How to Choose Kitchen Cabinets: A Guide for Cincinnati Homeowners
Cabinets are the single biggest line item in most kitchen remodels, and the one homeowners have the least information about. You can walk into a showroom, like a door style, and still have no idea whether you are looking at a $20,000 kitchen or a $60,000 one.
This guide covers what actually separates one cabinet from another — construction, not marketing — and how those choices land in a real Cincinnati home.
One thing worth saying up front, because it shapes everything below: cabinetry is one of the four decisions that sets your entire project’s cost and schedule. More on that later, but it is the reason we spend so much design time here.
The Three Types: Stock, Semi-Custom, and Fully Custom
Almost every cabinet on the market falls into one of three buckets. The difference is not quality on its own — it is how much the box can change.
Stock cabinets are manufactured in fixed sizes, typically in 3-inch increments. They ship fast and cost the least. The tradeoff is that your kitchen has to accommodate the cabinet rather than the other way around, and you close gaps with filler strips.
Semi-custom cabinets start from a standard line but allow modifications — depth, height and width adjustments, more door and finish options, more interior fittings. This is where most of the kitchens we build land. It is the best balance of cost, lead time and fit for the majority of homes.
Fully custom cabinets are built to your drawings with no size constraints. Any species, any finish, any configuration. You pay for it in both money and lead time, but when a kitchen has an odd footprint, a tricky ceiling height, or a wall that cannot move, custom is sometimes the only thing that works.
A useful way to think about it: stock fits a room, semi-custom adapts to a room, custom is designed for one specific room.
Door Styles, and What They Actually Commit You To
The door is most of what you see, and most of the visual character of the kitchen.
Shaker
A five-piece door with a recessed flat center panel. It is the most-requested style we install, and for good reason: it reads clean in a contemporary kitchen and appropriate in a 1920s Hyde Park home. Nothing dates it quickly.
Flat-Panel (Slab)
A single flat face, no framing, no profile. Strongly modern. It shows less dust in the profile because there is no profile, but it also shows every bit of surface damage, because there is nowhere for a scratch to hide.
Raised Panel
A center panel with a contoured, raised profile. More traditional and more formal. It carries more visual weight, which works in a large kitchen and can crowd a small one.
Beadboard
Vertical grooves in the center panel. Cottage and farmhouse character. Worth knowing before you commit: those grooves collect grease and dust, and they are slower to wipe down. In a kitchen that cooks hard every night, that is a real consideration, not a small one.
Glass-Front
Used as an accent, not a whole kitchen. Glass fronts mean the inside of that cabinet is now part of your design, permanently. If you are not going to keep it curated, put it somewhere it does not dominate.
Inset, Full Overlay, or Partial Overlay
This is the decision most homeowners never hear about, and it changes the look of the kitchen more than the door style does. It describes how the door sits relative to the cabinet frame.
Full overlay — doors cover nearly the entire face frame, leaving thin, even reveals between them. Clean and continuous. This is the most common choice in new work.
Partial overlay — doors cover part of the frame, leaving visible frame between the doors. It is the most economical of the three and reads more traditional. It is also what most builder-grade kitchens already are, which is worth knowing if you are trying to move away from that look.
Inset — doors sit flush inside the frame, level with it. It is the most furniture-like and the most expensive, because the tolerances are tight and there is no room to hide an imperfect fit. Inset also moves with the seasons: wood expands and contracts with humidity, and in an inset door that shows up as changing gaps. It is not a defect. It is the style working as designed.
If you have a budget conversation coming, this is a good lever. Moving from inset to full overlay saves real money without touching your door style or finish.
Cabinet Materials: What Is Actually Inside the Box
The door gets the attention. The box determines whether the cabinet is still square in fifteen years.
Plywood — layers of wood veneer cross-laminated. Strong, holds a screw well, and handles moisture far better than any pressed product. It is the upgrade worth paying for on sink bases and anywhere near a dishwasher.
Solid wood — used for doors, face frames and drawer fronts, not usually for cabinet boxes. Beautiful, and it moves with humidity. Good cabinetmakers design for that movement.
MDF (medium-density fiberboard) — engineered, extremely stable, and dead flat. That flatness makes it the best substrate for a painted finish, because there is no grain to telegraph through. It is heavy and it does not tolerate standing water.
Particleboard — the lowest-cost option, common in stock lines. It is fine in a low-moisture location and unforgiving anywhere else. A particleboard sink base that takes a slow leak does not dry out and recover. It swells and stays swelled.
Laminate and thermofoil — a surface layer over a substrate. Durable, easy to clean, wide color range. Repair is the weak point: a damaged laminate face generally gets replaced rather than refinished.
The honest summary: plywood boxes with solid wood or MDF fronts is the specification that holds up. If the budget will not carry plywood throughout, put it where the water is.
Finish and Color That Will Still Look Right in Ten Years
Painted finishes are dominant right now, and painted MDF gives the smoothest result. Stained finishes show the grain and hide wear better — a stained door takes a knock far more gracefully than a painted one, where a chip exposes a different color underneath.
