Arts Home Improvement

Art visited our home, in advance of the project, showed my husband & I photographs of remodels his crew completed & provided an estimate. Prior to the renovation, he answered questions & educated us on the overall process. Art’s estimate is based on his labor costs. Upon completion of the renovation, he provided receipts for our additional labor related materials/expenses (e.g., dimmer switches, recessed lights, etc.). At our request, he recommended a layout designer for the cabinets & features to consider & suggested a design for the floor tile. We incorporated the majority of his recommendations & were very satisfied with the results. At our request, he identified vendors for appliances, tile & countertop, which prior customers recommended. He picked up the floor & backsplash tile from the vendor & brought it to our residence. At my request, Art selected & picked up new crown moulding, baseboard, quarter round, stain & materials for this installation. He made superb choices for this trim. Art supervises, & works alongside, a crew who bring additional technical expertise in plumbing, tile & drywall. Billy & Richard worked with Art throughout our renovation. Billy had primary responsibility for electrical work; measuring, cutting & laying tile; installing & aligning cabinets & cutting & installing trim. He demonstrated significant knowledge & skill in performing each task; his attention to detail in laying distinct tile designs is commendable. He was extremely helpful to me in understanding the line between factory standards & quality that could be improved upon, which enabled me to maintain reasonable expectations. Richard did an outstanding job of applying his extensive knowledge & years of plumbing experience toward installing the new kitchen sink, faucet, dishwasher, stove & water filter for the refrigerator. He also assisted Art & Billy in the other facets of the remodel. In 2010, we used Richard’s services in identifying the source of a ceiling leak. We have been consistently impressed with his extensive plumbing skills. Jason assisted one day in laying floor tile. In 2010, he also upgraded a shower threshold. His attention to detail provided excellent results. Art used the services of a sub-contractor, for drywall repair. In 2010, we also used the services of this individual for a ceiling repair; the quality of his work was superior. Art’s crew consistently cleaned their work area at the end of each day. To minimize dust & damage to other areas of our home, we designated an area outside to cut tile. Prior to their arrival, we covered all bannisters & put drop cloths down to protect the floors. I also covered the new countertop, prior to their laying the backsplash tile. Art follows an established process for the project. I was on site for the majority of the renovation; he identified to me their specific tasks for each day & consistently made the time to answer my barrage of questions. His attention to detail & planning, particularly with preparatory work, were paramount to a smooth transition between stages & precluded unnecessary delays. The team used their technical expertise to work around minor challenges that arose. We gave Art the latitude to make decisions & use his judgment in these situations & were satisfied with the outcome. The crew brought significant issues to my attention before taking further action (e.g., misalignment of baseboard with adjoining rooms). Art consulted with me to achieve the best work around to this challenge. Unfortunately, during the third week of renovation, one of the recommended vendors fell very short in customer service. Art’s intervention got product delivery back on track. Art & his crew are invested in quality workmanship & customer service. Individually, they focus on details of their respective tasks, but they also work together to accomplish the myriad tasks & quickly adapt to necessary changes. They are trustworthy, courteous & incorporate fun into their work day. Their combined knowledge, skills, & abilities complement each other & create synergy in time management. Art sets high standards for himself & his crew. He maintains consistent oversight & quality control. His sense of humor facilitates a relaxed working environment & diffuses the unanticipated challenges that arise. Because of Art’s experience with renovations, he knows what to expect & is able to effectively assuage any tension, which created a calming influence, at least for this homeowner. Art brought intangible attributes to our renovation, above & beyond the actual labor. His innovation & creativity in aesthetically blending various materials results in a “creation” versus simply a remodel. His knowledge, skills & experience, coupled with his visionary ability enable him to transform a blank palette into a work of “Art.” Of the utmost importance to us, Art has integrity, takes pride in his work & wants his customer to be satisfied. We received excellent service, quality & value from Art & his crew. The final product met our expectations; several segments actually exceeded them. The renovation was completed on time; our final cost for labor was the same as Art’s initial estimate. We highly recommend Art’s Home Improvements & will continue to use them in the future.

