B & R Hardwood & Tile

Kurt Kuhlman provided great initial advice on project and provided help in choices of flooring that suited our needs best. He communicated well on details of installation, cost, schedule of work in progress, and troubleshooting issues that arose in the course of the project. The workmanship was first-rate, with great attention to detail. His crew was talented, professional, and efficient. Kurt has a competent crew but he supervises the work himself with high-level oversight. He completed the project on time with many add-on services that we requested. When we needed services outside pure flooring, such as plumbing or electircal, he had his own people to help with the project who had an understanding of the overall project schedule. He works to manage the budget and needs of his client for the best project outcome. He recomended steps that ended in significant cost savings. He is capable of crossing over to areas of remodel other than flooring which is almost always requred. We love the work that was done and plan on using Kurt on any/all additional home projects in the future. We are a busy family, and Kurt and his crew made it a pleasure to do home improvement.

Everything went great. I received bids from several contractors; Kurt was on the high end, but not the highest. I ended up picking Kurt based on a comfort level with he and Carol and their recommendations for how to handle the job. After I narrowed it down to Kurt, there was a lot of back-and-forth as I tried to figure out exactly what I wanted to do; Kurt was great throughout the process, helping make decisions and remaining patient as I changed my mind frequently. We were out of the house for all of the work, so I can't say much about the process other than that Kurt called several times to provide updates - nothing unexpected came up, so it was mostly just to let me know that things were on track. Since we were gone throughout the process, we trusted Kurt to pick a good stain color and he certainly did that. Furthermore, the work looks very professionally done, and I'm glad that I took all of his suggestions (such as having a limited amount of flooring replaced, replacing the quarter-round but not replacing the floor board, etc...) I really don't have much more to add since it was such a smooth and simple process. I'd definitely recommend Kurt to anyone interested in having their floors worked on.

B & R's staff were great from start to finish. We were kept informed throughout the entire project as to what to expect and when. Prior to selecting B & R as our contractor we had received three estimates with B & R's being the most professional and comprehensive as to details and price breakdown. Our new flooring area is absolutely beautiful and we couldn't be happier. One last thing, as messy a project as this was the guys were great keeping our home as clean as possible. Can you imagine guys behaving like that!

The job went just as it was described in advance by Kurt - floor was sanded down and the initial coat applied the first day. Some dust but it was mostly contained by plastic sheet put up and a vacuum system in the sanding equipment. The second day another coat of finish was applied. The third and final coat was applied the third day. After two more days to dry and set, we were able to move furniture back in and use the rooms. The floors look great. This can be a very messy project, but things went really well. Would use this contractor again.

Excellent! Entire business team that we worked with were, professional and curtious. Job was completed on time and results were beyond our expectations. This project was a big endevor for our family. B&R kept that in mind, and were always available to help problem solve, and deal with all questions and concerns.

We appreciated Kurt's professionalism in the bidding process and his helpful suggestions. While his level of service was more than we needed for this particular job, we would not hesitate to recommend him highly. Kurt is a class act.