On color: the whites, warm whites and soft greens moving through kitchens right now look current because they are current. That is the risk. The kitchens that still look right after a decade tend to keep the large surfaces calm and put the personality somewhere replaceable — a backsplash, a light fixture, hardware.
A two-tone kitchen — perimeter one color, island another — is a good middle path. It gives you contrast, and if you tire of it, you are refinishing an island rather than a whole kitchen.
One practical note: a painted finish and a stained finish age differently in the same room, especially in direct sun. If you are mixing them, put samples in the actual kitchen and look at them at different times of day before you commit.
Hardware: The Jewelry of the Kitchen
Our designers call hardware and the finishing selections the jewelry of the kitchen, and the comparison holds. It is the last layer, it is what your hand touches every day, and it is one of the few things you can change later without much pain.
Knobs read traditional; pulls read contemporary and are easier to use with a full hand. Most kitchens end up mixing — knobs on doors, pulls on drawers.
The one thing worth spending on is the hinge and slide hardware you do not see. Soft-close is close to standard now, and full-extension drawer slides mean you can actually reach the back of a deep drawer. Rated slides in a heavy pot drawer are not a luxury.
Storage Features Worth Paying For, and Ones You Can Skip
Cabinet accessories are where budgets quietly inflate. Some of them earn it.
Worth it:
- Deep drawers instead of lower doors. The single best return in the kitchen. You stop kneeling and reaching into the dark.
- A pull-out trash and recycling unit. Used every day, and it gets the bin off the floor.
- Full-extension, soft-close hardware throughout.
- A dedicated pantry cabinet with pull-out shelves, if you do not have a walk-in pantry.
Think harder about:
- Corner solutions. Lazy Susans and magic corners cost real money and give back awkward space. Sometimes the better design decision is a blind corner used for long-term storage.
- Specialty inserts — spice pull-outs, tray dividers, appliance garages. Fine if you know you will use them. Many go unused, and each one is money that could have gone into the boxes.
- Glass fronts and interior lighting, unless you will keep that cabinet curated.
The question we ask is a simple one: will you use this every week? If the answer is no, that money usually does more good in construction quality.
What a Cincinnati Kitchen Actually Costs
Homeowners ask us for a cabinet price and expect a number. Gary’s answer is the honest one:
That’s like going to a car lot and asking how much for a car. There’s different trim packages, there’s different models, there’s different engines.
Gary Barnhart, owner
Here is the real range. Most of our kitchen remodels run $60,000 to $80,000. We have done them as low as $40,000, and complex or high-end kitchens run $150,000 to $200,000 and beyond. Plan on $50,000 to $200,000+ depending on scope.
Cabinetry is one of the biggest drivers inside that. The others:
- Countertops — how many, and what material
- How much the cabinetry is customized — every modification to a standard box has a cost
- Under-cabinet and accent lighting
- Custom range hoods
Location matters too, in a way most guides will not tell you. The same kitchen costs differently across Cincinnati:
A kitchen in Hyde Park, even though it could only be 15 cabinets, might go for $100K, whereas the same kitchen remodel in West Chester might go for $70K. You can charge more for the ones in Hyde Park and Oakley because it’s kind of expected that you’re going to have issues once you open that wall.
Gary Barnhart, owner
That is not a premium for the zip code. It is the cost of what is behind the plaster in a house built ninety years ago.
Why Cabinetry Decides Your Schedule, Not Just Your Budget
This is the part almost no cabinet guide covers, and it is the thing that actually determines whether your project runs on time.
We run every remodel through a design phase before a single tool comes out. Inside that phase are what we call the Core Four — drawings, countertops, cabinetry, and the main floor. Those are the four items that drive cost and timeline more than anything else, which is why they get settled first.
Here is how it runs:
- Design takes 10 weeks for a one-room remodel under $100,000, working backwards from a start date we choose with you during the proposal — before you approve anything.
- More complex, multi-room, permit-involved, or over $100,000 projects take 14 weeks.
- Once the Core Four is settled, a 40% material deposit goes down. That is what releases your cabinetry order.
- Cabinets are then built and delivered to our own warehouse, so the materials are on site and waiting when production starts.
- Secondary selections — hardware, paint color, backsplash, grout, tile transitions, lighting — happen after that.
- Production runs 6 to 20 weeks depending on the project.
Cabinetry has the longest lead time of almost anything in your kitchen. That is precisely why it is a Core Four item and why we will not let it drift. You can see how the whole thing fits together on our process page.
The most common frustration we hear is not about cabinets at all. It is about the gap after demo. Demo is a day or two. Then mechanicals, drywall, flooring, paint — everything moves fast until the countertops. Then there is a two-to-three-week wait while they are templated and fabricated, then backsplash, then appliances.
We would rather tell you that in advance than have you discover it in week six.
The Questions Worth Asking Before You Commit
Take these to any contractor, including us:
- What is the box made of — plywood, MDF, or particleboard? And is it the same throughout, or only where it shows?
- Full overlay, partial overlay, or inset? What does moving between them do to the price?
- What is the actual lead time from order to delivery, and when does the order get placed?
- Are drawer slides and hinges full-extension and soft-close, rated for weight?
