Express Kitchen and
About us
DBAs: Walk In Bathtubs of IL, Safety Bath Solutions, Creative Bath Solutions. Family owned and operated. No subs. Full service kitchen and bath remodeling company. Additional website: walk-in-bathtubs-il.com
Business highlights
Services we offer
Backsplash, Countertops, Drywall, Electrical & Plumbing., Hardwood & Laminate Flooring, Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen Appliances, Walk-in Bathtubs
Amenities
Emergency Services
Yes
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
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73% | ||
0% | ||
8% | ||
12% | ||
8% |
"We certainly regret the mixed review. We started with an "A", then dropped to a "B" and finished with a "D" We do need to verify the timeline. It took 3 months from the time of contract to completion, however, 6 weeks were do to lead time for the custom cabinetry and another 1.5 weeks waiting for the customer to return home from business so we could work. Once we were allowed to start construction, we did have the kitchen demolished, rebuilt, counters installed and sink and appliances running in 12 working days. We did run into 2 issues The power needed to be relocated to accommodate the under cabinet lighting, which Express did at No Charge. We typically don't install items bought elsewhere, however, since the customer claimed he had already purchased an under mount sink, we did not see the harm in installing it for him. Turns out the under mount sink was actually an off-brand farm sink that does not comply with American made kitchen cabinetry standards. Express incurred over 900.00 in cabinetry and plumbing modifications in order to make customers sink work. Rather than refuse to install customers' non-standard sink, Express made the modifications necessary including ordering all new doors at no additional charge to the customer. However, the additional parts needed to modify the cabinetry did in fact, take several more weeks to procure. Therefore customer received a custom kitchen with all wood cabinets, all labor including appliance and plumbing hook ups, custom made desk area, led under cabinet lights, additional switches and outlets, quartz counter tops, 1100.00 in "extras" for the original contract price of $14000.00! While we could not always give the customer the answer they wanted, all emails were responded to the same day! Even on weekends! Apparently no good deed goes unpunished."
We began with comparing several kitchen contractors to get very rough estimates, struck out the highest and lowest priced ones, and then worked with 3 remaining groups. Express not only offered a very competitive price, but they offered so much more detail than anyone else was willing to provide. We talked thru a few solutions to making our kitchen better, and then they came back with THE MOST AMAZING ideas to solve our space issues. There were so many details I hadn't thought of that Bill helped us with. The price was well under several other contractors, and we were assured the materials would be much better than "contractor grade". Bill and his team were really personable, down-to-earth professionals, so, based on the designs, costs, and our "gut" - we decided to go with them. Also, I really appreciated that Bill was familiar with our area, and knew about the general market value of our house. He wasn't going to sell us a designer kitchen that we wouldn't be able to recoup our costs on - should we ever decide to sell.
Anyhow, demolition began, and the crew let my 7 & 9 yr old sons "help" - - they were very patient with the boys, and saw what JOY this brought to their eyes, so let them help tear down a wall. Everything was taken out and most of our 3 rooms (kitchen, dining room & front room) was down to bare studs. During renovation, the crew discovered we had some big electrical problems hidden up in the attic, and they spent several days (and even pulled roof down) to repair them - at no extra cost to us. It was such a relief to know that the contract price was THE PRICE. There were no extras, no hidden fees, no surcharges - - nothing. They came and worked and worked and worked, and fixed "non-contracted" problems along the way.
I was really thankful that Bill's crew were all Express employees -- there weren't "strangers" in our house - - everyone he sent there worked under his company, so there was always reliable experts available for all of my questions.