Our expectations were fairly modest going into this project, and it was a straightforward project. We wanted the linoleum laundry room /entry way floor replaced with slate tile (which we already had selected), plus a minor kitchen backsplash repair. We chose to consider B&R for the work because they were a local company, and the reviews on Angie's list were favorable. Even though Kurt's pricing was higher than the competition, we were impressed with our initial conversation with him, so we awarded him the business. Kurt initially met with us in July, and we mentioned that we were flexible with our timing, but hoped to have the work completed by labor day. He told us that he expected to get us completed mid-late August. We signed the contract and paid the 50% down on the work. Late August came and we hadn't received any communication from Kurt regarding the start date, so I enquired with him - expecting that we would be starting shortly. I was surprised to hear that the earliest he could start on our job was mid-late September, and that he was currently very busy with three large projects. We were disappointed, but continued forward. Finally, Kurt engaged us in late September with a series of questions regarding the work and/or decisions that needed to be made. We were puzzled by some of the questions, because we felt that we had already discussed these in our earlier conversations (e.g. the name of the slate we wanted). The slate arrived two days before the tile-laying work was scheduled to begin, and we were shocked to find out that the delivered slate was not at all like what we expected (it didn't resemble the samples at the tile store). We wanted and expected different shades of brown, but the delivered slate has large numbers of tiles with bright orange color in them. I want to be clear that this is not a fault of B&R, but the tile shop. Nevertheless, we did expect Kurt to be our ally in helping us resolve this issue, since he ordered it through the tile shop. However, Kurt viewed it as an issue between ourselves and the tile shop, and told us that he wouldn't be able to adjust the timing of the job he had scheduled with us. So, the next day I had to drive to multiple tile store locations across the metropolitan area to buy large, extra quantities of the same tile, so that we could cobble together enough of the brown tiles to get the job done. Fortunately, we were able to return the unused tile. The actual laying of the tile was high-quality. Kurt didn't tell us who he had assigned to lay the tile, but it was a gentleman of eastern european descent. I was initially worried when I met him because his english was poor - but his craftsmanship was very good and he did a thorough job. The follow-up to the tile laying was below our expectations. First, the "shoe" part of the base trim that connects the tile floor to our kitchen didn't look professionally done. We asked Kurt to fix it, which he did. Second, I needed to have the kitchen backsplash grout repaired (it turned out that the grout we collectively thought would match the existing grout was too dark). We were comfortable paying Kurt $100 extra for this service call, and he said it was a simple job and he'd probably get to it the following week. Again, more than a week passed without any communication from Kurt. I enquired again and asked about the timing - he said it would be another week until he could get me on the schedule. Finally, we agreed to a time and date to have the work completed. Days before the work, Kurt emailed to cancel the appointment and said he had "higher priority" work that he needed to complete. He suggested that I again reschedule with him for another week or two out. At that point, we told him we'd find someone else to do the job. The bottom line is that B&R's craftsmanship was strong and they were polite to work with, but the scheduling, communication, and organization was below our expectations.

Refinishing hardwood floors is never terribly enjoyable from a homeowner's perspective, you just hope that the end result will be worth it. In our case, we couldn't be more pleased. Kurt and his team did a great job installing and refinishing the hardwood. The new floor matches the existing hardwood perfectly. We hadn't planned to stain the floors, but decided to do so based on Kurt's recommendation. The new stain really upgraded the look of our home and we're thrilled with the result. One of the reasons we selected B&R is because they also install tile, which also looks wonderful. Because the tile is in a high traffic area by the back door we had planned to seal it, but Kurt informed us that they use a boost in the grout which makes sealing unnecessary. The crew also did a meticulous job with the finish work matching the existing trim colors, reconnecting the water line to the ice maker and installing the washer and dryer, etc. B&R wasn't the cheapest bid we got on our project, but after meeting Kurt we felt confident that he and his crew would do a great job with no surprises. We were not disappointed!

We contacted an gained bids from several contractors including more than one from Angie's List. We selected B & R for several reasons. They were very thorough in their bid and included options of assistance with removal of all of our furniture and post construction cleaning. They did not simply try to be the low ball bidder in order to gain the bid. Kurt Kuhlman is very professional and responsive. He worked with us on scheduling to have the work coincide with a trip out of town and completed the work as promised. I would not hesitate to use them again. There is a wide range of flooring companies and it was refreshing to deal with a very professional firm that has a long successful track record in the Twin Cities.

