Al and his team were extremely attentive throughout the entire process, completed the work in a very reasonable time frame, and had competitive rates. Al even walked me through a couple additional items that made a huge difference in the remodel. All the work is extremely high quality including some of the best tile work I have seen. We had 2 Bathrooms remodeled by Al. We are not very good at designing, so Al provided a few options for each bathroom to choose from. Once the design was finished, Al did a excellent job managing the work. He was extremely responsive and quickly answered any questions we had. The final product was excellent. We are very happy with both bathrooms and highly recommend Al. Thank you, Al, and his team! read more

Chicago Custom Remodeling - Guest Bathroom - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Read this review before contacting Chicago Custom Remodeling!! Wait. Before you read this review, first go schedule some time to meet with Al, because his schedule fills up quickly...FOR GOOD REASON. He is hands down the best contractor you could hire for your home remodel project. I really wish there were a better way for me to explain to you how good he is. Just put it this way: I am currently looking for a holy candle with his photo on it. Too far? Come on. I have seen them even with local celebrities and this guy saved my life. Still too far? Let me tell you the story. My wife and I bought our DREAM HOUSE. Well, maybe not hers, but it was for sure mine. I had always dreamed of buying a house to gut rehab that I would do with my dad. That was this house. It was a perfect prospect for a gut rehab. The only thing I thought I couldn't do myself was remove a load-bearing wall and replace it with a beam. That is how I met Al. I called him for a quote on the beam. Our first meeting was awesome. He walked me through how he would replace the beam and it was great. He then showed me that I would probably want to replace the main beam running the length of the house. At the time I didn't know how he knew to go check that beam. Soon I would learn that his years of experience serve his customers in many different ways. As he was wrapping up the first visit, he asked me about the rest of the project. I told him that I was taking care of it myself. He asked me what I thought it would cost and then he told me what he thought it would cost. His number was much higher than mine, but it made sense that it would cost that much more if I left it to a professional (remember this for later). I felt good that I could get this done, so I stuck with Al for the beams and decided to keep the rest for myself. So we moved ahead in the project and then things got a little tricky. My dad got sick. Thank goodness he is still with us and funnier than ever, but he was in no shape to be my driving force through this project. I had no clue what to do. I was working on the house on my own and dealing with a couple of contractors that weren't the best. Without my dad (who is a carpenter and had been for 40 years), I was lost. Then I thought of Al, and I remembered how great he had been with the beam and how he seemed pretty confident with how he would approach the project. I sat down with him and asked him to take on the carpentry work that my dad would have driven. He gave me the quote and how he would work the project, and light came back into my life. While he was working on carpentry, he gave me some great ideas on how we could make this project even greater. He also worked well with other contractors that I had hired. Although I didn't hire him as the general contractor, he guided me through the silly mistake I made in trying to GC this thing myself (DO NOT MAKE THAT MISTAKE). So the weeks and months passed, and the project is clipping along, but we are behind the schedule I had wanted (all self-imposed). Al knew how much my wife, kids, and I wanted to get moved into our new house. Then Al put his cape on. He worked hours that I have never seen a contractor work before. He put our project on his back and brought it home. He saw me cry when I didn't know what to do, and he saw me cry when the drywall went up and I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I now live in the house that I had always dreamed I would have. My wife and kids love everything about the house. Many of the things that they enjoy on a daily basis would not even be here had Al not said, "how about we do this?" He has an eye for all things no matter how small or how large. The dream house that turned into a nightmare that turned into my forever house would never have been possible had I never dialed the number that I hope you did before you read this. If you have not, please call Al right now! He will treat your home as if it was his. I have actually heard him tell his team that. "Build this like you would want to live in it" Oh right, back to that number I asked you to remember. Outside of a little variance for my silly missteps. Al was dead on with how much it would cost to make this dream a reality. Finally, I would like to say thank you to Al. You changed my life. You gave me the place that I am proud to walk up to every day and call home and the place in which I will raise my kids until I send them to college. You are truly the best around. read more

