BATH AND KITCHEN SPECIALISTS, INC

This was not my first experience with contractors, but by far my best. I want to point out something often overlooked, which is the detail involved in the quoting process. The contractor who performed the work (Mark, in my case) was the one who quoted the job. He was extremely thorough and this meant that there were few surprises when the work was actually performed. Of the three other bids on this job I received, none were nearly as detailed as Bath & Kitchen Specialists. I am confident that there would have been significant overage charges to the other quotes due to their lack of detail. I should also point out that they were the lowest bid of all those received - saving me at least 20% compared to the next lowest bid. Kim was fantastic in working with us on the design and had great insight on how to solve problems I didn't know existed. She also was extremely thorough - a common theme working with this group. The actual work performed was done on time, on budget, with high quality and with a very high degree of professionalism. I was particularly appreciative of how much time they took to explain options or questions that arose throughout the project. It's also important to note that the only subcontracting performed was on the electrical. All other services (demo, plumbing, tile, fixtures, reconstruction, drywall, painting, etc.) was performed by the same group. This prevented delays and finger-pointing common in many of these types of projects. My goal was to do the job right, within a budget and they delivered. My wife and I could not be happier with the results.

Kim did a great job of coming up with creative ideas to best optimize the space, and Gordon figured out how to install all the plumbing in a way that wasn't too intrusive in the room. The technicians were here every day at 7:30 and worked hard until the day was done around 4 or 4:30. We are very happy with the end results.

Everything was particular. It wasn’t a project where they did things halfway, everything was excellent. They were here every morning when they said they would be. I am totally impressed. The one problem we had was with the toilet paper holder where one end came lose. They were right out the next day to fix it. The other problem was water damage on the ceiling. We thought it was due to the project in the bathroom. They came right out the next day, but it was nothing to do with what they did. It was a plumbing issue in the roof. They came back out to fix our entire ceiling for free, even though it was not their fault. They cut out the hole where the damage had been, redid the work and repainted the ceiling. I cannot praise them enough. They were very clean. We did not have mess in the rest of the house, they put padding that went all the way up the stairs to the bathroom. They made sure everything was sealed off so I wouldn’t get plaster or dust over the house. It was great.

Their service turned out well. They were very responsive and very timely. The project turned out well.

Their service turned out great. I think that number one the quality of the work was really high. The second thing is that they provided an extremely detailed estimate of what was included so you could see if you wanted to make changes within the budget of your project. It was very easy to see where you could make those changes. Outside the financial quote of the estimate, they have the unique practice of providing you with a time period of when your project would be completed. They plan the project out and they stick to it. They know what they need to complete each day, and they stay till it is completed each day. You are never surprised by having the project drag on for months. It is the same people who work on your home each day. There are no gaps in service, they are there every day. They do not start demolition on your home until they have the supplies and equipment to finish the project. To me, that was an extra bonus.

They installed a bathtub that was chipped. The woman they got the tub from didn’t agree on it. They were supposed to come back, but they never showed up. The guys did do a good job as far as the bathroom went, but I probably wouldn’t recommend them.

They gave really good quality and paid attention to detail.

We are very pleased with.the company we chose. We chose Bath and Kitchen Specialists Inc. over others because their estimate was so detailed and because they stayed with our job once they started. Their technicians were very capable and friendly. We were able to communicate our wishes easily to the designer. We are now in the process of putting everything back into the rooms. Make no mistake: this has been a lot of work for us. We have tried to approach this remodel with a positive attitude.We know we will enjoy our beautifully remodeled rooms for many years to come. We highly recommend this company to all Angie"s List members.

great job all around from planning and design to installation. We are very pleased with the new bathroom. All employees were great to work with throughout the project. Issues that came up were resolved to out satisfaction.

I called up to schedule an in home estimate, and the individual answering the phones understandably began to ask questions about the project. After explaining that I was interested in updated flooring, kitchen remodel and potentionally a bathroom remodel, I received question after question about whether or not I would want them to remove my current shower as part of that remodel (not the main reason for the call as I continued to reminder her). I further explained that I was interested in having someone come out to our house to help us understand our options, as I had never gone through a remodel before. She then said, "if you aren't going to have us update your shower, then your job is not one that we would be very efficient at." I asked for clarification about whether she really meant "very efficient", or if she actually meant "worth our time." She responded she meant that the job would be "too small" if the shower update wasn't part of the project. I was surprised at this given that it was very clear at the beginning of the conversation that a kitchen remodel was also a need and a primary reason for calling (she didn't ask any questions about that part of project). Overall, I am dissapointed that they weren't even willing to set up an appointment to better understand the project.

