DAL Builders

I am not one to leave bad reviews and debated for the last several weeks on whether or not to let you know the good, the bad, and the ugly of DAL builders. I would want to know and hopefully my taking the time to write this saves you the time in the future. Five years ago, I hired DAL builders to fix significant water damage to my home. It included hardwood floor replacement, repairs to the walls and ceiling, and repainting of the home. They did such a great job that when I took my newest round of water damage (burst water pipe from other unit), I went out and got quotes from two other companies and DAL. My first interaction with Tim, the owner’s brother and project manager, left me skeptical of the work because I felt uneasy that Tim knew what he was saying or doing. I decided their past success earned them the right to work on a house they were already familiar with and the first sign of something bad came before the work even began. Initially, they were supposed to only fix a patch of floor and brought in the replacement wood to settle for a week only to then realize that they did not match the floor properly (mind you, this is the same floor they had already once installed). They said they could not find the correct wood and would need to replace the whole first floor. The project got delayed another week after this for them to find the correct wood for the floor and then we moved out of the unit for 14 days. There were specific rules given to DAL builders on how they were to only use the garage to store furniture or materials and to only open the door when removing debris. This rule was broken on a daily basis and they also decided to park their vehicles in their while they worked. My association forbids this and was nice enough to notify me by letter that it was happening. Additionally, I had requested the upstairs be closed off to the workers. I did not want dust from the work to reach the upstairs and did not want the workers walking around an area there was no need for them to be. I checked in on them from time to time and they had clearly disregarded this request and would not only store their personal belongings upstairs, but they felt free to use the upstairs facilities. Let’s get back to the work. There was a section of wall, approximately 3’x 6’ that they were to patch, tape, and paint. The picture I am attaching shows some of the worst craftsmanship I have ever seen. They failed to make the edges align from top to bottom and you can clearly see a narrowing of the wall at the bottom. It was not until all the work was completed that Dave (the owner who tried to fix it himself) said they should have replaced the whole wall instead of patching it. It took several long arguments for Dave to finally say the work was terrible, they did it the wrong way, and credit me the amount they charged to fix the wall (not the amount it is going to take me fix it properly). While we are on the topic of the walls, once they completed the floors, they were to paint the first floor. We have the same paint running from the first floor, up the stairs to the second floor and was assured they can match the paint to not see a difference. Once I came back to do a final walk through, the paints did not match. Both Dave and Tim tried telling me it is the lighting but the picture clearly shows how off it is. We went to the paint cans…the codes were different. They were “nice” enough to offer to paint the rest of the house in a matching paint for free. Oh, one more interesting point about the painting. The first floor bathroom needed to get painted as part of the contract and on a walk through I could clearly see that the room was not painted, but Tim assured me it was. A day later, they came back to say they were wrong, it was not painted. The floors actually turned out about 85% great. The other 15% was a failure to level the floor at one spot and they had to shave the bottom of a door down to fit and they left scratches on the floor when moving furniture back in. They offered additional credit for this because it would have taken additional weeks to complete the work. Outside on some scratches, cracks, and dents in the new floor (I know, why should I settle for this?), they matched the stain nicely and it looks good. All that aside, the real reason I will never work with DAL again is because of Dave and Tim. I do not understand the dishonesty and why they would defend such poor work. In discussing this with both of them in my house, Dave accused me of threatening him (not sure he still understands the definition of that word) when I was telling him how bad the work was and they have to do something to fix it. I would say something like, “My expectation is that the work you do makes my house look better.” He would respond, “Your house is no where near perfect and needs a lot of work.” This perfectly captures our interactions and his unprofessional behavior. After almost a month, they were done and to add insult to injury, Dave tried to over bill me. Seriously.

DAL replaced our deteriorating back deck (wood) with composite material (Azek). Tim did a nice job of keeping us very informed throughout the process on timing, permitting, etc. The whole project took about two weeks. We're very happy with the work and would use DAL again.

I realize this was a big project and explained in detail what I wanted several times. I was asked to pick out a color of stain from a swatch that was little more than a 1 inch square--the surface of the back deck is the entire length of my house plus 2 other adjoining decks. The backyard decks were a 2 tone color process. Again, I realize the size of the project they would undertake. I was taken back at first because on the first day of prepping the front stairs (sanding and scraping) a lot of the paint chips were all over my adjoining bushes, grass and landscaping. Thinking they were not done, I thought maybe they would do a thorough job of clean up once finished. I was wrong and I ended up using a leaf blower to remove the paint chips and saw dust (from sanding) from my landscaping. The next thing that went wrong is the color of the deck when finished. The color I thought I had picked out was a dark gray. When I saw the deck completed, it was blue. Thank goodness one of the workers was still there. He explained that the deck was the exact color I had picked out. I showed him my one inch sample and the color of the deck was NOT the sample, even though the color listed on the stain itself was the exact color name I had picked out.. After a few conversations with the owner, he had a manufacturers rep. come to my house to check the color sample. The representative agreed that the color of the deck was not the color I had asked for and went beyond my every expectation of having me pick out a custom color (anything I wanted) and the entire job would be restained at their cost. Needless to say, when it was all said and done, I was quite happy. My deck is beautiful--more than I had hoped for!!!!!

