M&L Remodeling & Painting

Basement Remodeling, General Remodeling, Kitchen and Bath Remodeling,

About us

FIND M&L REMODELING ON FACEBOOK "Remodeling" this word conjures up thoughts of high cost, disrupted living, never ending construction, and the question of “Will I get the end result I really want and will it be in my budget?” No more over budget, long delayed construction, and lack of attentiveness to your needs and desires. We have developed a reputation around Chicago as the home remodeling company to work with. We are a Chicago based complete home remodeling company in business since 2000. Our staff of skilled craftsmen bring with them many years of experience, are very quality conscience, and take pride in their craft. We are confident in our ability to find the right solutions for our clients. Building trust within long lasting relationships is our number 1 priority. Personal attention to our clients as individuals is what sets us apart from others in the home remodeling industry. Our reputation is our most important asset and it can also be found in each of our experienced craftsman. We stand behind all of our work, so that you can be assured that we provide high quality home remodeling services. Whether you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, bathroom or basement, we can work with you every step of the way, to make sure your home remodeling project looks its best for years to come. We strive to go above and beyond our clients dreams. Our mission is to be one of the most respected remodeling firms throughout the Chicago area. We work hard every day to achieve that goal. FIND M&L REMODELING ON FACEBOOK

Business highlights

24 years of trusted experience
LGBTQ+ Friendly
Family Owned & Operated
Emergency Services Offered
Eco Friendly

Services we offer

Basement, Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, Cabinet & Appliance Installation, Countertops, Tiling. Custom Carpentry & Millwork, Flooring - Tile, Stone, Hardwood, Granite & Marble. Custom Storage & Shelving, Framing, Stairwells, Drywall, Painting, Cornice, Chair Rail, Baseboards, Electrical & Plumbing.

Amenities

Free Estimates
Yes
Warranties
Yes
Senior Discount

5%

Emergency Services
Yes


Accepted payment methods

American Express
Check
Discover
MasterCard
Visa

Photos of past projects

Reviews

4.8104 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
88%
4
1%
3
1%
2
2%
1
8%


Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.9
value
4.9
professionalism
4.8
responsiveness
4.9
punctuality
4.9

Filter reviews by category

Showing 26-50 of 104 reviews

Dana D.
10/2016
5.0
drywall, electrician, insulation, lighting, plumbing, remodeling, home remodeling, interior painters
  + 6 more
This was our first remodeling project, and we were very nervous. We met with 13 different contractors/companies, and Matt was our favorite from the very beginning. He was by far the most responsive, and we liked his friendly, energetic personality. We did have to wait several months to get on his schedule, but it wasn't a big deal for us because we were getting financing through our bank and had to wait for that anyway. We actually looked at it as a good sign that he was busy! The remodeling started in May and was projected to take about 8 weeks. Demolition was messy, but that is to be expected and Matt and his crew did a great job of containing the dust as much as possible---to be honest, it wasn't as bad as I expected. We allowed them to use our garage to put the debris instead of getting a dumpster, and that worked great. After the demolition, a truck came and hauled everything away. During the demolition of the kitchen and family room ceilings, they discovered that the floor underneath the 2nd floor was badly damaged with broken joists, and had not been properly reinforced when the upstairs was remodeled before we owned the house. Matt was honest with us that it really wasn't a very safe situation, and we quickly worked out a plan to replace the floors, reinforcing the joists and laying new plywood to make things more stable--this added an extra several days of work, but Matt was very fair in his pricing for the added expense. That was really the only major added expense, besides a few small things here and there. Everything from that point on went really smoothly. His crew of guys are wonderful----very polite, respectful, and extremely hardworking. We actually came to like having them around every day----they were great with our kids and our dog, which was nice. They were on time every single morning at 7am, worked until 5pm, and were even here most Saturdays. They work very fast, which we loved. Matt was great about letting us know what supplies to purchase and have ready for the next phase. His price covers the cost of labor and rough materials. We had to buy all the finishes, such as tile, flooring, fixtures, etc. Matt was very helpful in recommending places to check out, and we ended up using his recommendations for glass shower doors and granite. I can honestly say that I had heard horror stories about contractors, and I didn't experience any of that with Matt---he was a pleasure to work with---always smiling and energetic with a very positive attitude. He was very responsive---if I called, texted, or emailed, he got back to me right away, and was very patient with me when I had questions or concerns. He was very involved in the project and made sure that he was there at least once a day to check in, go over things with me, and monitor the progress. We are happy with the quality of work, and everything looks beautiful. There were a few minor touch ups after the project ended, and Matt took care of them no problem. The project finished on time, even though there were a few things that we added that added extra days. Matt was very, very fair in his pricing considering the amount of work that was done, and especially when it came to the additional things added to the project----I do not feel like he took advantage of us in any way, or try to "nickel and dime" us. I genuinely trusted him, and still do. It is obvious that Matt really cares about his customers, and wants them to be happy. I would not hesitate to recommend him----they really made our first remodeling project a pleasant experience. We absolutely love our new spaces, and we will for sure be using them again when we remodel our basement.
Description of Work: Complete kitchen and family room remodel, including removing a non-load bearing wall and converting a bedroom to a family room, converting a closet to a mini-bar, closing up bedroom doorway and building a new linen closet in hallway, cutting a 4x6 foot opening in a load bearing wall between kitchen and family room, installing new patio doors where there used to be windows, tearing out old floors in two 2nd floor bedrooms to reinforce the joists and make more structurally sound, 2 complete full bathroom remodels, new radiators, lighting, plumbing, etc.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$32,000