There's so much more I could talk about, like how they fixed other plumbing problems while they were there, and how I made them sit at the island with my kids and have lunch... but the most amazing thing I want to pass on is the END RESULT. I cannot believe how amazing our kitchen is. I have people tell me EVERY TIME THEY COME OVER that my kitchen looks like a model kitchen, and that it should be featured in magazines. It is exactly what I wanted and more. It is so insanely functional, I can have a kid doing dishes while I cook and my husband helps with homework at the island. I couldn't have come up with this amazing design on my own and the details are PERFECT for our family. From the double ovens, prep sink, homework organizer, hidden microwave, beautifully matched hardwood floors - - everything here is amazing. I can't wait to show you the pictures! Ha!
As far as details like cleanliness and completion time - all was great. I mean, there was constant drywall dust everywhere, but we remodeled all the main rooms at once - so that was unavoidable. They vacuumed, dusted, and were always careful about cleaning up their tools and debris all along the way, as I had 3 small boys constantly trying to see what was going on. We were given a 6 week estimate and they stuck tightly to that timeframe - - in fact, our kitchen was "useable" much sooner than that... thank goodness!
So... to make a short story long - I would highly recommend Express. In fact, it's been 2 years, and we just signed another contract to put a master bath in our bedroom - and we didn't even get other quotes this time. We were THAT happy with the outcome of our kitchen. We feel like Bill and his crew will do a great job, won't cheat us or cut corners, and provide a quality room that will be enjoyed for years to come!
Tammy
"Thank you for the kind words. We really appreciate good customers who desire a fair and honest price for quality goods and services!"
Express, came out to do a measure and discuss plans within a few days of our
first contact. Three weeks later, we had a design and a signed contract to
remodel 3 bathrooms. It was almost too good to be true. That should have been
our first clue!
We were set to start the project on July 22, 2013 with an
estimated completion date on August 30, 2013. Today is April 10, 2014 and the
project is still not completed and we haven?t had access to our master bedroom
and bathroom for over 5 months!
At the start of our project we gave Bill Vranicar the key to our house and the garage door
opener for his crews to store materials in our garage. This was a courtesy in
effort to save Express storage fees and to make access to tools and supplies
easier for the crews. Bill assured us that he would be in charge of our key,
keep it safe and only give it to trusted crew members. Today, he has no clue as
to where our house key is and has refused to return the garage door opener to
us, despite several requests, until our project is completed and paid in full.
We have that statement from him in an email. We are at a point now that the remaining work
should be completed during scheduled appointments when we are at home. We are
not sure why Bill Vranicar feels he is entitled to have 24/7 access to our home
without our permission. Unfortunately we no longer feel comfortable within our own home!
One major complaint with this project is that there has been no supervision on this job. There was
never a designated project coordinator or job superintendent to communicate with.
Rarely, did anyone ever came to inspect the work the crews and subcontractors were
doing to insure everything was done to industry and our personal standards.
As a result, we have received substandard and
sloppy work. Much of their work needed to be redone or it caused residual
damage to other areas within our home. Chipped and cracked tiles installed on
the walls, fist sized holes punched through to the adjacent living room wall
from the master bath demo, granite installed with sharp edges and rough seams
and lights installed at different heights in master bathroom are just a few of our
complaints.
We currently are dealing with a problem of paint peeling on the ceiling over one shower.
Bill Vranicar was alerted to this issue on March 17, 2014 and he still has not inspected or addressed this problem.
There was no follow through with plans; they frequently set
up schedules for work to be done but then no one would show up for days and
sometimes weeks at a time. During the months of September and October, long
after the job should have been completed, they averaged approximately 8 hours
of work per week. They always had access to our home, including week-ends.
Some crew members had no respect for our home, frequently leaving it a mess. During the initial demo of
two bathrooms, I was able to fill a small coffee can with large pieces of debris left in our foyer and on our driveway.
We had truckloads of their trash in our garage for months at a time
despite constant requests to remove it. We would frequently come home from work to find
every light (8) in the basement left on, pieces of electrical wiring,nails and screws
strewn on the floor, pvc pipe remnants tossed about in the basement, garbage
and even empty beer cans left on sight!
