Betterliving Patio Rooms of Pittsburgh

Joey was the salesman we spoke with @ the PGH Home Show. He was very prompt on scheduling an appt with us. He came right on time & was so nice & very professional. Joey worked very well with us on the patio room & price we wanted to be at. We went to their showroom & saw exactly what we were getting. There, we met Jami, Production Manager, & he went over all the construction & pricing with us. Then, he came to our house to remeasure & take pictures, etc. We were told it would take about 10 to 12 weeks until they would start, which was just fine with us. Around 10 weeks, Mark & his crew came to build the patio home. They were always on time, very friendly & professional. Mark always let us know what was going on & was more than happy to answer any questions we had. Jaimie would come by to check on things & see if we were satisfied with everything. We never had any issues and we feel we received an excellent product & high quality construction.. We always felt very confident in Joey, Jami & Mark & the work being done. We would highly recommend Betterliving Patio Rooms of Pittsburgh.

I originally called Betterliving because I was interested in installing windows in my 3 season sunroom. When we bought the place the room originally had acrylic panels that could be slide into place. But wood frames had been expanding from the rain so several of the panels no longer fitted into the window frame and a couple of the frames had even popped out of place. Jason from Betterliving came to give us a quote for replacing them with glass windows that could be more easily slide up and down. Also I mentioned to him that a piece of the fascia of the sunroom had some problems because one of the hooks for our blinds was not able to hold it anymore. While discussing that Jason noticed that the house windows had been leaking water behind the siding. He showed me the issue and I was able to see that it was happening already to all of our windows. I asked him to also give me a quote for replacing all windows and fixing the boards underneath. The quote seemed fair so we decided to put a deposit for the project A week later Jami from Betterliving came to take measures. We discussed the timelines to get the windows made and for installation. The windows came in within the time expected but unfortunately earlier this year had been quite rainy so I was not surprised that there was going to be a longer delay between the time the windows were ready and when the project would start. They had to postpone a couple of times, but Jami called me ahead in with enough time for me to make arrangements on our side so it was not a problem. The first day of the project Ray (the owner) and Jim came to do the installation. They started by replacing the windows of the house. I was really happy to see how nice the windows were looking and how fast they went through even though they had to replace the boards below the windows due to the water leakages from the old windows. From there on most of the other days it was only Jim who came to continue with the work. I really like the job he did with the windows and the aluminum trims on the outside of the windows. Because they had to cut some of the boards I was thinking that it was going to get messy, but they left the areas they worked really tidy. Then they started with the sunroom. They removed the aluminum around the fascia that was damaged and it turned out to be much worst that originally thought. I could see how bad it was so understandingly they had to give me a new quote for replacing the whole fascia on that side. The whole project took longer than originally anticipated due to this, but at the end the sunroom is looking much nicer than before and I feel comfortable that is solid. I am glad that these problems were caught on time and repaired properly. I am happy to have worked with them and with the quality of their work.

great! made a big project easy!

They did a quality job. The problem was with the communication. They said they would do things at a certain time and it didn't happen. Originally, the job was supposed to take 10 weeks and it doubled out. Just calling them and telling to get someone to come out was very difficult until I went bizarre on them and from that point forward, they were fine. They had to stream their responsiveness out. They have a whole list of clients that they can refer one to. I called a couple and they were just overwhelmed with the service that they got. I am one of those unfortunates who was caught in a bad time.

All in all it went very well. Mark S. Was the crew leader and couldnt have been better. His helper was involved in a bad car wreck on the third day of the project so Mark basically did the whole project by himself. Because of that, it took a few days longer than expected. Iwould recomend Betterliving in a heartbeat. Everyone from the sales all the way to the owner of the company were helpful, professional, and courteous. A great job was done by all!!!

Their service was excellent. Overall, they were an A+.