A few pieces didn't come in on time, which isn't really their fault. The job is coming along very well. They are doing a good job. They are good about details. They won't just settle and leave the job; they will fix it because they are perfectionists. I think their price is reasonable. They are here when they say they are going to be here. They will tell you that they will show up at about 10:30 in the morning, which is actually a little later than most contractors. They have fun while they're working. They play music and banter between themselves; They are fun professionals. We are satisfied with the work.

Excellent. In addition to the above, Art's Home Improvement has gutted my 1/2 bath on the main floor, installed tile in the foyer and hardwood floors on the main floor. Each time Art came to the house for an estimate on the labor and materials, gave me an estimated start date which I confirmed by e-mail. I have never had a problem with cost overruns or projects extending beyond their deadlines. I was at work for most of the time and the crew cleaned up at the end of each day so there was minimal disruption in the house. I have had problems with dishonest contractors in my home. SInce finding Art's Home Improvement ( thanks to my next door neighbor) I cannot imagine another company working in my home.

Everything stood out. he came when he said he would, his price was what he said it would be and they closed off the area as well as he good. His wife, who I think is his partner, was actually dusting off my kitchen when I came home so that was nice.

Art dropped off his plumber worker who went to work draining old water heater and disconnecting electrical lines to it. Meanwhile Art went to store to pick up previously purchased water heater that was on hold. Returned with new water heater, removed old water heater and hauled it away. Plumber stayed to finish installing new water heater. The entire job was completed in about 2 hours. The entire crew was very friendly and efficient.

I've used Art's services several times and have always been very pleased. Art supervises a small crew including trusted subs as needed, and offers expert suggestions on the work to be done. His speciality is total bath and kitchen remodeling (and does great tile and hardwood flooring work) but he is willing to tackle smaller jobs as well.

I thought it went really well. This was my first remodel project on my first house, so I wanted someone trustworthy who could advise on various issues but without pushing me to a more expensive project than I wanted to undertake. I got 4 estimates, and theirs was very reasonable. I found Art to be very honest, helpful, and patient--even when I nearly changed my mind about the floor tile after it had been set in place. :-) I had some idea of the design that I wanted (a classic black/white pattern), but he helped to expand on my ideas, and I love the results. The tile work was done meticulously. Also, I have two cats who I was very concerned about, and they were careful to keep them out of the construction area. The guys were easy to work with, and I've already recommended them to friends. My only advice to someone undertaking a similar project is to try to put the materials on your own credit card. (He did ask me if I wanted to do that, but I didn't realize that I would only be able return excess materials for store credit this way.)

We obtained four bids before starting a remodel of the guest bathroom in a 1948 colonial. Arts Home Improvement came in around the middle, but won points both for the owner's frankness in offering his estimate and for not pressuring us to buy materials from any specific vendor. We purchased the fixtures and tile ourselves, and did our own drawings of the layout and tiling diagram. Art picked up the large materials, like wallboard, and other hardware. The crew removed the existing wall and flooring materials and all of the 1980's-era fixtures except for the bathtub. We discovered, after the demolition had started, that the 1980's tile had been glued directly onto the original 1940's tile, which had been laid directly into 2.5 inches of concrete during construction. This added an unexpected half-day onto demolition and created an unanticipated load of concrete chunks for disposal, but Art made clear that the project completion would be delayed no more than a half-day (i.e., he wouldn't leave for another project part way through due to the delay). They installed natural stone tile on the floor and the tub surround, cutting a glass tile mosaic sheet into a listello per my request. They replaced the 1980's rotten drywall with new wall materials and added floor trim, both of which they primed and painted. The also replaced the toilet, vanity and sink using the existing plumbing rough-ins. In both cases, they ultimately handled high-end materials (low-flow toilet, granite countertop and trim, solid wood cabinet, brushed nickel everything) with no problems or damage. They also wired in a new light fixture and contemporary switches and outlets, all using the original circuits/wiring. Finally, they installed the towel bars, toilet paper holder, vent covers, etc. They were particularly gracious about installing the entry threshold tile twice, and creatively -- the floor had settled severely between the bathroom and hallway (see comment about 2.5 inches of concrete), which became very apparent after installing the wide threshold I originally selected. The team installed a new one and used a vinyl cove base that blended with the wood floor under the threshold tile in the hallway (right at eye level when coming up the stairs), which cleverly camouflaged the slope caused by years of gradual settling. Overall, the bathroom remodel looks fantastic -- friends who have inquired are routinely surprised that it didn't cost much, much more. Pros: The same crew comes under Art's direct supervision every day, with no subs. They are polite, and cleaned up carefully after themselves each day, carefully putting away anything that could tempt the small children in our house. While we were at work, they even threw in some minor handyman repairs -- like trying to fix our sticky front door -- without charge. Art kept track of all receipts scrupulously, and did not raise the estimate for the job even after unexpected complications required an extra half-day of demolition. (We actually tried to give him more money, and he insisted that it was his responsibility to give an accurate estimate and that he wouldn't increase the price mid-job.) The final quality of the work was excellent, finished on time, on-budget, and they paid attention to details. I am very satisfied with the remodeling, and wouldn't hesitate to engage Arts Home Improvement for a similar job again. There are no cons, but there are things that you should be aware of: Art is a real go-to guy, which is generally great but also means that, if you haven't previously discussed preferences in detail, he will do what he thinks is best in any given situation without necessarily stopping to ask. For example, we had planned to use a bullnose tile as the baseboard trim, the same bullnose that we had used to finish the tub surround. I did not make that clear ahead of time; when the crew got to the point of finishing the wall and didn't see anything specifically marked as tile base, they bought wood base trim at Home Depot on their own recognizance and installed it. It looks fine, I can't complain since I didn't do a great job explaining what I wanted, but I would have been happy to take a phone call about it. I think that it probably would not be an issue if you were on site. On the other hand, I would also trust Art's judgment if I was not certain about what I wanted, or what would work, in any given situation. Overall, I would say that this company is trustworthy, capable, and professional, and would highly recommend them for small- to mid-scale remodel or handyman jobs.