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This fall, Al (and team) at Chicago Custom Remodeling renovated our powder room, top to bottom. They were suggested to us by our son and daughter-in-law, who recently used them to remodel their bathroom. Because of their enthusiastic recommendation and because this wasn't a huge job, we did not go out for bids but just sat down and figured out what we wanted the company to do. We're not new to remodeling projects and found their estimate totally fair. They had good ideas as to tiling, lighting, the new window and a new door and frame. We just had to pick out the toilet and sink. The work was done expeditiously, with the only hold-up the window, which got caught in the supply-chain delays that everyone is dealing with. But the result is a very clean looking, bright new powder room. Best of all, I think, is that they really KNOW and CARE ABOUT plumbing and electrical, and what is underneath all the pretty tiles is more important than anything! read more

After speaking with 4 other remodeling firms, I chose Chicago Custom Remodeling to re-build my rooftop decks. They were the only ones who provided a feasible solution for the pitch problems on my roof. Other contractors simply wanted to add more roofing material, which failed in the past. The scope of the work included roof repairs, installation of new drains, building new upper and lower decks from a high-quality composite material, built custom storage boxes, refinishing outdoor metal staircase and railings, installing recessed lighting, rebuilding staircase, and complete repair of front door - new weatherstripping, threshold, painting of front door and trim inside and out. They were willing to do a few smaller repairs throughout the house as well. Al Zamm is the owner and always professional, on time, courteous and willing to complete the job above the customer's expectations. He and his team are trustworthy; in fact, I gave them my keys to complete the job while I was out of the country. The quality of the work is outstanding. If you're looking for a handyman, CCR isn't for you. But if you want excellent customer relations, great advice on options and are willing to pay for a superior job (they're competitive), you'll be glad you selected them. read more

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To keep this short, I bought my first place in May 2015 and wanted some remodeling before moving in when my lease expired six weeks later. I made this clear to Al at the first meeting to get a quote on a bathroom gut rehab, painting, electrical, demo, etc. and was told no problem. After enduring his constant weird flirtations, time was up on my lease but the work wasn't done, so I had to move in without a toilet or shower. He kept telling me how busy he was with other projects. I GET IT BUT I DON'T HAVE A TOILET, MAN. Also, Al made some decisions on the design without consulting me, which I ended up not liking at all. His guys were always very nice to me - especially Temo - and did decent work. But I just can't recommend this company. **HOT TIP: it seems like a lot of 5 star reviews on here are from profiles with very few reviews. I'm not saying it's probably just Al making a bunch of accounts to do reviews on his own company, I'm just saying... read more

We've used Al and his company twice and have nothing but good things to say about the experiences. We first worked with him to convert a "man cave" into a family friendly living space and additional bedroom. He replaced the existing carpet with hardwood to match existing hardwood, added overhead lighting, walled off an additional bedroom and created custom French doors. Additionally he reconfigured a poorly laid out utility room and replaced our a/c, furnace, and water heater with new energy efficient models. We were kept in the know on status of the work and any changes to schedule or overall cost. In the end the work was completed ahead of schedule! A few months after our second floor remodel we needed a new roof and repairs to interior damage. Al worked with our association to get the roof replaced and two owners to coordinate the interior repairs. The whole process was painless and completed in less than 3 days. Again we alway knew the status or the projects. read more

Would recommend Al to anyone. Not just for his expertise, but his honesty. If he doesn't know how to do something (or doesn't feel qualified enough to do it), he has a top network of folks he works with regularly. He's also honest in that if he can't take on a job, he won't. EDIT: And to Carrie A below: This is no fake account, BTW. read more

