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R.A. James Construction Inc

About us

R.A. James Construction, Inc. offers complete remodeling and building services. We have been providing reliable service and quality workmanship for a large variety of residential and commercial projects since 1980. R.A. James provides service for all jobs, large and small, including residential, commercial, industrial and handyman services. We specialize in kitchen and bath remodeling as well as exterior work including, but not limited to, room additions, decks and siding, and window and door replacement. Member of National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and accredited business on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Locations in Berwyn and Lemont. Additional email: [email protected], [email protected]. Additional contact: Robert Spran.

Business highlights

Emergency services offered
45 years of experience

Services we offer

Remodeling & Building.

Amenities

Emergency Services

Yes

Accepted Payment Methods

  • CreditCard
Reviews
4.918 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
89%
4
6%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Showing 1-18 of 18 reviews
Alexandra S.
Aug 2016
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown

Peter S.
Apr 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$16,000
Bob Spran of R.A. James takes a pretty laid back approach to things -- which helps keep everybody calm when nerves might otherwise be getting frazzled. Nevertheless, he kept everything organized and moving ahead at a good pace. His subcontractors were professional, responsive and did a good job. His workers were punctual, respectful of the rest of the house, did their work well and never hesitated to check with us to make sure they were getting things right. The best part was that the finished job turned out exactly as we had envisioned when we were planning it.

Juliette Z.
Apr 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,000
Prompt, professional and worked quickly.

Kendra H.
Jul 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000
.

KRISTINE M.
Jun 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,000
This is the second time we have used them and we love them. Last summer they built back steps, installed a fence and demoed a closet and did drywall repair in an upstairs bedroom. They are just awesome.

William F.
Oct 2013
4.0
$30,000
Job was completed in early march escept for under-sink buildout. We're still waiting for him to do that..General quality of work was good.

PATRICIA M.
Oct 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,750
Due to weather conditions the work was delayed a bit but since we weren't in a hurry it didn't matter to us. They kept us informed as to when we could expect them.

Christine L.
Dec 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,600
RA James did a great job at building what we were looking for. The quality is high in materials and service.

JANET M.
Dec 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Bob and his staff could not be more professional. The job was done on time with minimal intrusion. They are very friendly and respectful. The job was done well for a fair price.

Sam R.
Dec 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$16,000
My experience with R.A. James was completely positive from start to finish. Our initial consultation with Bob Spran was great. Bob had terrific ideas on how we could utilize our small bathroom size, plus he listened to all of our likes and dislikes. When I received Bob's bid, it was clear that he had listened carefully; the bid was complete, accurate, and comprehensive. In fact, other than additions I requested during construction, the price didn't change from Bob's initial bid.

I'd never renovated a room before, and Bob was a great asset every step of the way. He made the entire process easier, coordinating the pick-up of everything needed for the renovation (I think I picked up a toilet, but otherwise Bob picked up everything else). I had a bit of a panic when I realized that the tub I ordered would not arrive in time for construction; Bob scrambled to locate the same tub through a local plumbing supply, and matched the price I had been given from the Big Box store.

Jim was our construction lead on the project, and he took unbelievable care of our house during the project. Although he was excellent to work with overall, a few instances highlight his complete commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Since we have only one bathroom, we had planned to be out of town for two weeks (the renovation ended up taking less time, but we had allowed for two weeks). We intended to take our house plants with us, but forgot to pack them. We ended up turning around and coming back home for them. When we got into the house, the entire living room (the only room without a door blocking it from the hall shared by the bathroom and bedroom) was covered in plastic sheeting, EXCEPT our house plants. Jim was concerned that they might die if they weren't cared for during our absence. To prepare for the closet construction we had moved all of our clothing into the basement. We found that our clothing had also been covered in plastic sheeting, as Jim was concerned that dust might sift through from the floor above.

Second, interior painting was included in our bid for the bathroom renovation. Jim discovered that the ceiling plaster in our bathroom had never cured correctly, and it actually repelled paint (it was peeling badly prior to the renovation). Even though the issue was not caused by the renovation, Jim researched the issue, came up with a solution, and fixed our plaster ceiling so that it would accept paint. Although interior painting of the walls surrounding the new closet door in the bedroom was not included in the bid, I was able to find matching bedroom paint and asked if the construction crew could prime and paint. They were able to prime and paint the wall beautifully, and added less than $100 to my bill for their additional labor. During my conversation with Jim I mentioned a door that kept sticking and wouldn't close properly. Jim planed the door for me at no additional cost. Lastly, I had a few minor concerns after the construction was complete. There were a few tiny smears of silicone on the granite top that I couldn't remove, plus one of the sink fixtures looked a tiny bit off center (I am picky... I wouldn't want me as a client!). Jim came out personally to clean the silicone from the granite, and sent out a plumber to center the sink fixture. During his visit he also gave me tips on how to care for the granite, grout, and tile.