Everett And Lynn W.
08/2016
2.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
It's been almost a month, and this company has not yet contacted me in regard to the estimate. They did come out to measure, and I showed them the estimate from my insurance company. But now they will not even return my calls. If I had known they would take this long, I would've gone with a different company. This is very unprofessional.
Description of Work: They were supposed to contact me in regard to an estimate

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0


MAUREEN M.
02/2016
5.0
electrician, lighting, flooring contractor, remodeling, doors, basement remodeling
  + 4 more
Everything went really well. Could have been a little cleaner but remodeling is messy. Had to call Matt after job was over when looking at painting inside closet they forgot to paint trim. Matt got someone out the next day to complete. Room looks wonderful and completely updated.
Description of Work: Remodeled master bedroom. New mirror closet doors, replaced 2 bifold doors with regular 6 panel doors, installed 4 LED overhead lights with wall switch, replaced 2 closet LED lights, painted room and closet and removed carpeting.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,650

TANYA L.
02/2016
5.0
basement remodeling
  + -1 more
Matt is great to work with. He is very responsive and any concerns you may have, he addresses them very quickly. The majority of his crew are great workers however there were a few times where i had to ask matt to have his guy come and redo a few touch up areas because it appeared rush and not professional. This was not the norm though. The price was fair and in the middle of the three quotes i got for the job. These guys do good work and i would definitely use them again when the need arises.
Description of Work: The provider completed extensive repairs throughout the residence

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$12,500

Brian S.
02/2016
5.0
carpet installation, plumbing, flooring contractor, remodeling, electrician, home remodeling, countertops, basement remodeling
  + 6 more
We had multiple companies out to quote our basement remodeling project, and ultimately decided to go with Matt and M&L. From the first visit, and throughout the project, Matt was very responsive and understanding to our ideas and requests. For example, I explained to each of the contractors who quoted the project that I wanted to re-use some original interior doors from my 1926 bungalow in the basement. One of the contractors immediately discounted my request and explained to me how it would be much easier to use new pre-hung doors. Matt, on the other hand, said it would not be a problem to re-use the doors. Matt was able to use three of the doors I had, but we needed one more. Matt went out looking and eventually found an old door that matched the others. I doubt many other contractors would go to that trouble, and we were very appreciative of his effort. Matt explained that flooring, tile, and fixtures were not included in the quote, and we would need to provide those items. Matt was very good about letting us know what was needed at each step along the way, including square footage needed for tile. Matt estimated the project to take 6-8 weeks, and it took just about 8 weeks. They had to come back a couple of times for some finishing touches after we had carpet and countertop installed. The guys showed up everyday at 7am like clockwork, worked until 5pm, and worked most Saturdays. Overall, we are very happy with how the basement turned out. Matt was very easy to work with and was always accommodating to our needs and requests. I would definitely hire M&L again for future projects, and would recommend them to others.
Description of Work: Basement remodel, including two bedrooms, full bathroom, and living room. Framing, plumbing, electrical, etc.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$33,700

Hillary M.
12/2015
5.0
home remodeling, ceramic tile, closet systems, drywall, electrician, remodeling, plumbing, basement remodeling
  + 6 more
Summary: This was my first time doing any sort of remodel so I don't have much to compare it to. Based on pricing out from various providers I believe M&L is competitively and fairly priced for the market. They were patient with us throughout the quoting and follow-up process before we ultimately chose them as our service provider. Overall, I'm happy with the output. They transformed a raw, dingy basement into a very usable space that we will enjoy for years to come. Additional Comments: These guys move very quick which is great but you can also get yourself stuck if you don't know exactly what you want. Make sure to have your decisions made and very clearly documented so there's no confusion. The team was respectful and friendly. Seemed like a good group of guys. There were like any projects some hiccups along the way that I'm sure are common with most projects. Luckily they all got sorted to our liking, some with extra time and some with extra expense. I'd say there are probably a few areas that could've gone a little smoother.... First is overall quality control and inspection. As a customer I know that I have to bear responsibility for inspection and quality but thought that M&L could've done a little more here so I didn't have to raise them as items to be addressed. In particular anything that is more visual or precision can be a stretch for non-specialty craftsman. We had a few things like this given our house was late 1800s. Another area that could've been better was cleanliness throughout the project. I think if they would've spent a half hour a day doing some light cleaning / organizing it would've been a huge benefit to make the place feel more organized. Occasionally I had to remind them to cleanup.
Description of Work: Main scope of work was: 1) Full basement buildout from scratch. Drywall, plumbing, electrical, tile, added bathroom, added laundry room. 2) Assisted in prepping for kitchen buildout. Drywall, tile, electrical 3) Built two closets This was executed over the course of 2.5 months.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
5.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$50,000

