Finding a reliable and skilled contractor in Chicago can feel like searching for a needle in a…read morehaystack. Our final project of a full gut renovation of an 1800s structure was a complex deck and patio build. After a full-house renovation on our 1800s home, I can confidently say that Unique Builders, led by Joel, is a true gem. I wish he was our GC from the start of this whole journey. Given zoning, being on a corner lot, previous structures and issues galore presented numerous challenges due to the age and structure of our house. Joel and his team, led by Enrique, not only met these challenges head-on with confidence and experience, but exceeded our expectations in every respect, truly. He's also enjoyable to work with and has a great bedside manner, so to speak. From the initial consult/intro to the final walkthrough, Joel's professionalism and expertise never wavered. He has a rare combination of technical skill, clear communication, and a genuine commitment to quality and value. His team's workmanship was impeccable, and they handled every detail with precision, respect and care. What truly sets Joel apart, however, is his dedication to going the extra mile. He provided invaluable referrals for other trades, seamlessly integrating their work with his own. He also readily accommodated additional requests, from taking care of unrelated roofing issues, changing the spacing of wall boards, moving railing posts, fixing our garage door trim to installing extra electrical outlets. He saw things in the installs that he didn't like and had changed - which I never even noticed (or would have.) Those are just a couple of things that show his flexibility and willingness to do the right thing that is truly exceptional. The custom bridge and deck platform he designed, built (and changed color on!) for our patio area is a testament to his creativity and willingness to go above and beyond. Throughout the project, Joel's guidance, presence, proactivity was comforting and reassuring. He patiently helped us navigate the selection process, offering insightful advice and managing on-site changes with efficiency and grace. He kept us informed every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience. In a world where contractors often overpromise and underdeliver and are generally shady, Joel and Unique Builders stand out as a beacon of integrity and excellence. I fully trust him and his crews, never once questioned what they were doing or how they were doing it. After suffering several bad GCs and contractors in this journey - I wholeheartedly recommend them without reservation. If you're looking for a contractor you can trust to deliver exceptional results, look no further. Our only regret is not having found Joel sooner.

Great communication with Joel and his team. Timely starts each day and a beautiful result. Very…read morehappy to recommend them for your build project.

Truly exceptional, above and beyond: excellent communication, workmanship, and timeliness. A…read moretotally different dynamic than the typical contractor experience. Derrick helped me navigate a very challenging situation to rebuild the entire back wall of my home and attached deck due to water damage. Scope: New insulation, plywood sheathing, composite siding, soffit, and fascia for back wall. Replaced rim joist, headers, and other structural wood as needed from water damage. Re-installed windows and sliding glass door incorrectly installed by previous contractor. Rebuilt pressure treated wood deck with improved layout. Derrick's attention to detail and pride in his work translated to a solution that addressed all of my goals and helped me understand mistakes made by previous contractors. He spent hours reviewing options and brainstorming with me as more damage was uncovered and the scope had to expand as we went. Overall, could not be happier with my experience and would highly recommend.

My deck has been a sight for sore eyes for quite some time. I've neglected it for many years but…read morethis year I was on a mission to bring it back to life. I needed a contractor that will get the job done right and Im so glad that I hired Pulse. Derrick came out and measured the deck in minutes, provided samples and suggestions. I knew composite was the way to go so I don't have to worry about maintenance. Within an hour we had a plan. I had a hard time narrowing down colors but helped by offering his suggestions. The colors I picked were some newer options Trex released and Derrick said he was excited to see how it turns out. Derrick and Luke came out and when I watched them work I was highly impressed. They worked like machines; measuring and communicating like a good team should. Luke is clearly a highly skilled carpenter. I had an idea for angled steps and even though it's a bit complicated he took on the project and built some really cool stairs that make my deck unique. Their attention to detail really showed and they kept me informed of their progress through an app with daily updates in what was complete. Communication was top notch and thats important to me. Pulse wasn't the cheapest company, but the value was great. You get what you pay for and Im glad that I finally have a beautiful deck to enjoy. I only wish the rest of my house was as nice as it puts the rest of it to shame. If you're looking for a job done right call Pulse.

I worked with Corey to replace my wooden deck that had seen better days. He came over to take…read moremeasurements, talk about what I wanted, and within the day gave me options to consider. Seeing both material samples as well as previous projects was super helpful in my decision making process, and I really appreciate Corey's quick response time and friendly demeanor. Daniel and Merrick who did the work were immaculate professionals. They worked quickly and cleanly, and they kept me informed of the progress along the way. I would highly recommend this team if you want a good deck built to last

We love our backyard now. Corey and Tom are the absolute best. Corey called me back immediately to…read morediscuss our project and came by in a very timely manner to take measurements and give us a quote. We had a very large project we were doing and Corey was very accommodating to work around our other contractors. The crew was great, respectful and clean. We had a deck with a pergola built by Corey and Tom. We are so very happy with our deck and pergola. You should look no further. Thank you Corey and Tom

Midwest Welding & Fabrication installed a railing system on my upper flat. Sal came out and met…read morewith me. He was very professional, provided great insight on what to expect, and he quoted what I viewed as a fair and reasonable price. He kept me updated through the entire process. I am very pleased with the outcome! i would highly recommend this company.

Demanding more money after we fully paid them for "work" that they supposedly finished. Pictures…read moretaken of damage that was done by their workers onsite- claimed they were onsite taking care of it when we have video footage that nobody was there. If you do hire this company, keep documentation of everything. Contracts, progress pictures etc. Demanding money from people who live are on fixed incomes/disability/elderly doesn't look very good for your business. Be careful hiring this company.