They did what they said they would do and they did it well. I would recommend this company.

I was surprised by the fact they need to leave a truck for the entire job and put it on you to provide the space for storing their truck. Figured they would need a permit but the receptionist ended the call rather abruptly and that was it. Receptionist was not very friendly.

My experience was great with this company. They were prompt and thoughtful. Professional in every way.Competitive in price. Asked the right questions. I would recommend them anytime and would use them again.

We had a 24 year old master bathroom on the 2nd floor with the shower tile installed on drywall. Over time water worked its way into the drywall and down to the subfloor and on to the kitchen ceiling below. The layout of the 9x15 room was not optimal, with too small of a shower and a whirlpool on a platform that took too much space. The tub platform had been installed over the heat duct with a hole cut out to let the heat into the room. There was no duct extension to the hole, so most of the air went into heating the space between the floors. B&K came up with a creative solution by placing the new tub on the opposite wall to allow the shower to expand. The vanity was enlarged and space was left for a linen closet. Almost the entire room was gutted. In some places the drywall and subfloor had to be replaced. The bathroom had to be brought up to electrical code. This was an additional charge but the amount was extremely reasonable. The bathroom was worked on continuously from the day they started until they finished. They were done in 3 calendar weeks. The workmanship was flawless and they worked almost non-stop. The maple vanity has full extension drawers with a quartz counter top. The toilet, vanity sink, and tub are Kohler. The shower has a custom 3/8 inch heavy glass enclosure. The shower is 40 x 60 inches with a seat and grab bar. All fixtures are satin nickel. Quality tile was used throughout and the color/pattern scheme is very attractive and pleasing. It just doesn’t get any better than this.

I emailed the company to obtain an estimate on a full bathroom rehab. I received a returned phone call a few days later. The conversation was brief. After learning that I have no basement (only a crawlspace) the employee I spoke with declined the work and told me that they don't contract bathroom renovations on homes without a basement. Honestly, I'm not sure I follow the reasoning behind this policy but I didn't press the matter. We are renovating an existing bath on the second floor of our home and not making any major changes to placement of fixtures. Thankfully, other contractors have not expressed the same concern.

workers were prompt and professional, cleaned up after themselves we had NO issues with anything on this job

Good experience; Accurate quote and time estimates re: how long it would take to complete job. Contractor stays on job from start to finish (other than time needed to wait for countertop) - doesn't leave to do other jobs. Workmen were true craftsmen and easy to work with on the job. Designer helpful in designing kitchen and picking out materials. Gordon (the owner) is "all business" but that enhances efficiency and predictability of job. He provides detail estimate which becomes the workplan for the work crew. The two-man work crew does all the work - other than electrical, which they subcontract. They don't take short-cuts and make good on-the-spot recommendations, when appropriate. They kept us well informed of progress. This wasn't the best price quote we got, but our perception was that they knew what they were doing and quality seemed better than alternatives, and they proved that out.

My experience in finding someone to tackle such a large project did not start out well. I talked to 3 other contractors and one did not get back to me and the other 2 did not have enough detail for my comfort level. I kept searching and came upon B&K on the NARI website. I could not believe they did not use subcontractors except for electric and only did ONE job at a time. No one else could promise us that. I called and Kim and Gordon spent almost one hour with me on the phone just on the intake!! I needed an education in the process and they were more than willing to provide that. Plus Gordon's years of experience was very important to us. The visit at our home with Kim was just what I was looking for...she had a very detailed checklist that we talked about for 2 hours. I felt that she knew just what we wanted done. About 4 weeks later Kim and Gordon came to our home and met with myself and my husband. They presented the proposal and answered all of our questions. I felt very comfortable with everything including the pricing. It was then a very easy decision to go with B&K. We signed on and had a tentative start date. At the decorate some of the decisions were very difficult for me. Kim helped me with her expertise and the abundance of choices that were available to me. I might add that I was glad to have the female influence on this project because previously I had only spoken with men. That was very helpful. After the decorate was done I felt great about the choices that were made. My dream kitchen was going to come true! Once all of the products were in the job started. Dan and Mark were great. They came and went extactly as everyone said they would. They had some suggestions that added to the cost (reasonable costs) of the job but were things that could not be anticpated until the job was started. But we were able to make those decisions as they came up and they only added to the quality of our house overall. The quality of their work was fantastic! If there were any "hiccups" that occurred, they were transparent to me as B&K addressed any and all. So I did not worry! This job was done as stated and all clean up was fantastic. I am at peace knowing that we made the right decision by going with B&K. We would use them again without a doubt.

