IMPROVE AMERICA INC

Mel and his people completed the roof, installed siding, and completed the outside of the addition as requested. they had to revise and strengthen much of what had been done by the previous contractor. The work was done on a timely basis and professionally. This was especially valuable considering the remote location of the project.

We have had a number of things done to our home over the past years such as new windows put in, siding put on, deck built and then our latest the bathroom and kitchen area. I keep going back to Improve America because I have found Improve America and Mel Madaris to be honest reliable reasonable on their prices and always professional. On our latest project it even came in under estimate. Anytime that I need any work done on my home Improve America is the only one I call. I highly recommend them because Mel Madrais always makes sure that his customers are happy with the work that was done for them.

Mel was very responsive . . . I gave him the details of what I was looking for and expected . . . and he did what was asked. The project started quickly . . . and was executed according to plan. Weather interruptions delayed completion by a few days and that was understandable. In summary, I give Mel and his company my highest recommendation for the planning, organizing, controlling and directing a project to successful conclusion. He made regular site visits and stayed on top of it. He has a first class warranty . . . really the best I have run into with residential contractors. I am very comfortable recommending Mel and his company.

They were prompt and professional. After much research, the leaks were all located and repaired. We have not had any problems since that time. Also, the follow up after the work was completed was exceptional. It is very rare to find a company that will take on the task of repairing another company's mistakes. Fortunately, Improve America was up to the challenge. I have used this company multiple times over the past several years for a variety of home improvements, and I highly recommend them.

Was not impressed with overall bid process; left several things off that were asked to be included.

Job was done well. The sub contractor who did the work ended up doing much less than initially contracted for, but did not adjust the bill. Mr Medaris (owner) came out, saw what was done and readily adjusted the bill to what I thought was a very fair price. I would use the company again.

Did not hire him or get a bid from him.

In 2007 I had Madaris Exteriors install my new windows. They did an outstanding job and I was looking forward to using them again. Now their name has changed and I was again looking forward to using them again. I left a message on this website asking for them to call me tonight after 5 pm. His response to me was for me to call him after 5 pm. I could have done this, but then again, why should I call him? I already took the time to send them a message which should express interest in talking to them about my project. Oh well!!

Mel Madaris/Improve America came highly recommended to us by friends. He was quick to respond with a quote which seemed fair given the amount of labor involved. He assigned a crew of three who worked for four weeks (given rain interruptions and some additional wood-rot because of leaks). His crew were meticulous, always cleaned up after every work-day and were careful to minimize their "footprint" while doing the renovation. Good folks to work with - and the result is a 23-year old house that looks brand-new! We couldn't be happier and we would recommend Mel and his crews to anyone.

I called Improve America for an estimate and we set an appointment for a couple of days later at my convenience. Mel Madaris, the owner, and his associate, Richard Varner, came to the house right on time and actually listened to me (very refreshing) and my ideas about what I wanted. They were very accommodating and forthcoming with some great solutions; the wheelchair ramp had to be built within a very confined area and the Security Door where the ramp would be located would have to be reversed. We also discussed the installation of a remote light switch and relocating one of my bathroom fixtures as they were difficult for me to use. We agreed on a plan and Mel called me a couple of hours later with the estimate. I agreed and he told me that one of their crews, not subs, would be at my house to start the job on the following Monday, weather permitting. Wow. Well, before my first cup of coffee the next Monday, these guys had all their materials on site and were working away. I hadn't even heard them. These were the kind of guys that have more done before breakfast than most people do all day. I knew at that point I had a good team here... real professionals that take pride in their work, known to me only as Kenneth and Shane. They went about their business in a very deliberate manner, just like they were building it for themselves. Not only were these guys very meticulous about their work, but the company had purchased the best building materials available...a winning combination. Well, this job apparently wasn't that much of a challenge for these guys because they had everything done in two days. They had to come back on the third day just to remove the concrete forms for my landing pad. Then they came inside and finished up the other two items quickly and professionally. Now, even as the job was apparently finished, Kenneth and Shane were not ready to leave unless they were absolutely sure we were happy about everything. We were ecstatic. Wheelchair ramps, by nature, are not typically that attractive, they're usually just functional and not much to look at. What these guys built is a work of art and a welcome addition to our home and oh, by the way, represents a whole new level of freedom for me. Thanks guys! Mel was over later that day to inspect the job, take pictures, tell me about his guarantee, and pick up his well-deserved check. I had been a bit leery of the price quote at first but Improve America had come highly recommended. They were among the highest bids and, to be honest, I would have rated them 'B' or even 'C' on price until I saw the outcome. I definitely got my money's worth and more, for certain. As I was talking to Mel that day, I had to laugh, happy laugh, because I realized that the construction site was cleaner after they left than it had been before they had arrived three days earlier. These guys are real professionals and I feel like I got a bargain. I will call Improve America again without reservation and will also recommend them to anyone without apprehension.

