Skill Construction & Design

I waited to write this review so that I was offering a fair, unbiased opinion. Time often gives clarity. Even now I hesitate to voice my opinion because I believe Skill will try to discredit my review as they have done to other negative reviews in the past. Unfortunately, they will find this difficult as I have kept every text and e-mail message that has transpired between us. I have also taken photographs of the entire progression of my project which I am willing to make public to back my claims should proof be needed. Disclaimer: my review is about Skill and their workers, not the product lines they use or the sub-contractors (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, masonry, roofing, etc..) My advice, before choosing Skill is to do your research. I thought I had done my due diligence, reading reviews of the various design/build companies, conducting in-person interviews and speaking with prior clients. I ultimately chose Skill because their initial presentation promised quality work, attention to detail, open communication and a willingness to work in partnership. There had been a few red flags in prior reviews which Skill ultimately provided explanations which seemed reasonable. What I didn’t realize was that the owners of Skill (Rob & Suzanne Kalmin) had once operated under a different company name (RJK Construction) and those were the reviews I should have been reading. I encourage you to read these reviews before making a decision to proceed with Skill. Had I done the same, I would not have chosen them for my kitchen addition. Everything that was noted in the negative reviews, I too experienced. My project took almost a year to complete from the planning stages to the final walk through. The lengthy time frame I can excuse due to many factors including: delays with permit approval, COVID-19 and the addition of an extra project (my laundry room); which I contracted for before problems began to develop. There are three main issues that I want to make potential clients aware of should they hire Skill. First, be prepared for “industry standard” work listed in the contract. This is code for substandard work: walls that aren’t square/plumb; floors that are not level; HVAC registers that do not line up with the vents; baseboards that do not meet the bottom of cabinets; vent covers that routinely fall off; French doors that were installed improperly leaving gaps at the top & bottom; sloppy drywall finishing & globed on caulk; paint that peeled; construction debris (sheets of plastic, brick, wood posts) half buried in the yard, hidden by grass seed & straw; pre-existing electrical outlets & ceiling fans that worked prior to construction that no longer work; damaged outside electrical covers & screens by workers that Skill did not pay to fix; access panel to main water valve screwed shut, therefore not readily accessible in an emergency. These are only a few examples, but I could fill a book. Did the work get done? Yes, and from a distance, if you don’t look too closely, the outcome is beautiful, but get closer and you begin to see the poor workmanship. When you are paying a large amount of money, your standards should be met, not industry standards. This brings me to the second issue.... When I attempted to bring concerns about the project to Rob & Suzanne’s attention, at first they were receptive but as time went on, it was clear that they did not appreciate being held accountable. If you hold your ground, be prepared to be uncomfortable because you will have to fight for what was promised and what you want. This will either be met with silence or anger. Rob implied that I was abusive and thankless because every time he arrived at my home instead of thanking him or complimenting the work, I had questions/concerns. There was one encounter where he was verbally abusive and stormed out of my home. When he returned, he tried to avoid addressing his behavior; which I did not allow. Rob seemed to forget that I hired Skill, that I was paying them to do a job and that I had every right to bring questions/concerns to them. Rob & Suzanne apparently also forgot all the times I was supportive and listened to their family issues, as well as, excused them from scheduled meetings so they could attend to family matters. Additionally, they forgot that my text messages and e-mails thanked them continually. Should you hire Skill, be prepared to stroke their egos and agree with everything they suggest to avoid conflict. If you challenge them, be prepared that their response will be that of a small child, they will throw a tantrum or stop communicating with you. The final issue you should be aware of is that Skill lacks integrity. Promises will be made, which will be broken and if you give them the last payment, you will never see them again even though they gave their word and there is still work to complete. I was very careful not to breach our contract, but they are in breach of our contract. They were also supposed to hang a rod in my laundry room and place a hook in my dog shower; neither was done. They were supposed to rehang my French doors and e-mailed me to say they would schedule me for the following week. When I attempted to e-mail back saying thank you, I was informed that my e-mail was denied as Skill had placed me on the Spamhaus Block List (like I couldn’t use another e-mail address). Based on their actions, I take this to mean they have no intention of honoring any warranties for their work. In conclusion, you may decide to hire Skill but I will never allow them access to my home again. I will continue to fix their mistakes on my own or hire someone of quality. The reality is, they received their money and now they’re gone.

Fantastic! Beautiful finished kitchen. We were treated as their most important client and their whole team pitched in to help when needed. Thanks again!

SO GREAT! The SKILL team came up with great ideas to integrate and improve our vision for the home. We even went 'shopping' for doors and windows before the design was complete to ensure consistency of style. Because it was mostly exterior work, the weather played a major factor in our schedule but the project was completed in a timely manner. ALL workers/trades were courteous and we always felt someone was there to address our needs, concerns, or questions. This is the 5th home we've substantially renovated but our first time working with SKILL and we could not be more pleased. We will be working with them again in the future!