Nancy M.
10/2015
5.0
custom cabinets, doors, drywall, fireplaces, flooring contractor, remodeling, home remodeling, plumbing, basement remodeling, woodworking
  + 8 more
This year we decided to finish the basement, add a bathroom, add a gas fireplace, and separate the large room into a living space and a laundry/treadmill space. After looking at several companies on Angie?s List and getting estimates from each, we eventually decided to go with M&L Remodeling. Matt had a reasonable price, was willing to work with our ideas and to suggest better ones, and his attention to detail and good-natured personality won us over. Once we agreed on a plan and a price, we scheduled the job to begin. The entire thing took about six weeks from demolition to finishing. Each morning the crew arrived on time and got straight to work. Everyone was very polite, did amazing work, and had careful attention to detail. With a job this big there are inevitably architectural quirks that pop up, and each time Matt and his crew figured out creative solutions that were functional and aesthetically pleasing. The entire demolition process was quick and made minimal mess. They used the garage rather than the backyard as a staging area, so all debris was kept tidy. We have a beagle, and they were always careful not to leave gates open or leave random items in the backyard. When the framing stage began, Matt made sure to consult us along the way to make sure that the bathroom was the size that we wanted and that the room configuration met our needs. He knew we were going to add a home theater area, so he worked with me to add PVC pipes in the walls to run future cables for the projector and surround sound. With the framing done and looking good, the drywall and flooring was installed. At this stage, the finish carpentry began, and they worked magic with several things for us including pocket doors, built in cabinets and shelving, and even a built-in garbage can cubby with a door in the wall to save space. Overall, Matt and his crew turned our basement into a lovely space where we will now spend most of our time. Every time we needed to make a change, they were able to accommodate us, and when we trusted them to make the right decisions, we were never disappointed. I highly recommend M&L Remodeling for big remodeling projects like this, and when it?s time to remodel our upstairs area, we know who we will be calling.
Description of Work: Full basement remodel: main room, laundry room, and bathroom.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$31,500

Jason M.
07/2015
5.0
ceramic tile, closet systems, doors, drywall, electrician, house painters, flooring contractor, remodeling, glass repair, insulation, interior painters, lighting, plumbing, basement remodeling, woodworking
  + 13 more
We are very satisfied with Matt and his team. We were a little skeptical as M&L's proposal was the lowest bid, but the reviews on Angie's list convinced us to go with M&L and we are glad we did. The crew was prompt and professional, they arrived at 7 every day. The work progressed nearly exactly according to the original plan. Matt was very responsive in addressing any questions we had, and worked with us on any of the changes we requested. We will definitely recommend M&L to others, and plan to contact them first for any future remodeling projects.
Description of Work: DEMOLITION *COMPLETE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BASEMENT INCLUDING: ALL EXISTING FRAMING, WALLS IN LAUNDRY, CLOSETS & OPEN SHELVES, ALL OLD ELECTRICAL, FLOORING.......   HAUL AWAY ALL DEBRIS RESULTING FROM DEMOLITION     GENERAL CARPENTRY WORK*PAINT ALL EXTERIOR WALLS & FLOOR USING DRY LOCK WATERPROOF PAINT*FRAME ALL EXTERIOR WALLS USING 2/4" LUMBER, 16" ON CENTER AND WALMANIZED PLATE AT FLOOR*FRAME CEILINGS & SOFFITS AS NECESSARY FOR DRYWALL*FRAME INTERIOR DIVIDING WALLS FOR LAUNDRY, BATHROOM, SPACE UNDER THE STAIRS FOR STORAGE    *SUPPLY AND INSTALL (10-12) RECESSED CAN LIGHTS INCLUDING NEW BULBS, WHITE TRIMS AND DIMMERS*3-WAY SWITCHES AT STAIRCASE*ELECTRICAL OUTLETS-PER CODE*SMOKE DETECTOR/CARBON MONOXIDE-HARD WIRED*COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FOR LAUNDRY (OUTLETS & LIGHTS)*COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FOR BATHROOM INCLUDING:-SHOWER CAN LIGHT + (2) ADDITIONAL CAN LIGHTS IN BATHROOM CEILING,EXHAUST FAN - VENTED TO THE OUTSIDE, GFI OUTLET NEXT TO SINK AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OVER THE MIRROR FOR LIGHT FIXTURE *PREPARE ALL UNDERGROUND PLUMBING FOR BATHROOM & LAUNDRY(SUPPLY AND INSTALL EJECTOR PIT & SEWAGE PUMP)*REPLACE ALL GALVANIZED PIPES ON BASEMENT LEVEL USING COPPER*RUN NEW WATER LINES TO BATHROOM SINK, TOILET & SHOWER*RUN NEW WATER LINES TO LAUNDRY GREY BOX*INSTALL OWNER SUPPLIED SHOWER FAUCET & CORNER SHOWER FLOOR *CHECK ALL DUCT WORK (SEAL IF NECESSARY)*PREPARE BASEMENT AIR RETURN*INSTALL NEW WHITE REGISTER VENTS AND GRILL FOR RETURN *INSULATE ALL EXTERIOR WALLS USING R-13 INSULATION*INSULATE CEILING WITH R-19 INSULATION *SUPPLY AND INSTALL ½" DRYWALL ON ALL WALLS AND CEILINGS, GREEN BOARDS IN BATHROOM & LAUNDRY, DURAROCK BOARDS INSIDE SHOWER*TAPE, MUD, SAND & PRIME NEW DRYWALL TO BE READY FOR PAINTING *SUPPLY AND INSTALL 6-PANELS, HOLLOW CORE DOORS (BATHROOM, LAUNDRY, UNFINISHED FURNACE ROOM)*SUPPLY AND INSTALL CASINGS &STANDARD HARDWARE*FINISH RECESSED AROUND WINDOW WITH WOOD & CASINGS*BUILD BANISTER AT STAIRCASE (HAND RAIL & SPINDLES)*SUPPLY AND INSTALL BASEBOARDS & BASE SHOE IN ENTIRE BASEMENT *INSTALL ALL OWNER SUPPLIED TILES & GROUT IN BATHROOM (SHOWER WALLS & BATHROOM FLOOR)*INSTALL ALL OWNER SUPPLIED BATH FIXTURES & HARDWARE*INSTALL OWNER SUPPLIED VINYL PLANKS AND UNDERLAYMENT ON ENTIRE BASEMENT FLOOR

