Dan S.
5/5
This was an extensive home remodel project involving all rooms, except the master bath, in our 1957 ranch style house. The living room was expanded by moving a wall (and fixing a persistent ceiling crack), relocated laundry from basement to main level with installation of shower stall, removed a wall to open center of main level for kitchen island, new kitchen and pantry, filled-in and refinished oak flooring, installed new ceiling lighting on both levels, installed two basement egress windows for bedrooms, installed basement bathroom, relocated basement sewer standpipes, vacuumed ductwork throughout, installed vinyl flooring and lighting in basement utility room, installed heated floor in main level bath and a basement bedroom, replaced main level skylight, covered wood paneling with drywall on main level and in basement and then painted, installed closet and pantry shelving, replaced outdoor lights, and poured new concrete exterior steps. The demolition began on March 7, 2022 and we moved back into the house on December 23, 2022. Our house is basically new on the interior and we regularly comment how much we enjoy the final outcome!
This project was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially with regard to start date and in the early months of the project. Health and supply chain factors were out of the control of participants in this project. Despite delays, Mike Hessling did not offer excuses. Our communication with him was matter of fact. We were frustrated by the pace of progress in the early months, but there were no constructive options.
We enjoyed working with Mike Hessling and his staff. Mike is a man of few words, so lack of communication concerned us in the early going. However, Mike hired Heather to be his day-to-day communicator to expedite progress. Her involvement relieved our yearning for progress reports. We enjoyed the employees of Catalyst Custom Construction. Some were in early to mid-professional development as carpenters, which was fine with us. They were professional, always respectful of our concerns and special requests, and attentive to details of their work.
Catalyst hired subcontractors for all trades except carpentry and the concrete work. We felt the quality of work done by the subcontractors was on par with the quality of work done by Catalyst carpenters. Egress window installations, plumbing, electrical, floor refinishing, shelving, and drywalling were well-done. The drywallers played and sang the best music of all of the tradespeople! We did have a plumber wash out some pails of tools in our new stainless steel sink and scratch it, but we realize that perfection is not possible in a project. It would have been beneficial for Catalyst to hire the masonry for the exterior concrete steps. This final component of our project revealed some lack of familiarity with concrete work.
We now realize that we could have saved a hassle for ourselves and Catalyst if we had hired an architect to review our remodel plan. There was a microwave vent that needed to be exteriorized in proximity to a valley in our roof. Mike provided the solution which is good.
The initial cost estimate was honored. There were some change orders requested by us, the home owners, and those costs were reasonable. As home owners, there were minor instances when we could assist the project and some financial credit was awarded to our efforts. In another instance, Catalyst purchased a door directly from the vendor, which saved us two thousand dollars.
In conclusion, this project resolved dozens of needed improvements in our house, a list of which accumulated over the 41 years that we have lived in it. It was a long wait for completion, but the finished house is so pleasant for us and accommodating for guests.
