CNM Construction

I am delighted with results, and equally gratified that the process went so well. I was girded up for an ordeal, which at times it unavoidably was, but was relieved to discover how easy it was to work with Matt and his team. I chose him in part because of his quote, which was the cheapest of the four or five estimates I obtained. I called up one of the references he gave me, who advised me that, whatever it took - even if I had to wait - to go with Matt and C & M. He knew that I would be glad that I did, and he was right. From the beginning I found it very easy to talk to Matt, and I came to realize that this reflected his genuine warmth, decency, integrity, dependability, and professionalism. He consistently honored his word. I feared he would stretch my job out, trying to juggle it with other jobs. He told me his crew would show up every workday until the job was done. They did. He told me he would be visiting the site every day of work. As far as I know, he did. A multitude of times I would call him with some question or worry. I was amazed that he, pretty much invariably, would take my call, and calmly address the issue, or would quickly call me back, often before I had finished leaving him a voicemail, He always addressed my concern in a way that satisfied and reassured me. (It continues to amaze me that throughout what was, inevitably, a bit of an ordeal, he was always a pleasant person to talk to.) My satisfaction readily extends to those in his team. His point person for renovation work was Mateo (curiously, lots of Matts and Mateos in his team and extended family of subcontractors). Mateo was ably assisted by Jose, both of whom were utter gentlemen. For a while they seemed like virtual members of the family, working pretty tirelessly, but as unobtrusively as possible. Mateo exhibited the same combination of masterful professional know-how and good nature that I experienced from Matt, his boss. I quickly realized that this was the overriding culture of respect, goodwill, and good humor that permeated his organization. A couple of things I learned in the process. Mine was not a garden-variety renovation. I had my own fixed ideas as to what I wanted. Matt occasionally needed to weigh in with some reality-checks, clarifying where my vision of what I wanted would occasionally depart from what was practically possible. I appreciated his ready willingness to carry out my desires as best he could, consistent with good construction. Part of the job involved enlisting others for specific jobs (e.g., fabrication of the engineered quartz decks, shower enclosure). I was free to get my own estimates from folks I found on my own, but I found it more expeditious to go with folks he worked with in the past, who could generally get the job done more quickly - and at less (or no more) expense. I had some glitches - a couple spots of missed communication that led to some mistakes requiring correction. I was immensely relieved that Matt the stone fabricator (who has a long history of working with Matt my contractor) absorbed the time and expense of correcting the problem - even though he may have felt the mis-communication was not entirely his responsibility. Matt told me he was honorable, and he indeed was. The overriding lesson I learned was that it was quite important for me to stay on top of these subcontract jobs, particularly when the job or design departs from the routine. In conclusion, I'll return to one of the issues that attracted me to Mat in the first place - his low-dollar proposal (or estimate). The job ended up being much more ambitious than I had originally imagined. In fact, he corrected the worst feature of my bathroom - the elevated floor, which also required some significant rerouting of plumbing pipes. Because I trusted Matt, I didn't worry too much about how much more he would be charging to me. Still, I was greatly relieved that his final bill showed only a modest increase from the initial proposal. It pleases me to be able to recommend Matt and his team so strongly.

Matt and his team were a pleasure to work with. We often find with contractors that their advice regularly aligns with the simplest way of doing things, not necessarily the way that will produce the result we want. In contrast, Matt met often with us to go over options for dimensions and configurations and listened to us as we communicated what we wanted. He regularly went the extra mile for us to give us the bathroom we wanted, even when it meant more work for him and his team. We're very happy with the end result and would recommend C&M for anyone looking for a home improvement professional that values client relationships.

A beautiful and professional bathroom remodel flawlessly completed by Matt and his crew. I contacted Matt in March and he called me back and met with me shortly after the first phone contact. He is super professional, pleasant and a wealth of knowledge. He guided me to make the right decisions when contemplating my bathroom remodel. I went with all his advice without being pressured and could not be happier. Matt was upfront about fitting into his busy job schedule, but I did not mind the slight waiting for a start date and would do it allover again. Once the job started he estimated three weeks to completion and was finished slightly before that. When dealing with my coop's management he was extremely fast in providing the required documents and accurate. His scope of work left no questions unanswered for me or the management. He checked on the progress regularly and contacted me whenever questions arose. So, we stayed in constant contact despite my busy schedule, and, again he made sure i had no unanswered questions, and everything was done to my liking. His crew was equally pleasant and literally left no trace. They even picked up the tile i had selected and thereby saved me a trip and transporting that material. Their craftsmanship is excellent and they did a beautiful job tiling my bathroom and installing the fixtures. Small changes i requested were taken care of without hesitation and without flaws. Old pipes were replaced following Matt's advice and I can attest to everything functioning so much better than prior to the renovation. Not enough can be said about Matt and his crew. I find him to be an exception in today's business world as he provides so much experience, honest advice and excellent craftsmanship. Great job, thank you very much for building my personal dream bathroom and hope to do business again some day Matt!. M.Anderson