I am extremely happy with the results. Art came to the house and looked at the job and gave me an estimate (which is what I ultimately paid), and made some recommendations, all of which were good and most of which we accepted. His crew consists of him and two other guys who work with him every day. He calls in electrical and drywall as he needs them. Art's has a great crew. They are careful, courteous, work hard and steady, and adjust quickly to customer desires without griping or whining. We gave them the run of the house as they needed it and trusted them completely. The job consisted of refinishing the entire bathroom. They tore out all the old fixtures and the old floor and disposed of them, laid all the ceramic tile, installed the new fixtures which included a whirlpool tub, and painted the untiled walls. I bought all of the small fixtures and bought the toilet, tub, and tile through Art. The stuff I bought through Art cost me less than if I had bought it directly myself. The whole job was done well. We had a couple of adjustments to make along the way on the quality of some of the work and we resolved these easily and without disagreement. Art and his guys were really a joy to work with even though several days of the work was accomplished during the big snowstorms of this past February. They didn't miss a day due to the snow. During the job, we had an issue with the hot water and Art came out on a Sunday on the worst day of the storm to get our hot water working. In addition to doing the bathroom job, Art and his crew fixed some other problems I had without charging me anything for the work. If you have a bathroom job to do, I think you're missing the boat if you use anyone but these guys to do work. I will use them again on future remodelling jobs.

Completely gutted downstairs bathroom and replaced all fixtures, flooring, lighting, etc. I picked out all the features and Art would pick them up from the various locations and installed them. The price above includes the fixtures (which were not super-high end) The work was good quality. My highest recommendation comes from how easy he was to work with. He kept in touch regularly, his team was prompt and very friendly, professional, they cleaned up each day and they worked hard to finish the project by the date I had planned on having overnight company (due to a backorder on the vanity, they weren't able to do it, but it wasn't their fault). I paid in full on substantial completion, even though the vanity and top and those fixtures weren't installed - there were no issues at all with their coming back in a very prompt manner. Very honest, left all receipts.