In short: The stairs look great. Well designed and well executed. Communication, unfortunately, was terrible. I contacted them 7/15/15 for an estimate. They scheduled on Tuesday, 7/21 and the representative, Tim, was early, friendly, and informative. I thought it was an auspicious start. I was told I'd receive an estimate by Friday, 7/24 or Monday, 7/27 at the latest. I gave them until 7/29, when I emailed them asking what had happened. They responded (the same day): It was sent out last Friday, so I'm not sure what happened. They sent the estimate at that time, which was significantly higher than the job minimum I was informally told by Tim on 7/21 ($2590 - $100 Angies List coupon). My wife and I deliberated and decided to move forward on 8/4. I received a contract on 8/6. Sent initial check payment in mail on Friday, 8/7. In an email that same day, DAL builders sent: "We are already fully booked through the next couple of weeks. Once we have that deposit, Tim will contact you to schedule a start date. Since your project is on the smaller side, if you are flexible with your availability, we may be able to squeeze you in before your scheduled start date" I followed up on Tuesday, 8/11 to see if they received the signed contract and payment. They confirmed they did on Wednesday, 8/12. Didn't hear anything, so I contacted them again on Monday, 8/17, especially since they deposited my check. On Thursday, 8/20, I heard back: "I have set a tentative start date for you to get you on our colander [sic] for October 2." He added he could squeeze me in earlier if short notice was ok. My response, the same day: "As far as October 2, if you can push it earlier, that'd be best. I have to confess that this whole process is moving much more slowly that hoped." No contact about earlier date. No contact on Oct. 2. No contact at all, so I emailed on Saturday, Oct. 10. I received a reply on Oct. 12: "Do apologize it appears your email for returned. I had to move your project to this week. I am looking at Thursday for a start, possible Wednesday. Will this time frame work?" Note: I use email daily and throughout the day, connected at work, home, and on my phone. I add this to note that I did not somehow missed emails, or left them in spam, or that Gmail had conveniently timed outages. By this point, I was thoroughly upset, and told him that I was no longer interested in their services and asked for a refund of the deposit. They were insistent and promised a one-day, one-morning job on Thursday, Oct. 15. Against my better judgment (and after speaking with Tim on the phone), I capitulated and proceeded with the work. Both my wife and I were at work by the time they arrived (as discussed), but by the time my wife got home in the late afternoon, the job was done and the worksite was reasonably clean. I'm glad the stairs are done and done well... but because of the communication issues, I would not hire again. Future customers take note: email doesn't seem to be their strongest suit, at least at the time of this job.

The contract was signed Nov. 2013 and work began Jan. 2014 when all permits were approved. The tear down went well considering they started work on a day that the temp was -15. All workers were helpful, professional and workman-like. DAL was thorough in discovering and noticing all problems which are inevitable with with type of project. All decisions were up to the Condo Board with expert advice and input by DAL. All changes orders were in writing and fully executed before any extra work was done. DAL's contract is thorough and after a few changes which were approved by all, fully executed. While the weather is always a factor, the work was generally on time and on schedule. Despite the fact that the original time estimate was a little unrealistic (5 months) the project did proceed in a reasonable manner. All work, including extras, was substantially completed by October 2014. The Owner of the company was open, available,knowledgeable and willing to discuss any questions or issues that the Board may have had. He is familiar with the particular statues and ordinances that are of paramount importance and unique to the City of Chicago. Our "Construction Manager" who is the owner's brother was exceptionally helpful. He also is very knowledgeable and a Master Carpenter who was not afraid to pitch in and put his exceptional skills to work. He was available and returned messages and e-mails promptly. If he was not on site, he would show up or advise when he would come, often as soon as possible. Finally, the majority of the actual work was done by two of the best construction workers that anyone could wish to work on their project. A young fellow, who is surprisingly skilled, virtually completed the stairs in our 3 flat by himself. Accurate and precise stair and porch building can be one of the most arduous tasks required in construction and he did a great job. The more seasoned worker was also excellent. He was timely with deliveries and showing up early and did much of precision cutting and trimming job. Both of these guys, who were here virtually everyday for many months, were friendly, kind and professional. It was a delight to deal with them Overall, considering all the terrible things that could happen with such a construction project, our project worked out excellently. DAL may be pricy but they are top notch and highly recommended. Contact: Caren, Board President at: truecrime2@aol.com

Not well. After the initial contact, which was fine, i never heard from them again. I had written a follow up note. And still heard nothing back from them. I find this very unprofessional. If you don't have the time to do a job. Tell me so and don't waste my time.

