I write this review to unconditionally recommend Marek Jajcay and A&M General Contracting for…read moreChicago-area construction projects. If you're a reader who's short on time but considering a construction project, allow me to be brief and clear: you cannot go wrong by trusting your project to A&M. The company will do outstanding work for you.
In April 2021, my spouse and I began searching for a contractor for a major outdoor construction project. We sought bids from a host of contractors on Houzz. A&M General Contracting was the winning bidder, not only because Marek was responsive and transparent, but also because he took the time to understand our vision and budget. (Frankly, several other contractors on Houzz were either unresponsive or unwilling to even consider our project given their oddly inflated sense of their own work and--in some cases--ridiculous pricing.) In contrast, Marek took the time to meet and talk with us, manage our expectations, and align on a plan that ultimately left us completely comfortable and confident that the work could be done to our satisfaction.
The project included: tear-down and rebuild of our garage, full tear out of existing driveway, build of green space to replace existing driveway, construction of new 24x24 garage with full rooftop deck, tear-down of existing full-yard fence, construction of new fence, front walkway and porch replacement with stamped concrete, demolition of back brick patio and replacement with new stamped concrete patio, preparation of back yard area for new Heartland Shed installation, new second floor window replacements (six windows), James Hardie siding of new garage and house, rebuild of back sun porch, replacement of sun porch door, and installation of new Domadeco aluminum front door. In short, this was a huge project--a project we added onto during the process and which A&M General Contracting fully accommodated our changing needs/requests.
I would also note that we live in Skokie, Illinois, and the permitting process in the Village of Skokie is, to put it mildly, both complicated and difficult. Marek expertly managed this entire process. It is no exaggeration to say we could not have done this without him.
Marek's employees and sub-contractors were careful, helpful, thoughtful, and respectful of our time and our property. Marek himself was frequently (weekly, if not daily as needed) on site to ensure that work was done properly and on time. Even little things like being aware that we had a new puppy and other pets was taken into consideration while the project was underway. In addition, all of Marek's employees took necessary Covid-19 precautions (masks, etc.).
Something else that unfortunately tends to be rare in my experience is the way that all of Marek's employees treated and took direction from my spouse. She and I are partners--but sadly, the construction trade is often bedeviled by men who think women don't understand construction. My spouse and I directed this project jointly. At all times Marek and his people treated my spouse and me as equals and took direction from her no differently than they would from me. A huge plus.
Marek is a careful listener; he also has a keen sense of design. Often, we weren't exactly sure what we wanted or what was possible, but at every turn Marek made suggestions that fit our design aesthetic and budget. In several cases he made suggestions that we had never considered, and that I know will in several instance save us time, money, and headaches down the line.
A&M General Contracting's payment and invoice process is easy and seamless.
Above all, the outcome we achieved from Marek's work was better than we had imagined. The work is exemplary, and we could not be more pleased.
If you want a project done in the Chicago area in a way that is first-class, that aligns with your wishes and your budget, and that will exceed your own imagination of what is possible, A&M General Contracting is the company for you.