The man that gave the bid was very professional and nice. He came promptly when he said he would and gave a decent bid. It's just a busy time of year and they couldn't fit us in on our schedule.

Our experience with Improve America was a great one. We hired them to rebuild our basement after an unfortunate incident with mold. Their quote was completed within days of assessment, and the bid was lower than other quotes we received. Any time we had a concern, the owner would handle it quickly and with professionalism. He was prompt with his timeline and proactive with any changes that needed to be made last minute. He seemed to really care about our needs and not just his bottom line. Our only regret is that we have not written this review sooner. We have received another quote for the exterior of our home for projects this spring. I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for a contractor.

They did a really good job. It was kind of tricky because the peak of the house, the ceiling is enormously tall; they made a 13 foot ceiling. They did a beautiful job. They put in a double dormer window that really opened the room up. Everyone comes up and really marvels at it. Mel gave us some really good recommendations. His workmen that he used were outstanding. He is very nice to work with. I am thinking about using him for another project.

It was a good experience for us form the beginning since they came in and finished the project for us.

Overall the project turned out very nice. It took WAY longer than originally estimated which was originally 6 weeks, but it took 4 months total. We were not in a huge hurry so it wasn't a big deal for us, but it is worth mentioning. IA's carpenters were skilled and efficient and generally did a nice job. They usually cleaned up after themselves, but not always. The contractors were a mixed bag. Plumber was very good, electrical was quite good and both of them were prompt and tidy. The drywall guys did a good job but left a heck of a mess. We had the ceilings dry-walled on a suspended grid which was a first time IA had dealt with that system. The contractor for the suspended grid was iffy... he did not install the grid as it was supposed to be done according to the manufacturer and had to come back out and do it right. I didn't want the ceiling falling on my head, imagine that. Tile contractor was excellent and handled our complicated patterns without any problem. Paint job was very nice. We contracted for bathroom and kitchen cabinets and counter-tops, and also carpet separately from IA as we were able to get much better prices than those offered through IAs contacts. IAs owner was pretty good at keeping up with things but there were times that we went quite a while without anyone working and no real explanation of why no one was there. IAs owner did have a death in the family during this time so that was part of the issue for sure. IA did take care of the little things nicely, like providing a large dumpster and a porta-potty for the workers. Access to the upstairs area could be secured from the basement work area so the contractors could come and go at any time which was good for us and them. There were no issues with payment schedules and certain things were discounted at the last payment to compensate for some of our issues with cleaning and changes during the project. IA was very accommodating and eager to please. I think this was a large project for IA with a lot of requirements for fit, finish and quality and they did a good job although I think it turned out to be a bit more involved than IA originally expected.

I got several bids; Improve America's was the lowest. The job was scheduled but then I was called by Mel Madaris, the owner, and they were able to do it earlier than planned because of the cancellation of another job. The only problem was that the new framing was a tad larger than the old and thus was not flush were the two met. This was taken care of quickly, and is the reason for the B rating on quality..

We thought their price was a little bit high but after further research we saw that they were pretty comparable to other companies but the work that we needed done would have cost a lot of money. They were professional and got back to us quickly on the quote and the cost for the things we needed done. They were responsive. We would use Improve America Inc. again in the future.