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$18,000

Oliver R.
05/2015
5.0
electrician, flooring contractor, remodeling, interior painters, plumbing, basement remodeling
  + 4 more
Matt was a supreme professional. The crew was detail oriented and quick. We received an estimate within days of meeting with Matt. They took care of everything to ensure the work they did would be safe. They gutted the old basement down to studs. Rebuilt framed drywalled painted plumbing electric sealed leaks flooring. Everything. He gave us a list of what we needed to buy like fixtures and flooring. We love our new space!
Description of Work: Gut and remodel basement.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Nawin G.
05/2015
5.0
home remodeling, ceramic tile, doors, flooring contractor, remodeling, glass repair, plumbing, basement remodeling
  + 6 more
Matt and his team - Johnny, Teddy, Sergio, and Ozzie - did an excellent job, and on schedule. Matt is very good and takes pride in the work he does - we are pleased with the results. I should add that we are also satisfied with the work of two contractors Matt recommended - L&H Granite & Marble to fabricate and install granite and Glenbrook Glass to install mirror and shower door. To Matt's credit, he followed up to assure that the work was done to our satisfaction.
Description of Work: Refinished our basement including recreation room, bar, kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom. M&L cost included all construction materials and paint; we provided flooring, tiles, appliances, and faucets. In addition, we also paid for the work performed by two contractors (see below)

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$36,500

BONNIE L.
03/2015
5.0
ceramic tile, drywall, electrician, flooring contractor, remodeling, hardwood floor, lighting, plumbing, basement remodeling, replacement windows, woodworking
  + 9 more
The finished project looks great. All the work was completed in the time framed agreed upon and Matt's crew was great to work with. Although we added to the original project of renovating the basement, Matt's crew was able to meet all of our requests in a professional and timely manner and were flexible in working with us and suggesting solutions. They cleaned up each day and left the work area safe to inspect. I would recommend M & L Remodeling and Painting to anyone who has a project that requires multiple trade skills.
Description of Work: Original plan was to gut our 1970's style basement and update with drywall and can lighting. Matt was great to work with and helped us develop a new plan for the basement that included new ceramic tile floor an exercise area and TV area. They updated the electric and rerouted some plumbing and worked with us on paint color choices. Matt and his crew rebuilt the stairs using oak hardwood to match our first floor and finished off two closets. During the basement construction we decided to gut a first floor powder room and change all the window trim on the first floor which added to the original basement quote. Matt and his crew were willing and able to meet our requests and offered helpful suggestions as we worked through to completion.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$25,000

Adam L.
03/2015
5.0
electrician, remodeling, home remodeling, plumbing, basement remodeling
  + 3 more
Matt is the main contact here and he is a easy contractor to work with. He is the main supervisor and usually has a few jobs going, and will pop in every so often, usually as needed. Stanley and Wally were on my crew for entirety of the project and they really could not have been better. Having people in your house for a few months isn't easy, but Wally and Stanley were always careful to just go about of their business and were never in the way. All of my changes and requests, sometimes last minute, were met with a No Problem and they would then go ahead and do what I needed them to do. They are easy and agreeable to work with. The quality of work for the most part is top notch. I was concerned about having general, "jack of all trades" craftsmen doing the work, and besides a hiccup here and there, my feelings were unfounded. Matt and his crew have a great idea for what "works" and what will be the most useful, but are self admittedly not designers so bring your sense of style and ideas when you are working with them. Be honest and direct, as with any contractor, and you will be very happy with the results. As I mentioned, there were some minor hiccups through this job, but all in all went very well and I would recommend working with Matt and this crew again.
Description of Work: Completely gutted and remodeled kitchen, as well as finish a previously barebones and unfinished basement. Complete electrical and plumbing work as well.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$33,000