Bill Vranicar does not return calls as he prefers to communicate only through emails which he will
return once every 24 hours. Numerous
emails were exchanged with Bill outlining concerns and dissatisfaction with how
the job was progressing. His responses to our complaints and concerns have
been rude, condescending and very disrespectful. To date, Bill has not
accepted responsibility for any problems with this job nor has he ever
apologized for the tremendous inconvenience of having our house torn up for over
9 months. Bill has not been to our house since October, to inspect or address
any of our concerns.
Bill repeatedly blames all problems on us, stating that we insisted on many job stops and many
changes outside of the contract. He as also made reference to us as people who are impossible to satisfy. This is very untrue. We always thanked and complimented the crews when they did a good job, provided continuous soft drinks and snacks for the crews and have always made the house available for them to work. We only stopped work once in early August when
we did not allow the carpenters to install cabinets on top of improperly
installed floor tiles, an issue that took Express weeks to address.
There were also only two changes that we initiated:
one- to change the finish on the sink faucet in one bathroom and
two- change the style of shower head in the master bathroom. There were a few
other unexpected job related issues that did cause slight delays but nothing
that should keep this job pending for over 9 months!
This list could go on and on but we believe anyone reading
this will get the point. Don?t walk but rather run as far from these guys as
you can. In the future I would not hire Express Cabinetry to take out my trash!
"Customer has broken their contract with our company 12 times since signing. We have already included 3400.00 in “extras” at no additional charge in an effort to appease the customer. We are now at the end of the project and the customer owes a final contract amount plus a substantial sum in approved extras. We have had problems getting paid throughout the job and now that we’re near completion, we’ve received this complaint. Ironically, the 2 customers that recommended us have much larger homes and had much larger scopes of work (1 was over $200.000.00). Not only have those customers recommended us to many other of their friends, they were both completed on time and 100% on budget, no extras! They have both had us back to do additional work in their homes and each of those additional jobs were larger than this job in question. This customer has changed their minds on timetables and payment schedules, changed materials after they were fabricated and installed, refused to acknowledge standard practices as detailed by the manufacturers, delayed progress for weeks at a time because of their inability to make a decision and made false accusations about our employees in an effort to receive free work. The customer delayed the largest part of the contract for 6 months alone! We have a framework of contact available to every customer. Every customer can contact the owner directly as needed as well as our support staff. Customer has sent numerous emails, which is fine. Most were answered within hours, even on Sundays! We bend over backwards everyday to try to ensure our jobs run smoothly, on time and on budget. Although this customer has prohibited us from doing our job effectively, we have still sought to deliver a quality job in as reasonable time table as they would allow. We work on hundreds of jobs every year and have never not completed a job since our inception. We appreciate the Angies’ List process and all their members. We strive to make sure members are treated fairly, professionally and have a positive overall experience. However, when customers refuse to accept the selections that they have approved, especially after they are fabricated and installed, refuse to adhere to standard practices and tolerances for materials and labor, constantly change their minds midstream throughout the project, refuse to make decisions for weeks at a time after the construction process has begun and refuse to pay when the job is complete, there isn’t much we can do to give the customer a quality and professional job, therefore we probably aren’t the right company for this type of customer."
"Thanks for the kind words, glad we could help. We will try to work with you on your other projects!"
"Thank you so much! Walk In Tubs are a HUGE part of our business. We're glad we could help make your bath tub beautiful and functional."
They were always prompt. The renovation timing went pretty much as planned. The kitchen was completely gutted after the first day. I appreciated the fact that they laid down tarps to protect our floors during much of the work. We were always kept informed of progress and of any issues that arose. Since they removed the wall between dining room and kitchen, there was no transition between the mirror-tiled dining room wall and the kitchen. My husband removed all of the mirror tiles, but the wall was still pretty beat up. Express repaired the dining room wall and painted it--no charge! After their work had been done, they asked me to make a list of any issues I found. They were mainly minor, and they were addressed the next day. The left us with all the additional tile and paint, which was especially useful. Since our kitchen and dining room now shared one ceiling, we had to repaint the living room/dining room/hallway to match. The extra ceiling paint was more than enough for the job, and now the ceilings are nicely uniform.
