Oakridge Construction of WI Inc

Duane is wonderful to work with. He is responsive, professional and very earnest in all his interactions with us. we would not hesitate to use him again (and again and again).

I completely agree with the previous 2 reviews. I had seen a kitchen Duane had done and was impressed and my friend spoke very highly about how easy he was to work with. During my project he was calm, low key and focused and even light hearted throughout the process. He was very responsive on phone and email with questions. He was clear about what needed to happen next in terms of my decisions and purchases. He doesn't charge overhead in purchasing cabinets or countertops through Brunsell which apparently most contractors do. He is organized and despite having I think 8 projects underway during my remodel, he was here when he needed to be. The subcontractors - plumbing, electrical, painting were all highly competent and he holds them to expectations. I am now just needing to schedule a final walk through. I agree with a previous reviewer about his integrity. I trusted him and that made a chaotic transition much easier. He did some fine carpentry in adding a deep drawer in a nook. He pays attention to detail. I have only good things to say about him. It is hard for me at the moment to say what he charged specifically as the bill weaves in most of the contractors' work.

Duane toured the site, identifying a couple of my concerns as non-issues, but validated most concerns and identified a couple new serious mistakes by the general contractor that ultimately included inadequate structural support placing my home at risk of future collapse. His professionalism was apparent from not only his knowledge, but also Duane refused any compensation for his time and he apologized that anyone in his profession would do this to me. A protracted legal situation ensued to assess damages, untangle questionable financials and terminate the contract with my first builder. Duane provided additional guidance as to best repair options and expected costs. Duane's deep expertise and demonstrated integrity throughout the process made him my choice to trust taking over construction as general contractor to make required repairs and complete my home. ||Duane worked effectively with subcontractors whose work was partially complete under my first contractor (electrician, plumber, HVAC, etc.), as well as brought in new subcontractors that he previously worked with and trusted. As work resumed, more problems arising from the previous builder surfaced that added significant cost, schedule delays and many hours of Duane's project management time. Duane's advice was invaluable on best trade-offs to manage overall budget and construction quality, and he diligently searched for multiple subcontractor quotes who could best limit cost over-runs while doing quality work in the race to get me into the house ASAP. At present, I've moved in under a temporary occupancy permit, so there are still some items for Duane/subcontractors to complete. I trust that Duane will get things complete, and warranty the work under his oversight. Oakridge was neither the cheapest nor most expensive. But when you build a house, particularly for the first time like myself, you need a general contractor who has deep, hands-on experience to know the right way to build a house that will give you pleasure in years to come instead of headaches and expenses. In addition, they need to calmly and effectively work with you to handle the unexpected complications. They must also have high personal and professional integrity as you need to rely on their advice for making inevitable trade-off decisions and their honesty handling your construction funds. Duane Ehle/Oakridge Construction exemplifies all these. The only significant problem I've observed are an occasional non-responsive subcontractor who wasn't part of Duane's trusted network. I suspect it was either misplaced loyalty to the previous general contractor, or since Oakridge isn't a large firm, subcontractors new to him aren't motivated to impress Oakridge under the expectation of significant future work through Duane. Overall, I'd highly recommend Duane Ehle/Oakridge Construction for new home construction or re-modeling work. He offers high value for a fair price, and is very pleasant to work with on what is a very stressful activity!

Duane is a highly recommended and talented individual. He is a born natural wood and construction man on all levels. He goes beyond his call of duty and has the professional mind set to suggest improvements and fore sights that will benefit the end result. He is meticulous in his work area, leaving each end of each day clean and organized to start a new day. He is polite, does not swear, clean shaven and appropriately concerned about the environment and other people's property....including the adjoining neighbors to the property he is servicing. He works with a welcoming smile and we noticed that his sub contractors have very good and long working relationships with him. We would not have anyone else build us a house or do our home improvements than Duane or the subcontractors he choses for the job to be completed. He will finish a job down to the last detail without delay.