- What is the finish warranty, and what voids it?
- What happens if a door arrives damaged or wrong — who reorders it, and what does that do to my schedule?
- Which decisions do I have to make before you order, and when is my last chance to change my mind?
If a contractor cannot answer 3 and 7 specifically, that is worth noticing. Those are the two that decide whether your kitchen finishes on time.
A Real Decision, From a Recent Design Session
A couple came to us wanting a doorway widened between their kitchen and a dining room they had converted to an office. It was achievable. The question Gary asked them was the one he asks on nearly every job: is it going to be worth the squeeze?
Widening the doorway meant losing a run of cabinetry. The room on the other side was low-traffic. They would gain a better path of travel to a space nobody used much, and lose storage in the room they used constantly.
They kept the cabinets.
That is what design time is for. The decision took one conversation because it happened before anything was ordered — not after a wall was open.
One Thing We Will Tell You That Most Contractors Will Not
In parts of Blue Ash, Loveland, West Chester and Mason, a lot of homes were built by the same builders. That means the load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room is frequently also the mechanical wall — the HVAC, plumbing and electrical runs are inside it. Those soffits and perimeter drops that look purely decorative are often mechanical chases.
Homeowners ask to take that wall out to open the kitchen up. Sometimes the honest answer is that it will cost more than the vision is worth, and sometimes we find it after the design is already sold. When that happens:
Could I open up the wall and then charge somebody a couple grand to move it? I feel like I’m holding them hostage. To me it’s not worth the fight or upsetting the customer, because at the end of the day I want the best design as well.
Gary Barnhart, owner
Other local specifics worth knowing: Amberley homes from the 1950s often have block interior walls with furring strips and plaster instead of conventional framing, which makes demo slower and changes what a wall modification costs. Hyde Park, Oakley, Madeira and Mariemont homes frequently still have knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring behind the finish.
None of that shows up in a cabinet catalog. It shows up in your bid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of kitchen cabinet is most durable?
Plywood boxes with solid wood or MDF doors. Plywood holds fasteners and tolerates moisture better than particleboard, and MDF gives the most stable substrate for a painted finish. If budget is tight, prioritize plywood in the sink base and anywhere near the dishwasher.
Should I get custom or semi-custom cabinets for my Cincinnati kitchen remodel?
Semi-custom fits the majority of the kitchens we build — it allows real modifications without full-custom cost or lead time. Fully custom earns its price when the room has constraints that cannot be designed around: unusual ceiling heights, an odd footprint, or a wall that has to stay.
What are the different kitchen cabinet door styles?
The main ones are Shaker, flat-panel (slab), raised panel, beadboard and glass-front. Shaker is the most versatile and the most requested. Separately, decide whether doors sit full overlay, partial overlay or inset — that choice affects both look and cost more than most homeowners expect.
Are plywood cabinets better than MDF?
They are better at different things. Plywood is stronger, holds screws better and handles moisture better, which makes it the better box material. MDF is more dimensionally stable and perfectly flat, which makes it the better substrate for painted doors. A well-built cabinet often uses both.
How do I choose cabinet colors that will not go out of style?
Keep the largest surfaces calm and put personality where it is cheap to change — backsplash, hardware, lighting. A two-tone kitchen with a contrasting island gives you character while limiting what you would have to redo. Look at samples in your own kitchen at several times of day before deciding.
How long do kitchen cabinets take to arrive?
Cabinetry has one of the longest lead times in a kitchen, which is why it is one of our Core Four items and why the order is placed as soon as that phase is signed off and the material deposit is down. Design runs 10 weeks for a one-room remodel under $100,000 and 14 weeks for larger or permit-involved projects, and cabinets are delivered to our warehouse so they are waiting when production begins.
Choosing Cabinets With Us
We have been remodeling Cincinnati kitchens since 2013 and complete about 30 of them a year. We have an in-house design team — two interior designers and a CAD designer — and a showroom covering kitchen, bathroom and basement, so you can put your hands on a door and a finish rather than approving a swatch.
Every project runs through Buildertrend, where your invoices, messages, selections and schedule live in one place you can check from your phone. And change orders work both ways with us. Scope comes off as readily as it goes on.
We know that we’re not the cheapest. We know that we’re not the most expensive. But we do know that we have a high level of integrity, and we always do the right thing.
Gary Barnhart, owner
If you want to talk through what your kitchen would actually take, get in touch and we will give you real numbers and a real schedule — including the parts you will not enjoy hearing.
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WHAT HOMEOWNERS SAY ABOUT BUILD IT BROTHERS
We take pride in delivering projects on time, on budget, and beyond expectations. Our clients trust us for honest work and lasting results.
Rating
Rich
June 8, 2026
These guys are awesome!,showed up before they were supposed to and have been over the top. Complete attention to detail. I would recommend them for any project big or small.