After a year or more, I'm a little fuzzy on the exact date of the work Art did for us, so April 2009 is a guess. Art & his crew were fun to work with through the process. He brought his 3-man crew out to our house to look at the work we wanted & give us the estimate. It was extremely reasonable. He explained that these were the people who would be building in our house. They are experienced and good at what they do. One thing I VERY much appreciated about Art & his crew, which sets him apart from many other contractors--is that he was knowledgeable about & WILLING to do everything to code, & that was very important to us. We had a county inspector inspect the work & everything to be sure there were no hidden issues that would cause us problems later. This delayed the build-out schedule a little, but unlike other contractors, he did not try to talk us out of this. One issue that I had occurred, I think, because we were building an unusual bathroom. I was very certain of what I wanted and Art, who had a different aesthetic sense, actually argued with me on a couple of points (that I should reconsider the knee-wall I asked for & that I should paint the top of it a different color. He has more than 35 years experience doing this stuff & is confident about what he does; I imagine that many people who need more guidance would appreciate this quality about him. Being a pretty direct person & not easily intimidated I found working w/him was still fine but I did have to push my way through on certain details when he argued with me. Another issue: I came down one morning to find a new person in my home that I had not met before or been told about. He was painting the bathroom. Perhaps Art thought he had told me about this person. I thought it was probably just an oversight. Also worth noting is that we have a cat that we put away when strangers come into the house because he is mean & attacks people. One day after putting the cat away, while I was gone, he somehow got out (maybe I didn't pull the door tightly enough?) & our cat attacked Art. Even though he told me about it later he was extremely good-natured about it!!! We had some other work that we asked Art to do but I think he must not have been interested in doing the work because he didn't call us back about it. This is the only reason why he is not doing more work for us. I don't think he wants the work. Maybe it's because of the cat! Maybe I made his life too difficult. :) Overall, the bathroom looks beautiful. In the end he said he agreed with my design/painting decisions. They did a very nice job & the bathroom is a wonderful addition to our home.

Art and his crew arrived in our home on the arranged date and completely gutted our bathroom. They were very careful about the rest of our house, and cleaned up their work each day. We selected a very intricate tile design, and they did a magnificent job with it. Art even added a very special touch to the floor that we had not considered. We had a design in mind for the tub surround, and Art and his crew were able to turn it into reality. We are very pleased with the overall job and feel it turned into something that we will enjoy for many years and will certainly increase the value of our home.

It started in November when Art came to look it over and give us an estimate. He arrived precisely on time and with pictures to offer us ideas. He offered us an estimate a couple of days later and stated it was a discounted price if we could wait and do it soon after New Year. $4500.00 if we only wanted tile in the shower area, $5000.00 if we wanted it outside the shower around the rest of the space. He stated he could begin the 1st or 2nd week of January - provided we had the materials on-site. He recommended places to go for ideas and designs and offered that we could call him anytime. I had several questions as I began the process of choices - more than I can even stand to think about!! But, Art was there and understanding every step of the way. If he didn't answer his phone, he was quite prompt at returning the call. During the planning stages, I asked about him installing a light in the shower area which was not in the original price, That's how it became 5,200.00 The work was to take about 2 weeks - again based on the assumption that ALL materials were on hand. It was up to us to make that happen. It actually took a little over 3 weeks, BUT, WE (not Art) didn't have everything "hammered" out or on site in a more timely fashion. We also ran into a couple of unforseen issues that took more time than Art expected to resolve. That was concerning the material (stone) we choose that did not have the normal finishing pieces (I think it's called bullnose?) stuff that goes around the edges of the tiles. Anyway it took a bit of doing but Art came up with some options for me to proceed with that worked out wonderfully - it just added to the amount of time because he had to brainstorm and then I had to decide. The actual work going on in my home was more enjoyable than I would have believed possible. If someone had told me that a section of my house could be torn apart and redone and I could have FUN with all that chaos, I would have told them they were NUTS! But, fun we had - Art is just a great man that takes it all in stride and likes to laugh and joke. He doesn't sweat the small stuff - he has a great attitude about life and work. The main person that did the majority of the real work was Billy. Once again a great guy that likes to enjoy life and work. Billy was here almost everyday for at least 2 weeks. Any "problems" that we ran into (and I think problems like "oh, there an outlet recepticle box inside this wall that will make the original design impossible" are always inevitable) were handled in the most constuctive fashion. Art and his team are all about getting the job done and to the highest satisfaction possible despite any encounters anyone may run into. Some things just have to be rethought as it goes. Richard was the plumber who finished things up and he only worked here for a couple of days so I didn't get to know him quite as well, but we also had fun running around for those finishing touches. OK, now the downside - everyone has to have room for improvement.............even Art!!! Although they always left my house as tidy as they could make their staging area, and they even dusted my bedroom furniture - YES ladies I said they dusted - but there could be a lot of improvement in the cleanliness area. My light blue living room carpet (that they had to track over day in and day out) is looking mighty gray and I would suggest that they use plastic runners? I don't know if that is feasible. I would also recommed the use of plastic over furniture (in this case, my bedding felt like it had been drug through the sand at the beach) and maybe over the doorways or opening to keep the dust destruction to a minimum and at least more confined to the immediate area. I can't think of anything else right now, if I do, and can get back into this review, I will. Otherwise I will end by saying that when they were done I was actually sad that I would not be seeing them again. (At least not until I can DO something else) It was an ABSOLUTE PLEASURE to do business with Art and his crew and I can't wait to be able to hire them again. One more thing - I have NEVER done business without a contract .........................until now. Didn't have one, didn't need one. See you next time!

