Catalyst Construction & Remodeling

We are very happy with the bathroom and bedroom addition Ryan and his team did for our house. They were patient as we selected materials and fixtures, and also gave great advice when we needed to make quick decisions. I had a construction manager buddy swing by at different phases and he always signed off on the work. Plus, Ryan is very open to feedback and quick to fix any dings or defects you spot.

I have been a professional tradesperson for 50 years. I was recently hired by a client to represent them to remedy the defective work performed by Catalyst Construction. The quality of their work, their construction knowledge and professionalism are nothing short of ABYSMAL. I contacted Ryan Klobas with his defective and delinquent work. I threatened to contact the Builders Board to motivate him to show up. His response? He said that “people always try to take him to the Builders Board, but it never works,” and then promptly contacted his attorney, instead of showing up to the job site (something he NEVER did) to remedy the situation. He bullied my female client (a mother of an infant). He took 14 MONTHS to install 2 windows. It wasn’t until I began proceedings with the CCB that Ryan finally agreed to complete (or attempt to) complete the project. I had to draw plans on his behalf (he did not seem to know how) to show him how to do a simple window installation. I had to specify the use of proper materials, as he had not educated himself on this common trade knowledge. I forced him to get permits and engineering for the structural damage he had done to the residence. He lied to my client telling them that permits were “optional.” He uses a chainsaw and a sledgehammer (literally) to cut rough (and I mean ROUGH) openings into structural concrete walls. He installed his windows exactly backwards. He dug huge holes in the yard...leaving them all winter to fill up with water which migrated into the house. He does not know how to caulk properly. He used finger-jointed (garbage) lumber which disintegrated in 2 months. There is not ONE aspect of construction, neither in the use of materials or standard construction orthodoxy, that Ryan knows how to implement. He makes things and systems up in his head, uses materials against their intended purposes, then writes a letter telling my client that he is “innovative,” by doing so, and that my client is “crazy” for suggesting otherwise. All Ryan’s employees who visited the site, refer to Ryan as “an idiot” and “a bully.” One employee told me that he got abused by Ryan because Ryan hadn’t given him the plans (which we provided) for the project. Ryan told his employee that he should “lie to the client to protect the company.” EVERY one of his employees who attempted doing their mis-guided work on my client’s house, ended up quitting, because of the way Ryan mistreated them and his clients. I am not sure where the positive reviews have come from, but I suspect they are fake...probably from friends and family. My female client was literally afraid for her safety. She experienced Ryan as DANGEROUS. DO NOT HIRE THIS GUY.

Our basement remodel experience with the Catalyst Construction team couldn’t have been better. Our contractor Nick helped us navigate the project planning and estimation process in a way that made us feel involved and comfortable. Once the project got started, Nick was always available to answer questions and checked in frequently, in-person and by phone, to ensure everything was meeting our expectations. And when an issue arose, as it often does when working on an older home, Nick would patiently talk us through what it could mean to our budget and timeline before making any decisions. We’re very happy we chose Catalyst Construction.

We had to tear all of the exterior walls out of our finished basement in order to have a moisture abatement system put in. Nick and his crew have done a wonderful job of replacing the walls and trim, adding new flooring, updating one of the windows to be an egress window, updating the electrical service, and helping to fix a number of frustrating design issues with the basement. Nick did a great job keeping us informed about when the various steps of the work would be happing and helped us work out how to deal with some of the design issues in our old house and some of the unplanned changes that needed to be made. We now have a beautiful finished basement that has been updated from the old 90's aesthetic to one that fits seamlessly with the rest of the house and some previously unusable space reclaimed as storage. We are very very happy with the work and are planning on enjoying our updated basement for many years to come.

Catalyst Construction were able to get our project aligned with our budget and timeline. Very understanding, knowledgeable and easy to work with. We were very extremely happy with the end results. Highly recommended!

We hired Nick and Catalyst to install an egress window at our property. Nick was so great. Explained the process, gave tons of options and advice, was timely, and their workmanship was fantastic. About a year later, someone broke the window's hand crank and Nick delivered a replacement- FREE OF CHARGE. They go above and beyond. Won't ever use anyone else other than Catalyst. Thanks guys!

Catalyst Construction & Remodeling excelled in fulfilling our hopes of our dream kitchen in a difficult, small space with big ideas. We were thrilled with the end result and our kitchen was transformed from an embarrassment to a show-stopper. Through excellent communication, planning, patience on both ends and creative problem solving, we found the process eye-opening and rewarding. They were clean, efficient, thorough and cared about both the entire process as well as the end result. We had some unusual design requests and through team effort and vision, Catalyst & Crew along with Michael and I crafted a beautiful space that has truly made our house a home.

We hired Catalyst again after they completed several projects for us earlier in the year. This time they built a roughly 26’x10’ front deck which replaced the previous small concrete stoop. Throughout the project Ryan and his crew kept me updated on the challenges they came across. Had some dry rot on the house that required replacing which they fixed as well as removing the concrete steps to give the new stairs the right dimensions. The materials we chose were composite decking and an aluminum hand rail with cables running through. Bonus part, the railing was attached to the frontside of the deck which gives us 100% usable square ft.! Ryan also installed a new light on the side of the house and ran wiring to the box for power. Very happy with the end results.

Ryan, Nick and the rest of the team at Catalyst Construction carried out a complete remodel of our basement for us and we couldn't be happier with the results. Our project was to create a comfortable and inviting guest suite and also to have a storage area and laundry. The team were able to realize the ideas that I had in my head and come up with great solutions that all really came together to look beautiful. When some unexpected things came up, costs and time to repair them were very reasonable, the work was top notch and the solutions were creative and clever. During the project we wanted a few extra items added and Ryan and the team were very flexible about making them happen. We're thrilled with the final result and would not hesitate to recommend Catalyst Construction. Great people, excellent Portland business :).

Ryan, Nick and their crew were a pleasure to work with. I had them remodel my basement into additional living space, including installation of an egress window to add a bedroom downstairs. They were outstanding in communicating with me on the schedule and their crew was meticulous in keeping the work site as organized and clean as possible. They worked with me on some changes to the original design and helped me keep within my budget. I highly recommend them!

We have hired Catalyst Construction and Home Remodeling for multiple projects at our property. From adding a cement staircase and French doors to our basement to trimming dry rot on our siding to adding another new 5’ French door and fixing a fence, these folks have got it together. Always very friendly and clean, the crew makes sure you are up to speed with all projects in process. We moved here last summer and didn’t know anyone in the construction trade, we are lucky that we located a solid company to get our to do list knocked out!!! Do yourself a favor and call Ryan, we are glad we did!

I had a great experience with the professionals at Catalyst. We recently completed a demolition and remodel of our basement including all new windows. Their bid was solidly in the middle of the bids we received, and they were able to complete the job within our budget. The work was well done with quality subcontractors. Ryan and Nick were honest and easy to communicate with, and any problems were addressed quickly. We are so happy with our beautiful new basement space and highly recommend Catalyst to anyone else looking for quality workmanship.