Jan Sawyer
May 1, 2026
Bill Parsons is a born salesman. He believes in his company’s business model, promotes it effectively, but isn’t pushy. During our initial consultation he listened carefully to what we wanted, offered suggestions, and came up with a preliminary plan to fit our budget. It has been a pleasure working with Meaghan and Josh on our bathroom remodel. Even though the bathroom is small, we wanted to gut the whole thing, so there were many decisions/choices we had to make. We took our decor and color preferences to Meaghan, and she came up with options that fit the style we wanted. More importantly, she knew when to step back and let us "talk it out" to come to a decision and when to step in and give suggestions from a professional point of view.
Alex Egan
March 13, 2026
My wife and I are first time homeowners. We are so thrilled we turned our project over to Build it Brothers! The best part was how organized the process was… Using the BuilderTrend app kept everything organized and on schedule. We worked with Bill, Meredith, and Kaleb. A great team all around! The guys who refinished the staircase in our hallway were very talented and thorough. The paint and stain job are superior! Highly recommend…
Leigh Merten
March 4, 2026
We are early on in the process, but our first impressions of the company and process definitely give 5 star ratings. Great communication, timely meetings and quote generation and a great overall system for design and planning. We look forward to working with them and adding to this review.
Todd Papes
January 15, 2026
Had a total kitchen renovation done. Work was top notch and completed on schedule with no change orders. Proposal to design to project management were all handled responsively and professionally. Was great working with Meredith and Frank. Marlin was excellent and took good care of our home. Very happy with the end result. Highly recommend them.
Amit Raghuvanshi
December 12, 2025
First time home owner, looking to finish the basement on a 100 year old house. Build It Brothers was recommended to us by a co-worker who has used them twice, and I can understand why! Working with Bill was an excellent experience and brought a wealth of knowledge. What we valued most from Bill was his understanding. He was not pushy, you could tell he genuinely wanted to help us with our vision, and he listened and adjusted based on our concerns/priorities. A true partnership! To review the plans, we were invited to Build It Brothers' office, a truly magnificent space. Their team walked us through the planning and renovation process, with a very user friendly and transparent project management platform. We ultimately will be postponing our renovations to first waterproof our space, but based on our experience with Build It Brothers, we are looking forward to working with them in the near future based on their expertise, quality, and partnership!
Drew Muhich
November 11, 2025
We had Build if Brothers install LVP flooring for us. Working with Josh and Frank was really great from initial consultation, picking out our flooring, measuring, and install. The whole team was very helpful and easy to work with. Very well done, clean, and done very quickly at a reasonable price. We highly recommend working with Josh and his team.
Justin Schneider
October 3, 2025
We just had our proposal for two bathroom renovations. Bill has been fantastic so far! This company has a different way of doing things that allows for complete transparency, organization and overall an enjoyable experience!
Christian Hedger
September 26, 2025
Worked with Bill on getting us a quote for our whole home renovation. He was extremely responsive and helpful in the process.
Chris Estell
August 13, 2025
We could not recommend Build it Brothers enough. We had a demo and kitchen remodeled. New hardwood floors throughout the living room, dining room, halls and kitchen. I had a vision of what I wanted for the kitchen. Meaghan and Josh helped me pull that vision together. It is everything I wanted and more. Frank and his crews were great craftsman and hard workers. Frank would keep us informed of each phase and how long it would take. They cleaned up everyday and were very respectful to our home and property. It was an amazing experience to work with Gary the owner, Frank the foreman and his crews. The design team Meaghan and Josh. Thank you again Build it Brothers for making our dream kitchen a reality!
Chris Carroll
July 24, 2025
Build it Brothers just finished a full renovation of our kitchen. The results are amazing! Our kitchen is now much more usable and feels like there is way more room than before! They were very easy to work with and made everything right when details were lost in the process. The most helpful part of the process was walking through the design process with us, and allowing us to come in to the office and see our choice configurations all next to each other. Having the app to coordinate and communicate the entire process was also very convenient. It was easy to see our schedule and know what kind of work was going to be happening each day during the install phase.
Laura Ross
July 23, 2025
We couldn’t be happier with the work Build It Brothers did on our bathroom renovation! They took the entire space down to the studs and built it back up beautifully. From our first consultation to the final walk-through, the team was professional, respectful, and incredibly skilled. They listened carefully to our ideas, offered expert advice, and kept us informed every step of the way. We highly recommend this company and we would absolutely work with them again!
Joshua Adams
June 21, 2025
Build It Brothers did a great job with remodeling our kitchen! We would highly recommend them. - They have a really good project management app that shows the timeline from start to finish so expectations are set from the beginning and they hold themselves accountable. - The design process is enjoyable and they offered a lot of options on cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and other items. - Their team is highly professional and friendly when onsite. - We had to move some mechanicals which is not out of the norm for older homes and their team provided options and capably got it done within the projected time. - Ultimately they did exactly what was promised and ahead of schedule. No matter who you choose, the reality is that remodeling a kitchen is sizable investment and is a bit of disruption of day-to-day life. However, every time we walk through our new kitchen we can say unequivocally that we think Build It Brothers was worth every penny and the downtime of not having a kitchen for several weeks.