Michael H.
03/2015
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling, basement remodeling
  + 1 more
Matt was a pleasure to deal with and is one of the most responsive contractors I have ever felt with. He would promptly respond to my questions quickly via text or phone, even if it was on a weekend. When the work started Matt and his crew were on time every day and never left earlier than 5pm. The work site was also kept cleaning, meaning that there was never any lunch or snack remnants left behind from the crew. Matt and his crew were very professional and kept to the original 4 week timeframe for the job to completed. The quality of work is very good and no corners were cut. Matt also never had any issues with me adding anything while the work progressed. I would definitely not hesitate using Matt again, in fact I have a few projects already in mind.
Description of Work: Matt and his crew remodeled our entire basement, which included a full bathroom, laundry room and family room.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$23,650

Piotr M.
01/2015
4.0
custom cabinets, ceramic tile, doors, drywall, electrician, flooring contractor, remodeling, glass repair, hardwood floor, interior painters, home remodeling, plumbing, basement remodeling, replacement windows
  + 12 more
Matt and his crew did a wonderful job refinishing our basement to create a modern rec room. He ran new plumbing, electrical, replaced galvanized piping with copper, replaced the original basement windows with glass block, and finished the floors, walls & ceiling. Dealing with Matt was a pleasure, with a few minor hiccups along the way. In the end, my wife and I are very happy with the finished product. ESTIMATE Of all of the contractors we spoke with, Matt had the most positive energy. He was willing to listen to our ideas and provide his own. He provided his estimate within one week. The estimate included the labor and the materials, but did not include the finishing materials or vanities / appliances. After we agreed to go with him, he was able to begin the demolition within 2 weeks or so. His estimate was an email specifying what he would do (standard finishes), but he stressed that we can figure out the details as the work progressed - more on this in the "FINISHING" section. DEMOLITION The demolition was quick and efficient. Matt subcontracted another company that was able to remove the old wood paneling and floor tiles. Unfortunately, they demo guys hit my garage with their truck, denting some of the roof trim & shingles. I let Matt know and he got it fixed within a day or two. Aside from the garage, the dinged up a few other minor things, but nothing major. Overall, the demolition took only two days, and they cleaned up everything very well. FRAMING / ELECTRICAL / PLUMBING Matt's guys made a tremendous amount of effort on a daily basis, to the point where I'd come down everyday after work to see more walls, outlets, piping, etc. Matt would drop by to speak with us regarding the layout in order to give his guys direction for the next few days of work. For the drywall, Matt subcontracted another company. The drywall became a bit of a problem in the bathroom. About 80% of the walls were covered with the green, waterproof drywall, as you are supposed to do for bathrooms. For whatever reason, two sections of the wall were covered in the standard drywall - maybe the guy ran out of the waterproof stuff? It took several weeks for him to come back to replace the drywall, while Matt's workers proceeded with other tasks. When the drywall guy came back, he replaced one of the sections with the green drywall, but he just covered up the other section with the mud / putty. That was outright dishonest, and I pointed this out to Matt. It took another few weeks to have the drywall guy come back and replace the last section of drywall. FINISHING Every week or so, Matt would give us "homework" to go and pick out tiles, paint colors, bathroom vanities, bar cabinets, etc. He had plenty of suggestions on where to purchase the items, and we went with almost all of his recommendations. Matt's workers were very detail-oriented and definitely did a great job installing everything. One of the main features of the basement were two accent walls done with horizontal wood paneling. We didn't want to use quarter rounds or any other trim around these walls, which required the workers to cut the wood paneling to very tight tolerances. It looks fantastic, and it's one of the first things people comment on when they walk in. Matt's regular workers definitely deserve an A for quality. I ended up rating the Quality as a B overall, only due to the demolition and drywall subcontractors. One aspect of the basement that didn't go as planned was the bathroom shower stall. Due to the amount of space we had, Matt made the shower a pretty good (large) size, including the opening. The whole time, we had been talking with Matt about putting in a sliding glass door. When it was time to pick out a door, we realized that the opening was too large and we would have to go with a custom door. Instead of spending $300 for a door, we would have to spend $1000+. Instead, we decided to just get a shower curtain. We had another minor disagreement with Matt regarding the interior doors he purchased and trim around the glass block windows. We were a bit surprised that he didn't check with us before buying them, or installing the trim, since it's somewhat of a major detail. He did point out that the doors & trim were specified in the contract, which of course was an email (and we were told that all details would be figured out as the work progressed). It wasn't a big deal though - Matt worked with us and we picked out the doors we wanted and got the windows done how we intended. FINALIZING / PAYMENT We got a bit surprised at the end when Matt asked for an extra $2000 due to extra work and rework. While there was certainly a bit of rework (i.e., we ended up not liking the paint and asked for it to be repainted a different color), there was a bit of a misunderstanding in terms of what was in the original work scope and what wasn't. The "we'll figure out the details later" approach didn't work in this case. In the end, we paid the extra amount. Once the project was finished, I called Matt to address a few issues I discovered (i.e., electrical & ejector pump switch). He was very prompt and willing to address all the issues. ******************** A few recommendations for Matt and his clients: - Get a more detailed and accurate contract. This will avoid any misunderstandings in the future. Ask for what's included in the price and what will cost extra. - Plan out details and watch for any custom sizes / dimensions (RE: shower door situation). - Be careful with the choice of subcontractors. Since the clients don't choose the subcontractors, the subcontractors' performance reflects on the person who hired them. ******************** Once again, we are definitely happy with how our basement turned out. Working with Matt was an overall good experience, and I would recommend his company. Thanks!
Description of Work: Full basement rehab, including initial demolition, installation of new bathroom, and wet bar.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
4.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$30,000