I highly recommend Art and his crew. In September of 2009, we began taking estimates for a full remodel of our master bathroom. Our townhouse was built in 1973, so the master bathroom is rather small by modern standards ? room for a vanity, toilet, and shower stall only, around five feet wide and nine feet deep, including the shower enclosure. We had stopped using the shower due to discovery of a leak around the old glass shower door. We wanted to update the look of the room as well, with a fully tiled shower and floor and partially tiled walls, with more modern fittings to provide a ?spa-like? feel. This remodel was long overdue! Of the four contractors contacted for the job who provided quotes, two were recommended by friends and two were located on Angie?s List. Art was in the latter group, chosen for his outstanding ratings by other members. Of the quotes for the job, Art?s was the most competitive, and he arrived better prepared than the other contractors. He was prompt and very friendly, took the time to answer all questions from my wife and I, and came prepared with a portfolio of pictures from his previous bathroom remodels. During the initial estimate visit, discussion of timeframe for the job was set for early December, after we would be returning from a vacation. The amount set for the job after agreement on scope of work was $4000, plus materials. We had periodic contact with Art from September to December, as we selected the tile, fittings, and design for the bathroom. He was always available for questions and advice, and provided clear answers and very useful guidance on material selection, etc. We purchased the sink, vanity, toilet, mirror, cabinet, fan, and showerhead on our own. We were directed by Art to a tile company that he frequently uses, and were very happy with the selection and service there. After we selected our tiles, we gave Art the information so that he could purchase and pick up our choices. Art and his crew arrived promptly on the first scheduled day of work (Monday), and were very friendly. We have a dog who is a little wary of strangers, and likes to bark a lot, but Art and his team were very accommodating. After meeting them the first day, we provided them a key to our house and simply crated our dog during the days when the work would be done. Initial demolition was fast, and by the middle of the week tile was beginning to be laid down. In particular, Billy from Art?s crew was extremely helpful, hard-working, and productive. Art should use him on all jobs ? he also provided some aesthetic advice on tile placement, and my wife and I are very pleased! By Friday, 90% of the work had been done, with only the painting, plumbing installation and fitting work (floor vent, exhaust fan, etc.) to be completed. By Tuesday, every bit of the job was complete. Art came by for a final inspection on Wednesday, and to pick up the remainder of his payment. Throughout the project, the team was cheerful, courteous, and took great pride in their work. It is obvious that Art and his employees are invested in customer service and quality workmanship. Regarding payment, Art was extremely competitive, and the level of work provided was very high. The final cost for labor was the agreed upon $4000, and we spent an additional $1000 on tile and $1200 on the shower pan, vanity, paint, toilet, etc. All cost of materials was our own choice, and Art was happy to work with any fittings that were provided. I feel that we received excellent service, quality, and value from Art and his crew. We will definitely use them for future projects, and I am recommending them to all of my friends and family. UPDATE: I really did recommend Art to my family, and within a year he remodeled the much larger master bath at my parents' house. Again, the work looked great and they were as pleased with the service as I was.

I felt they did a very fine job. The bathroom looks gorgeous and I smile every time I walk in! They had good attention to detail and cleaned up after themselves. They were very personable and easy to work with. This was a very pleasant experience. I would hire them again.