L S
June 12, 2025
Build It Brothers did our primary bathroom remodel in Loveland, OH. The company offers a Design Team as part of the package which is a great service. Design was very helpful in selecting tiles, vanity, countertops and bathroom accessories, etc. There were lots of selections to choose from. We were grateful to have Design's guidance and support. Any issues that arose during production were corrected appropriately. We are pleased with the end result and are looking forward to using our new bathroom!
Brittany Fay
June 11, 2025
We couldn’t be happier with our kitchen, thanks to Build it Bros! From start to finish, they were professional, detail-oriented, and incredibly patient with my indecisiveness at each step :) They listened to our ideas, brought great suggestions to the table, and created a space that is not only beautiful, but is so very functional for our family. The quality of the work is top-notch — everything feels intentional and well-crafted. It is clear they take pride in their work, as they should. If you're thinking about remodeling, look no further. We are so grateful and beyond obsessed with our new kitchen. Thank you!!!!
Nicole Lunn
May 28, 2025
We have been working with Build It Brothers for a kitchen reno and have been very please with the work. Everything from design, to demo, to finishing has gone smoothly. The workers have been wonderful while they are here and are very efficient. We definitely plan on using them again.
Kreshelle Boynton
May 21, 2025
I live in Mason. And These Guys were amazing. Super professional. They came and did some remodeling work in my Kitchen. They went above and Beyond my expectations.
Mandy Hary
March 27, 2025
We had a great experience with Build it Brothers. They are prompt on arrival and do great work. We had some denting and sinking in our flooring due to crappy work by another company and Build It Brothers came within a week and fixed it right up. Highly recommend this business!
William Bryan
January 24, 2025
I can't recommend these guys enough! They did an absolutely fantastic job on our home renovation, which included our kitchen, living room, master bath (including almost all of the plumbing throughout the house), powder room, and a guest bathroom. Their design process is thorough, and the designers that we worked with had a vision for our house that would not have drawn up on our own. There were several things that I really enjoyed about working with Shawn, Gary, Frank, and their team. (1) Timeline - They set a schedule up front and did a good job of sticking to it. Things inevitably come up during a construction project that delay the finish date, but they were transparent about delays and worked hard to get us back into our house as soon as possible. (2) Quality - you can see from the pictures below, the workmanship is great and the same can be said of the quality of materials used. Our house was in rough shape before, and now we love it. (3) Price - respectable construction work isn't cheap, but I can say with confidence that the price we paid for their work was fair. Rough estimates from other contractors came in both above and below Build It Brothers.
Steve Coupland
January 14, 2025
We reached out to Build It Brothers to help us with our kitchen, laundry room and stairway remodel. Working with their team we were able to complete a custom design for these areas. Their onsite crews were great to work with. They were very knowledgeable and used their years of expertise to complete our projects. We are very happy with the results and would recommend hiring Build It Brothers for your remodel! Steve and Cathy C
Katie Ferry
January 11, 2025
We recently had the experience of working with Build It Brothers for a primary bathroom renovation, and we couldn’t be happier with the results! They completely gutted our old, dated bathroom and made adjustments to improve the flow. They refinished our bathroom with a beautiful new tile shower and stunning quartz vanity tops. The craftsmanship is top-notch, and the attention to detail really shows. What impressed us most was their commitment to staying on schedule. They finished the project exactly when they said they would, which is a rare find in the renovation world! Frank did an excellent job supervising the project, ensuring everything ran smoothly. They even repaired a light switch in our bedroom that had nothing to do with the bathroom! The team members were incredibly conscientious about our home, treating it with respect throughout the entire process. We highly recommend Build It Brothers for any renovation project. They truly exceeded our expectations!
Kayla pickens
October 10, 2024
The Build it Brothers remodeled my bathroom and my expectations were far exceeded. Job was completed in a timely manner and communication with the company was excellent. The design team was great to work with, Meaghan and Josh did a wonderful job in helping me visualize and execute the design.
Amari Gibson
October 10, 2024
Build it brothers remodeled my kitchen! It’s so beautiful! Great communication! Great attention to detail.
Kelly Cowan
July 29, 2024
I recently had the pleasure of working with Build It Brothers in December of 2023 for a home renovation project, and I couldn't be happier with the results. They re-did my 1st floor powder room, added a full bathroom in the basement, installed a tankless water heater, moved the washer/dryer to a different wall, and knocked out a wall to open up the basement. From start to finish, the entire experience was fantastic. The initial consultation with Shawn was excellent. He listened carefully to my needs, helped me brainstorm possibilities, and provided detailed planning that set the stage for a smooth project. Meredith offered great design advice and collaborated closely with me to ensure that every detail was perfect and made sense both for what I liked/needed and from a professional design perspective. The execution by Frank and his crew was outstanding – they were professional, skilled, and dedicated to delivering high-quality work. Frank is exactly who you want to have as a contractor: He's clearly smart, calm, a fantastic communicator with a high social skill IQ, a problem-solver, gives great recommendations, on time, and seamlessly manages his crew. He's who you'll spend the most time with and an all around great person. Additionally Build It Brothers was able to fit me into their schedule quickly, probably because it didn't bother me to have work being done during the holiday season. Not only did they manage to complete every phase of the work ahead of time, but they also finished the entire project a month ahead of the projected completion date. The quality of their work is beautiful, and I couldn't be more pleased. Even when minor issues like a defective pipe welding arose, they were immediately responsive and resolved the problems quickly. Fast forward 7 months later in July 2024, I had a mystery leak in the new bathroom. Despite not being sure if it was related to their work, they came out the morning after I emailed them. They quickly determined that the leak was coming from the kitchen above the new bathroom and, despite it having nothing to do with their work, they fixed it so I wouldn't have to call a plumber. Build It Brothers went above and beyond my expectations, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for top-notch contractors. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail are second to none. Thank you, Shawn, Meredith, Frank, and the entire Build It Brothers team for making my home renovation an awesome experience. Before and after photo of the basement bathroom added so you can see how they made an awesome shower out of nothing.