This company may do good work, but I will never know. I called and requested an appointment for an estimate. I have an apartment building (in fact, I have a couple) and two of the units need new bathrooms. During the call, I explained what I wanted and stated that I was planning to budget $10,000 for the project (2 apartment grade bathrooms). Whoever I spoke to told me my budget was unrealistic as it costs $4,000 in labor per bathroom. I told him o.k. I have room to increase my budget, being that I am not a professional contractor, I have no idea what a realistic budget should be. I then asked when he could come out and provide the estimate, his response, "this is a waste of my time, I am not going to bother." He then hung up on me. After thoroughly reading these YELP reviews, I find something very suspect. The comany either has five star or one star reviews, no in-between. This may be the only company I have come across with such polar opposite ratings. Also, half of the five star reviews are written by individuals who have zero yelp connections and have only written the one review, for this company. Avid YELP users know those are highly questionable reviews. In any event, I had two other companies come out and they both came in right around $12,000, so my "off the top of my head" budget of $10,000 was not that unrealistic. Now, here is why I specifically noted that I have a couple of 3-flat apartment buildings in Jefferson Park because, in the event that the owner reads this review, he will know that not only am I an Elite Yelper and active member of the Jefferson Park community capable of spreading my personal experience to a wide audience. I also have MULTIPLE properties that will require services from companies like his and I will never give this individual an ounce of business. Edited to address Gariel W.'s jackass comment. Considering all of Gabriel's other reviews for businesses read like desperate lonely hearts ads, it is no wonder half the bars he has reviewed have closed permanently. A word of advice, if Gabriel says its good, run, as the place will be shuttered shortly thereafter. Seriously, his whole goal in life is to approach short Asian women for dates. read more

Can always count on Al (the guy who runs the company) to give me a fair price and get the job done right the first time. I've called on him for lots of small repair and remodeling jobs at my place and he understands my need to take time getting to the next project. He also doesn't look or act like most of the other sleazy contractors out there that always seem to be trying to sell me (single white female homeowner) on the bigger/better/more expensive option....which I find refreshing. read more

I called Chicago Custom Remodeling after a water issue caused a significant amount of damage in my house. Al responded promptly and professionally, laid out a plan for getting my house back, and delivered on time and in budget. He helped navigate some insurance agency craziness and delivered my house back to a beautiful state. During the process, he discovered some old electrical work and helped me with the insurance process to get the electrical back up to code. This attention to detail and care about his clients really helped ease my mind through a very stressful situation. Overall, Chicago Custom Remodeling was fantastic, professional, and extremely professional. read more

Al and his team did a beautiful job remodeling the only bathroom in our 100 year old house. It is stunning! Our pink and green1970s bathroom needed to be gutted. Al replaced all the fixtures, fixed a leak we didn't know we had, added ceiling lighting and a bathroom fan (how was this never installed in the first place?), and did an ENORMOUS amount of tile work that included white and black hex tile with a custom border, and chair rail height subway tile walls. Al was very reasonably priced compared to other quotes we received. The project went a little over schedule, only because of delays in supply orders and some last minute upgrades I made. I appreciated That Al would send me frequent updates and pictures of work being done. Everything went very smoothly, and I will definitely contact him in the future when we need more work done. Thanks Al :) read more

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Al did an awesome job installing our backsplash in our kitchen. He was easy to communicate with to set up a time to come and get the work done and when it was time to work he cranked it out all in one day. I would definitely recommend him. read more

Chicago Custom Remodeling - Tile backsplash - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If there were more stars to give... I'd definitely be giving them. Al and his team is the absolute best! He came out on a Sunday (first of all who does that?) to give us an estimate on some water damage on the ceiling and wall in our bathroom, was in to fix it by Tuesday, told us it would take four days but knocked it out in one..... Seriously, I don't think I will ever use anyone else for any other upgrades or remodels around the house. Thank you so much guys! You completely exceeded my expectations! If you're looking for a general contractor who is honest, great at what he and his team does, efficient, professional, and friendly.... Call these guys... They will NOT disappoint! Thanks again guys!! Just absolutely amazing! read more