Detail of what nedded to be done

Matt, Jose and Vincent are the consummate professionals. Matt is a very organized contractor. He is timely, communicates effectively via phone, text and email, and he delivers on his promises. He tries to understand what you want as client and to make it happen. In our case we're in a 90 yr old building whose walls are filled with who knows what so he provided an initial estimate without promising that he'd be able to move our toilet, wall, etc., but would try. When the walls/floor were opened and it proved possible, Matt made a very reasonable adjustment to the estimate to cover the extra work. Jose is a very skilled craftsman. He and his son Vincent were on site every day. They were timely and extremely professional. I was amazed that they were able to carry out the entire renovation/repair (a total of 5 weeks' work) in a manner that allowed us to live in the apartment the entire time. This included removing and reinstalling the toilet at the beginning and end of each day, which was extremely considerate. I really cannot say enough about their performance. The lines in our new bathroom are very clean and level, and the overall feel of the room is remarkable. The sink and tub drain much more effectively given the work they did, and the room went from being a dark dungeon to a clean room with very adjustable lighting. If I have one reservation it's that the end of the job was a bit rushed (probably because it took a bit longer than expected due to some issues within our building that they had to respond to). This made it such that some of the finer finish work could have been executed a bit more cleanly. It's possible that this is just not their specialty, but in the end it didn't altogether matter. The room is amazing, and Matt's estimate was by far the lowest we received. At least one contractor bid a solid $12,000 MORE than he did, and most were $3000-$5000 more. Matt has done at least one other bathroom in our building, and they are very satisfied as well. The C & M team worked well within the rules of our co-op, and I recommend them without any real reservations. If we undertake another major project I will not bother calling other contractors and would be happy to hire them again.

C&M Home Improvement did a wonderful job. They were here every day and did their very best to meet all of our expectations. They were more than willing to accommodate any changes we wanted made as the job progressed. We were absolutely thrilled by the finished product and would use them in an instant for any future work around the house.

Okay, you're not going to believe me when I tell you that not only was Matt (and his crew) a total delight to work with, but whenever we thought there was an issue, his response was "Ok, how can we make this better for you". Having never done a major renovation, we were petrified of what to expect in our 107-year old Victorian. Not only does Matt come with many years of experience, he honestly appraises the problem and offers the least expensive and invasive way to resolve it. I interviewed 2 other highly-rated Angie's List contractors, but neither of them thoughtfully reviewed our project or offered realistic ideas/appraisals. One guy told us he could "easily" carve out our chimney to create a cabinet (Matt said the house could collapse due to the age of the structure) and another offered to do a re-design ONLY after we gave him $$ as a retainer. We already had a rendering done by an architect friend, and Matt mulled it over and basically made it much more efficient for our needs and the space available (before we even hired him or gave him a retainer.) He's a true professional who enjoys what he does and makes you feel comfortable working with him. He answers your phone/text/email promptly and with a smile. We were so comfortable with his work that we left town to go on vacation while he and his crew finished the job. We came home to a WONDERFUL kitchen and powder room.

We could not be happier with our new basement! Matt Zaccheo walked us through what the renovation would entail and worked with us daily making sure the project met our expectations. We had Mateo and Juan, one of C&M's teams, doing the actual work in the basement. They typically worked 6 days a week from 8 am to 5-6 pm. These guys were excellent in every way. They worked continuously throughout the day in a manner that did not disrupt my family's routines. Mateo always conferred with us when making decisions on how we wanted certain parts of the renovation done. Any time we made changes, they were always responsive and never annoyed. Their goal was to make sure we were completely satisfied with every aspect of the renovation and we are! To illustrate their responsiveness - we awoke Christmas morning to find that our heating was not working. We texted Matt and within the hour he, Mateo and Juan were at my house troubleshooting and fixing the problem. It is rare for any contractor to respond to a problem on Christmas! Their integrity and work ethic is exceptional. We are so glad to have had C&M do this project for us. I would recommend them wholeheartedly without reservation! These folks are the very best!

All went well. Work done in a timely manner, very professional and accommodating. Excellent subcontractors such as electrician, cabinet fabricators, stone and tile referrals. Matteo and staff approachable and willing to modify project as we wished.

Now that all the work is done we couldn't be happier with our newly renovated kitchen and bath in our old Brooklyn home's extension thanks to our great contractor, Matt Zaccheo (C&M Home Improvement). From start to finish Matt's helpful, friendly, and professional approach along with his crew's quiet, clean and fine workmanship made our renovation well worth the time and expense. We recommend Matt Zaccheo (C&M Home Improvement) without hesitation. Don Gabor & Eileen Cowell

Matt and his crew (Mateo and Juan) did an incredible job. The demolition and renovation went smoothly and we couldn't believe how quietly they worked. They came every morning and worked the entire day, covering floors and leaving the apartment in good order. Matt came daily to review progress and was very responsive to any of our concerns.. His crew was very professional and exacting - they did a fantastic job in putting in the tiles and fixtures. Mateo would keep us informed of daily activities and involved us in the designs/plans, ensuring that they were to our liking. They were very accommodating to our requests and changes. Also they were always so upbeat and pleasant, even though they had to go up/down 3 flights of stairs- not an easy job. This renovation was so much better than previous experiences, that I would definitely use C&M again - Matt did not disappoint! At last, a contractor that was responsible, ethical and knowlegeable in NYC.

Kitchen/bath Renovation Progress Report #2: Day 16 of estimated time 4-6 weeks ? 5 Stars! We are well into our kitchen/bath renovation. Matt, his crew, and subs all deserve 5-star reviews. Of course, we?ve had a few surprises along the way that included replacing old termite-damaged beams and a cracked waste pipe. (Whew!) Matt?s keen eye, practical recommendations and product knowledge along with his 2-man crew?s steady progress and attention to detail make it clear that we chose a superior contractor for the job, thanks to Angie?s List. Stay tuned for further reports as the job continues.

Provider spent about 45 minutes in apartment. However, I needed to get an estimate from the cabinet provider and the counter top provider. I would also have to provide the wall tile. In addition, I would need to provide the flooring and its installation. I decided that I wanted the contracor to do cabinets and counter tops. He provided the estimate in a timely manner. However I decided to use another contractor.

Everything went very well. This was my first rennovation. If Ihad any concerns, Matt was able to put me at ease by answering all my questions and explaining so I understood. Jose works with Matt and did an outstanding job. I stayed in the apartment while the demo was being done. They were very clean considering the dust, covering everything with plastic, it was amazing! Matt is a seasonal professional. Even after the work was completed, if there was something that I wanted to address, he still responded and addressed the issue promptly. I really should have written my review sooner, but was enjoying my new kitchen a bit too much. I would recommend Matt in a heart beat. Will definitely call him when I'm ready to rennovate my bathroom.

Matt and his team made the demolition and remodeling of my master bathroom a very positive experience. Matt always quickly responded to all my calls and patiently answered each and everyone of my questions. His guidance and suggestions were extremely helpful and always proved to be correct. His suggestions of local merchants for my bathroom purchases of tiles, plumbing, electrical accessories,etc. made the process easy and enjoyable. Each merchant proved to be as helpful and patient as Matt. Matt's workers proved to be always on time and worked consistently each day until the remodeling was completed. The total event took 2 weeks and 1/2 day to complete. They were always totally respectful and pleasant to have in my apartment. Not a moment was wasted. Matt daily checking on the progress. My wood floors were covered and protected as well as the work area in my bedroom. The stairs leading up to my second floor Condo were always covered if debris or suppiies were removed or delivered. Anyone visiting me after this remodeling would find no indication that I had a total demolition and remodeling recently completed. The craftmanship of Matt's workers is also quite remarkable. During the last day of work I had a local merchant visit to measure my new bathroom for a shower door. He could not stop complementing the tile work and pitch of the shower area. He said it was refreshing to see people take pride in what they complete. He was very, very impressed. I will be using Matt and his team again in the spring of 2014 for my hall bathroom. I have already told Matt to place me on his 2014 schedule.

He was supposed to give me blueprints and estimates as well as measurement.. All he did was give me a very rough estimate. He told me we had to buy everything and he would put it in. He said he wouldn't give me measurements unless unless we paid him.

It was (as all renovations are) a messy stressful adventure but Matt and his team were incredible! They demolished it completely and began putting it all back together. They replaced all the pipes, repaired the floor, replaced the bathtub and drywall. Then the tiling of the floor and walls came next. They tiled cubby holes for in our shower and did a fantastic job with the entire decorative plan. Matt was very hands-on and always responded quickly with texts, emails and phone calls as we ran into questions and issues. They were on time and polite and even though the entire project took longer than expected(extra two weeks) it was well worth the wait!! (The time delay was due to holidays and to delays with getting supplies that were out of all of our hands.) The quality of the work is wonderful and Matt is such a generous kind person. We have six cats and he was always kind with them and put up with their annoying presence. I felt that Matt was always making sure we were happy with the work along the way and was always willing to talk about any concerns. I would definitely use him again if we ever venture into renovation again. His price is reasonable and his work is outstanding!! Lots of good ideas and suggestions along the way as we ran into unforeseeable issues. I just can't say enough good things about him and his team!

Loved working with Matt and his guys. They did an awesome job, we love our new kitchen. Matt was very responsive, professional, happy to talk on the phone when we needed him or had questions. Pretty much the answer to any request was "no problem." The guys who came every day were very nice, great craftsmen, did a good job of keeping things clean. They put up plastic doorways so we didn't have to worry about too much dust getting in the rest of the house. Matt had some great ideas when we weren't sure what we wanted. Overall, a great experience. Would definitely use him again!

Matt and his men were professional and VERY responsive and easy to work with. I never felt nervous asking a question or changing my mind. Matt would always contact me regarding any questions he had and he got back to me SO FAST when I had a question. They all really know what they are doing and it was a GREAT experience. My job lasted 5 months and it was SO SMOOTH.

While remodeling is never fun, it makes a huge difference when your work is done by a true professional who takes great pride in his work. Matt is an exceptional craftsman and a genuinely nice person, as are his associates, Jose´ and Vincente. As others have noted, Matt's prices are very reasonable and there are absolutely no hidden costs. Vincente did the majority of the work, which, among other things, involved the meticulous installation of marble tile in our bathroom. He worked every day from 8:00 to 5:00 without fail and we felt completely comfortable entrusting him with the keys to our house. Vincente and Jose´ are true craftsmen who learned their trade from Matt and their father, Jose´ Sr. This is a close-knit team who treat each other and their customers with respect. Matt is a very busy person, but he found time to stop by every day and called us if we weren't home to make sure that everything was OK. Matt Zaccheo is by far the best contractor I have worked with in my 38 years of home ownership. My wife and I are thrilled with the work he did and give him our highest recommendation.

Matt follows up but hasn't pressured us to start the renovation. His advice, "Take your time and do it right the first time." made us choose him for the job. We will begin in the fall.

Matt and his team were exceptional. Matt is very knowledgeable and has numerous suggestions for vendors, which, as a first time homeowner, I much appreciated. His men were diligent and professional. Matt is very willing to work with you to ensure you end up with what you envision. A couple of examples of his willingness to go above and beyond: 1. I purchased a sink from one of his recommended vendors. There was a manufacturer's flaw that we only noticed after installation. Matt took responsibility for working with the vendor to get a replacement at no cost to me. What might have been a nightmare was handled simply and easily. 2. As we progressed through the project, Matt would identify questions for me and present me with options. I never felt that he was up-selling me (none of the options ever included additional costs). Nor did I feel like he was nickeling-and-diming me when I presented suggestions. He was able to accommodate almost everything, with the exception of one change order which occurred when halfway through the project I decided to add crown molding. 3. Matt only runs three (I believe) crews at a time. So he is always available to talk or meet in person to go over any issues, questions, etc. From what I've heard, this is unusual. I would not hesitate to recommend Matt to anyone thinking about renovating a NYC apartment.

We hired C&M Home Improvements for the Demolition, Repair and Restoration of our home from the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. We got an Honest and Complete Written Estimate for the work. Their workmanship was professional and competent. They followed up on all their work. Matt gave us some expert advice which saved us $$$ money. We would Highly Recommend this company to our friends and family.

I needed two doors installed which they do not do. They said they just handle large construction jobs. Pleasant on the phone.

Positive interactions every step of the way.