Andrew Lee
June 28, 2024
Thank you Build It Brothers! We had a great experience working with build it brothers. They completed our basement remodel early and it looks great. Highly recommend!
Lisa Lee
June 27, 2024
Very fast and very efficient! Enjoyed working with them. They were very punctual and completed our basement project ahead of schedule.
Jonathan Liska
June 5, 2024
The entire experience, from planning to design to execution, was amazing. Frank headed our Kitchen and Master Bath remodel, and If I could give him SIX stars, I would! His crew was excellent. They worked cleanly, were conscientious and accommodating, and always professional. Some standouts were: Marlo, Oscar, William, and Cruz. In addition, the craftsmanship was second to none. They were able to give us exactly what we wanted. Other contractors we researched gave us excuses as to why it couldn't be done, but Build it Brothers had no issues with what we were asking. This remodel wasn't easy, but they made it seem so. I would recommend Build it Brothers to anyone looking for anything from a minor remodel, to a major overhaul. They are the best... no doubt.
Rachael
May 9, 2024
Professional from the get-go! They were very clear and concise and understood my vision. Taking an unfinished basement and turning it into a pet grooming salon. I was included in every step of the way. Thanks to Build It Brothers, my pet grooming business is now able to open looking as classy and functional as I dreamed. Trying to figure out how to post pictures… The transformation is absolutely amazing
S & J Guagenti
May 8, 2024
Simply put, we are extremely pleased that we chose to work with Build It Brothers for our kitchen remodel, and we could not be happier. They made this such a smooth and stress-free project for us, from initial contact with Shawn, to design consultation and assistance with Meredith and Gary, to project completion with Frank. The work crew were polite, friendly, respectful, and punctual. They showed up when they said they would and they worked diligently. Communication with us was excellent and they made it easy and pain-free to work with them. One of the qualities we appreciated the most was their finest attention to detail, both big and small. Along with our kitchen remodel, they also completed an electrical upgrade, installed a new water heater, demo'd an old wet-bar from our basement, and replaced outdoor siding to a perfect match after we had a window removed from our old kitchen. They completed this entire project ahead of schedule, and the final kitchen product exceeded our expectations. At our initial contact, Shawn asked us what we liked about our old kitchen, and my response was, "We hate every inch of this kitchen." Thanks to Build It Brothers, we can now say that we love every inch of our new kitchen. Thank you Shawn, Frank, Meredith, Gary, Lester, and the entire staff of Build It Brothers!
Thomas Overacker
May 1, 2024
I spent two years trying to find the right team to take on my project. I have a modest 100+ year old home in the city. It needed a lot of work. Windows, plumbing, new kitchen, new bath, and removal of knob and tube wiring. I must have had a dozen contractors through my house at one time or another. I was ready to give up and try to be my own general contractor. But I was doing this remotely. I needed someone I could trust to get the job done eventhough I was 500 miles away. When I met Shawn I knew I found the right person. He immediately understood my project and respected and was willing to work within my budget. The Build it Brothers team was amazing. Meredith was a joy to work with and helped me select materials that would fit the character of my home. Frank never failed to answer the phone when I called, and kept me up to date throughout. I was most impressed with the attention to detail the entire team displayed. And did I mention - they finished ahead of schedule. I'm really happy with the choice I made and am grateful to Build it Brothers for giving me the house I always wanted.
Mark Ewing
April 3, 2024
These people are true pros. They offer suggestions to the design process, but ultimately leave it up to you (unless it physically won't work). They fixed all of our hidden issues...and there were a bunch. They made everything wonderful. The post construction "punch list" was worked through with diligence and patience. At the end of the project, my wife and I have a beautiful new kitchen.
Jared Wurzelbacher
March 5, 2024
We hired the Build It Brothers to update our dated kitchen as well as install & refinish our hardwood floors. Overall we were very happy with the timeline, price, and especially the quality of the finished product. Pros: - Quality of finished product - Finishing on time - Helpful app / website keeps you updated on project - Initial consultation gave great ideas on how to improve layout of kitchen Cons: - Some confusion in design process about what items / fixtures were in budget / available - Sometimes slow to respond to online messages (but very quick on calls) Overall the cons were very minor and we are highly satisfied with the entire remodel process. The workers themselves were polite while in our home, our project lead / main point of contact was great about communicating and answering any questions we had, and everything came in at the original budget and timeline estimates.