Overall, it went very well. We were very pleased with the price, the thoroughness of the quoting process and the completion of the work. The work was done to our satisfaction, they held to their commitment and focus to the job (ie. the assigned technicians worked on our job and only our job continuously during the time it took to complete). The technicians were professional & courteous - they answered any questions we had, they managed the project & kept us informed, and they also cleaned up after themselves each/every day during our remodel. Gordon and Kim were on it with us from the start. We were pleased with the outcome and quality of work, overall would recommend Bath & Kitchen Specialists.

We had an excellent experience from detailed and accurate estimates to follow up making sure everything was to our satisfaction. We were given many options in the planning phase. Workers showed up on time each day and job was finished on schedule. Excellent coordinating with electrician and HVAC company. Both design and workmanship were super. We used the same company 2 years earlier for a bath remodel with some excellent results.

We are so pleased with our new bathroom. Dan and Mark were here every day for nearly four weeks and could not have been more professional and courteous. Kim did an outstanding job helping us through a very detailed design and decorate phase prior to the start of the project. Gordon saved the day when the building inspector wanted to require us to hire an engineer to deal with some structural issues (our house is over ninety years old). Without Gordon's experience and expertise the project could easily have been delayed at additional expense. This is a company with great service and a commitment to customer satisfaction.

Bath & Kitchen did an outstanding job remodeling the main bathroom in my house. I highly recommend the firm. The decorator is outstanding, the technicians are professional and the owner is committed to customer satisfaction. What follows is a narrative describing the remodeling process I experienced which I hope others will find helpful. My initial meeting with Bath and Kitchen Specialist was with the designer/decorator at my home. We spent well over two hours discussing various design options. Most of the discussion centered on what I wanted to achieve in terms of both functionality and look. Being an extremely small bath by today?s standards, the design was critical as I wanted to achieve a look that made the bath feel larger yet be functional and have an aesthetically pleasing look. The B&K designer took the time to fully understand what I was trying to achieve, presented numerous options and gained an appreciation for my tastes. The designer returned roughly one week later with proposed design, floor plans, a computerized mock of of the room, and a detailed proposal of work to be done. The proposal was more than a bill of material and floor plan, typical of the competitors, it was a detailed breakdown of the remodeling work with a cost on each element of work. No other contractor spent the amount of time B&K spent with me during the initial visit or the proposal phase. B&K truly wanted to understand what I wanted to do with the bath and wanted me to understand in detail the work they were going to perform. The other firms just swooped in, measured the bath, and returned floor plans with a quote. Occasionally, a competitor would suggest something that sounded like a good idea but when I ran the idea past B&K the answer was usually in the form of ?yes you could do that but the tradeoffs are.? They never told me the competition was wrong, they simply educated me on my options. The final designed fused a small bit of the competitor?s input into B&K?s design but on the whole, B&K had the best design and clearly the best sense of style. When it came time to decide on a contractor, the field had narrowed to three firms and estimates from lowest to highest were only $2000 apart. B&K?s estimate fell in the middle. I was struggling with the decision then realized that I kept going back to B&K when I had a question on bathroom remodeling options. Having settled on B&K, the next step in the process was what B&K calls the decorate stage which is done with B&K?s designer at their office. B&K?s decorator guided me through the process of selecting tile, a vanity top, shower receptor, faucets, shower head, shower enclosure glass, cabinetry, etc. I was able to complete 99% of the decorating selections at B&K's office. They then recommended a lighting retailer (and a specific decorator at that firm) for selecting my vanity lighting fixture. Like everything with B&K, the decorate process is a detail oriented activity. We spent eight hours on it one day, a follow up hour the second day, and then a third consultation to review my lighting fixture and cabinetry hardware choices. The B&K decorator is top notch and a definite strength of the company. The decorating process was definitely an education process for me. B&K took their time to make sure I understood all the options available. Every question was answered and when I failed to ask the question, they asked it for me. As I gained an appreciation for what could be done with tile selection, vanities, cabinets, and fixture finishes, I deviated from the original proposal and related cost