Ambrose Builders LLC

We can't be happier with the end result. With an old building and any renovation, you can always expect a surprise or two, Mike works very hard to provide options and solutions and stay on top of his trades. This was not the first time I worked with Mike but certainly the largest project we've done together. He, as always, was a pleasure to work with.

Really blown away by the amazing first floor remodel that Mike's crew completed - feels like something right out of a magazine. We had several companies quote on the work and Mike was the only one who fully captured our vision - new and modern while maintaining the character of our older home. I was totally blown away by the custom mudroom his carpenter built for us - even better than any of the pictures I had shared as ideas. Laid back, responsive, flexible, easy to do business with and very quality work product.

Mike and his team helped us with renovating our kitchen - he removed a wall and moved the built-in cabinet that was on that wall (on the dining room side), replaced all the cabinets and countertops (including changing the layout somewhat, but not the placement of the sink or any of the appliances), did a fair bit of electrical work to bring us up to code and added in overhead lighting, refinished the floors and added a tile backsplash.  During the process, Mike?s guys also helped us make other changes throughout the house, including replacing most of the light fixtures.
Overall we love the new kitchen Mike and his team built for us!  It is much nicer and more functional than the old one - it gets a ton more light and the open aspect of it is really convenient and nice for how we live our lives, especially when hosting or needing to run back to the kitchen during meals.  It definitely feels more like an integrated part of the house, and less like a quarantined off space.  The job is holding up well (about 1 year later) and we get lots of comments on the new space. One aspect we?re particularly happy with is the built in hutch - Mike?s team moved it to a different wall of the dining room, because we removed the wall where it had previously been located.  They did a great job of making the cabinet look like it had always been on that wall.  They were also able to patch in the floor where the cabinet had been in a way that looks natural - I never notice it anymore.
Overall, we enjoyed working with Mike - he was very patient with us and our many add-ons to the project.  We used a website/app called Basecamp to manage the project and post our ideas/questions/product choices.  Mike was fairly quick about responding to our comments and questions, good about suggesting sources to look for products (like cabinet hardware) and patient with us when we couldn?t decide.  He worked with us to build some open shelving on one wall and made suggestions when he thought something we were planning to do wouldn?t look or work right.  With respect to the process - A kitchen renovation is never fun to live through, and I think having a young baby didn?t help, but I?m not sure there?s much Mike (or anyone) could have done about that.  I do think he did his best to make the process as painless as possible - to keep the dust contained and work around our schedule as much as possible and to be as quick as possible.  However, the process was made a bit more painful by the fact that the wall we were removing unexpectedly turned out to be a load bearing wall and the project essentially went on hold for about 3 weeks while Mike got new permits and approvals.  We wish that this had been investigated further before the project began but once we got over that hurdle, things moved fairly efficiently,
While the price was not insignificant, it was in line with other quotes we received and felt reasonable, after taking into account all the miscellaneous projects we added on and the additional electrical work that was required in our old house (which turned out to have cloth wiring in places and the like).  Our only comment is that we did not really feel that we had a good understanding of where the price would be (in relation to the original quote) until the end of the project, so if it?s important not to exceed a stated budget, it may be worth checking in with Mike periodically to see where costs are coming out.

We had Mike and his team redo our kitchen and bathrooms based on a recommendation from a friend. Our house is an old one, and so the project took a little longer and was more expensive than expected because of some unexpected contingencies -- particularly some electrical work. Mike managed the contingencies well and handled the expanded scope of work fairly. His subs were all very hard working and personable as well, which was key since my wife and kids were at home for much of the renovations.

The work was done quickly and looks very good. I get compliments on the work performed on a regular basis.

Our overall experience with Ambrose builders was very positive. From the beginning Mike Ambrose was incredibly helpful in working through details to make sure we new as much upfront as possible.  He worked tirelessly to give us ideas and options for staying in budget.  He was always open to working with our design ideas and Mike W. our carpenter was incredible about making those visions come to life.  The project itself was difficult since we lived in the home during most of the job.  We did have some unexpected and major challenges along the way but Mike was always able to be reached by phone or text and base camp (no matter what time of day or night).  He was responsive and always fair.  We felt that the subs were polite and friendly and of quality.  It is also important to note he really does stand behind the work after the project is complete and will address any problems that arise unlike builders who almost seem to disappear after final payment.  In our opinion Mike Ambrose is a man of integrity who really cares that his customers are happy.  We recommend him and will continue to use him with future projects.

We liked Mike from the start because he wanted to help us make good decisions, was very organized, and very personable.  We had gotten another estimate from another contractor where they were a little less expensive in their estimate but they questioned our judgement on what we wanted to do to the point where we thought we'd have to fight them to get what we wanted.  As far as we were concerned, the contractor had to be the right one more than the estimate because we knew what we wanted and were willing to spend extra to get it.  Mike was willing to accommodate that.