We had used Better Living Patio and Sunrooms before, and knew from experience that they would be able to integrate the metal surface patio roof, which they had installed two years earlier, with our main roof when the time came to reshingle the main roof. When the time did come, however, we still got estimates from other contractors we found on Angie's List to be sure that materials and costs were on par since we had last considered getting this work done. Since the last time we had dealt with Ray Hepp, owner of BLP&S, he had added a new roofing division, headed by Jason Roper. As we expected, Better Living was the highest of our estimates, but the reason was because of the extra work our roof needed, but that the other bidders did not address. Primarily, after removing all shingles, they laid an entire new layer of 7/16" plywood on top of the "spongy" plywood underfoot that I had noticed over the years. Also, when I mentioned that water would drip from winter-frosted roofing nails inside our crawl space, Jason asked if he could inspect the crawl space. He was the only bidder to ask to inspect under the roof. After the inspection, his suggestion was that we install a ridge ventilation system that would draw fresh air in from the eaves and up through the roof ridge, thereby eliminating the need for several "static" roof vents that had originally been installed in the roof. The result would be not only a stronger roof because of the additional plywood, and fewer openings in the roof, but better year-round ventilation without the need to run our powered attic fan. Because of faulty installation of the old roof, we had also been getting an infestation of wasps over the years (even after having hired a specialized exterminator). Better Living Patio had come to my rescue in the fall of 2012, for emergency repairs (at a very reasonable cost) to the entire length of our porch roof after a raccoon, digging for wasp nests, had opened a hole in it. That's when we were able to see the true extent of the wasp invasion throughout the roof area. During the current installation process, both Ray and Jason stopped by several times to check on the progress, as well as to inquire about any concerns we might have. Ray made sure our TV cable line was properly rerouted through the newly configured work area without us having to jump through cable company hoops, and also installed leaf guards, at no additional charge, on the newly-shingled patio roof gutters, as he had promised earlier. Jason also took care of replacing, at no additional charge, a roof fan hood that we did not want removed, but that had been damaged in the re-roofing process. There were a couple of other "punch list" corrections that Jason made to our satisfaction after the main job was completed, but the most significant correction was one that I hesitated to mention when he and Ray both asked if we had any other concerns. The pull-down stairs leading into the crawl space under the roof were not in the best condition to begin with, but were useable for my needs. However, one of the roofers did need to enter the crawl space at one point, and completed his task while still standing on the stairs. The result of that activity was that the stairs were no longer useable. Ray said that he felt he should assist with anything that doesn't work properly after his crew has "used" it. He tried to find an exact replacement for those stairs, or a kit that might replace the damaged parts. No comparable replacement was any longer available. We agreed that there was no urgency to replace the stairs during their busy construction season. The result was that the last week of October I received a complete replacement with heavier-duty metal stairs instead of the former wooden variety, with a more refined closure mechanism that actually gives me more useable access space within the same stair opening. No additional cost! Within about two hours, Mike from the original roofing crew, and a Jason whom I had not previously met, had replaced the stairs without having to remove the original trim in the hallway ceiling opening. A little caulking and some fresh paint on the new door when I get a chance, and I'm good again. And, we have since gone through an entire "wasp season" with no further signs of wasps in the roof. Can it get any better?

All I can say is if your looking to add a sunroom or deck to your house call Ray Hepp from Better Living and dont even bother calling anyone else. He built us the most incredible high quality sunroom that has really added to our home and also put on a deck right off the sunroom. He will come to your house with his ipad and basically build the room and show you what it will look like and give you an estimate right on the spot. If you have gotten estimates from other people you will see a major difference in his price and the others.When they do the work its done to perfection and if you do have a question or concern Ray will call you back immediately. I cant say enough about Ray and his staff so give them a call if you are considering a patio or sunroom!!!

Great! Very professional; excellent quality work; helpful ideas; fair pricing;no delays;very pleasant,friendly and highly skilled craftsman (Jim); complete clean-up; the owner was involved and very helpful and fair; Would recommend without reservation; would use again.

It went great. Three were a few concerns but everything was handled very professionally. The crew that came did everything I asked of them. Josh and Shaun work very hard to give us the beautiful sunroom. The owner Mr. Hepp went out of his way to see we received a professional job. It took a little longer than expected, but weather was a factor. We would highly recommend Better Living Patio Sunrooms. It added so much style and comfort to the back of our house. We have a whole new living space now!!!

The guys was really nice but it was to expensive for what I was looking to do.

They were very professional. We were getting quotes from multiple vendors just to make sure what we wanted were all with the same price. They were fine. We just didn't choose to do that at that time.

Final product is very good. Workmanship was outstanding. A few bumps along the road on amount of time deck took to complete but otherwise very happy.

They did a good job. I like to work with them, communication was good. I want them to be responsive and tell me what the problems are, schedule is, and all that kind of stuff, communication is the most important thing in order to know what’s going on. They are good at that. The job went very well. There were some things that had to be dealt with. There were some challenges. They lay the problem they don’t just mask it over. They are going to work with you on fixing it right.

All in we were pleased with the finished product. The salesmen was very nice and offered valuable input up front. The communication after we signed the contract was far from what we expected. We had to constantly contact the company prior to the start of the job to figure out when the job was going to start. Once the job started it took much longer to complete then we were originally told it would. I had a conversation with the owner about the communication breakdown prior the job starting and during the first week of work. The owner made it right and ensured us the job would be completed and we would be happy with the end product. The crew that did the work was very straightforward and informed us each day on their plans and progress. Overall we are pleased with the basement and the work but just wish the communication would have been better from the start.

We started with them in April 2013 when we contracted with them to replace our screened porch and a retaining wall. We had a big family party coming up in June and they worked with us to make sure all work was done by then. Overall they did a great job. Based on that experience we asked then to replace some doors and windows around the house. We heard nothing for three months and were ready to move on when we were contacted out of the blue. Based on our previous experience, we decided to move ahead. Initial installation had some missing parts, when they finally came out to resolve that they did a couple of half hearted stop gap things just to get the job done and get paid (attaching door trim with hex head screws? Seriously?). My advice would be to stick with porches.

It is still on going, we have not completed the project yet. They were truthful and straightforward with us. They have done what they said they were going to do. They are a good company. It has cost more because we wanted a couple of things done differently to the deck. It seems to be going good so far. They came out right away. I would use them again.

When we first had the patio room installed, they did not have this product yet. We had a good experience when we used them for the installation of the sun room. These blinds specifically designed for this type of room. It worked out perfectly. The measurements were fine, the product was delivered on time, it was installed well and we use it all of the time. I would use this provider again.

They did a patio room for me on my front porch. I love the patio. It was very frustrating to get it done because they were overbooked and they missed a couple of delivery dates. it was actually suppose to be done before Christmas but they didn't even start until February. And then there were some small issues with putting it in but now that its done, its great. So it took me about 5 to 6 weeks to get it done from the start and they said it was going to take about 10 days. So the elapsed time was extremely long and it took longer than they predicted to get it started. They finished the job in March 2013. They also replaced my front door and all the widows in my house an those installations went wonderfully and I love the windows and the door. This was done in November 2012. They're very neat and clean and they were very efficient. But for the patio installation the scheduling needs to be carefully done.

On the first day the construction crew demolished all areas of the existing patio that would not remain in the final product. All debris were removed and the area cleaned. On following days footers were dug and poured to support the existing concrete slab. The aluminum framework went up, the double pane rolling glass windows went in, the heating and air conditioning unit was installed, and the electrician completed his work. A final walk around and walk through was conducted. Instructions were given on the proper maintenance of the room and its mechanical features including the heating and air conditioning unit. All remaining construction materials were removed from the property, and the room was move in ready. From start to finish the construction crew put in a full day. The only breaks they took were for a short lunch. Before settling on Better Living I reviewed the products and services of other companies offering similar products. In each case the construction materials were remarkably similar. One of those companies offered to do the same work as Better Living, but at a substantially greater cost. Over the next few weeks that price came down about $11000.00. Something didn't seem right with their pricing system. Buyer beware, plan ahead, get more then one estimate.

We had an old cement slab patio with a maple tree in the middle of it; the slab also covered part of our basement (and leaked horribly). Better living removed the old slab, poured a new smaller slab to prevent basement leaks, and built a composite deck encircling the tree with more room to spare. Their estimate was in the same range as other bids. They couldn't start the project for 6-8 weeks, but once they started everything went quickly. The demolition took a couple of days and the deck construction about two weeks. They adapted well on the fly. The deck couldn't be the shape we originally wanted because of tree roots - the whole point was to save the maple. We ended up with a slightly larger deck to go around the difficult roots and an extra step down into the yard and they never tried to tack on additional fees. All work was performed through subcontractors, but I'm perfectly happy with that - they did great work.

They helped us plan the room and all of the details. As it was built, their expertise helped us make decisions about placement of openings, electrical, switches, etc. They were honest, professional, and personable. I have since recommended them and the new customer was happy too!

What a great experience working with Jason, Kevin, and Walter of Total Basement Finishings. Starting with Jason coming out to the house to provide us with solutions on how we could best convert our unusable space into an area we now spend the majority of our nights and weekends. To give an idea of what TBF was working with, our home is a 1930 house that had a garage that a previous owner quazi converted into a game room. The floor was still the original garage floor, the walls were still block, the ceiling had one drop light in it and the other room they were challenged with was an old coal room that didn't even have electric in it! On day one when Kevin and Walter showed up to start the work at 8am they set the precedent of on time professionals that showed up every day before 8:30am just as promised. These guys were so great that my now 3.5 year old daughter still talks about Mr. Kevin and Mr. Walter and asks if they're coming back over. In addition to being top tier craftsman, they're both top tier guys. I should also note here that they wrapped up every day leaving the work area as clean as possible and made sure they kept anything dangerous out of the way. This was key for us feeling safe with a then 2.5 year old. Our basement and coal room, which is now my office where I easily spend 30+ hours a week, took 10 days to finish. Overall, I would recommend (and have) TBF to anyone and that includes my mom. The space they created is now our family room and my office where our family now spends the majority of our time together. Without this, we couldn't have stayed in the house now that we have a 6 month old as well. If you're looking for highend, professional work with people you can trust to be there, trust to finish your project, and at a fair price, then consider Jason and TBF. We're glad we did!

The salesman, Jason Roper, was very likeable, professional, and encouraging that the job would be done right as opposed to a way another company suggested. Jason worked with us and we negotiated a reasonable price. At the time of the contract Jason informed us of the timeline for the project to be about 8-9 weeks out. We became frustrated not hearing from anyone with any definite schedule for starting our job when 13 weeks had passed. We were hoping to have the job completed to have a small family anniversary celebration held on our screened-in porch (no bugs or flies to spray off). A personal call to our salesman at that time brought the company president, Ray Hepp, and our salesman, Jason, who together started the job the next day. (We reminded Ray of our special plans and he told us he would not let us down. We were surprised with the reasons given for the project's delay being their vacation time and a son's preparation for college. Meanwhile we had put off our vacation plans waiting to have our job scheduled.) After letting the concrete footers cure for a day, a crew of 2 skilled workmen did the screening installation. They were both professional and courteous. Ray made special attention to details and was available for any questions we had. We were thrilled to have our porch finally done and in time for our celebration gathering that we gave our check for the final payment to Josh, the lead installer, as soon as all the screens were in. However, one of our guests brought to our attention an unfinished area. We called Ray regarding the area that was missed and he arranged to return himself and finish what was needed to our satisfaction. Ray did not let us down! After the project time delay issue we are comfortable to recommend this company to our family, neighbors, and friends.

arrived Monday morning , worked nonstop till 7 that evening . same thing every day till project done . whole crew very polite and professional . very easy to work with . result terrific and we use the room every day . will recommend Betterliving to anyone !!! thank you JASON for a great job . margit & david