Cara and Jay H.
01/2015
5.0
ceramic tile, drywall, electrician, flooring contractor, remodeling, interior painters, lighting, plumbing, basement remodeling, replacement windows, woodworking
  + 9 more
We chose M&L because their quote was a good bit cheaper that the others we got and it was well reviewed here. Originally, only one small area of the basement was finished; we wanted all but the laundry area to be finished. They did the demolition first, a very dusty process! Our house is over a hundred years old and the earlier finishing in the basement was mostly done by amateur handyman types. The workers at M&L (and there were probably 5 guys down there working at a time) took down all the existing walls, ceiling, and wall coverings. Instead of having a dumpster out front, the materials were out in our back yard for a day , though we had the choice of putting them in the garage. The debris was hauled away by truck the next day. They started the framing and electrical work next. From the big open area they cleared, we ended up with several rooms: main area, bedroom, bathroom, office, and laundry area. A hallway connected the rooms. A new electrical sub panel was installed. While the ceilings were open, they replaced the old pipes with copper. In the process, they found that the pipe going from house to street had a major leak right at the join to the house. They rodded out the pipe and replaced part of it. They put in plumbing for the new toilet and sink, as well as for an improved laundry sink. New heat and cooling vents went in also. Next they did the drywall. They also replaced our old wood-framed glass windows with glass block windows. When there was a mistake made with the window supplier on their end, they fixed it for us. We supplied the toilet, sink, and bathroom fixtures, and had them shipped to our house or picked them up from the store. We also paid for the vinyl floor and underlayment for the regular rooms and tile floor for the bathroom. M&L picked up the flooring for us, because of the weight. The workers tried to level the floor with a special cement, though it was too angled in certain places to fully fix. We chose paint colors, and they painted floors and ceiling. The difference in the look of the basement is amazing. It used to be dark and cramped, with a very low ceiling and only one ceiling light in the finished portion. Now it is light and open and ready to use. We are very happy with the new basement! Matt was a pleasure to work with. He is very positive and helpful. He answered texts when we had issues, came to the house when we needed to show him things, and communicated what we wanted to his workers. John seemed to supervise when Matt was not at the house, and did most of the electrical work. All the workers were courteous and professional. They worked 7-5 M-F and many Saturdays worked 8-1 or 2. They basically finished everything in a month. Matt kept to the estimate, except for the additional work they had to do with the pipe leak, and some extras we had him do for the office. I also wanted to point out that the B in quality is not because we weren't happy with the quality. We are. I do think that some of the price difference we saw in the different quotes we got was to some degree due to quality of materials. We felt that for our budget, the quality level is right. Also, after all the work was finished, Matt came back to help us out with a couple of small issues (a leaky pipe, some cracked cement). He is working to help us improve our water pressure. We are very pleased with our experience and would use this company again.
Description of Work: Remodeled our entire basement: demolished the existing walls, replaced steel pipes with copper, made a bedroom, added a powder room, generally updated and improved the space. New floor, ceiling, electrical and heating/cooling vents.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$24,500

Tim C.
12/2014
5.0
basement remodeling
  + -1 more
The service was good. We had some delays, but it was not their fault. A little work is still remaining, but we are just waiting for a few more pieces to come out. We didn't have multiple bidders, we just trusted them. They did extra work, and they kept to the estimate.
Description of Work: I used M&L Remodeling and Painting. They came out, they gave an estimate, and they have done some of the work, we also paid them some money, but they haven't finished all the work yet. The estimate was free. They are remodeling our basement.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

woranat W.
12/2014
5.0
custom cabinets, basement remodeling
  + 0 more
We have a very low basement about 5"8 feet with crawl space. Our project is making finished basement with one bedroom, one bathroom, living room, kitchenette and laundry room. We found Matt on the Angie list with the good reviews. After call and talk to him. He gave us a competitive quote, we decided to do our project with Matt. it was not a easy job to take all the crawl space out but Stanley (Matt's concrete guys) and his crew did a great job lowering the floor about two feet more and pouring the new concrete. After that Matt and his team did a very fast and professional work about flaming, divided room, electrical, plumbing, his team came at 7am.to 5pm. Monday through Friday.
Description of Work: Basement concrete work, lower basement floor, adding two widows, drained tile, sump pumps, general carpentry, electrical, plumbing, Hvac.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$39,000