The not so good:
There were a couple of glitches along the way, the counter tops were delayed a bit because there was a defect in the granite. These things can't be helped and I expected a certain amount of hiccups. The dishwasher they installed did not work. I was a little disappointed that Express wanted us to work with the appliance store directly to resolve the problem. I expected Express to resolve the problem without us needing to get involved. In the end we got a replacement dishwasher (and not just a replacement part), so I am satisfied with the outcome
"Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you're loving your new kitchen. We do apologize about the dishwasher, but unfortunately we have to go through certain channels to comply with the manufacturers warranty. We loved working at your home and your kitchen now looks as tasteful as the rest of your home! Thanks again!"
They were also VERY FLEXIBLE with the start time. We had set the start time for 8am, but had to ask them to come 30-50 minutes later because of our special situation. Despite the later than desired start time, they finished the work in less than a day! Everything was cleaned up well.
EXPRESS BATH AND KITCHEN is very PATIENT, UNDERSTANDING AND CARING TO SENIORS.
THEY ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE, TO DO THE JOB RIGHT, FOR THE RIGHT PRICE. Period.
The installation was simple and quick. Billy took away the old microwave and box and disposed of it for me. He saw I had cabinet a safety lock on the counter he was working on. I said I was going to do it after he left, but I couldn't since I forgot to ask my husband for his drill. He said to me, "just leave it for me, I'll take care of that for you."
I also think it is important to point out that I am a woman and I had to do this on my own. Very scary proposition....but it worked out very nicely!
"Thanks for the kind words. We always try to exceed our customers' expectations, but when customers are kind, understanding and genuinely appreciate our efforts, it really helps our guys want to do their very best! Thanks again!"
"Glad we were able to help you out. I know gut remodels can seem overwhelming, but it was a joy to work in your home. Thanks again!"
In addition to doing a phenomenal job as per our original contract, we ran across some additional problems. Rick (the ?demolition guy?) noticed that there was some mold that had spread from our leaky bathroom floor (expected) onto the drywall on the ceiling below (unexpected). The next day Candido (drywall guy) was at the house, cutting down the old drywall and installing new drywall. The area he needed to replace on the dining room ceiling and adjacent wall look perfect. We have no prep work to getting the room looking back to perfect other than some primer and paint. The only problem we've really had is with the tile shelves, but they've been responsive to resolving the issues.
Sam, Bill Jr., Warren, and the rest of the install crowd (I?m sorry if I?m forgetting someone) did a great job. They were patient with my questions and took my ?eh, can you look at that spot again?? requests with professionalism and humor. The work they complete was excellent. We now have a bathroom floor and shower that gets ooohs and ahhhhhs from anyone who has seen it. And our cleanup outside the bathroom from dust (which is expected in any project of this size) was very reasonable. They did as good of a job containing the dust as anyone could, and they did the work within the expected timeframe.
They were understanding of working within my schedule with having small kids, and they were on the lookout for the indoor cat wandering around.
In all, the price was great, the work was great, and their employees were great. I have no complaints and highly recommend them to anyone needing bathroom work done. They will be the first to know whenever we have work that needs to be done within the scope of their business.
"I'm so glad we were able to get this project done for you. Your kindness and warmth were felt by all our employees! Thanks again!"
"I'm so glad we were able to get this project done for you. Although it wasn't the largest project we've ever done, there were a few challenges that I'm glad we were able to overcome. Thanks for being patient and we're glad you happy with the end result. Thanks again!"
