Working with these guys was a pleasure. Dan, Eric and Bill did an amazing job on our basement…read morerenovation last Fall. They seemed genuinely excited about some of our harebrained ideas (a cat door to the laundry room, for example), and Dan did a great job of transferring our needs into a workable design. We were very happy with the execution, which included lots of different teams coming in and out, all very well organized by Eric. Bill's finishing touches were much appreciated, and included a custom built bookcase instead of a railing and small shelves embedded into our workspace. Incredibly, the whole project was completed almost to the penny we were quoted, except for a few extras we decided to add along the way. Eighty eight was not our lowest quote, but it was by far the most meticulous and thorough. Thanks for making our soggy, cold, drafty basement into an amazing and comfortable studio, complete with sump pump, radiant floor heat, and cat door! We also really appreciated having guys that we trusted completely sharing our living space for 2 months and being able to communicate freely with them. Can't wait for the next project together.

Eighty Eight When we set out to replace our 30 year old…read moredeck, our first priority was to find a dependable contractor. The traits we looked for were; dependability, punctuality, reasonable pricing, and creativity. While this seems like a reasonable list, it's difficult to find all of these attributes in one place, but we did. Eighty-Eight Inc. responded to our bid request within two days. The quotation was very competitive, and they were able to start the project within our timeframe. The carpenters were VERY prompt, needed no supervision, and left the area immaculate. While they were more than happy to follow our ideas, they offered some alternatives that made the final project much more useful and attractive. Would I recommend these guys? - In a heartbeat. - (Thanks Eric, Bill & Justin!!)

Work done: complete, head to toe kitchen remodel and painting of family room old wood paneling and…read moretrim. We are completely satisfied with all facets of T&C work from planning to execution to follow up and customer service. The price was fair, workmanship high quality, all workers courteous and accommodating. I highly recommend T&C for your next remodeling project. Family friend who is also a master carpenter found their work quite praiseworthy "everything looks great, great job."

We haven't had them over for a project for about 1-1/2 years, but they have been our go-to for…read moremultiple projects including a bathroom remodel, deck rebuild, basement build-in of a theater area, bedroom and bathroom, and handmade board-and-batten shutters. I cannot say enough good things about the quality of their work. Additionally, the secretary is very kind and easy to talk with. I can be a difficult client because I have trouble making decisions and can be blunt, but they took me in stride and made my home beautiful.

Proceed carefully and document everything We engaged Xcēd…read moreDesign Build for a residential project, but the contract was ultimately canceled before construction began. We were unable to reconcile the deliverables we received with the portion of the design retainer that was kept. Based on our experience, we recommend approaching the process as a structured business relationship with clear documentation at every step. While early conversations were collaborative, relying on verbal discussions instead of written confirmation led to misalignment and, ultimately, disappointment. We expected Chelsey to lead the design based on early discussions, but the project was assigned to a different designer. Documenting decisions, preferences, and changes after each meeting would have helped ensure expectations were aligned. Recommendations for homeowners: *Request visibility into design hours, specify how you want those hours prioritized, and require notification at defined milestones *Confirm the specific deliverables for each design review *Confirm who the assigned designer will be and ask to see their portfolio *Require confirmation that proposed designs would reasonably pass permitting * Ask how dimensions, clearances, and usability are validated * Even if budget alignment is confirmed upfront, document it clearly in writing *Follow the contract closely and keep all decisions in writing A consistent, well-documented process from the beginning helps set clear expectations and accountability.

I needed a contractor to finish a second floor remodel. Drywall, windows, flooring, bathroom, etc…read more Gary Dayan and Chelsey Jackel were fantastic to work with. They had a crew of very professional workers. I cannot praise them enough. We now have a great looking second floor apartment. Be sure to give them a call when you are comparing contractors.

We interviewed several contractors for our first floor renovation project of our 1930s Tudor and…read moreselected MG Bros Construction because of their professionalism and preparedness during our initial meeting and walk-thru. Greg was our project manager and an excellent communicator via text, email, and phone calls at all times of the day - I swear the man doesn't sleep! We lived in our home during the 4 month renovation project and Greg was outstanding at explaining which crew would be onsite each day, which was reassuring from a security perspective. Furthermore, Greg was constantly checking in with me to gauge my satisfaction and he worked really well with my kitchen and bath designer. When issues arose, Greg contacted me immediately to provide suggested solutions and his professional recommendations, which I appreciated. I never felt like I was being sold on a larger scope solution. Greg works with the best and tidiest tradesmen in Chicagoland. I would recommend any of the carpenters, tile installers, masons, electricians, flooring installers, painters, and wallpaper installers that Greg used during our project. At the end of each day they spent the last 20-30 minutes cleaning up the worksite - very much appreciated. I would recommend MG Bros Construction for anyone looking to do a home remodel. I had a vision and they implemented it perfectly. I'm looking forward to our upstairs remodel in the next 5 years - I'll definitely be using Greg and his team again!