I've met with Al personally to evaluate a potential contracting job for a multi-unit in Pilsen. I'll be straight off the bat, he's a saavy and intelligent guy. He's got the years of experience and a lot of overhead with a large staff of professionals. I spent over an hour talking to him about the business of renovating from an investor's point of view and trust me, the guy knows the business. Most of the people here giving him a one star rating, in my opinion, are the kind of customers that seasoned contractors don't make money off of. I didn't end up hiring the guy or purchasing the property we reviewed because he gave me some very honest estimates and figures and invested a lot of time with me to explain all the work and costs associated with the project. I learned a lot from him and I really hope to work with him in the near future. read more

Thank you Al for preparing my home to put on the market to sell. Everything looks beautiful. Al and his team provided excellent workmanship and great customer service. The paint job is perfect better than it looked before! And thank you for taking the extra step to look at my furnace which turned out to be leaking carbon monoxide. It was replaced within a day in spite of these frigid temperatures. Al did all the running around for me to pick up the littles things from plate covers to a new thermostat he went above and beyond to make sure I was happy. I have already recommended him to three of my neighbors and they too appreciated his team and hard work ethic! read more

Al was great.Fix my floors in timely matter. Looks greats and had a great experience!

Al and his team replaced hardwood floor in our entire condo, disposed of the old floor, moved all of our furniture, and did some electrical work in less than 3 days! He was professional and responsive throughout the process. You hear horror stories of contractors who don't call back, who come in way over budget, and who delay projects. Al was exactly the opposite. He performed the work in less time than promised, exactly on budget, and kept me and my husband updated throughout. He even sent us pictures of the progress at the end of each day. I cannot say enough good things about Chicago Custom Remodeling and the work they did for us. The best part is, our floors look fantastic! read more

Al remodeled our kitchen last summer and he was incredible. He is hard working, straightforward, honest and personable. He wanted us to be completely happy with everything and when he made suggestions to further improve our remodel he respected my partner's strict adherence to our budget. He also came months after the remodel was done to show my partner how to drain the radiators in our entire home (which took a few hours). Not only that, earlier this spring the condo we rent out in the city flooded so we called Al. That very same evening he gutted and protected the condo from further water damage/molding and ultimately remodeled the condo in less than a month to help us not lose/further inconvenience our renters. He also assisted with insurance issues and he's gone above and beyond for us in every capacity. We trust him 110% and will continue to seek him out for any remodeling needs we have! We also recommend him to all our neighbors and friends doing work! read more

Chicago Custom Remodeling - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Al and his team were awesome to work with! We love the work they did! We had several people look at the job and none of them seemed to want the job. Al took it on and we are very pleased with what he did!! read more

Chicago Custom Remodeling - Our tiny bathroom made beautiful! - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I felt so excited when I came home and the team showed me the great work they did. This company is honest, hard-working, and professional above all things. I felt like I was on one of those DIY shows after the reveal. They do excellent work, and I highly recommend them. Excellent work! read more

We did not end up going with Al because we decided to just hold on the project all together. But, he's awesome. We were able to get an appointment with him to get an estimate for our kitchen within a week. He was very honest and fair with his estimate. He provided us with many options and suggestions for the things we wanted in our kitchen. I also appreciated the fact that he is on site every day of the job. His portfolio is beautiful and it is evident he cares about his work. Hopefully, we can work with him in the future. read more

Al and his team provided extremely professional, thorough service. Our bathroom ceiling had black mold - which Al diagnosed via a photo - and the paint was peeling. Gross. He originally estimated that the project would take two days for the mold removal, ceiling repaint and bathroom repaint. Instead, he and his crew finished it all in one day. Throughout the process, Al was very communicative about what would need to happen and cared for our safety during mold removal, as that requires harsh chemicals and I have asthma. Luckily, the only side effect we experienced was great work. It's a relief to know that we've got a trustworthy, reliable source for our future renovation needs. If that's not enough to sway you, I'll tell you one more thing: pricing is very reasonable. read more