It went very well. Art and his team were prompt and courteous. They checked in with us at every step of the way to ensure that they were doing what we wanted. I highly recommend Art and would definitely contact him again for future work.

They moved very quickly and professionally, and cleaned up carefully after their work. They hauled away the old toilets for me. I thought the price (which included the toilets) was very reasonable. I'd highly recommend them for any bath and kitchen remodeling.

Pleasant experience-Art and his team were very responsive. Although reluctant to give me a written quote initially, he did and he kept to it. They worked me around another job so they were at the house evenings and weekends, which worked well for me. The job moved swiftly and they were accommodating to my requests. They were helpful when I was choosing the cabinets, ensuring I ordered essential pieces as I was designing it myself. Worked well with the counter top installers and Art was able to work around challenges that arose, including a pipe that we found coming out of the wall and therefore we had to move the anticipated location of the dishwasher. Art was also very helpful in accommodating my cast iron sink that I really wanted. The only thing I would not though is that I did feel the need to help the guys clean up at the end of the work day as cleaning was not their strength(but the house was not left a mess).

They went the extra little bit for me, which made the bathroom that much nicer. I would use them again in the future and would recommend them to others.

Art and his crew did an excellent job from start to finish with this group of tasks.

After a previous contractor had worked on my shower twice and left it worse then when he had started. This company was a welcome change. Art came to give me an estimate, arrived on time and broke down what he would do if hired and why each step would be performed. He then showed me pictures of similar jobs he and his assistant Billy had done before, I was impressed. We agreed that work would begin in two week and take five days to complete. The job started on time, Art and Billy arrived on time every day and updated me every day on there progress. The shower was completed on schedule, it looks fantastic and works like it should. There was one small problem that I discovered three weeks after the install was finished. I called Art and the issue was resolved quickly and at no additional cost to me. These guys are real craftsmen!

Art does much of the work himself- they have just one crew- so he was always there when we had questions. Because Art and his crew are very personable, we were comfortable having them in our house for an extended period of time. Art is very knowledgeable and helped us make some decisions that ended up improving the look of the bathroom. Art and Billy paid a lot of attention to detail, especially with the tile work. In the end, we also had them do a couple of other small projects, which likewise turned out well. We are extremely happy with every task that was performed, and we love our new kitchen and bathrooms. Art and Billy made the whole remodeling process stress-free for us. We never had anything to worry about. We will use Art s Home Improvement for any future projects, and we recommend them highly to others.

Art and Steve showed up on-time and called an hour ahead to give me a heads-up. After they reviewed the issues that needed to be resolved they formulated a plan of action and communicated how they would do the work very clearly. There was no ambiguity about price up front. Steve did the actual work. He fixed another contractor's messy job in a way that's sure to last for a long time. Steve also fixed a storm door which wasn't closing properly, as well as another storm door which wasn't aligned right.

Art and Billy had done an excellent job remodeling my kitchen (see previous post) so I asked them how they were at installing laminate flooring. It turns out they were just as good doing that as they were with every other project they did for us. They are very meticulous workers and are truly perfectionists. On one particular day, they worked after dark installing quarter round. The next day they saw where a couple of the cuts weren't exactly right, so they pulled what they had put down and redid it to make it right. As an added extra, when they had completed the job, my wife discovered that our water heater was leaking in the basement. Art said he would come the next day to help me install a new one. He picked it up from the home improvement store, brought it to the house, and installed it. Fortunately he also has some plumbing skills! By him doing this, he saved us from paying a huge bill for a normal install. Now my wife is trying to find another reason to have them come back!

Art returned our call quickly and came out immediately to discuss the project and provide us with an estimate. He gave us a start date and showed up on time starting with the first day. He and Billy are tireless workers and are very good at what they do. He has great ideas, but doesn't force them on you. We trust them so much that we provided them with a key to our home for days when we wouldn't be there when they arrived. Everything about this project went very smoothly. Art and Billy work great together and kept my wife and I laughing every day they were there. We plan to have them back soon to install some flooring for us. Our neighbors were so impressed with the job they did that they've already asked for his card. Art's prices are very competitive - in fact his estimate came in under other Angie's List contractors for the same project. We plan to use Art for any future projects in the house that we can't handle ourselves.