estimates. B&K did not lead me in this direction, it is simply where I went by choice. After every material selection, B&K ran the numbers and let me know if the item was going to cost more or less than the proposal estimate. This is not meant to be a slam against B&K?s estimate. Their original proposal was based on the information I provided at the initial meeting. Having met with numerous remodelers and visiting showrooms, I gravitated to higher cost materials and finishes. After the design and decorate phases were completed, the bathroom was gutted. Steel pipes were replaced with copper and steel drains replaced with PVC. All plumbing was brought up to current code. Electrical work was also performed. After the rough carpentry and electrical work were inspected and approved, B&K installed drywall, cement board and leveled the floor where necessary. They tiled the walls and floor. Installed a shower light, exhaust fan, vanity light, medicine cabinet, vanity with Corian vanity top, toilet and a cabinet over the toilet. With the exception of the electrical work and installation of the shower glass, the job was handled by two B&K technicians that were on the job everyday. B&K took care of all permits, necessary inspections and debris removal. It took approximately eight days for B&K to finish the work described in this paragraph. The same two technicians worked the job every day. They were true professionals and kept me well informed of what they were doing and what came next. The speed at which the job was completed was simply amazing. The custom glass enclosure for the shower was installed within a week of the completion of the work described above. Because the glass was a custom fit, it could not be ordered until the shower walls were in place. This was the only bath in the house so B&K installed a temporary shower in the basement and reinstalled the toilet before leaving each day. After the job was completed, a couple of aesthetic flaws were noted and promptly addressed by B&K. In conclusion, I would like to write a rebuttal to an earlier review that cast the firm?s owner, Gordon, in a negative light due to his communication style. I would characterize Gordon?s communication style as assertive and direct. Some might be put off by his communication style but in my dealings with Gordon, I found him to be honest and overwhelmingly committed to customer satisfaction. I offer the following account as proof of Gordon?s desire to make the customer happy. Because of the bathroom?s limited space, it was necessary to install a space saver vanity. When the vanity top was installed, I was unhappy with the depth of the top in relationship to the depth of the vanity. Keep in mind that we were dealing with standard sizes and these vanities are regularly installed without complaint. Gordon reviewed the situation with his staff and took the time to consider my point of view. He called me and simply said ?The situation will be remedied to your satisfaction at no cost to you; I want you to be delighted with your new bathroom.? The vanity top was removed on Monday, remanufactured to my specification, and installed the next morning. Given that the top was standard and I had signed off on the design, I was pleasantly surprised by Gordon?s attitude and generosity. I have no doubt that any other firm would have charged me for the change or simply refused to make the change. Gordon takes great pride in the work his firm does and simply wants his customers to be happy. Don?t just take my word for it, ask to see the thank you letters they get from his customers.

After receiving several different bids,we decided not to use the company mainly because the plans and style did not match our needs at the time. Subsequently, I called Gordon to explain our decision--assuming this was the professional thing to do. At first Gordon listened to the rationale about why we made our decision to go with another company but very quickly he became defensive, sarcastic, argumentative, rude, and arrogant. I was trying to be polite and simply give constructive feedback--per the request of Gordon Caeser--but this man would not listen to me at all. Gordon indicated that everything was my fault, his company was perfect and at the end he even called me a liar. I am so glad we did not do business with Bath and Kitchen Specialists Inc. because I can not imagine how he treats his customers. If you do not accept his plans I highly recommend you do not call this person or he will berate you.

All work, cabinets, countertops, toilet and floor installed in less than four weeks. Same crew accomplished, dates were met and communication was excellent. Everything left clean including the garage where most cabinetry finishing was executed.

Bath and Kitchen specialists handled every aspect of the design.remodel.construction with attention to detail, skilled craftsmanship and efficiency. The quality of remodeling work done by Dan and Mark was excellent. They are knowledgeable, experienced, professionals, patient with questions, hard working, punctual, and organized. They did everything they could to keep the dust and construction chaos in check. Everyone at Kitchen and Bath specialists is a pleasure to work with and they were wonderful at keeping us informed. We give Bath and Kitchen specialists an excellent rating.