Kurt is the best contracter we have ever worked with! He (and his crew) are professional, accommodating, and honest. We had his company sand and refinish our hardwood floors a few years ago. They were old and in quite a bad state, and we wondered if they would have to be replaced. B & R Hardwood made them look like new again! The floor crew was prompt, courteous and did a fabulous job! This past August we had him buff and coat the floors again as we have 3 dogs and we wanted the floors to look good so we could list our house. Again, they did a wonderful job and worked with our timeline so we could get the house on the market. I also had him install granite countertops in our master bathroom and replace all the plumbing fixtures. They look beautiful and the work was top-notch. Kurt arranged for me to meet with the granite company to pick out the countertop and everyone I dealt with was friendly and helpful. His cost wasn't the lowest I found, but also not the highest. I knew that he would do a great job though, and had no qualms about spending a bit more for superior work. I also appreciate the follow up from the company. They called after each stage to make sure the work was done properly and that we were satisfied. I have never dealt with a more customer-oriented company. We also decided to refinish our basement stairs ourselves and Kurt arranged for us to get the matching product without hesitation. I highly recommend B & R Hardwood and Tile and Kurt Kuhlman for any home improvement needs!

I could not talk my husband into the doorway weave in so we went with header boards. He admitted later that the weave in would have tied in nicely. We can't tell the old floor from the new. Kurt was very patient and professional. Let my engineer husband be very involved in the planning. The floors & baseboards are gorgeous! Work completed on time with reasonable level of mess. Very satisfied!!

Kurt and all his sub contractors were professional, courteous and great to work with on this project. They arrived on time, worked efficiently, cleaned up after themselves and were overall very pleasant. The project was laid out in detail and we knew what to expect. We would definitely recommend Kurt and his team. He kept us informed throughout the project with email and phone updates. We will certainly consult with Kurt on future projects at our home.

I was very pleased with the outcome and frankly all of the processes leading up to the completed project - the floor looks and feels so much better. Kurt was always in close contact with me and I was always able to reach Kurt for questions etc. during the process. They went out of their way to satisfy my every need - an unusual response these days. Kurt (and associate Roy) were consistently prompt throughout and available to explain issues along the way. They personally did the demolition and final trim etc. which saved much time in the long run. They even helped me with the huge pieces of furniture...can you imagine that! You can count me as a most satisfied customer.

Kurt and his crew were professional, responsive, friendly, and efficient from first contact through the entire project. Kurt not only detailed every aspect of the project (disconnecting/connecting refrigerator, removing/resetting toilet, removing/repainting the quarter round, etc.), but he was available to answer all of my questions about progress, timing, follow-up care, etc. Kurt prides himself on providing the highest level of customer service, and in my experience, he achieved his goal....my floors are beautiful!

Kurt and his team were simply outstanding. The quality, responsiveness, flexibility and overall experience are what you hope to receive in the home improvement service industry today. I have recommended them several times and friends have found the same overall result. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to install hardwood floors or tile.

Kurt was fantastic to work with from day one. He guided my husband and I throughout the entire process and helped us save money without sacrificing quality. I have to say what impressed me most, was the communication. Kurt called regularly to let us know each day where they were at in the process and what the plan was for the following day. We will be sure to use Kurt and B&R Hardwood again in the future.

We interviewed three diverse local firms for this project, each with its own special strengths and each recommended on Angie?s List. We decided on B&R Hardwood and Tile, Inc., based on the detailed, thoughtful and client-driven presentation of its President, Kurt Kuhlmann. Specifically, Kurt convinced us on four accounts: he suggested extending our project to replace the original ceramic tile in the foyer, something that was an upgrade we had not considered, but in retrospect something that aesthetically unifies our space and will add value to our home; he discussed how he would hand-finish the floor area adjoining the fireplace with header boards, and he did this with finesse; he discussed his finishing process - that seemed to make sense, and it looks super; and he mentioned his professional affiliations, something that to us, as professionals in our respective fields, gave added credibility to his proposal. Kurt is a great guy, very personable, always pleasant and calm, someone who works with integrity and a happy commitment to his craft. It was a pleasure to work with him. He mentioned at the outset that we would have many questions before and during the course of the project. That was true, and he patiently answered every one of them to our satisfaction. We are enjoying our beautiful new floors and are pleased to highly recommend Kurt!