Ed D.
11/2014
1.0
remodeling, basement remodeling
  + 0 more
We scheduled an appointment to have Matt come and give an estimate on our basement. We scheduled a week in advance for a noon Wednesday appointment. My wife stayed home from work to meet him. Tried calling him at 1pm after waiting an hour - no answer and no call back since then (today is Saturday).
Description of Work: Scheduled appointment for an estimate on a basement remodel.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Lisa C.
11/2014
5.0
home remodeling, basement remodeling
  + 0 more
Matt and his crew performed an excellent job of transforming our old, ugly, basement into a space of beauty and an area in our home that we can't wait to entertain in. We have been in our home for 10 years and we have never been able to utilize our basement the way we wanted to. My husband has always had dreams of turning the space into the ultimate man cave to cheer on his beloved Michigan Wolverine's and Chicago Bulls. I found Matt on Angie's List in 2001 and he came to give us an estimate on remodeling our basement. Matt's quote was more than fair, unfortunately life happened and financially we couldn't move forward with the project. Fast forward three years later and we were finally able to begin the remodeling process. Matt came back out to re-access our space, he still had the original quote and with a few adjustments he presented us with a very reasonable quote, the lowest of all of the the contractors we called. However, I ultimately chose Matt for this job because, during the three year from the initial quote I had stayed in touch with him and he was always very pleasant, non-pushy, and reassuring that whenever we were ready he'd be there. I like working with people (contractors) that have a genuine and vested concern about the job. Matt and his crew showed up every day at 7:30am and left at 5pm, they were always on time and super-efficient. My husband and I couldn't believe how fast they worked and how neat and clean they were. We would come home from work and it was a different surprise every night. The lead crew men, Joseph would ask me every morning if I liked the worked that was performed the previous day. Matt was also very flexible, during the process I decided I wanted my laundry area changed and without hesitation Matt obliged. I will definitely use M&L Remodeling again. My mom is planning on using them for a bathroom remodel next Spring!
Description of Work: Remodeled 1950's style basement of split level home.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$13,600

Alexandra C.
10/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, flooring contractor, remodeling, plumbing, basement remodeling
  + 3 more
As someone seeking remodeling services I think the most important thing to know about Matt and his team is that they are honest timely, and good communicators. Matt did everything he said he was going to do with us, and even a bit more. His team showed up at about the same time every day and worked when they said they would be working. Matt was always in touch throughout our project by text, email and in person. I never felt like I couldn't get a hold of my contractor, and always felt in the know. Matt was also flexible when, as will happen in an old two-flat, we discovered things that needed to be fixed before we moved on. During our work, we found that there was a leak under the basement stairs and that our supporting columns in the basement were rotting. Although all contractors like to stay on schedule Matt worked with us, to create solutions and get the necessary work done. I am so glad we know its fixed and done right! As first time renovators, Matt let us know what we needed up buy as the project progressed. The only thing I would have changed was to received a list ahead to time. All these things are in the estimate, but I think being new to this, we didn't really understand everything we had to buy, and sometimes found ourselves rushing to Home Depot and 10pm the night before things were needed. However, to be honest, I think we could have self-educated a bit more prior to starting, so that may be on us! I really like Matt's core team of workers. They are friendly, and always leave the place in good shape. Today, one of them even took a break to help me figure out a tile design for the bathtub! If we ever do this again we will definitely call Matt! I have listed to friends horror stories, and I feel we got really lucky!
Description of Work: Matt and his team did a complete finishing of our basement, including walls, tiled flooring, the addition of a bathroom and kitchen, and are currently completing retiling and updating our main floor kitchen and bathroom. Everything is looking beautiful!

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$41,000

David M.
10/2014
5.0
closet systems, electrician, remodeling, interior painters, lighting, plumbing, basement remodeling
  + 5 more
Matt and his team did an outstanding job from start to finish. His quote came in about $7,000 under a competitor, so based on that and his Angie's List reviews we selected his team to finish our unfinished basement. Matt was an excellent communicator throughout the process, helping us with design ideas and making us comfortable that we all understood the plan the same way. His team was on time and extremely professional; they did an outstanding job cleaning up after themselves at all times (I left a treadmill in the basement, knowing it would get really dirty; they took great care to wrap it in plastic, and at the end of the project cleaned it off to the point that it was cleaner than when the project started). We had a few changes to the plan along the way - when we saw the lighting, we realized we'd need one more can light at the top of our stairs, and we asked them to build a built-in bookcase that wasn't part of the original plan. Matt's team handled the changes just fine, and worked them into the project without any issues (the bookcase looks great - they do excellent carpentry work). Along the way they also added nice touches to go beyond what we asked for. We had an old closet that we weren't going to bother redoing, but they repainted all the shelves without us even asking them to, and now it looks like a new closet. They also offered to paint the floor in our unfinished laundry area, which we took them up on, and Matt installed a backup sump pump for us. He gave an initial estimate of 4-6 weeks, which was in line with what others told us, but his crew finished in a little under three weeks, which stunned us, especially since they had added finishing touches on their own and we had asked for a few extras. I couldn't be happier with the job they did at a very competitive price, and we've already asked Matt for quotes on a few other remodeling projects.
Description of Work: Finished an unfinished basement space (approximately 30 x 25 feet)