Michael Lane
March 4, 2024
Build It Brothers has revitalized our home. Despite our efforts, our home had felt dated and cramped for years. For the better part of a year, we shopped and even made aggressive offers on new homes in the area despite the insane mortgage rates and housing market. Ultimately, we decided to invest in our current home to update it and make better use of the space we had. We contacted several companies you’ve likely researched if you’re reading this. Some barely gave us the time of day (scheduled a phone call 2-3 weeks in the future before being willing to come talk to us on site), others seemed very eager, but weren’t paying attention to what we were looking for (provided bids that didn’t encompass the largest parts of our project, clearly aiming to be the lowest bid and perhaps to inflate the cost down the line). Our experience with BIB was excellent from the beginning. Shawn (co-owner) came out and spent a significant amount of time getting to know us, our style, our needs, and giving us several ideas and gentle guidance regarding how to best make it happen. He thoroughly explained the process and timeline and provided a timely estimate. The estimate was not the lowest of the bids we received, and if you’re looking for the cheapest crew in town, BIB is probably not for you, but I assure you that the caliber of their work certainly justifies the price. We spent several weeks in the design process, ensuring that we had the time and guidance from their designer (Meredith) to feel good about our plans. Once the work started, however (we picked the starting date based on our convenience), they were a whirlwind of efficiency. Their team is amazing and comprises extremely skilled workers. I got to know several of them personally and now look forward to seeing them around town. I was tempted, at times, to save myself a few dollars by tackling parts of the project on my own, but once I saw how effortlessly impressive their work was, I gladly handed over the reins. Furthermore, the BIB team identified several opportunities for improvement to the original plan, and they never asked to be compensated for the work outside the original scope. There was never a moment of “nickel and diming” or having to worry that certain selections would add to the cost. There were, of course, some surprise elements thanks to our older home, but they pivoted and adjusted as necessary. I had a point person for daily communication and updates (Frank), who was always helpful and informative, but every person on the team from the owners to the carpenters were always approachable and helpful. Overall, although we invested a lot in our project, BIB helped us turn our home into exactly what we wanted at a fraction of the cost (and mortgage) of moving into a new home. I came away from the project feeling like it was a solid investment in my home and an excellent team. I’m typically a reluctant/resentful spender (a.k.a. penny pincher), and therefore it's incredibly satisfying to look around our renovated home and feel no regrets. Look no further, these are the people you want to work with.
Kimberly Miller
February 22, 2024
We could not be happier that we chose to work with Build It Brothers on our full house remodel. From our first contact with Shawn through the design and planning stages to work completion, the experience was absolutely wonderful. The entire team at Build It Brothers is communicative, responsive, flexible, and above all, highly professional. We cannot say enough about Shawn, Frank, Meredith, Gary, and the amazing crew of craftspeople and trades people who worked with us during this project. Our project was large and when we wanted to make adjustments along the way, the Build It Brothers team was tremendous and helped us to make the right design decisions. We cannot say enough about this team and company. In fact, we have recommended them to both family and friends, and we will continue to do so. Thank you, Build It Brothers! - Mark and Kimberly Miller, Liberty Township, Ohio
Aisha Rudolph-Nurredin
February 20, 2024
We knew that we wanted to update our older house to a more open concept. I had previously visited two remodeled houses completed by Build it Brothers, and I just loved every aspect of those homes. The attention to detail and the updates made in 2023 were exactly what I wanted and needed for our house. My first interaction with Build it Brothers was with Shawn. He came to our house and offered suggestions on how to turn it into my dream home. After our initial meeting, I knew that I wanted Build it Brothers to complete our project. My husband wasn't quite sold yet, but after our first design meeting, he decided that we were making the right decision. Our first design meeting went well, but the look I wanted was not exactly what I had envisioned. Meredith took my suggestions and came up with the perfect color scheme. The week before we started our work, Frank, the project manager, walked me through everything and prepared me for what was to happen over the next 8 weeks. Frank communicated with us throughout the entire process. We started remodeling our house at the same time as one of our neighbors, and my neighbor is still in the remodeling process three months later. As we took our house down to the studs, we naturally found additional problems. Shawn walked me through those issues and explained how he would address them. The team was a dream to work with. They showed up every morning before we left for work and cleaned up every day before they left. At the end of the project, Gary came over to ensure that I was happy with everything. After completing our initial project, I decided to add on some additional work. The additional work was completed in a timely manner. If you're fortunate enough to select a wonderful contractor, choose Build it Brothers.
Nicholas altieri
January 15, 2024
Highly recommend. great price, perfect work, and clean up afterwards
Barbara Young
October 16, 2023
Absolutely beautiful first floor remodel to our home. Extremely professional personnel handling the design and remodel. Overall 5 star company!
Stefanie Hautman
September 24, 2023
We used Build It Brothers for our full kitchen remodel (but kept our existing floors). It was Shawn’s idea to take some space from our garage and move our fridge so we could wrap the countertop around and provide much more space. None of the other contractors we talked to even mentioned that idea. Our project manager Frank was great to work with and was very responsive to all our questions or concerns. All the workers were very friendly, professional and cleaned up everyday. Our remodel was completed on time in about 6 weeks from start to finish. We love our new kitchen and highly recommend Build It Brothers!