Having your floors sanded can be a long, messy and inconvenient process, but Kurt and his people were so professional, so efficient, and so generally nice, that they almost made you forget how miserable it can be. When I called, they asked all the right questions, scheduled a meeting for the estimate at my convenience, were very understanding when I had to change the date, did everything they could to make the process as painless as possible. They moved the piano across a long stretch of hardwood floor without making a mark, taped the house thoroughly to minimize the dust, showed up on time, finished early, and did a beautiful job. The floors are gorgeous. What impressed me most, however, was Kurt's willingness to share his knowledge about issues I hadn't even asked him to fix. He pointed out a problem with the stairs, and advised me how to fix part of it myself and told me he could fix the molded fitting I had long ago given up hope of restoring. He will be doing this for me this month in a separate job. This is only the second time I have used Angie's list, and I am stunned both by the superb work the two companies have done, and by how pleasant and satisfying it is to deal with the people. They inspire confidence, and leave you with a beautiful finished product that makes you feel your money was well spent. Kurt was wonderful. You will not do better!

Excellent job. Kurt and his crew were easy to work with, on time and followed through with any commitment.

It went really well overall. Kurt and crew were very professional. We went with Kurt at the start because he seemed to have a deeper knowledge and background than the other contractor considered, and the price while a little higher was comparable. We enjoyed meeting with Kurt and his crew at numerous times and he kept us up to speed on the work. Floors turned out really well, and we will enjoy them for years to come.

We love the results - there are no workmanship complaints. Aesthetically, we are very pleased with how well the floors and countertops and cabinets all work together - while we didn't use Kurt's suggestions in all cases, when we did accept his suggestion they worked out well - he obviously has a lot of experience and he's more than happy to make suggestions and, more importantly, he has the experience to be able to predict how a potential choice might affect the final result. Kurt's subcontractors responded to the oddities of the house professionally (for example, the abnormally shallow ceiling forced the electrician to switch to an unusually shallow canister light, which he handled with aplomb). In particular, the new cabinets work extremely well with the old cabinets WRT scheduling, we were somewhat disappointed as a 2-3 week prediction bloomed into a 3 month slog. Some of this was our fault as we were very particular in the details of what we wanted and as spring began the housing industry suddenly picked up and Kurt's subs were busier than they had been in years.

I hired Kurt to do the above work and am overall very happy with the results. The quality of the tile workmanship is great. A couple things B&R could improve on: Kurt seemed to take personal offense when price issues came up which made it uncomfortable. And, there were a couple add-ons (stair edge, trim, cabinet work) that I felt should have been caught in the bid process by someone who does this everyday that ended up adding $500-$1000 to the job. That said, there were a couple other issues that came up and Kurt and team fixed right away to my satisfaction. My floor also had a lot of squeak issues and they were able to remedy that problem too. Overall, I'd recommend Kurt and B&R for this type of work, and would use them again myself.

I contacted for an estimate by email and simply mentioned that I was looking for an estimate on refinishing our floors in our double bungalow. I missed the call back, but received a message by a woman who sounded rather bored. She said they would need more information. Like how much square footage there is and if the double bungalow would be half the unit or both units. Huh? Shouldnt they be gathering this information when they come and look at the floors?Shouldnt they want to look at the floors and see what sort of condition they are in? Anyway I returned her call and left her a message and never received a call back. As a potential paying customer I dont feel obligated to make any more effort than that. I would rateher deal with a contractor that actually wants my business.

Kurt gave us a bid for refinishing and then just a buff and seal, we listened to his suggestions and went with the more expensive refinishing and we are glad we did. The floors turned out beautifully and the team he used was very meticulous with their work.

I appreciated his attention to detail around and under the trim and his careful management of the transition into the kitchen hardwood floor. Since I was full of questions, Kurt also explains as he goes and is generous with his expertise. I heartily recommend his work.