This company from the quoting to execution of our roof deck was a 11/10 and we will be using them again moving forward not only for myself, but my association was so pleased that they will be using them moving forward to repair the other units to properly position any depreciation on our roof. The crew and account managers were very professional in every aspect from obtaining permits from the city and even putting together moveable benches for our roof. If I ever have ANYTHING that's needed as far as contracting or additions onto our place I will be using DAL as my fiance and I couldn't have been more pleased using them. I gave all A's and I'm not that easy of a grader, but from searching through other companies for a while we finally found ours. I would recommend them to anyone moving forward about doing any sort of construction or remodeling before going anywhere else. Overall 110% satisfied. Great company!

I went back and forth with various DAL Builder employees before the project was even started, and they were very patient with and open to all of my thoughts and ideas. They were realistic in setting expectations of cost for many of them, and also were good about providing the pros and cons of each. They also did not over charge us and take advantage of cost expectations - for example, we had agreed on a price for the window seat and it came in at about half of what they projected; I feel like other companies may have just charged us the agreed upon (higher) price and we were extremely impressed with the honesty and transparency of DAL re: the actual cost of the seat. While the DAL crew was on site they were extremely prompt, respectful of our family's needs getting in and out of the house and just generally pleasant to be around. They were there exactly when they said they would be day to day, and I was in constant communication with our project manager Tim as to expectations of their work and timeline of the projects. They were very efficient with completing their work, so much so that we've had neighbors remark on how fast the project was completed and how beautifully. Follow up after the project from our project manager Tim was excellent. I can't speak highly enough of DAL Builders and all of their employees. Their beautiful work, competitive pricing, efficiency and pleasant employees make DAL the #1 construction company in Chicago in our book! We look forward to using them for many future projects!

In general my experience with DAL builders was excellent. Tim was our project manager and he was very good about answering emails and phone calls and keeping everything up to date. I always felt that I had my finger on the pulse of what was going on. Other contractors on Angie's list seemed so swamped with business that they could only schedule my job 4-5 months after I actually needed it done. DAL worked with me to insure that my timeline was adhered to.. I am HIGHLY satisfied with the job they did and the way they worked with me to find solutions to my balcony issue. I would DEFINITELY recommend them for the quality of their work. On price other contractors offered lower prices, but also appeared to be cutting corners by not getting permits and not using certified tradespeople. I probably could have found a better price if I was willing to wait months, but DAL was willing to provide me with about as much certainty about time frame as possible for a job in Chicago in the winter. NOTE: I had some specifics that made this job non-standard due to condo association requirement and neighbors demands, so if those factors did not enter the picture DAL could have completed it for about half the price stated above.

Generally, it went well. DAL provided accurate assessments of when the work would be started and completed, and there were no cost overruns that were DAL's fault. There were some glitches in the replacement of a cracked bathtub, some of which were their fault and some of which were ours, but in the end we were pleased with the result. The outdoor work was begun and completed pretty much on schedule, despite some rather daunting early December weather. We will use DAL again. Their people were professional and easy to deal with.

I received an estimate that was on a higher side but the company was very professional, punctual, and responsive.

I spent numerous hours searching for the right contractor, some didn't even return a quotes or phone calls. Tim from DAL Builders came out and answered all of my questions. He was responsive and attentive when I had additional questions. I was always kept in the loop with emails on where everything was in the process. There were several steps along the way, such as electrical and mason work, which needed to be accomplished before our French Doors could be installed. Once the electrical and mason work was done the carpenters for the door came out. The carpenters went right to work removing the window and preparing the opening for the doors. Once the doors were in, they relocated a supply vent from the wall to the floor. Their work is exceptional and I would recommend them to anyone I know. Everyone at DAL Builders, from the electrician to the carpenters were professional and courteous.

My basement stairs were pretty typical of a older home, very steep and narrow. Dave and mike came up with a solution which allowed a more comfortable staircase,they used some space from a closet to allow the stairs to be turned at the bottom marketing a world of difference. I highly recommend these guys.

I originally met dal when they were doing some work on a neighbors house, they have since completed several projects for me. I have nothing but good things to say about them. This project took about 3 month from start to finish. Dave has been great about helping me come up with designs that fit my budget and look great. As always they we're wonderful at keeping me updated with the progress. I will continue to use dal in the future.