Mike uses a site called BaseCamp to organize everything that needs to be done.  Even before we hired him for the job he had set up the site, listed the tasks that we would need to get done as far as purchasing items, and posted websites and ideas that we could use to help.  We found him very responsive to BaseCamp posts, text messages, and voicemails, so really had no issues with getting in contact with him.  He didn't have a preference whether he purchased the items and was reimbursed later or we purchased them, so we chose to purchase the items to get credit card points.  While we picked everything out, Mike was very helpful coming up with solutions when what we wanted seemed to hit a snag. 

The items we purchased all had different waits before delivery, some as long as 6 weeks, which can make things difficult on a project for both the homeowner and the contractor.  We ordered a custom vanity through the Kohler Store that was very expensive but exactly what we wanted, and that took the longest between trying to get the d*** Kohler Store lady (who really couldn't care less about customer service) understand exactly what we wanted and the delivery wait time.  Other items had other waits, but we wanted to get things started with what we had, so we got Mike to start the work before everything was in.   

 As far as the work getting done, Mike was able to get people to our house to do the work pretty quickly.  Sometimes the times at which they would show up was a little erratic as the electricians and plumbers worked around other jobs.  Because the items came in at different times, we had to have them come multiple times to do multiple things rather than being able to just get everything done at once.  Toward the end of the project we just left a key with the project lead or leave the back door open for others rather than wait around to see if people would show up when we were expecting them.  This never caused any issues and we never worried about them being in the house without us there.  

At the end of the project, there were a few issues we had with the quality of some of the work that was done.  We had Mike come over and take a look and within one workday he had everyone there to fix all of the issues.  We now have bathrooms that we consider to be exactly what we wanted at a price that we expected to pay, so we couldn't be happier with the results.

We lived in our townhouse during both renovation project and were pleased with the overall outcome. All laborers were very respectful of our home and the fact that we didn't move out. They were clean and prompt.

Mike Ambrose was very transparent regarding the costs of the project. He used licensed laborers and let me know immediately when issues arose that needed attention. The project did not go over budget with the exception of the additional items I requested or when unforeseen problems arose that were safety issues that needed to be addressed.

I was very pleased with the work of both phases of the renovation. I would hire Ambrose Builders again should additional work need to be completed on the property.

Overall the project went well. The quality of the carpentry as well as the project itself was highly satisfactory. The only criticism is that costs for the stairs were 15% higher than estimated, but it was a simple miscalculation of how much lumber would be required. Mike and his crew were very responsive and provided good communication throughout.

On the plus side, Mike himself was highly responsive, providing an initial cost estimate early in the project planning and revising that cost estimate at my request based on detailed specifications that our Kohler designer provided. He made himself available directly to receive all of the deliveries, coordinating with shippers, etc. He communicated frequently via email and phone throughout the project, and often personally stopped by to troubleshoot and solve problems (which was made necessary more frequently than I would have expected, but were resolved in a very timely and usually satisfactory manner). The ceramic sink I purchased for the basement bathroom turned out to have a large chip, and when the bathroom supply company refused to replace the piece because it had been accepted at delivery, Mike bent over backwards trying to come up with solutions and ended up repairing the chipped sink, which turned out fine. The carpentry, electrical, drywall and painting were generally satisfactory. The crew was generally punctual, professional, skilled and trustworthy (especially given that they had full unsupervised access to our home throughout the duration of the project).
On the other hand, there was more significant rework during a few stages of the remodel than I would have expected. Mike did not supervise any of the work directly and heavily relied on his team to execute the installation according to the design and report back with regard to progress, next steps, etc., which resulted in some communication disconnects, including his report that the upstairs toilet had been installed when it had not been. I was not thrilled to spend an evening without a toilet when the demo team prematurely started the basement bathroom remodel before the upstairs toilet was installed, and the plumbers discovered that the supply line rough-in was too close to the toilet base (and only after the tiler had completed tiling around the plumbing rough-ins), preventing them from installing the toilet. I also ended up having to swap out the toilet I originally selected for another model that would fit. There were many serious problems caused by the original plumber that had to be rectified/reworked by a second plumbing team (including water dripping behind the wall from the newly installed plumbing that had to be discovered by me). They also left some small details incomplete, e.g. didn't always clean up completely (especially the garage), didn't install the drain stopper assemblies for the sinks, missing push rods in the dual flush toilet assembly, medicine cabinet shelves, etc. that either had to be brought to Mike's attention or simply installed by us.
Costs exceeded Mike's original estimate by ~15%, which was a little surprising given that I asked him to submit a revised estimate after all of the fixtures, etc. had been delivered and based on the detailed plans provided. In the end the bathrooms look great. At the end of the project Mike observed that wherever things could have gone wrong during the two bathroom remodels, they did, but as time passes, the aggravation associated with the many hiccups that occurred has diminished. Mike was honest and apologetic about it all, and while I believe some of the cost overruns and problems may have been avoidable with a little more advance planning and/or supervision, Mike's trustworthiness and the good end result would lead me to use him again. 

The work was performed well, and both Mike's and Lino's communication and interaction with us was very professional.