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$20,000

Suzanne P.
09/2014
5.0
remodeling, basement remodeling
  + 0 more
Matt is awesome. As a person who pays a lot of attention to detail, I was so glad to see the work progress with the detail that you never know if you are going to get. He and his crew was awesome!! The crew showed up when they said they would, the crew was very professional, the crew always cleaned up after themselves. This could have been a huge project, but Matt and his guys made it almost seem easy. Matt consulted me every step of the way to make sure that we got exactly what we wanted. He surpassed our expectations. I found Matt on Angie's list and read the reviews. I saw that others had had some issues with the dry wallers that Matt subcontracts. I knew that going in. And sure enough there were a couple of problems -- not with their work, but with cleaning up, covering the return vent while sanding, and not showing up on the days that I took off. But Matt is correct when he says they are good at drying walling. They are, they just leave a little to be desired on the customer service side. But Matt's crew more than made up for the drywallers' short comings. I will use Matt for any project in the future and highly recommend him to anyone looking for an excellent contractor at a great price who came in on budget and on time! Thanks, Matt!!
Description of Work: M&L completely finished my basement. From the first consult to the final walk through, Matt and his team were fabulous! We had a basement that was a holding place for all our junk. Matt came in, gave us ideas that we hadn't thought of to design the space, put up studs, put in heating and air ducts and a return vent, moved a weight bearing pole at the bottom of the stairway to open up the stair way, put up drywall, put in all the can lighting and pendant lighting, built cabinets and shelves, installed six panel doors, painted our choice of wall color, and put in two new windows. Basically everything to finish a basement.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$17,000

Christine M.
08/2014
5.0
doors, home remodeling, basement remodeling, replacement windows
  + 2 more
The job went very well, was on time and on budget. Matt's crew arrived at 7 am each day and were always very professional and considerate. We have a young child and dog; they were always conscientious of cleaning construction debris and locking doors and gates. We had a general idea of what we wanted, Matt helped fill in the unknowns, and we appreciated his recommendations. Matt was at the house almost daily, and responded quickly when we've called him. We would highly recommend M&L, and willy likely use them again in the future.
Description of Work: Matt's team completed a full gut rehab of our basement. His team created a master suite with a walk-in closet , a full bath, office and new laundry room. Also installed new windows and doors.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$28,500

Anat B.
08/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, drywall, electrician, remodeling, interior painters, picture framing, basement remodeling, woodworking
  + 6 more
Our basement looks gorgeous. Matt was so nice and responsive. The work was ahead of schedule and stayed within the proposed budget. Matt was also amenable to making changes when there was something I didn't like for the woodwork, and he gave suggestions about flooring and light that I wouldn't have thought of and turned out to be better than what I envisioned.
Description of Work: Demolition of basement, concrete wall, adding drain tile, leveling floor, electrical, framing, drywall, painting, woodwork, and flooring

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$35,000

Jeanne S.
07/2014
5.0
closet systems, electrician, home remodeling, plumbing, basement remodeling
  + 3 more
I would recommend Matt and his crew in a heartbeat. The finished product is better than I could have imagined. Matt came to the table with several ideas on how to make the most of the space. He was on site regularly and his team was great. They were very respectful of the space and common areas that were not being worked on. They paid attention to detail and always asked questions in the event they weren't sure how I wanted things placed (mirrors, shower door, etc). The shower tiles and flooring look great and it's clear they took their time to make sure everything aligned correctly. We have low ceilings in the basement and they worked to make sure they got them as high as possible when putting in new drywall. One thing to highlight: we were in the beginning stages of the work being done when a storm hit one evening...an apocalyptic storm. We've lived in our home over two years and have had many torrential rains and have never had water in our basement. This time we did. I called Matt the following morning when I noticed the water. He was at our house in 30 minutes to look at things. He took out some of the drywall to see if he could see where it was coming from. Turns out we needed to get a new cap on our chimney. Bottom line is Matt was there and helped us figure out the issue. We will definitely be going with Matt when we decide to remodel our upstairs bathroom or any other part of our home.
Description of Work: Tore out basement to make it one large room to work as a spare bedroom/family room with tear out of 1/2 bath to make it a full. New plumbing and electrical. Two closets were add as well.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$25,000

Contact information

5700 W Melrose St, Chicago, IL 60634

www.mlremodeling.com

Service hours

Sunday:
12:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday:
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Licensing

Insured

Licensed*

Trade License Number
tgc089280
State Contractor License Requirements

All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.

*Contact business to see additional licenses.


Service Categories

Basement Remodeling,
General Remodeling,
Kitchen and Bath Remodeling,
Interior Painting,
Basement Waterproofing,
Hardwood Flooring Sales and Installation,
Concrete Pouring and Repair

FAQ

M&L Remodeling & Painting is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5.

Sunday: 12:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Monday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Thursday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Friday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

M&L Remodeling & Painting accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,MasterCard,Visa
Yes, M&L Remodeling & Painting offers free project estimates.
No, M&L Remodeling & Painting does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, M&L Remodeling & Painting does not offer a senior discount.
Yes, M&L Remodeling & Painting offers emergency services.
Yes, M&L Remodeling & Painting offers warranties.
M&L Remodeling & Painting offers the following services: Basement, Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, Cabinet & Appliance Installation, Countertops, Tiling. Custom Carpentry & Millwork, Flooring - Tile, Stone, Hardwood, Granite & Marble. Custom Storage & Shelving, Framing, Stairwells, Drywall, Painting, Cornice, Chair Rail, Baseboards, Electrical & Plumbing.

Contact information

5700 W Melrose St, Chicago, IL 60634

www.mlremodeling.com

Service hours

Sunday:
12:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday:
7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday:
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM