Pittsburgh Remodeling Co

We called 3/22/13 and was routed to Ryan whose voice message said to leave a detailed message and he would get back to us in 4 to 6 weeks. We pretty much wrote them off at this point but Ryan actually called back the next working day (25th) and emailed us a form to fill out so they would know what we were looking for in general. We reviewed the form and e-mailed him back on 3/30/2013. As of 9/30/2013 we have not heard from these guys. And naturally they will never be hearing from us again.

Nate, the primary carpenter on the job, was amazing-very attentive to detail, explained how the work was progressing, worked around dog & 2 young grandchildren and overall, made 2 beautiful bathrooms. Everyone who helped was equally impressive.

We have not yeti made a decision

emails only, but very responsive to questions, and their introduction survey was informative

We had three estimates. Rob's was the highest, but his modern methods and management skills convinced us that his company was the one for us. We were not disappointed. During the pre-construction phase, Rob was always available by email or phone for consultation about how many tiles to order. We had three different tiles and within some of the tiles we had different sizes so it was complicated. The construction phase was well coordinated. Our crew of Jeff and Jason was great. They were on time, they communicated each day what was to be done. When they foresaw a need for a decision it was always discussed days in advance so that we could carefully consider our options. Costs resulting from the decisions were always made clear. Bigger picture plans like how to manage the project so that both bathrooms would be functional during Christmas time when we hosted visiting family members were discussed way in advance - weeks - and modified as necessary. It is hard to overstate the professionalism of this outfit. The first thing the crew did was install ram board on hard floors and plastic for carpeted areas. Every day, the construction area was cleaned and tools put away. We lent the crew space in the garage for cutting tile etc. This area was also clean at the end of every day. These guys worked when they were supposed to be working, came and went as scheduled, and communicated, communicated, and communicated all the time. The technical skills of the crew are impressive. Jeff's plumbing was clean. His tiling was very nice. Epoxy grout is great, but it needs to be used correctly or else there will be residual grout on the surface of the tiles. This was done beautifully. Woodworking - from studs to dealing with the existing trim - was craftily done. Jason is a real artist at repairing blemishes. The jacuzzi tub had originally been installed to that the outward-facing lip of the tub was originally under some tiling. Thus, uninstalling it put some gashes and scratches in that face that would be exposed in the new installation. After Jason artfully fixed these, they just disappeared. The granite installation involved another company. The company had a personnel problem - no installer was available for small jobs like ours for 5-6 weeks. We thought that Jeff and Jason could do the granite installation, but they refused. This is another example of their professionalism. They do things that they are qualified to do, and they do them very, very well. They do not "wing it" just for expediency. I will finish with the money part. In all previous jobs that we have had done, and there have been many, there were always "extras". This is understandable. What can be frustrating is that they are often not well-explained. They just appear at the end of the job. One gets the sense that the "extras" are actually related to the amount of time spent on the job over the initial estimated amount. With Rob's crew, every extra was very clearly explained ahead of time. In each case, we could decide just how much we wanted to put into the particular "extra". In the end, we paid about $3000 more than the original bid all of which we had approved in advance.

We hired PRC to install some mosaic tile on the floor of a small powder room on the 1st floor and tile in a shower surround on the 2nd floor along with some floor tiling on the 2nd floor bathroom as well. As soon as Rob came out to give us an estimate for the job, we knew immediately that this would be the company we were going to hire. Rob is a genuinely nice guy who we are so happy we found. He was on time for the estimate and provided us with some ideas for our project since we weren't 100% sure what we wanted to do. We ended up going with a herringbone pattern that Rob recommended and it looks amazing. The floor tile that we chose for the 2nd floor bathroom was also something that Rob recommended. We wanted carerra marble but didn't really want to spend that much on tile so he recommended a porcelain tile that was similar in look to the carerra marble but was way more reasonable in price. Rob was kind enough to answer questions we had on other projects that we were doing ourselves and took the time to show us how to do some things ourselves, too. That is something that we truly appreciated. He knew that we had a pretty tight budget so he was able to find ways for us to get our project complete without breaking the bank. We dealt with a few people at PRC over the course of a few weeks including Jason, Jeff, and Ryan who are all wonderful guys. I felt that they were all trustworthy and took pride in their work. They were all very easy to work with and were able to work around our busy work schedules. After the tile project was complete, we hired Rob and his crew right away for installing trim throughout the house. We had trim that we'd saved from our demolition and were able to reuse a lot of that. The trim project took 2 days to complete. We would not hesitate to use PRC again.

Before hiring Pittsburgh Remodeling Company (PRC), we asked for estimates from 6 other contractors. Like PRC, they all came, gave a look at the bathroom, asked for our needs, gave suggestions and said that they would have provided us with an estimate, in a minimum of 2 days to a maximum of about 2 weeks. However, only less than half of them actually got back to us with an estimate, in spite of the multiple emails and voice messages sent as reminders. Rob, the owner or PRC, came at the scheduled time, was nice and professional. A detail my wife noticed, more than me, was that he took off his shoes before going upstairs, since we have carpet on the stairs. He provided us with an estimate in 2 days, which then revealed to be pretty much what we actually paid. Because of the many positive reviews on Angie's list, the punctuality and promptness in providing the estimate, and the professionalism demonstrated, we decided to hire PRC....yes, of course also because Rob took off his shoes! The remodeling started at the end of October, and took about 1 month to complete. Rob supervised the work, which was carried out by Jason and Chris (except for electrical and some of the plumbing work, done by trusted electrician/plumber). Jason and Chris did an excellent job, were professional, hard working and, especially, very pleasant to have around in the house. Our 3 yrs old son loved to watch them working, asked many questions, and always got a satisfactory answer. At the end of the day, even during the demolition phase, the bathroom was clean and tools and various equipment orderly stored in the adjacent spare bedroom. Jason and Chris, as well as Rob, were available to answer all our questions, as well as to provide suggestions since, to cut costs, we had asked to leave the painting to us. They referred us to the best store to buy paint, advised on the type of paint to use and provided color samples. When it came to buy tiles, as well as the paint, we could give PRC name and get a substantial discount. The bathroom came out very very nice. Overall, we have been very satisfied of the work and of the experience with PRC. We would strongly recommend them to others, and we'll keep them in mind for future jobs.

PRC promised to work the job start to finish with the same crew, uninterrupted by other commitments or scheduling difficulties. PRC started the job on August 20th, and was substantially completed without interruption on September 21st. PRC framed and insulated the entire room, including a storage room, installed wall board on walls and ceiling, installed ceramic tile, doors and cabinets, relocated plumbing fixtures, prepared and painted all surfaces. We now will be using this space for Holiday events and are very satisfied customers of Pittsburgh Remodeling Company. We would enthusiastically give ouir recommendation to this company for Kitchen, Bathroom and Basement remodeling work.

This was actually the second project that PRC completed for us. PRC renovated our master bathroom about a year and a half ago, and after a good experience with that project, we decided to use PRC again for our kitchen. First, Rob and his crew are a pleasure to work with generally. They are nice guys and easy to talk to. This made the process much easier and less intimidating. We felt free to ask any questions we had, which was particularly nice the first time around with our bathroom renovation when we had no idea what to expect during the renovation process. Second, Rob is able to provide a lot of guidance and advice and offers suggestions without being pushy. When it came to decisions we had to make and were unsure of, we often asked Rob what he would do since we value and trust his opinion. As issues or unexpected things came up in our renovation (we have an old home, so issues were bound to surface), he presented us with options and suggestions without pushing us to choose one course of action over another. Rob also suggested vendors that we could check out as we were looking for cabinets, tile, hardware, etc. We had good experiences with all of them as well. Additionally, Rob and his crew pay a lot of attention to detail, and Rob is very good at communicating and keeping you apprised of your project?s progress and developments. He often provided status updates and checked in with us frequently to make sure we were happy with how things were progressing and to see if we had any questions or concerns. He is also very accessible by phone and e-mail and extremely responsive when you reach out to him. Rob and his crew were reliable and consistent on top of everything else noted above, and PRC?s work turned out beautifully in our kitchen.

We are thrilled with the results. PRC transformed our old, dysfunctional kitchen and pantry into our dream kitchen. The initial costs that Rob provided were right in line with the final costs of the project. Rob and his crew were very courteous, punctual, professional, and are skilled craftsmen. Rob is also very design oriented, which is a huge asset to any project, and crafts each element to work with the "big picture". We worked very closely with Rob and had open communication throughout the entire project. PRC is very detail oriented and does a high quality job. As such, we also had PRC custom build all of our kitchen and pantry cabinets (these turned out great too). Rob and his crew really care about their work and the client?s wishes and it really shows. We could not be happier with our new kitchen- it turned out beautifully and now looks like it belongs in a designer's showcase. We would highly recommend PRC to anyone considering a kitchen remodel.

We highly recommend Pittsburgh Remodeling Company and we plan to use them again to build a deck and remodel a bathroom. We interviewed two contractors for this job and selected Rob because he seemed more flexible than the other and his price was reasonable. We knew that doing a project in a 90-year-old house would include some surprises, and Rob seemed like someone who would work with us to resolve them to our satisfaction as they arose. One of us is an architect with very high standards of design and craftsmanship. We told both contractors that we would be picky, and Rob seemed interested in the challenge.The work started in mid-September and ended the day before Thanksgiving. This was about a month longer than Rob had anticipated, and although he definitely underestimated, some of the delay was also due to extra work done at our request and extra work resulting from some of the old-house surprises. The PRC crew consisted of Rob, a foreman, and 1-2 others on most days, plus an electrician and a plumber when needed. The latter two are independent contractors that Rob subs jobs to, and he had worked with both of them several times previously. The whole team was very professional, punctual, friendly, and respectful of the house. Highlights:- Rob made sure we were informed of his plans and of any issues they'd run into every day.- Rob and the crew were willing to talk over possible solutions with us and worked hard to make sure things turned out the way we envisioned them.- Before the floor was laid we discussed a sagging part at one end that had been there since we'd moved in 15 years before. Rob's team jacked up the floor at that spot and installed a column below it in the basement to keep the floor even. It took them a whole day, and was way beyond the call of duty.- We had planned to replace a couple standard doors with pocket doors but found that we couldn't due to the structure of the house. (The foundation came up into some of the space where the doors would have slid in.) Rob and his crew figured out ways to put doors in both places while meeting our requirement that when the doors were open they shouldn't get in the way of easy movement from room to room.- Rob's team built the maple-veneer, maple plywood cabinets. They weren't perfect at first: there were some gaps between doors that should have been flush with each other, and some uneven edges. The team kept working on them until we were satisfied. (Although they still aren't absolutely perfect.) PRC isn't perfect. Things go more smoothly when Rob is there, and he prides himself on working one job at a time. During a couple weeks when Rob had to be at another job most of the time (because ours was taking longer than expected and the other customer needed to have work done), the quality of the work slipped a little. The team is very responsible and capable, but Rob's the one who has the big picture of what's required, and he's the one who has internalized the client's taste and attention to detail.

PRC did a fabulous job, giving us a "new" room in a house that is nearly 60 years old. Rob Schwerdt, the owner, was a pleasure to work with given his great respect for our home, his attention to detail and his skills in both project management and as a carpenter. He began by listening thoroughly to what we wanted to achieve and then came up with creative ideas to make the basement even better than we had hoped. He and his crew completed the project on budget and on time. They were courteous and a pleasure to have in our home during the three weeks they were here to complete this project. They kept the area as clean as possible during each phase of work and gave us daily reports about their progress. Rob even offered to let our dog out if we needed him too! We appreciated his consultative approach, asking us for input on incremental decisions that arose along the way and working to solve any unforseen problems in a reasonable and cooperative manner. We have already recommended PRC to several of our friends and family members.

Rob and his crew recently renovated our only full bathroom and from start to finish the experience was great. Our number one complaint when working with contractors is their lack of response and not being professional; you won't have this problem if you use P.R.C. My wife and I both have busy schedules and throughout the project he worked with us to make sure we were informed and educated. The crew treated the project as if it were their own and it shows in the quality craftsmanship and detail that went into the (design and) finished product. My wife also wanted me to include that Rob and his team were extremely pet friendly and willingly took care of them while we were at work. They were wonderful!! We don't have a single complaint and plan to use them again in the future.

The project went very well and came in within budget. From the beginning, Rob Schwerdt, the owner, was extremely helpful and flexible. He adjusted his estimate several times to accomodate changes we wanted in the scope of work. He took time to help us select fixtures and tile, and he steered us to local suppliers that had the items we needed. While there was a slight delay in our start date, Rob gave us plenty of notice. Once the job began, Rob and his crew were here on time every morning. They were diligent, polite and neat. When unanticipated issues came up (as they often do in a very old home like ours), Rob always worked with us to find a mutually acceptable solution. Before leaving each day, he would go over what had been done and made sure we were happy with the results. The entire crew bent over backwards to ensure our job was done by Thanksgiving. We are extremely pleased with the quality of the work that was done. The bathrooms and floor look fabulous, and we highly recommend Pittsburgh Remodeling.

As an architect and the home owner with my wife, we designed the project scope and then met with three contractors to review the scope and receive bids. We received one verbal bid that was very high and two very specific written bids that were similar in price. We decided to select the written bid provided by Pittsburgh Remodeling Company (PRC) based upon the professionalism shown by Rob Schwerdt, the owner of PRC and their excellent rating on Angies List Pittsburgh. Another factor that led to their selection was that PRC was able to provide two or three workman at the job site on a consistent basis, which resulted in a project that was completed in 13 working days, followed by a day of minor punch list work after the job was completed. My wife and I reviewed the job progress on a daily basis and Rob and his crew were a pleasure to work with. They were very good listeners and were responsive to our needs and concerns. As my wife has a home business, they were sensitive to the issues of noise, dirt and dust. They also were very accommodating in regards to our cat. We will be talking with PRC in the future for additional remodeling work at our residence.

We purchased a very old home that had been renovated and updated by the previous owner. However, it only had one and a half baths, so our first priority was to add a stand up shower in the half bath. We found Pittsburgh Remodeling, Rob?s company, on Angie?s List and when we read the excellent reviews, we contacted him. Upon meeting with him, we found him to be very personable, professional and detail-oriented. We weren?t exactly sure what type of shower we wanted. The space was limited and we also wanted built-in shelving. Rob made some suggestions and presented us with several drawings of showers and shelving. With a few changes here and there, we chose a great design for the space. As far as the tile and other supplies were concerned, Rob gave us the choice of having him purchase everything for us or us doing it ourselves. He offered to go with us to help in the selection process if necessary. We decided to purchase the items using his suggested companies and contacts. Rob and his crew did a wonderful job. From start to finish the work progressed on time and they completed the project on schedule and within budget. We love the shower ? it really makes a difference. You hear many horror stories about contractors, but Rob is truly an exception. Our experience could not have been any better. We were especially impressed with how clean they left the work area at the end of each day. Every day we saw progress, but we didn?t see mounting debris. We highly recommend Pittsburgh Remodeling Company to anyone who is considering any type of remodeling. They will always be our first choice should we decide to make additional improvements to our home.

Great experience - will use this company again.

Rob showed up on time, gave us a very competitive and creative estimate, communicated and followed up very well. We decided to go with a company that we have done business with in the past to do the work, but if we had not done that, we would have chosen Pittsburgh Remodeling.

Anyone can miss an appointment. I understand that these things happen but not to respond to my second message and my request to reschedule is disgraceful.

My parents have two bathrooms that needed to be completely renovated. Their home is almost 80 years old, and everything in each bathroom was original to the house. They trusted me to "take care of it" for them, and I trusted Angie's List. After interviewing five contractors, we chose Rob. In my wildest dreams I never imagined going through a major renovation without a single glitch, but that's what Rob and Justin accomplished. The work began on the promised date, and didn't stop until we were all satisfied that everything was perfect. If I had ten stars, they would all go to Rob! You won't find a harder worker, a nicer guy, or a more talented professional.

Owner was very professional and kind. The job I was asking about was not the type of work they do, but he actually gave me the names and numbers of two other tradesmen that might be able to help.

If the previous paragraph isn't clear enough, let me reiterate that everything with Pittsburgh Remodeling Company has been fantastic from beginning to (almost) end. Rob and his employees are absolutely a pleasure to deal with on a daily basis, which is such an important thing when remodeling a kitchen because it is a long process. Rob provided us with a detailed spreadsheet with all of the work and estimates, which is something that no other remodelers said they would provide. There is a great confidence in being able to rely on something tangilbe when redoing a kitchen in terms of costs, materials, and other expenses. Rob has communicated with us on a daily basis in any form needed, be it emails, phone calls, texts, etc. If I had asked, I'm sure Rob would have communicated by gorilla-gram. At the end of every day, Rob or his team would clean up the kitchen as best as possible (in case you're considering remodeling a kitchen, know it's going to get messy. Unfortunately, it's unavoidable, but PRC was great at mitigating the mess as much as possible). Now on to the actual work - in one word, superb. Our cabinets look like they belong in a high-end, kitchen cabinet afficianado and awesomeness magazine - if such a thing existed. Seriously, Rob and his team worked magic with a very difficult material, hickory. My wife and I picked hickory becuase we thought it looked nice. Little did we know that it's one of the hardest woods out there and would break drill bits and cause all other types of havoc. The end product is absolutely beautiful and sturdy enough to last a lifetime. For example, Rob built an island with a slide out mechanism for the garbage cans (four of them to separate trash - Rob's great idea). In my past experiences, these slide out mechanisms are as fragile as egg shells. "Don't push down on the trash can because it'll break!" Our garbage "drawer" is so strong that our 13 month old son can gleefully play in them without any indication of his weight stressing the drawer. This mention brings up a tangent I would like to make. Rob and his team have been so incredibly great with our son. Our son, to put it kindly, is a little rambunctious. Even with his tantrums and his incessant need to be picked up and twirled around like a top, Rob and his team have gone out of their ways to make our son feel included and liked. When meeting other remodelers, they would treat our son like a hindrance. In my mind, this annoyed attitude isn't limited to just a small child, but is probably indicative of how these remodelers would treat us and the project throughout. Rob and his team, on the other hand, never showed any displeasure when our son acted out. In fact, I would highly recommend the PRC start a side business of child care. -End of tangent- PRC has been awesome from beginning to end. Punctual, communicative, thoughtful, creative, and reasonable in costs. While we are waiting for the granite counters to be fabricated and installed, our kitchen remodeling has been a great experience. We can't wait to start other projects on the house!

The estimator who came out was very nice and pleasant. The quote was pretty high and I thought that it would be more detailed. I didn?t want any cabinet work done other than just removing and replacing some parts. I haven?t called them back. Their punctuality was pretty good. They gave me the quote about two weeks later. I may consider using their services again.

They just started the work today and they will take the walls down to the studs, install new dry wall and flooring. They will install new tile in the tub, a vanity and build storage. They will also do new lighting and electric. So far, I'd give them an "A".

They did very clean, professional work. Everything looks and works great! Very friendly, easy to reach, got things done on schedule. It really was as painless as possible.