Mike did an excellent job repairing our 6' wood fence and gate. His price was very reasonable and…read moreMike not only did a super competent job but cleaned up the job site and left our yard in better shape than when he started! I really couldn't be more pleased!

Mike worked on our deck and fence for repairing woods, power wash, and stain. He works fast and is…read morevery professional and good at his work. His price quote is very reasonable and his response is very quick. I am very satisfied with this project and highly recommend him. I would like to contact him again when I need home repairs. Thank you, Mike!

Last year I contacted every company advertising deck refinishing in all the NW suburban area home…read moreshoppers and mailers. One quoted an outrageous price, two quoted half the figure, and two promised to come out for a quote and never showed up. All had a number of poor reviews of their work on line. I held off getting the work done. This spring I contacted Pro Coat. Dave Marion quoted a fair price for the job, and warned me that he couldn't guarantee the old botched finish could be completely removed. He said his crew would test a small area and only if they could satisfactorily clean it, would they do my entire deck. His men arrived within the time frame Dave had estimated, the test cleaning worked perfectly, and within the day my deck was stripped, brightened and looking like new. A few days later Pro Coat was back and the deck was stained in an afternoon. Great care was taken to cover the side of the house next to the deck so no over-spray could get on the siding or brickwork. The yard was left immaculately clean. Alfredo did a great job of evenly and thoroughly applying the new stain to the inside and outside of the deck, despite the surrounding hedge making it difficult. My deck now looks like new, and the results were far better than I thought could possibly be achieved. Any future work I need will be done by Pro Coat, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend their services to anyone.

Can't say enough good things about Dave and his team. Dave came out to personally inspect the deck,…read moresize and condition and his team visited at least 3x to remove and replace a handful of rotting planks, color match our existing color to what they'd apply and then power wash and seal it. He spent time with me on a call explaining the two types of sealant and left me feeling far more informed about the work they were doing than anyone else who's previously done similar work. They moved all the furniture on and off for us and made it a smooth and easy process. Would highly recommend and will use them again when the deck requires re-sealing. Wish all home contractors were as easy going, responsible and timely. Thanks Dave!

Professional, reliable and knowledgeable. Katie with deck systems is an absolute rock star!read more

From the owner: We provide quality craftsmanship and knowledgeable customer service! Deck Systems can do it all!…read moreWhether you need a repair to your current deck, want to freshen up your existing deck with some new stain or build something brand new we are here to help! We offer treated and western red cedar solutions for your wood deck needs. For Composite Deck needs we offer Trex, Timber Tech and Deckorators!

Professional & prompt-quality service with a personal touch. Mike takes time to listen to your…read moreneeds and provide an experienced recommendation.

Could not be happier with the entire process. Quick response, competitive bid and excellent work…read more Mike communicated at every step in the process and the work was done in an incredibly timely fashion. Highest recommendation (and I am inquiring if he can handle some other projects we have).

Deck Doc just finished power washing, sanding and staining my deck, and I am 100% satisfied with…read moretheir work. I scheduled the work around last November, as I wanted my deck to be refinished and looking good for the full 2025 season. The first days with decent weather in late April the deck was washed, and by early May the deck was finished. A crew of 2 worked a full day power washing and bleaching the deck and 2 sections of yard fencing. Every part of the deck was thoroughly cleaned, including areas not normally visible, and all areas of the deck that were surrounded by bushes. Within about a week, as soon as we had a few sunny days and warmer weather, a crew of three worked a full day sanding and staining the deck and fence. The deck floor was power sanded, and all other surfaces were hand sanded, before all sawdust was carefully blown away and stain was applied. Deck Doc did an outstanding job, and I would not hesitate to recommend them. Communications regarding scheduling were excellent, work was done competently and on the days and at the times promised. The area around the deck was left completely clean when work was completed. Thank you for making my deck look like new.

Was skeptical whether they could pull off, repairing our deck to our standard. The crew of Deck Doc…read moremade me reconsider these thoughts. Must say, they truly delivered what they promised!!! I once again am enjoying sitting out on our refurbished (like brand new) I would highly recommend Deck Doc for anyone's needs. Cost was in the middle from all the quotes provided. Whether having a brand new deck or fixing up an old one. Deck Doc and there, on time & delivered! Kudos!

Hired this crew to fix some metal fence posts that were coming up out of the ground. The price was…read morevery fair and they did a good job!

Per Cook County Public Records, Custom Built Fence has been involved in a civil suit, with a Karen…read moreT (I am redacting the last name, but it matches the owner's name on the certified letter I was sent) listed as a representative of the business. Edit: to be clear, I am stating this as to why I believe the "Karen T." who contacted me through Yelp (who has no reviews but has posted oodles of photos to this business) is not a random stranger, and is, in fact, associated with the business. This means business employees contacting me after I asked they not. I'm not going to be snarky and point out that all the conversations between Jan and I were posted via screenshot, by me. Including Karen's unredacted email. I posted about my experience and added the facts so others may judge for themselves. I included unedited screen shots, Jan commented with edited copy/paste data. Use that to determine what you will. End edit. I am being contacted, again, after I requested they leave me alone. To Jan, Karen, and Custom Built Fence - I request that any further communication be through your lawyer (as stated in the letter). I refuse to allow you to intimidate me, and maybe you'd have been able to offer a reasonable fence repair estimate (under $23k) if you weren't wasting $7 to send me a certified letter threatening to sue me. Or maybe not.