When Mel came out to see what we wanted to have done and to take measurements for the estimate, he was on time, answered all our questions, offered suggestions and was very much a professional. He gave us the estimate when he said he would, discussed all the details of the estimate, explained the order the work would be done in and was very patient with all the changes that we came up with. He returned all our phone messages quickly and if he didn't have the answer right away, got back to us when he said he would. His team was conscientious, courteous and professional. They cleaned up all debris and hauled it away. The job took longer than we expected but it was well worth it! We started out with a very small laundry room, a pantry that was inadequate and a bland kitchen. Now, we have a wonderful, large pantry that has plenty of shelves and great lighting. Our laundry room is no longer claustrophobic, but larger and much more useable. Our kitchen has been transformed from bland to WOW! Chuck and I highly recommend Mel Medaris and his company, Improve America! We are considering expanding our screen room and if we do, we will be giving Mel a call!

It went very well. Mel is very responsive and easy to work with on all the details. His crew was punctual and polite and did an excellent job. We will have them finish the room when we are ready in a few months.

I called and received a call right back. He showed up on the date he said he would. The only thing was he did not send a detailed estimate like I had requested and I had to email him to request it. I had to wait until he got back from vacation to finally receive it. Other than that he did a good job.

We needed a window replaced in a bathroom shower, and had a lot of folks visiting for Thanksgiving. I called on a Tues., and Mel Madaris said he thought he could have a team there on Friday to do the work. He called again on Thurs., and confirmed they would be here Friday morning. The team showed up and put in the window, but discovered that some of the tile work in the shower would need to be replaced because the new window fit differently than the old (we ordered the window ourselves). Mel Madaris said he could have a tile guy there on Monday morning..........and he did. The tile guy came and looked at it, explained everything very clearly and said he'd be back on Tuesday morning to fix it. He WAS! It was a tricky job, and everyone did excellent work. Having had a lot of experience with various contractors this year, I was deeply impressed with Improve America's timeliness and professionalism, as well as the quality of the work. Mel Madaris said he would have it done before Thanksgiving AND he did! I would highly recommend this company to anyone. As I did not have time to compare pricing, I am not sure of this factor, but given everything else it was well worth the money.

The work was extremely professional and timely. In anticipation of painting to be done by another contractor, Improve America's carpenters intentionally left part of a gutter and downspout detached to allow the painters to get at the unfinished wood.

I haven't used him yet because I am still trying to decide what I want to do. He was a very professional man. He met us on time and was very helpful.

I visited our local annual home show looking for ideas and contractors. There, I talked with two "this is what we do" companies that deal with aluminum and/or vinyl conversions. In hearing their ball park prices, I had to cough and choke a bit, plus it wasn't the style I was looking for. Some how, I missed the Improve America booth. But a friend recommended them and I called Mel the next week. For the next 2+ weeks, we talked about what I wanted and what I could afford (cash). Mel designed a room that would be Step One, but a completely functioning room. Step One: A 12' x 18' room with nine screened windows and a vinyl screen door. Fully framed and reinforced as an addition with electric, a tongue and grooved insulated ceiling, ceiling fan and light, vinyl siding to match our home both exterior AND interior, and indoor outdoor carpeting. Future Step Two: Remove screens and insert nine windows, replace door with an exterior door, tap into existing a/c (my a/c guy says that I have plenty of existing to do this room). Possibly remove interior siding and replace with sheet rock, and replace carpet with nice grey slate. Future Step Three: Talk my wife into allowing me to install a flat screen TV in this room :) All permits were pulled and the first two weeks were spent pouring new footers, lifting the deck to level, and reinforcing it. On Fridays, trash was hauled away. A port-a-potty was placed in the driveway so that the workers would not need to come in the house. Each of the four workers were friendly, hard working individuals. I could tell that care was taken to do the job right. The third week saw more fun things. The framing was completed and the roof was made ready for the roofers. Shingles were found to match and, in spite of a busy roofing season because of the recent tornado damage, Improve America was able to stay on schedule. Week four saw the electrician and the installation of the tongue and groove ceiling which was also painted. Then the siding installers went to work and finally, the gutters were installed. The carpet was the last thing to be installed. All inspections were perfect. I found Improve America to be perfect for our needs and a joy to have on my property. On the final day when the last trash was removed, not only did Wayne, the lead builder, sweep the patio where the trash had been, but also took the hose and washed the patio off. Our neighbors and family have remarked at how well it all looks. I give Mel and Improve America two BIG thumbs up!

We were very disappointed in the job done by Improve America. They had to return several times to complete work that they had missed. We ended up having another carpenter finish the work because we were just tired of dealing with them.