The Situation: My wife and I got married in July 2015, and closed on a condo in early October. We purchased a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom loft-style condo in River North. It's a newer unit, but we wanted the following work done prior to our move-in: (1) enclose 2nd bedroom by adding walls, two, custom made four-panel windows, and an extra wide bedroom door (2) hang and install stainless steel pot rack above kitchen island [ceiling is made of concrete] (3) mount flat screen tv on wall in living room (4) install custom designed closet pieces for my wife's closet [shoe racks, poles, shelves, etc.] (5) install lighted ceiling fan with wall control panel. The largest task was closing off the 2nd bedroom. There was roughly a 4 foot gap between the walls of the bedroom and the ceiling. Rather than simply build up the walls with straight drywall, we opted to include two custom made (by Al) four-paned windows. This would allow natural light into the 2nd bedroom. After adding the door, this would create a sound-proof second bedroom for when guests come to town, for studying, for working, etc. My wife and I depleted much of our life savings for the down deposit on the condo. As a result, we didn't have a whole lot of 'wiggle room' financially, so we couldn't afford any mistakes in our remodel. So, we researched every single home contractor/remodeler in the Chicago-land area. That isn't to say we wanted the cheapest contractor out there. Rather, we needed someone who would get it perfect the first time around, and would do so at a price that wouldn't make our jaws hit the floor. The Decision: We called Al, and it was one of the smartest investment decisions we've ever made. His quote was reasonable, his management of the project was stellar, the lines of communication were always open (day or night), and his crew produced magnificent results. Al promised to have all of the work complete by our move-in date (Halloween), and he delivered as advertised. Not only does the unit look incredible, but Al offered me an education on how to maintain and care for my home (when and how to switch out air filters, clean the garbage disposal, etc). As a customer, I received great work AND an education. You can't be that. I have no reservations in recommending Al and his team to others in my building, or to friends and family. If you need work done, and you want it done beautifully at a reasonable price, give Al a call. read more

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Professional, good work and fair price. I am a happy repeat customer. They just finished my driveway. Great job!! read more

Chicago Custom Remodeling - Finished my sidewalk. - General Contractors Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I recently used Chicago Custom Remodeling for a bathroom remodel. I am more than happy with the beautiful results. I had some vague ideas of what I wanted and Al offered a few suggestions that would keep me within - actually under - my budget while blending in nicely with the rest of the places style. My interactions with Al and his team were very positive and professional and they were always punctual and cleaned up. I would not hesitate to use them again next time / if I have a future project. read more

I found Al through a friend-of-a-friend's referral for a small (under 10K) remodeling job in my Old Town condo. I wanted to convert my reach-in closet to a walk-in and update my boring ventless gas fireplace installed by the builder to something more appealing. Plus a bunch of other small jobs like painting rooms, update the recessed lighting, and routing Internet & TV cable to new TV locations on a couple of walls. I had three different contractors come in for quotes and Al really stood out. He understood my vision for what I wanted the space to look like with the products I picked. He was quick to show me pictures of his past work on his iPhone and I really got a sense that he could handle anything that I may throw at him. Al really came through when the company I hired to install new hardwood floors in a couple of rooms tried to cut corners during the install. Al gave me some timely advice on how to handle the push-back from the flooring company. It's nice having this guy in your corner when dealing with other contractors. I didn't give Al a definitive schedule since I was flexible. In hindsight, I should have picked a firm project completion date since I wasn't prepared to wait that long. Al is a one man show where he can be - makes sense so he can keep more for himself. I was expecting Al and his crew, but it was just Al. He did bring in someone to help with demo on the first day, though. One minor thing: he was insistent that I pick a paint color from Benjamin Moore's color pallete. I had already stopped at Home Depot and picked out the colors I wanted. I caved and went with Ben Moore. But there are so many colors to choose from that I found something similar. I think contractors must have a 'frequent paint program' with Ben Moore. In the end, Al really wanted me happy with the work and he made sure I was. He called a week after he completed to check in to see if everything was OK. He's a good guy too. Very personable. Very sharp. read more

Considering, I was told flat out that they didn't take jobs less than $50,000, I find the discrepancy between the other reviewers and what I was told to be very alarming. Very interesting that this business would outright lie to a potential customer requesting a consultation. Luckily, there are tons of contractors in the Chicago area, but I was alarmed by the information being that I was given their number from another company and checked yelp reviews prior to contacting. read more

Al gave me great advice on how to handle a situation by a scammer contractor. This man was amazing. Knowledgable and honest.

