MK Remodeling & Handyman Inc

The project exceeded my expectations. The communication was excellent. Mike and the tradesmen (electrician, flooring, sheetrock, painter, plumber) communicated when they would arrive, what they would do and how long it would take. They were always pleasant and respectful and made every effort to move the project ahead. Mike kept the project organized and had the next step of the project ready to start when one process was finished. He arranged for the electrical inspection and permits which took place promptly. The work completed was done professionally and in a high quality fashion.. It gives us attractive additional space. I will definitely want to work with MK remodeling in the future for my home projects.

Wonderful as always. We have hired Mike a number of times for the two different homes we have lived in over the past 10 years.

Mike responded to my request to do touch up painting and minor drywall work. He arrived on time and provided a thorough estimate. When I mentioned that I wanted the work done asap, he rearranged his schedule to get all of the work done right away. He also went above and beyond to paint the trim, front door and change a lock. I would highly recommend Mike and I'm planning on using his services again soon.

unknown

All in all very well, Mike did the job from start to finish, he bid the job and he did the work himself, which was one of the reason why we hire him, also we like the handyman factor, not only can he do large jobs he can do small ones as well. In our lower bath Mike replaced the shower and shower head,  did some sheetrock repair, and put in all new wood trim. In the main bath where most the work was done. Mike replaced the tub, toilet, faucets, tile around the tub area, and replaced the floor tile as well. He was clean and stay on task, and did all that we asked and more.  I would highly recommend Mike for any remodel or handyman service.

When we sat down to sign the contract, it was I have this experience, I have that, but yet, he had someone else that did majority of the work.  However, the workers were good.  If they found any problem or feeling that it wasn’t right, the let us know, they didn’t move on.  But the guy doing the work like we got a brand new vanity top and he used it as a work surface, so there were scratches on that.  He tried to get the scratches off, but they were not out and I just said forget about it.  Another thing he said when he sat down and talked to us is that when I work in your house, I am only working on your house and that was not the case.  So it was like this kid, he went off for three weeks on a vacation, so practically nothing got done for three weeks.  However, they were responsive as far as changed in the work.

I?ve worked with Mike Kemna before, so when my renter moved out ahead of schedule and I had some minor remodeling to do, I naturally called on him.  Mike?s schedule was nearly full, but he used creativity in calling on an available subcontractor to make it all work.  
The work was completed in on schedule, even though the countertop was a special order (no longer current) laminate pattern from the factory.  For workmanship, standards have slipped since I grew up, but it meets current expectations.  For instance, the miter joint in the countertop, which was cut at the factory, didn't match by 3/32".  I would have appreciated an offer from the subcontractor to have it recut at my expense.  Instead, clear silicone caulk was squirted into the crack and ... it looks okay.  In all, I?m satisfied with how the schedule, quality, and cost worked out and hope to work with Mike on future projects.

My wife and I contacted Mike from MK remodeling to provide us with a bid for installing a brand new bathroom in the basement. When Mike got to our house, he looked at the area were we currently only had a toilet. From the get-go Mike gave us options as to where we could place the tub or shower, where we could place the vanity, etc. Now, the reason I mention this is because we also had 2 other contractors with a high rating on Angie's list give us a bid. One of the other contractors wanted to move the bathroom to another part of the basement and said he needed 2 hours to write a bid for us and that he would contact us soon. We never heard back from him. The second contractor said that the current place was too small to build the bathroom. He took some measurements and said he would contact us. We never heard from him again.
After Mike gave us his bid, it was little above our budget. Mike worked with us and was able to give us 3 other options with different price points and that allowed us to choose the best option for us that met our budget. 
Mike met with us and we signed the contract for the work. He explained every detail in the contract, every thing that was going to be done and where the money was going for materials, etc. He also explained to us how where his bid might increase or decrease depending on what kind of prices he was able to get for the materials and that any savings he was able to get, was also savings for us. He told us the bathroom will be finished in about 4-5 weeks.
When he started the work, he would let us know what his plan was for the coming week or two. He also let us know his work schedule and when he would take days off, for example he let us know which days he was going to take off for Thanksgiving holiday. Mike always kept us updated on how to work was coming along. 
Mike was finished on schedule and also on budget. We are very happy with the work he did and the bathroom looks beautiful and fits our needs perfectly. 
We would definitely work with Mike again and recommend him to everyone we know.

They finished on time, were reliable and fairly priced.

Update: Grout on the tile work is pitting and cracked. To his credit, Mike offered to perform any re-work. I opted to hire a tile/grout specialist and have it fixed by a professional. The tile specialists pointed out many things that were performed incorrectly. I'll have the work fixed by the tile professional. This is the second major aspect of the original work performed that I am having to have re-done/fixed in less than a year.
Original: Mike is a great guy. He had some nice ideas he suggested based on his previous work. He came when he said he would and the result is a much-nicer basement. Mike did uncover some very poor DIY plumbing conducted by the previous owner. While the cost jumped based on this finding, he did the right thing and ensured the new plumbing work was up to code. Again, while this cost more money, I now have a basement bathroom that is up to code.
The low score on quality is primarily based on the baseboard. The cheap baseboard looks horrible and I'll be working with a friend to re-do. Other areas of detail such as paint edging, paint splatter, and rough edgegs on drywall brought down the score and are things I'm taking care of.

I have had Mike do work for me in the past.
New home and we need to remodel the bathrooms.  We had Mike give an estimate for the work listed above.  The work did
not include demolition (to reduce cost) and the tile material.  We enjoy working with Mike for this flexibility and to reduce the cost for all of the work. Otherwise we may have not been able to do all 3 bathrooms.  Mike was very good about working around
us.  He was very careful to clean up after himself and tried to reduce the dust from the construction.  Throughout the construction he would give us updates as to what he was doing and what he may seen soon (ex: may need the new toilet in the next few days).
Mike craftsmanship is excellent.  We had Mike do 3 subway tiled bathrooms.  This required a bit more time, but the result
is incredible.  I wish i could attach some picture, but i do not see how

The work was done promptly, efficiently, and was of high quality.  I've worked with Mr. Kemna before, so we set up the job by email.  He arranged access with the tenants and completed the work in less than a week.  He did all the demolition and disposed of the trash.  The doors are of higher quality that the damaged ones that were removed and match the finish of the rooms perfectly - another step up in quality.  The soffits and fascias are cut and fit perfectly and improve the looks of the home dramatically.  When the job was finished, Mike billed me by email.  Mike even broke out the door materials and labor at my request.

After a couple of months, the whole top area cracked and we have been trying to get in touch with him. However, he never showed up or called us back.

After figuring out most window companies have a minimum amount of work done to accept a job I had Mike come in to give me a bid.  I worked with Mike before and was happy with the work done. He showed up on time, was willing to work with what we had, i.e. already had a window, and gave me his estimate. Once it was scheduled he was in and out in the time that he said he would and he was right on target with his estimate. He is courteous and professional at all times.

Our house was built in 1942, and the basement had never been renovated. We eradicated mold several years ago, and got rid of the well and the ancient oil tank, but the rest of it remained dingy, damp, stained from previous plumbing mishaps, and generally disgusting.
We told Mike that we wanted it to be CLEAN, above all. We wanted a workout/entertainment room and a nice, working bathroom. We wanted a space that, when it comes time for us to sell the house, will not scream PROBLEM at every potential buyer.
Mike and Brian Kelley worked together. They transformed the room from a dungeon into a clean, bright space, with a new vinyl tile floor, sheetrock walls, new ceiling with recessed lights, new windows and a TV mounted on the wall.
Mike had great ideas about things we would never have thought about. He moved the washing machine and dryer to a more convenient place, added lights, added cabinets, moved and added outlets. He bought all of the bathroom fixtures and toilet. We were happy to have him do it because we are NOT shoppers ? and we liked the stuff he bought!
Mike was also willing to do other projects along the way: two new toilets in upstairs bathrooms, a new garbage disposal, closing up holes in the foundation, adding a new outside faucet and new outside outlets, and new lighting in an upstairs bathroom.
The project went smoothly from start to finish. Mike and Brian did good work. What we liked most of all were Mike?s ideas and suggestions for making our space more attractive, functional and liveable ? from more convenient placement of outlets to shiny new doorknobs that really make a difference. We love our new basement!

I was satisfied, they did a good job.

I originally called Mike to estimate skim-coating and painting my garage. Unfortunately, we discovered the tape and mud, from 17 years ago, needed to be removed and new tape & mud applied.  Mike and his crew did it right.  I also had them skimcoat some of the stair walls, in the house, where screwheads were becoming visible.  They also did a wall corner repair from damage done to the stairway wall.  Although I was hoping to have the garage painted, it was inevitable that we had to go this route.  I was glad to have Mike & his crew's expertise on board and I now know the job was done right.  I have also called Mike since this, when I was overwhelmed by a project I had taken on. He gave me some pointers that helped me get the job finished.  He also recommended a plumber to me when he was unable to take on the work due to his scheduling.Mike is a honest, sincere guy and I will continue to use him for projects I cannot take on myself.

They are great. They came in with good ideas, and gave me an estimate for free. The overall experience was excellent. They were responsive, punctual, and professional. I would possibly use this provider again.

Mike Kemna (of M-K construction) and Brian Kelley did a substantial remodel of a house my mother bought.  The 1400 sq ft house was in pretty drab, original-ish 1950's condition. 

Many different parts of the above were handled by subs.  Both the subs and Brian did very nice work...I would qualify it as meticulous.  Generally, I don't just want someone that can do the work, I want someone I can trust.  I would say that Brian and Mike, in addition to being plenty capable, are trustworthy.  I would note I also felt that way about the subs used on the job...just as important.  These are normal, nice guys that have lived in the MPLS community and make their living doing this kind of work.  The one beef I had, which left me a little raw at the time, was that the amount of time to complete was substantially longer than outlined/agreed to, even as we asked if everything was on track timewise -- several of the items above were added to the original contract, but nothing that should have extended the project as far past original end date as it did.  Some of that's on me for not requesting penalty/timing clauses in the contract of work. 

Suffice it to say, despite some minor issues I had, I would hire either Brian or Mike (M-K Construction) again without a second thought.  The work is well above average, they (as well as their subs) are good, honest guys to work with and we were pleased with the end work product.

Great experience.  Mike was realistic and upfront about pricing, did the work on time and even made suggestions on how to further improve the room and we worked out arrangements where I did some of the demo and cleanup to save money.  High recommended for any project.

We met with Mike Kemna (M-K Remodeling)  and Brian Kelley (Kelley Remodeling) and it was obvious that they had experience with how to incorporate a small bathroom into a small space tucked underneath the stairs. We did not have much room to work.  The initial plan discussions were about how to best and economically build this bathroom within the constraints of space and how it would work with the traffic flow of the laundry area with an eye also to aesthetics. Mike and Brian seemed to relish in the problem-solving aspects of this job as they spent the time to think and visualize of all the possible options before they started digging up the floor and this was I believe, the primary reason why I hired them. They also listened and understood what we wanted from the onset.

 Communication was easy and they always kept us abreast of the progress and when problems came up - they always were ready with possible solutions for us to make a decision.  Plus, with their experience and expertise, I felt that I could trust their recommendations. It was easy to keep in touch by cell phone and e-mail.

We set out on this project as a "basement" bathroom - no frills but something that was workable, easy to clean, and would hold up to frequent use.  The resulting bathroom exceeded our expectations. Brian is an expert at tile work - and I would advise to defer to his judgement on tile size, texture, and color as I originally chose a floor tile that would not have been suitable for a variety of reasons. The tile he eventually chose for the floor worked out perfectly-aesthetically pleasing as well as durable.   Both Mike and Brian were helpful with paint choices and were able to adjust the color of a too bright paint color choice that I had made.

 Quality of work overall was very good. Finishing touches and carpentry was good. They had to box around pipes for the ceiling and work out angles for some of the walls to accommodate the steps but it  looks cohesive and clean.   The lights work, faucets and drains run and drain well.  Work area was clean and they always made sure I had use of the laundry area during the weekends. They covered and sealed other rooms off so that construction dust was localized. When finished, they left the basement clean and ready to use.  The bathroom is now well in operation and we have been very pleased. 

 Thanks Brian and Mike!

They also do small repair jobs as well. I thought they were great; the main guy was very knowledgeable and was incredibly friendly and thorough. After he finished the basement he put everything away for me including re-hanging all my tools; which I did not expect. I had estimates from a number of people and they were the best. I will use them again in the future.

After we decided to do the remodeling, we contacted a few people to come and get some estimates.  Mike was the last person who came for the estimate, so we already had some experience talking through the project with a couple of other people.  Mike was clearly different in his approach.  He was thoughtful, listened to our ideas, and had an easy-going, yet professional, demeanor.  He really gave me the impression that he was more than qualified to do the work and wouldn't get stressed about any unforeseen events.  I'm happy to say that all of this proved to be true.

Here's one example of how he used the design and estimate time.  We were looking at the rough in for the bathroom.  It was set up to be a 3/4, but we were looking for a full bath.  The location, near the furnace, and existing pipework, created a couple of problems getting the expanded space.  I had been thinking about moving the sink out to location X accommodate a larger tub.  Mike listened to this idea, discussed how it would look and work, and then asked if we had thought about moving the sink to location Y, instead of location X, because it would increase the utility of the space, allow for a double sink, and not impact the bedroom.  He was clear that it was our choice how we wanted to do it, he was just providing additional options for us to consider.  Fortunately, he was able to offer alternatives in several other areas that gave us choices instead of being forced to think about the project a certain way.  In the end, we got a significantly better finished space than we would have if we had gone with our original plan

When the work started, it really progressed rapidly.  Just over four weeks after he got started, our daughter was sleeping in her new bedroom.  I think it went quickly because Mike did a great job scheduling the project so everyday something new as accomplished.  I know he also had other projects going on, but we saw so much progress that it felt like we were his only client.  One side note, Mike obviously takes great care in selecting his subs.  Everyone that came to our house was professional, respectful, and artful.  When a new sub started, Mike would meet with them to explain in detail what he was looking for.  When their part of the project was done, he made sure their work met his standards.  I really liked the fact that no work needed to be redone.  He had selected carefully in the beginning, so the work wasn't delayed.

It was also very easy to make finishing selections.  Paint, counter, and carpet samples were brought to the house, so that we could look at them and decide what we wanted.  There were enough samples so that we had to make some decisions, but not so many that we were overwhelmed by them.  We had to go to a store to pick out the tile, but once we did, we just said "it's for MK Remodeling" and we were done. 

A couple things happened at the end of the project that I thought were noteworthy. First, the quality of work was exceptional and exceeded my expectations.  The space has been a joy to be in.  The second thing I was impressed with was the clean-up.  The space was vacuumed, dusted, and wiped down.  I wish my daughter kept it as clean as Mike left it. Third, there was just one extra touch that I really think speaks to Mike's professionalism.  We had asked him to add an electrical panel cover to match the cabinetry in another part of the basement.  The previous owners had a dart board on the same wall as the electrical panel.  When Mike was installing the cover, he noticed all the dart holes in the wall.  Mike repaired them.  Finally, Mike was right on with the estimate.  There were no surprises and no additions.  He said he would give us a great space for a certain price, and he did. 

I not only recommend MK Remodeling, I'll be a repeat client.

I was in need of a new door and lock at my home residence last September so I reached out to MK Remodeling & Handyman Inc for their professional expertise. Working with MK was an overall very positive experience across the board. From their punctuality to the quality of work I was very satisfied with the work they provided for me. I would definitely utilize MK Remodeling again in the future.

Mike scheduled his drywall guy (Greg Nelson) to do the work in our upper bathroom. Greg did a good job, but I think the price was a little high for the relatively simple job that needed to be done. Also, there were a couple of minor negatives that I want to mention. One was, after Greg got done with the job, he essentially walked out of the house and said goodbye without asking me to inspect the finished job. The other negative is, he asked if I had a shopvac that he coujld use to clean up the drywall dust. What would he have done if I said NO?  I don't know if he has his own shopvac or not, but it seems to me that construction workers should have their own tools, and should not need to borrow tools from the homeowner. Later, I had to clean out the drywall dust from my shopvac. If you've never cleaned drywall dust out of a shopvac, then you cannot understand how messy the job can be!

So, overall, my experience with MK Remodling was somewhat mixed. If I needed similar work done in the future, I would not call him back, and the biggest reason is his prices are a lot higher than other contractors and handymen that I've contacted for the few jobs that I needed to get done.