The Snapshot
Why did you look for a contractor?
Major home renovation, including kitchen remodel and conversion of a powder room to a full bathroom.
Why did you choose this particular contractor?
I actually saw the quality of his work in a neighbor’s home.
How do you feel about the results?
I’ve only been living with my new kitchen for about a week, but so far I really love it.
If a friend asked you for a referral, what would you say about this contractor?
I would recommend him highly. He’s extremely professional, reasonably priced, very clean, and does great work.
The Full Scoop
My kitchen remodel was 23 years in the planning! I wanted it for so long and by the time I got around to realizing my dream, I had a good idea of what I wanted and what my options were. Then I looked for a remodeling contractor who could add his ideas and his input.
I spoke with two contractors, but with Z & Z Construction, I was able to actually see the quality of his work in my neighbors’ home. And that did it for me.
The remodel was awesome! The crew was really a joy to work with. If there were any questions or hiccups, they contacted me and consulted with me.
Even though the kitchen had been my long-term dream, we really did a major home remodel, including:
- conversion of the upstairs powder room into a bathroom by adding a shower
- remodeling the kitchen by replacing the cabinets with better ones, putting in a deeper sink, adding a dishwasher, installing new quartz countertops, and laying new flooring
- tiling the sunroom floor
- installation of recessed lighting in the living room
- replacement of the entire plumbing system for the kitchen and the bathroom
- upgrade of the power supply for the entire house
Although the project went pretty smoothly, there were a couple of unexpected moments along the way ...
Before hiring my remodeling contractor, I already had an idea of how I wanted the upstairs bathroom expansion to be laid out. However, Z & Z Construction were totally upfront. They told me that making my original plan come to fruition would involve a lot of replumbing work. They were willing to find a way of working with my idea, but also suggested a more affordable alternative. Based on their clear explanation, I decided to go with the second option, which out well from a construction point of view and also from a design point of view.
Another surprise came when the crew opened the ceiling for the additional shower: we realized that I had a leaky roof. So we had to add installation of a new roof to the remodel. The good news is that while everything was opened up, I had them install new insulation and an attic fan. We used to have some heating problems on the upper floor – it was always either too hot or too cold -- so hopefully this is the solution. And as far as this winter goes, I could tell the difference right away.
I had a very good experience and I would highly recommend Z & Z Construction. He was very reasonable; he had given me a quote for the work that needed to take place on my original design. Then as things came up, he let me decide if I wanted to go with the extra work and how much that would cost, explaining why I might want to do it right away or why something could be put off.
What advice would you give to other homeowners based on your experience?
Patience is the number one key. You may want it done right away, but things take time to do properly. My renovation took about 2 ½ months and I did it during the holiday time, right after Thanksgiving through Christmas and New Year’s. Where did I cook while all this was going on? I didn’t – I microwaved. Microwave dinners, pizza, and takeout. With a lot of patience, everything worked out.