I highly recommend. We originally were going to have him just install cabinets and countertops but after seeing his work, we kept asking him to do more. Al did a wonderful job on our kitchen, dining room, hallway and nursery. His price was fair, he was honest, and the insight he brought to the job was invaluable. He kept us updated on the progress and if we had any concerns, he addressed them with kindness and a can-do attitude. I always felt comfortable with him which is important when you give people access to your home. We are already thinking of the next project for him to work on. Hmm....maybe I shouldn't be touting his amazing work because he may get too busy for us! read more

My roof and chimney were damaged due to weather and as soon as I called this company, the owner (AL) personally came to do an estimate and began working on my roof even before he know if my insurance would cover it. He stated that water was inside my walls so he wanted to avoid further damage or mold to my walls. Luckily, my insurance did cover the damage, but even if they hadn't- I would have gladly paid out of pocket and definitely consider him for future remodels on my house. Al and his staff are all very professional, courteous and very ethical! My chimney ended up getting a liner and he suggested a new color for my walls that definitely made the house look a lot bigger and more modern. I am absolutely happy with the work and I strongly recommend this company! read more

My condo had water damage from the unit above. I had the water damage remediated, and needed a general contractor to help me put back the pieces. I called, and Al came out the same day and gave me a quote. He started that same week and got the job done in two days. He does great work, is dependable, keeps his work area neat, as well as the other areas of the house, and I would definitely use Al and his team again. Very nice guy too! read more

Al & his team do fantastic work. He & his team are affordable, knowledgeable, crazy fast, efficient, extremely detail-oriented, and overall great people to get the job done! We needed our basement put back together after it flooded, and the process was seamless and pain-free. I'd recommend Al & his team to anyone needing any sort of remodeling work done - jobs small and large! read more

Unfortunately I had a window leak due to old brick exterior but even though the solution was external and outside his realm, Al was able to correctly diagnose the lack of "tuckpointing" over the phone and save me costly handyman visits. He knows his stuff and won't BS you! 5 stars!!! read more

Chicago Custom Remodeling did a gut rehab of my basement. The demo was quick and painless and the skilled team of workers kept my home clean during the renovation process. I have a pretty large basement, probably a little over 1000 sf, and the job consisted of extending and renovating the bathroom, adding a kitchenette, adding a bedroom, painting, redoing the stairwell, etc. The team of workers did a lot electrical rewiring, plumbing, and carpentry work and everything was done to code...they never cut corners. Al, the owner, occasionally did extra work for us to be sure the the project was not only to my standard, but his also...and he has pretty high standards! He was also always accessible, so you never have to worry about him being MIA. I have no complaints at all and would recommend Chicago Custom Remodeling to anyone who is looking for a trustworthy team of skilled workers. read more

Al is the man! My wife and I contacted Al for a bathroom renovation, and we couldn't be more pleased with the results. The relatively straight forward job ended up being a nightmare, but Al handled it like a champ and stayed on schedule. A valve on our condo water main became stuck in the closed position, and the property management company (ridiculously) had no idea where the shut off was. When the only other option was to shut of water for the street, Al came up with one of the most brilliant solutions I've ever heard of. I don't want to give his secret away, but his solution was beyond genius! As far as the reno goes, the results are fantastic and Al really knows what he's doing. He's always on time and is straight forward and honest about cost, timeline, problems, etc. He's basically the exact opposite of the bad contractor stereotype. We can't recommend him enough, and we're glad we found him! -- I really hope Yelp doesn't filter this review, because anyone who's in the market for a renovation NEEDS to know about Al!!! read more

Holy arrogance! I called him to get his feedback on new hardwood floors and some other renovations in our house. He just isn't a good person to work with. Based on the other reviews, his work is adequate, but his pricing will be the highest (his claim). In my opinion, life's too short to deal with someone like this. read more