Going forward, we had a few minor glitches.They were a week late on the start date.The truck with all the fixtures showed up unannounced at 6:20 am and Express Cabinetry never did remove all the construction debris - no major problems that we couldn't live with. Once the work started, all went as promised. The Fellas worked every day and after the tub was installed, Bill was there to collect another $5500.We've never seen Bill again.
When the job was finished, there were several aspects we were not happy with and voiced our concerns about sloppy workmanship to Bill's assistant, Steve. The response was "someone will be out to take care of the unresolved issues". Unfortunely, that never happened. This is probably out fault since we paid the final $1600. before we were satisified. Live and Learn- now our conplaints go unanswered.
The first of July we sent Bill an email again explaining the hanging issues. He promised to come out and put our problems to rest. To date, July 15, Bill hasn't knocked at our door nor called. He did send us a fruit basket, thanking us for the business. The furit is long gone, and every time I use the bathroom I'm reminded of the sloppy job.
"We are saddened to read this review, since we work very hard to exceed every customer's expectations. It is true that we started 1 week later than projected. However, we are clear that we will not start any job until every piece needed has been received. We will never risk starting a job that we aren't sure we can complete on time. Without every piece in hand, we have no way of predicting a finish date. Therefore, we decided that it would be in everyone's best interest to wait until all of the required materials had arrived. This decision enabled us to start and finish the job on time and on budget! Furthermore, we installed 2 additional circuits at no charge. The homeowner was pleasantly surprised that we were able to procure his electrical breakers (he hadn't been able to find any.) We purchase our plumbing fixtures from large plumbing distributors, and when there is a particularly large or heavy item (like a bathtub), we will have them delivered directly to the jobsite. Our delivery orders are always explicit: no deliveries before 8:00 AM. When we found out that the driver had missed that detail on the delivery ticket, our owner went to the customer's home to personally apologize for the driver's error, as well as to check on the progress of the job. While there, the homeowner accepted the apology and offered the next installment payment, which was due at that time. Progress was made daily on this job, and every day underwent inspection. The job was completely remodeled (down to the studs), rebuilt, and delivered to the customer in 10 working days! At the conclusion of every project, we go through a 12 point inspection sheet with every homeowner. We DO NOT collect final payment until every concern has been addressed and corrected. Steve (an Express employee) did the preliminary walk through and had several tiles replaced, some small drywall imperfections corrected, and some areas of paint touched up. Upon re-inspection, the homeowner expressed that they were satisfied, allowed Steve to take pictures (which we now keep in our portfolio), signed off on the final walk through and offered Express final payment. After 2 weeks passed, the homeowner phoned and emailed that upon closer inspection, a few tiles didn't "look right" and they had found another drywall imperfection. Although the job had passed initial inspection, Express ordered additional tiles and offered to come back to make any adjustments necessary. To date, the customer has not yet responded to Express to schedule time to make any necessary corrections. We work on many homes every year, including fixing homes that have be repaired poorly by others. Most of our customers are thrilled that we can fully demolish a bathroom and finish in 10 working days while staying on time and on budget, including interim inspections and a final walkthrough approved by the homeowner. Our customers love that they do not have to make final payment until the job is completed to their satisfaction. We always warrant our work, and we are available to correct any defect found (sometimes even after the warranty period has expired.) We regret that this homeowner is no longer happy and welcome the opportunity to correct any defect they may have found."