We were very satisfied by the work provided by DAL builders. They were very professional, prompt in their service, and up front about everything. Our basement was last refinished over 30 years ago and was very dated complete with wood paneling. Dave came in, gave us a few ideas and stressed that it was his goal to provide us with "A basement that wouldn't feel like a basement". The scope of work included refinishing the entire basement (approximately 1000 square feet) that would include a common area, a bedroom / office, and a bathroom. Additionally, we had them wire our entire house (basement & first floor) for CAT 5 Internet and Cable hookups, and create a component closet in the basement. Along the way we received project updates that helped us understand how things went. After demolition Dave came over and snapped a chalk outline where all of the walls would be so we could visualize the layout. A hurdle came up early in the project - a foundation crack that was discovered during demolition. He gave us the option of having them repair it, or suggesting a local company that would complete the work with a warranty. The entire time it was clear that he had our best interest in mind. After the completion of the project, they even offered to help mount my television on wall. We spend a lot of time in our newly finished basement and could not be happier. I'd recommend this company to others and would use them for a future project.

I am a Property Manager for several rental/investment units in the DePaul neighborhood of Chicago. One of my clients was planning to update two of his condo units this past summer, so I had a couple of vendors prepare quotes for my client to review. DAL Builders proposal was by far the most comprehensive quote - not the cheapest but not the most expensive either. Working with Tim and Dave was great. They are very prepared and pro-active; crews are excellent at what they do - very thorough and clean. My client is thrilled with the outcomes of both units and plans to use them again in the future!

We chose DAL for experience and responsiveness. Their original quote was not the lowest, but seemed to be the most thorough for what we wanted for our building, which was maintenance and repair of 4 decks. DAL was very clear that there could be additional costs once the demo process began, as we did not know what the underlying structural condition would be. It became clear upon demolition that we would require a complete rebuild. The cost to do a complete rebuild with DAL was very high compared to another contractor that works exclusively on decks. As a result, we cancelled the remainder of the project and paid for the work DAL had completed. They were easy to work with and very fair when we cancelled the remainder of the contract. DAL just wasn't competitive with another contractor that only does the type of deck work we needed.

I set up a meeting with DAL Builders by mistake, thinking they were a design/build company. We are interviewing these companies and architects for a planned Spring remodel of our home. Mike was very nice and let me know they only did the building part of the process, but stayed for an additional 30 minutes to speak with me about the process and give tips. He was extremely helpful and I appreciated his time. We are not yet at the process where we pick a builder but will definitely consider their company when we do.

Mike (the sales guy) was great, super nice, professional and gave us a fair quote. The problems started when I was turned over to a project manager. It took over a month for a project they said would take a week. The guys working on it barely showed up and when they did it was afternoon working a few hours each day when I asked multiple times to please complete project quickly. The quality is fine, but they treated me like I was an idiot (blamed work they were doing in the shop on the weather, etc.) and were way off my their estimate for project completion, thus leaving our backyard a mess for weeks. The steel workers & brick layers were great, just the project manager who seemed to never manage a project before.

They were able to work with the city about getting the permit and getting it approved. They did the job in a short order. Their estimator was very knowledgeable and knew all about city codes and how to work within the city code.

Worked with DAL on a basic design (dimensions, type of wood, type of spindles, skirting, etc.) and they ran with it from there. Showed up on first day of construction, took down the old staircase, dug for the concrete piers, poured it and got the basic framing done. Efficient, no messing around, totally professional. Next day it was the decking and rails and soon thereafter the stairs and spindles and skirting. All the carpentry was top-notch, as was daily clean-up. The crew couldn't have been nicer or more professional. Tim Larkin, who oversaw the project, was accessible and explained everything. Oh, and the price was right. Love the results. Couldn't be happier with DAL. Look forward to using them in the future.

The gentleman arrived on time, spoke with us about what we wanted and got back to us within a few days with a detailed estimate. It was all done with a personal touch but also very professional. The only reason we didn't use them for the project was that the company that originally built the deck came back with a slightly lower bid and the owners still remembered my mother from 25 years ago and she was more comfortable with them because of that.

We ended up going with another company, but they were very professional and knowledgeable in their estimate.

While Mike was very professional and knowledgable, their quote was more than double 3 other quotes I had received for the exact same sevice.

Michael at DAL was a good guy. He answered any calls and returned any calls very promptly even when he knew that we weren't happy with their work. He even came back to help when we had a future problem (due to their low quality work). However, the quality of their work was not good. The front door that they replaced still doesn't close correctly and the finish on the inside of the building looks like it was done by an amateur. And, they never re-hooked the building intercom correctly. Again, Michael was great and the owners of DAL should pay him a lot better. But, very poor quality construction. Would love to do business with Michael in the future if he worked for a company that did good work. Actually, I would be surprised if he still works there.