Worst. Service. Ever. I called Al based on the Yelp reviews. He came out the following day to quote the job. Extremely arrogant -- there was another contractor at my home bidding for roof business. Al made a comment to me saying "Do I look like I do the work? If I did the work, I would look like that guy (referring to the other general contractor." He then proceeded to tell me that he was in a hurry, parked in front of a fire hydrant and had to go. Did not take my email or anything to get back in touch. Meanwhile, this was for a $100K+ worth of work!!! One would think that he would want the business?!? When I never heard from him, I text him to give him my email and check in. His response to me was "I'm on vacation and will have a quote to you Monday." Well, that was two weeks ago and still no quote. WOW. Al is an extremely unprofessional, arrogant person. I would never recommend him to anyone and am very happy with the contractor that I chose :) read more

don't waste time with this guy. arrogant and doesn't have business manner. at least, he needs to know what people come from different backgrounds, he needs to learn how to communicate with customers. read more

Chicago Custom Remodeling Inc recently remodeled my bathroom. Al (owner/contractor) did an excellent job. I had very specific requirements for a new tub and he got one that is perfect. The tile work took longer than expected because my walls were not plumb and Al had to make a lot of adjustments rather than just throwing up the tile as the developer had done. The tile looks fabulous! His price is fair and he does all the work himself instead of hiring a lot of subs. I'm very happy with the work and plan on calling Al next year when I remodel my kitchen. read more

When we moved into our new home our plan was to completely remodel the kitchen: we wanted to take down a wall between the kitchen and the mudroom behind. In addition we wanted two windows added, new hardwood flooring, new cabinetry and a lot more! We contacted Al Zamm of Chicago Custom Remodeling after a Yelp search because we were impressed by the great reviews. We have just bought our new home (May) and Al spent three hours with us during the consultation listening to our ideas and advising about practicalities. He was very realistic with us from the start; advising us not to stretch ourselves and get into debt with multiple projects in our home, but to focus on one at a time to allow time to save in between. He suggested we get a couple of other estimates for our own peace of mind - his honesty and integrity was refreshing from the start! Al informed us from the start of our kitchen renovation project that quality work takes time. We were very naive about the amount of work that goes into a kitchen remodel, but having watched the incredible transformation - and all the stages in-between (including complete removal of dry wall and ceiling) - we are so grateful for Al's perfectionist work ethic, and creativity. He is more than a contractor: he is capable of advising about design nuances that will ensure a superb finished product. We were constantly impressed by Al's talent; there seems to be nothing that he cannot do. It transpired that the wall between our mudroom and the kitchen was load-bearing (our home is 120 years old, and Al warned us from the start that he wouldn't know the exact scope of the work until he removed the wall). This created a lot of additional work, but Al's solution resulted in an incredible addition to our kitchen: a gorgeous wooden beam to hide the support structure which replaced the load-bearing wall, and which fitted perfectly into our kitchen design. Some examples of Al going above and beyond: Spending hours with us one evening to get the electronic design right for our kitchen prior to commencing the work Driving a four hour round trip to Michigan to collect our countertop to ensure there would be no seems when it was fitted Walking our dog in the day when we were out Adding a gas line outside for our grill whilst he was moving the gas line for the double oven Helping us with multiple DIY projects elsewhere in the house when our expertise failed (putting up blinds, light fittings, wood trim, shelves) Working longer hours than any contractor I have ever heard of Working weekends Getting to know our style better than we do, and therefore picking out better tiles and window casements that our original efforts Al is honest, extremely hard-working, and he has a great sense of humor. He will not leave a job until the customer is 100% satisfied, and his standards and expectations for his own work are very high. Although, Al's business model is the customer is always right, and to provide excellent customer service, we learned to be realistic with time expectations - great quality work takes time and it is not productive to rush him. Our finished kitchen was 1000% worth our patience to ensure that Al was able to get the best parts from the best suppliers. read more