to cram in the trash. Normally not a huge deal, but we had a neighborhood waste pickup scheduled, and when we asked Ben if we should just put it all out for disposal the first week of the project, he assured us he'd take care of it. Now we're trying to cram a 6'x3' hard cardboard box into our recycling, bit by bit. Every week for the next month I'm going to be irritated by that, when we could have been rid of it a long time ago.
Next, with some of the work being done, we could've stood with a little less cursing. If our two year old had been present, there's not a chance they would have been welcomed back the next day.
We were also caught off-guard by the cost of the glass, I think intentionally. Before the project started, we asked if the price would be in the $1000 range, and Ben said he thought it would be. He "had a guy who'd give us his rates" he kept telling us. We followed up several times to get an idea of costs, but Ben could never give us a straight answer and we didn't find out until the last minute when the glass installer gave us a firm cost of $1600. Not a huge deal, but why the secrecy and why not give us a straight answer from the start? Unless he wanted to keep us from shopping around.
Lastly, we were expecting things to be sealed with a grout color-matched caulk. When I mentioned to Ben that we hadn't picked it up, he told us not to worry, he had all sorts of colored caulk available. He had plenty of white caulk, and now we've got a tub with a thick layer of it embedded on a sand-colored tile. Looks less than professional, especially against a fairly well-done tile job.
All in all, a pretty frustrating experience and not what we were expecting out of a $8k remodel. Won't ever recommend them to anyone. Probably should change their name to "Mediocre Remodeling." read more