I really can't adequately convey how great this company was to work for. I will say this: when I need to get my kitchen renovated in a few years, I plan on having my work done by R. A. James Construction.

Matthew G.
Nov 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$100
The workers from R.A. James Construction, Inc. Company were great. They were very polite. They kept everything nice and clean. They did a marvelous job. They came out right away and gave me an estimate when I called. They were honest. They were very professional. I would definitely use them again.

LAURA L.
Jul 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,115
This was a great experience, with very nice people.

We had a somewhat tricky front-door situation. The door opens into a porch that has a slight tilt. The door opening was a bit smaller than standard because of some tile we had installed years ago. (The tile installers just sawed the bottom off our old wood door.)

We got several estimates. Other contractors proposed plopping a prefab door frame on top of the tile, and cutting a bigger door opening to make it fit. This would have involved re-routing electrical wiring above the door. It also would not have been the best solution because a new-prefab door frame would not settle with the rest of the porch over time; we wanted to keep the original framing. An alternative was to order a smaller door, and have the threshold several inches above the floor. That seemed like a tripping hazard, as the door was already a step up from the landing.

A contractor we had worked for siding and windows agreed to cut into the tile and fit the door in that way so that we could avoid the problems above, but he was grudging about it. He apparently didn't want to be bothered ... he was also annoyed that we wanted a doorknob by Schlage that wasn't in his brochure.

We liked the door we'd picked out from that contractor's Albany catalog, so I called them and they referred me to R.A. James. Bob came out for the estimate and proposed cutting into the tile before I mentioned it, for the reasons noted above. He was confident it wouldn't be a problem (and it wasn't). He was happy to provide the doorknob we liked (even though it wasn't in his brochure either). He also beat the first contractor on price!

Rich was in charge of the installation and did a thorough, careful job. We are very pleased. We will contact RA James first from now on.
Response from R.A. James Construction Inc
"Member, thank you for the confidence you placed in R A James. We strive to do our best for our customers. We're glad you are pleased with the job and thanks for all the positive feedback!"

Barbara P.
Jun 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$34,000
RA James has provided excellent service since 1987. They built a gorgeous deck in our yard, replaced soffit, fascia, gutters doors and windows. When we encountered structural damage in our home, RA James was our first choice for the job. They not only provided unparalleled expertise and service, but also provided us assurance of having the job done right. A++++++!
Response from R.A. James Construction Inc
"Thank you very much for the confidence you have placed in R. A. James when choosing us for your home's renovations. Thanks also for sharing your experience!"

Cora R.
Jun 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
It was fine. I went to their business and pick out what I wanted. They came out and put it up in less than an hour.
Response from R.A. James Construction Inc
"Thank you very much for the confidence you placed in us to do your job and thanks for sharing your experience with Angie's List and its members!"

Matthew G.
Nov 2010
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$100
They were excellent. He took them all day, but with the work they did it was understandable. The estimate was what the end price was, the men were very polite, courteous, put it up and used their own ladder and stuff. They were great. I would definitely call them back.

Inga S.
Apr 2010
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
For over 15 years, RA James has been with Seguin, building homes, completing renovations, big jobs and small-everything is always done in a professional and efficient manner. They will stand behind their work. I can not say enough to comment on their exemplary performance over the years. If you choose this contractor you will not be disappointed!!!!

Inga S.
Apr 2010
N/A
Yes, I recommend this pro
For over 15 years, RA James has been with Seguin, building homes, completing renovations, big jobs and small-everything is always done in a professional and efficient manner. They will stand behind their work. I can not say enough to comment on their exemplary performance over the years. If you choose this contractor you will not be disappointed!!!!

Inga S.
Apr 2010
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500,000
For over 15 years, RA James has been with Seguin, building homes, completing renovations, big jobs and small-everything is always done in a professional and efficient manner. They will stand behind their work. I can not say enough to comment on their exemplary performance over the years. If you choose this contractor you will not be dissappointed!!!!

Licensing

State Contractor License Requirements

All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our Find Licensing Requirements page.

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FAQ

R.A. James Construction Inc is currently rated 4.9 overall out of 5.

R.A. James Construction Inc accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard

No, R.A. James Construction Inc does not offer free project estimates.

No, R.A. James Construction Inc does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.

No, R.A. James Construction Inc does not offer a senior discount.

Yes, R.A. James Construction Inc offers emergency services.

No, R.A. James Construction Inc does not offer warranties.