The evaluation, masonry repair, repointing and waterproofing were all performed satisfactorily. We were particularly impressed by the diagnosis of the cracking issue (which is something we would have never figured out on our own and had not been suggested by any other contractors we had brought in to evaluate the problem). Since the repair, we've had almost no issues with the masonry in the repaired area. The only quibble we had was that the crew that performed the repointing initially failed to completely clean mortar off the brick face, which resulted in making the joint lines look wider than they actually were. After this was pointed out to Mike after the job was completed, he quickly brought someone else in to clean the brick face with muriatic acid (although they didn't bother cleaning areas towards the top of building). Communication was good, and Mike's level of responsiveness was high.

Fantastic results.

Generally the project went smoothly and mostly on time.  Mike completed the work in a little over 4 months from demolition to move back in.  Mike and his team were always accessible and listened to my suggestions.  The help in problem solving when I wanted an item in the design and they made it happen.  Our home is beautiful and extremely energy efficient.  We get many compliments from friends and family when they first see the home, particularly those who remember it over the years in it's original form.  It is a very comfortable home and easy to take care of.  Mike is a genius at executing a home owner's vision for thier living space.

The work Mike and his crew did is outstanding!  We loved the way our new kitchen looks and functions.  There were very few "surprises" during the work and the few that occurred, Mike was able to handle.  The work took longer than we anticipated and than Mike quoted to us, but the final outcome now makes the delay irrelevant. I would highly recommend Ambrose Builders for any remodeling job you may be contemplating and we will be using Mike again in the near future.

I was in a bind and needed to sell my condo/loft FAST.  The real estate agent I was using highly recommended finishing my second bedroom (was previously open to the loft) to ensure a fast sale and good price.  
I had only a few days to get the work done and Ambrose Builders came to the rescue.  They got out on site right away to look at the job and requirements and had it complete by the weekend (total elapsed time about 4 days).  
After inspection I had some touchups I wanted done and true to their warranty, they immediately came back and addressed to my satisfaction.  
A few days later, I had a showing that ultimately resulted in a sale the following month.  I could not have turned it so quickly without Ambrose Builders' help.

Mike is personable and was very responsive to both my initial call and brick work needs, as well as my subsequent emergency situation with our deck.  He and Peter came right away to assess the situation and started as soon as possible.  I had a little issue with the finish work on the concrete, but repaired it satisfactorily.  I'm assuming the price was good on the deck work because I really didn't have time to get competitive bids. 
On the brickwork issue near the roofline, their price was much cheaper than anything two other contractors wanted to do, which mostly consisted of rebuilding the area with a charge of around $5,000.  Since it's in an unusual spot that is recessed and asthetically unnecessary for a pristine appearance, the work that Peter did was more than adequate for our needs - and keeping our two-flat structurally sound.

The work itself was good. However, there was difficulty with communication. In the beginning it was only via email and I could not get Mike to call me back. I wanted an estimate which they only gave me over the phone and did not see it in person. I was told that all of the work would take 1-2 days, but it took 3 with them having to come back on 2 different days to fix my floor and repaint a spot that had bubbled. The work itself was done well, but they could be more professional and organized.

Addendum: After I submitted this review, Mike called to thank me for taking the time to write in and wanted to know what could have been done better. He was warm and genuinely interested in improving his business. As reported above, I was pleased with the work. My place looks great, and I will consider him for future jobs. *I originally rated my overall experience a "B", but have changed it to an "A" after speaking with Mike. Businesses that look at improving their customer service are hard to come by and Mike does do what he can to make sure the job is done correctly.

I couldn't have asked for a better experience with a contractor! Mike Ambrose is personable, professional and precise. He provided me with advice and options while working within my original vision for the project. He even discouraged me from spending additional money on extras that didn't add value to my home! My communication with Mike was ongoing- even when I was out of town, I knew what was happening with my bathroom renovation. Halfway through the project, the unit above me had a leak and destroyed part of the new drywall. With water pouring through the ceiling, Mike simply assured me that he would take care of everything. His "mountains into mole hills" attitude and service proved to be invaluable. I give the highest recommendation to Ambrose Builders!

Ambrose Builders really made a difference. When I bought my house in 2008 it had a poorly, partially finished basement. Within 2 months, we suffered a major flood and the whole basement was wiped out. In July of 2010 I hired Ambrose Builders to come in and fully restore/finish my basement as well as the utility room and bath. They did an amazing and highly creative job - and now the space is the number one place where our family spends time.

Mike Ambrose was a huge help throughout the process. We even called him from various stores to talk about what we should buy. He was always available and patient with our questions. The work was done within the time frame he predicted. The work did go somewhat over budget, largely as a result of design choices we made. Overall, we are very happy with the final outcome - our bathroom looks and works great! We will definitely consider using Ambrose for future projects.

Mike did a fantastic job. We were expecting a baby and he worked to make the deadline at hand. Ambrose builders sent only the best craftsmen to do the project. They were friendly, answered my questions and worked clean. I had used Ambrose builders for painting projects in the past. This was a big job and they did a great job with it.