We used Greg and his crew to do an addition in our house in Hoffman Estates…read more It was not an easy project because of the dormers specific requirements from the village inspectors.. Greg Kawula and his professional crew ( Adam and Lester) did a wonderful job bringing our project up to the code.. The final inspection passed through with no issues and now we enjoy a nice addition that brings value of our house and enjoyment.. I highly recommend MG Bros Construction to everyone who is looking for a quality and high standard Construction Company.. I'm going to have a new project in my house next year so I'm going to use MG Bros Construction again. Thank you Greg and MG Bros and keep up a good work..

Andrew and his team with AJ Construction did a fabulous job on my home remodel. We had half the…read morehouse down to the studs and Andrew's guys completed all new plumbing, electrical, and framing for an office, bathroom, laudryroom and mudroom. They replaced multiple windows and installed all new drywall. Andrew was very easy to work with and even helped with some layout/design choices I had not decided on. Overall excellent service, reasonable pricing and great quality work. Highly recommend!

I am extremely pleased with the job that was done. It was quick and perfect. John went above and…read morebeyond to make everything work. Thank you guys!!

Had my TWO bathrooms one a master shower and the other, shower/bath combo remodeled about 3.5…read moreyears ago. Three weeks ago my master bedroom shower began to leak and upon inspection found I needed a new cartridge. The manufacturer was Grohe which I was told by my contractor, John, HOW GREAT Grohe was especially since there parts were easy to get if you ever had a problem. BULL SHI*, nothing could be further from the truth. Without getting into the details was able to FINALLY FIND someone who had the Grohe cartridge based off of the INVOICE AND THE ACTUAL INSTRUCTION MANUAL that I kept for 3.5 years JUST IN CASE I HAD A PROBLEM. So I get the EXACT, SPECIFIC CARTRIDGE the exact ONE that's in the manual and guess what, when a plumber goes to install it it's not the correct cartridge. The contractor, who had his staff input the shower valve well they installed a different catridge altogether, though not sure how. Anyway, the cartridge PART that was listed in the MANUAL was not the correct cartridge. Furthermore, why is the cartridge broke after 3.5 years and all the plumbers I talked with lamblasted Grohe as being bothersome, not worth the hassle , bad service and difficult to get parts. Be careful with this company as you're told one thing BUT be careful as the parts you think you're getting installed and are listed on the invoice and the instructions manual may not actually be the parts installed. K TM

One Star - Would Give Zero If Possible…read more Review for: The Basement Men (The Creative Approach Builders & Remodelers, Inc.) We were referred to this company and initially spoke with Steve. During early phone conversations, we were told the job was usually around $1,000. We scheduled an appointment for 10:00am. Steve called after 10:00am to confirm the appointment, but did not actually arrive until close to noon. When he later came to see the space in person, the price discussed was $1,500, which we agreed to. We paid a $750 deposit via Zelle to schedule the work and signed the contract. We had agreed that we would purchase the exhaust fan ourselves. After we purchased it, we were then told there would be an additional $200 charge to install the fan we had already bought. We were also separately asked to send an additional $75 via Zelle to complete HOA paperwork and provide insurance information. No work was performed other than the site visit. Before anything even started, and after multiple additional costs were introduced beyond what was originally discussed, we decided to cancel. At that point, we were told the deposit would not be refunded. The end result was paying $750, having no work completed, and being asked for more money than what we initially agreed to. Only after this situation did we take a closer look at the full contract, including the fine print on the reverse side. Based on our reading, there are several provisions that future customers may want to review very carefully before signing. These include language related to: - Broad limitations on responsibility - Little or no warranty protection - Attorney fees and collection costs being shifted to the customer - High late-payment penalties - Significant cancellation penalties - Permit-related responsibility being placed on the homeowner - The ability to remove materials if payment disputes arise In our opinion, when no work has been performed, it's reasonable to expect at least a partial refund of a deposit, possibly minus a small scheduling or consultation fee. That was not our experience. This review is not written lightly. We understand that home improvement projects can be complex and that misunderstandings can happen. However, from our perspective, the combination of shifting prices, additional fees introduced after the deposit, strict contract terms, and refusal to refund any portion of the deposit resulted in a very negative experience. We would not use this company again. Anyone considering them should read every page of the contract carefully, confirm all potential costs upfront, and make sure the terms align with their comfort level before proceeding.

Extremely greedy and wants money prior to completion. Steve puts the pressure on to keep writing…read morechecks despite shoddy work and non completion. Be forewarned

I needed railings on my porch before the snow hits ! So glad…read moreI found them in Yelp! They gave me a quote quickly, arrived with all the materials and completed the job in a few hours. Fast, professional , quality work at reasonable prices! Not to mention nice guys! I'll be hiring them again for some other projects! See before and after photos

This is my second time hiring Javan Aldana and his crew to remodel a bathroom. I am amazed at the…read morework that he and his crew completed. They transformed my bathroom, and it is stunning! Javan is professional, hires the best people to work with him, cleans up after his mess, is trustworthy, and it is so easy to work with him. I would HIGHLY recommend Aldana and Son Construction. You will not be disappointed! Thank you, Javan, Mannie, Juan, and all the others on this wonderful team. YOU'RE THE BEST!