Blake Miller
August 16, 2023
We had to do some construction on our first floor not because we wanted to, but because we had to. I was diagnosed with ALS and needed a bedroom added to my first floor as well as an ADA accessible full bathroom... neither of which existed for me. Build It Brothers team was very reasonably priced, very responsive, and really helped us along the way. They understood how hard it was to get this project done for us, with all of the issues going on due to the ALS. I didn't have to stress about anything which was incredible. They offered lots of feedback from the early quotation phase, during the time we were picking out materials, and even after the project started. It was hard to know exactly what I needed up front since I had never been in a wheelchair before. I made some last minute changes to help better accommodate my new living style, and they were super helpful in making that happen. Shawn, Meredith, Frank and their team were great to work with and really took the time to understand my struggles with my newly diagnosed disease to make the space not only functional, but also look good without a medical feel. Thanks!
Jerod Graber
July 31, 2023
The entire process went smooth and easy. The work was completed in the time frame they promised and my new basement looks amazing. Thanks to the entire team for everything.
Jennifer Noll
June 28, 2023
I recently used them to remodel my 1951 outdated bathroom and I am thrilled with the results! They are very professional, showed up on time, cleaned up every day, and everyone was very kind and easy to work with. Everything was completed on time, on budget, and they don’t sub out any of the major work, which is a huge advantage. I will definitely use them again!
Becky Landen
June 23, 2023
The team at Build it Brothers was great and easy to work with from quote, design, demo and completion of our new bathroom that we love! We would recommend them to anyone! Can’t wait to remodel some more soon.
Guenter Lensges
March 13, 2023
Build It Brother did a dream job from initial design to timely on budget delivery. They completely remodeled our 50-year-old primary bathroom including moving walls and reconfiguring walk-in closet space. Every person we worked with treated us and our home with the utmost respect and we will welcome each one of them gladly back to our home for other project work. The end result was exceeding our dream. Great craftsmanship, high quality, on-time & on-budget delivery. Thanks Meredith, Frank, Shawn, and all the amazing craftsmen and workers. Thanks to each Build It Brother Team Member! We are proud of owning one of your master pieces.
Christian Costello
February 14, 2023
Build it Brothers did a great job in transforming a challenging unfinished basement of an old home, into a wonderful new finished space. From the initial quote that helped us with idea generation, through design and into the project start the deadlines and milestones were well communicated and transparent. The teams were respectful and did very nice work. We are very happy with our updated space and would recommend them for your next project.
Brennan Kallmyer
January 27, 2023
My wife and I consulted with several companies for our bathroom renovation project before choosing Build it Brothers. After meeting Shawn, Gary, and Frank, we knew we would be in great hands with the Build It Brothers team! Our project was a complete gutting and renovation of our 1st story and 2nd story bathrooms. Build it brothers relocated our plumbing for the vanities in both bathrooms, relocated a toilet for us, and did complete shower tiling and flooring installation (tile & LVP) for both bathrooms. We couldn’t be happier with the results! Whenever there was a hurdle or roadblock, the Build It Brothers team was quick to resolve any and all issues. Communication was effective and the Build It Brothers team was very respectful of our house and space. I would recommend them for work to any and all people that want a job well done at a good price with a company you can trust!
Amy Hurst
May 13, 2022
We absolutely love the work that you and your crew did. Each and every person who walked in here was wonderful and worked hard to make our vision come to life. From the moment we signed the papers, to yesterday when we walked in on the finished product, we have been thrilled with the process. It finished about three weeks before we thought it would and couldn’t be happier. Your crew made sure they left the place clean everyday and we appreciate the flexibility when we made changes to the plan or had questions at various times of the day. Thank you for your dedicated hard work to this project and for helping make it better than we could have ever imagined. We can’t wait to move back into the space and make it even more so our own. Thank you so much again! We look forward to sharing with our friends and for future projects with you as well! 💕
Karen Applegate
April 15, 2022
Build it Brothers replaced the front porch of our home with a new one that far exceeded our expectations. Everyone we worked with from the design team to the different team members took care down to the tiniest details to finish everything like it was their own home. I appreciated the suggestions to change an item from the original design to something that made more sense once on the scene and knowing what the intended outcome was. We had some delays due to supply issues and Shaun stayed in touch to keep us up to date on what was going on. Ken observed a water run off problem that we had and worked to find a solution to correct it so we would not have issues down the road. It was nice to work with a team we felt had our back through the entire project. We have used them for several other smaller projects on our home and have been a very satisfied customer.
Jennifer Glass
March 25, 2022
Build It Brothers made us a SPECTACULOR screened porch. My only complaint is that the project completion was significantly delayed, but some of this was unavoidable due to the pandemic. But, they stayed on budget and, in the end, I would up with an even better space than I could have imagined. They worked with me to alter designs to accommodate covered stairs, a slide, and a swing. They also added overhead lights which really improved the space.
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