I was very happy with the siding job that was done on my house by Craftsman’s Choice. My house is a split-entry style of house. I wanted straight edge shakes on the upper level and six inch lap siding on the lower level, with a 8” band separating the two levels. I also wanted the cormers trimmed and the windows framed. I thought that this would give the house an older traditional look.

When Ben came out and gave me an estimate for the job ( I had three all about the same price) I decided to choose Craftsman’s Choice because Ben was the only guy who pointed out places on my house where the siding was improperly installed when the house was built. Ben showed me an area over my front porch that I always had trouble with paint bubbling and peeling. This was due to improperly installed flashing, and water was getting behind the siding.

This problem and several others were all pointed out by Ben or his crew. I decided to go with Craftsman’s Choice because Ben was the only estimater who pointed out the problems with the old siding and what needed to be done to fix them.

When the crew came to start working on the house, Jeff, Elmore, and Joe, I was concerned about removing the old redwood lap siding off of the Styrofoam sheathing. I knew this would be very difficult to do. The crew did an awesome job.

They removed my old Tyvek and installed new. They also showed me the old Tyvek was improperly installed behind the windows, instead of over the top, so water can’t get behind them.

The crew did a great job of installing the siding and trim. Every window and door has a flashing installed over it. The house looks great. I am very glad that I decided to go with Craftsman’s Choice. Ben was very informative and honest, but the crew is what really made the difference for me. These guys are good!!! They care about what the job looks like when they are done.

Thanks Guys,

Steve Duffala

Lakeville, MN

Matt,

I can’t say enough about the way the windows have worked out. As you know, I was a millwork wholesaler and pretty familiar with windows and what differentiates the various manufacturers. The windows you use are an excellent value. I can honestly say these windows have lowered my heating bill by 25%. Now that we’ve had a few hot days, I can also say they’re lowering my cooling costs as well.

The siding has also been excellent. No surprise here (it was James Hardie). This is another product in which I was a distributor and fully aware of the quality and benefits of fiber cement over any other siding available. There was never a doubt on what I’d put on my own home.

Most importantly however, was the installation. It doesn’t matter how good any product is if the installer cuts corners or doesn’t pay attention to detail. You and your crew did a great job. I don’t foresee any problems with installation. You also maintained a clean and organized jobsite.

Thank you for the good work. It was money well spent. I’ve been mentioning your name to anyone I come across who is looking for siding or windows. My brother Dave had you install windows in his four-plex. Not only is he happy with the work, but his tenants absolutely loved the way they operate and how they’ve made the units more comfortable.

Take Care,

Mark Gabel

Deephaven, Minnesota

In the spring of 2003 my wife and I started the biggest home project we have ever faced. Instead of giving the job to a general contractor, I decided to be involved in the entire process of remodeling our home. The remodeling included window replacement, roofing, all the exterior siding, and stucco. In addition to interior work which included carpet replacement, basement finishing, wall paper, and paint for the entire house.

The remodeling project was much more difficult than we anticipated, especially in selecting the right contractor and the right price for each job. Our most difficult experience we faced was the installation of the exterior siding of the house. After deciding on James Hardie concrete siding we hired a contractor who claimed to be specialized for this kind of siding. After a few days of work in the back of the house and installing trim boards around windows in the front of the house, we realized that the quality of work of that contractor and his crew was far below average. It was clear to us that the work done was far from being acceptable by anyone who cares enough about getting a nice job done for his/her home. It was a very disappointing experience we had with that contractor and we fired him.

With caution we started all over again looking for another contractor. We spent a few weeks of interviewing and getting bids from different contractors. We then met with Ben from Craftsman’s Choice. Right away he was able to realize and to pin point all the installation faults and problems of the work done by the previous installer. He recommended for us to remove all the siding and trim boards installed by the previous contractor, which was about 25% of the house siding.

Because of Ben’s nice personality and attitude in addition to his open mind, I felt very comfortable giving him the job. Craftsman’s Choice completed all the exterior work, except the stucco areas, in our home including the James Hardie concrete siding, soffit and fascia, installing new windows and front door, in addition to installing gutters around the entire house. Ben and his crew were always considerate for all our concerns, their schedule and work plan were always on time. They paid a lot of attention to many details which really showed with all the compliments from all of our friends and neighbors.

My wife and I were very satisfied with Craftsman’s Choice work, it was absolutely our best remodeling experience we have had with a contractor. We strongly recommend Craftsman’s Choice to those homeowners looking for both quality of work and peace of mind in getting the job done right from the first time.

Sincerely,

Mosen M. Agamawi, Ph.D.

Maple Grove , MN

Dear Ben,

This letter is long overdue and we apologize for that, especially since we were so impressed and happy with the work that was done roofing and siding our house on Lake Julia. We personally want to thank you for the excellent work that was done and tell you that we couldn’t have been any happier with the quality of work. We were also impressed with the fact that whenever we had a question, a concern or wanted to make minor change, you were always available for us to contact and were so accommodating when we wanted to make a change. You were here a lot to make sure things were being done with pride and excellence.

The roofer, Chris, did such a fantastic job. He had protection on the ground for everything that was torn from the roof, consequently, we could not find one nail or anything that shouldn’t have been on the lawn nor did we have any damage to any plants or bushes next to the house when he was through. Very friendly and easy to work with, thank you for having Chris on your team. We have referred him to a few of our friends and neighbors.

The siding people were great as well. Even though we had a few minor things that had to be questioned, the job was finished with all we were hoping for. We love how our new house looks and have many, many compliments as to how wonderful it looks, it actually looks like a different house. We love the shakes at the peaks, thank you for being so accommodating with our change on that part. Please feel free to use us as a referral, we would be happy to tell others what a respectable company you have and we wish you many years of continued success.

Yours very truly,

Susan & Terry Golding

Clear Lake, MN

I interviewed four contractors and selected Craftsman’s Choice. While they were not the lowest bidder, they seemed to know the most about the installation process, and they provided the most detailed, inclusive bid. Their crews were on time, worked hard and were very polite. They cleaned up the site every day and were very professional.

At one point, a portion of the vapor barrier was blown off during a storm, and the contractor had it fixed within an hour of my call to him on a Saturday morning. The project was finished on schedule. The attention to detail was terrific as was the quality. They explained what they were doing and offered options where appropriate.

It was a great experience – one of the best contractors we’ve ever worked with.

Bill Slowter

Minnetonka, MN

We couldn’t be more pleased with the work that the team from Craftsman’s Choice completed on our house. Windows, siding, and deck were installed with equal skill and attention to detail. Measurement and fit of all of the materials was always of the highest standard. They truly seek quality workmanship in all that they do!

When some rotted wood was discovered, they replaced it. Any unanticipated problem was solved and they were always willing to adjust to the special requirements of my particular project. All of the crew members are true craftsmen, and would recommend them to anyone who wants a fine result.

Paul and Nancy Swanson

Coon Rapids, MN