"We are very sorry you had an unpleasant experience with your countertop. We take every job very seriously and try to make sure every customer has a great experience. We like Angie's List because we feel it gives an opportunity to present balanced and unbiased opinions. I don't think this rating paints a full picture. The job in question was estimated July 1st, which we were closed for the 4 day holiday. Time was of the essence and we wanted to help fulfill the customer's timeline. We managed to estimate on Monday, template the counters on Tuesday without having to remove the existing tops (which no other counter top manufacturers will do), and fabricate on Wednesday before retiring for the long weekend. We typically remodel kitchens and baths with a very detailed contract (which previous customers have praised), but since this was a small top only and had to be done quickly, we did offer a final bill of sale upon completion. We do employ all our own employees, however, we do not build cabinets, countertops, appliances etc. We do utilize outside vendors, not subcontractors. Subcontracting refers to hiring another company for performing labor-related services (electricians, plumbers, tile installers, etc.). Vendors are companies that provide specific goods. Clover Counters was the vendor for the countertop for this job. We managed to install on Monday (2 working days-really!) in order to accommodate the customer. We were closed on Saturday, but while catching up on some work, an employee answered the phone on Saturday to find the customer would not be available until Monday afternoon. We only suggested 1 pm as customer said she worked until 12:45. We start work at 7:30 a.m, so starting a project at 2 or 3 p.m. is difficult, but again, we wanted to provide the best service possible for the customer. Counter delivery was scheduled between 2:30 and 3:00, however delivery was early and top delivery did have to wait a few minutes. This is a very old kitchen and the cabinets are near the end of their lifespan. Our employee did remark that the painting on the cabinets did look nice, he was trying to compliment them. The drawer glides were old, frail and in disrepair. What customer remarked as excessive handling was because the glides no longer work correctly, we were trying to get them to align. Our employee did ask to borrow a phone charger (which was wrong), but because his phone was dying, the dishwasher wasn't working and he had been on the phone several times with his boss, he was worried he would not have been able to finish. Our mistake, we purchased a car charger yesterday! We never removed the dishwasher, however, the electrical connection was loose and the old dishwasher plumbing connections were leaking, both of which we repaired at no additional charge. The customer did inquire about decorative edges, which would be extra, however the reason we did not supply (or charge for) decorative edges was a matter of overhang and window casing. They simply wouldn't fit! We did stay until 6:00 p.m. that evening to make sure the dishwasher was repaired, working properly and leak free. We managed to estimate, build and install new countertops in 3 working days! We repaired the plumbing and dishwasher and made sure the customer was without a sink a mere 4 hours. While we never claim to be perfect, we are still very proud of the way we try to accommodate every customer's needs."
"I'm glad you allowed me to take you "out of your comfort zone". Your granite and tile alone makes this one of my favorite kitchens! Take care and thanks for everything!"
They showed us how to get the job done at a reasonable prices & at the quickest pace possible.
"Most people feel they get a bit more than they pay for with Express. Our referral business is built on that. Thanks again for having us take care of your project."
"Some of these older homes can be quite the challenge! I'm glad we were able to exceed your expectations. Thanks again!"
"We take pride in completing each project on time and on budget, however, there are times when circmstances run beyond our control. We did order custom glass doors and they were warped, so they needed to be remanufactered. After the the base trim had been installed, customer asked us to change to tile base, however, no tile base was available to match. Customer requested a different tile base, which we ordered, but was not in stock. Customer never originally ordered tile base for job, and did not pay for tile base. Further, customer never paid to have base exchanged. Customer ordered a cabinet for main bath, knowing it would have to be built and would not be there when balance of work was completed. Employee did lock himself out by accident, however, employeed remained onsite until customer returned rather than leave for good. Customer never phoned directly, but did email. All emails were responded to the same day! We did appologize that the pieces and parts needed were not it stock, however, if the customer had ordered tile base originally, the material would have been there when we began construction. We fixed every item the customer could find fault with and didn't charge her for changing the base after the wood base was installed. While waiting for special orders can be frustrating, there was nothing that could be done and unfortunately, when customers make changes mid-stream, delays will occur, typically with added expense. While the remaining pieces did take time to get in, both bathrooms were up an running withing approx. 1 week. We even left the warped doors installed so customer could use shower until replacement doors arrived."
"Thanks for the kind words. So awesome to see your family grow in your new home. And thanks for the referrals!"
"We really appreciate all our customers, but our guys just love working in your home. Thanks for the referrals and the additional kitchen and bathroom since the review!"
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