Rochman Design Build

We have used Rochman Design-Build for 3 projects over the years. They do excellent work at all stages of a project; they are fantastic at envisioning how to best use a space, they are pleasant and respectful in your home, they do amazing and detail oriented work, and perhaps most important for me. they are remarkably well organized and have the entire timing of a project coordinated before it even begins. If you have questions or want to talk further, please feel free to call. I can give so many details about what it has been like to work with them and as evidenced by our multiple projects, I highly highly recommend Rochman Design Build without a single reservation.

Here's the short version: We couldn't be happier with the process, people, or result from our remodel. Our project was on schedule to the very day (not joking!) and on budget (yes, really!). We are grateful to have had RDB work on our home. Longer version incoming. When we originally purchased our house, we knew we wanted to do... something with our main floor. Fast forward 15 years and we were finally ready to do... something. We started with an informal consultation with Gary looking around to gauge the potential size of the project and preliminary ideas. He then suggested we interview a few other companies in the area to make sure we found the right fit. This wasn't a selling strategy, but rather a clear indication of Gary's (and his company's) honesty and integrity. So, we interviewed a few and quickly dismissed them. Back to the "something". Our approach was the direct opposite to those folks that want to be involved in all the decisions. We wanted "something” but didn't want to go through a journey of selecting amongst a thousand options for a thousand decisions. We wanted to lean on the expertise and experience of others and be given small, recommended sets of options to choose from. And that's exactly what Gary and his team delivered. The process was incredibly tailored to our desired approach, which was truly appreciated. Our project effectively remodeled the main floor of our tri-level. That involved knocking down walls, bumping walls out, removing previous owner weekend-warrior projects, reorienting the kitchen, new entryway cubbies, new electrical, new plumbing, and pretty much new everything. The whole team, from design to implementation, was a joy to work with and delivered amazing work. We got custom dog bowls. The fairies installed a fairy door for our kids. Yep. We spend most of our time in this new space. Our kids love it. Our dog loves it. It fits us perfectly.

We recently worked with Rochman on a 2-story addition to our home which included expanding and redoing the kitchen, adding two offices, and adding a primary bathroom and closet. Working with Rochman was a fabulous experience from our first meeting to our last. They helped us design a space that met all of our needs and functions perfectly. The quality of the work and finishes are top notch and we could not be happier with the results. Rochman guided us through a daunting process with professionalism and patience. Once the schedule was set they kept to it and even finished a week early to meet the needs of our family. They communicated clearly and consistently, were responsive to our questions, and were extremely accommodating to small changes and new requests along the way. While our project was not cheap, the quality of the results, overall experience, and piece of mind knowing that the work was done right was worth every penny. We cannot recommend working with Rochman enough!

After building a new garage with an exercise room and a large study on the second floor, Gary Rochman and his team remodeled our 1923 colonial house. Before, we lived here in smallish, semi-dark rooms; now, we live in a spacious, light-filled house with a smartly redesigned kitchen, a completely restructured bathroom, comfortable hallways, new windows throughout the house, and large studies filled with custom-made bookshelves, leaving enough room to move comfortably around desks and shelves. The project took two years, with each step of the remodeling completed as scheduled and never exceeding the limits of the agreed upon budget. When problems arose, Rochman would address them directly and frankly, explaining in great detail and taking care of things immediately. The best thing about the work is the knowledge and care with which it was all done -- Gary Rochman’s original design, Olivia Dee’s work on the interior design, Glen DiGaetano’s management of the whole project, Mike Sokol’s organization of every big and every small detail of the demolition and re-building phase of the remodeling as well as his excellent hands-on work with his colleagues, Emily Michel, John Giesa, Zach Rohrer, Brian Mills, Dave Alstetter, and Pixel, all of whom were at one point or the other involved in removing and reinstalling steel beams, building book shelves, installing cabinets, readjusting old doors, and a million other things. In many ways, we were the clients from hell: there was the old house with layers of incompetent remodeling and repairs, and a house located in an area notorious for water problems. And then there was us: inexperienced in remodeling and constantly changing our minds about the designs. Patient and with a great sense of humor, Rochman redesigned until everything fit into a reasonable budget and a feasible schedule. We came to trust him and his team, understanding that they would do the very best work. Most members of Rochman’s team have years of experience with the building and remodeling of Ann Arbor houses, and those who are new on the job receive rigorous training. So they probably never thought of any of the work they did as complicated, but we were impressed by the crafts(wo)manship involved in blending the old and the new throughout the house: for instance, the installation of the kitchen cabinets, in a room with slightly tilting walls and floors. Mike, the lead-carpenter, and his colleagues, adjusted the crowns of the kitchen cabinets in such a way that the shadows that the cabinets throw on the ceiling are perfectly aligned and horizontal. Most impressive was their dogged effort to control the flow of water through the property, which involved re-excavating two sides of the garage building which is now a veritable fortress. Finally, the new foam insulation of the walls, which were previously hollow, has resulted in the cutting in half of our high heating costs.

Rochman took 90% of our money and then abandoned the project with far more than 10% of the project unfinished. Furthermore, they constantly lied and egregiously insulted us.

Our house, built in 1923 and last renovated in the 80s, badly needed structural repairs and renovation. We also decided that it was time to tear down the old garage and create two large studies. We were looking for solid, high-quality work. Never having been involved in this kind of project, we sought advice from friends and then met with design/build companies and architects. RDB came highly recommended. What was important to us in selecting RDB were three things: -Gary Rochman met with us for long initial conversations, taking us on to visit several of the construction projects that RDB was working on at the time or had just completed, and introducing us to members of his team. This was critical in assuring us of the stellar quality of their work. - We soon realized that hiring a design/builder would make the whole project run more smoothly: - Finally, we were really impressed with the atmosphere at RDB, which combines professionalism with friendliness. The design process was great. RDB developed several options and walked us through them. The design we chose included a new garage with exercise room and a study. We decided against plans that would have located this study in the house. RDB steered us in this direction without insisting, and it was the correct choice. Due to the pandemic, we asked RDB to split up the project and work on the new garage first, since we did not want to move out of our house at the time. Gary Rochman was extremely flexible listening to our concerns and adjusting to our preferences. Working during the pandemic, RDB took great precautions to assure the safety of the work site. RDB then began work on the second project as soon as it became possible again. Communication with us during the construction was and is ideal. The lead carpenter on our jobs, Mike Sokol, always responds quickly to texts about any issue that arises. During the weekly meetings, usually led by Glen DiGaetano, the production manager, RDB kept us informed of their progress. Olivia Dee, the interior designer, always provided us with tasteful suggestions. Everyone on the team was willing to explain the process in great detail and with great patience. All the people working for the contractors whom RDB hired were excellent and were well supervised by Mike Sokol. Given the structural conditions of the property and age of the house and poorly executed prior repairs, several unforeseen problems arose above and beyond the agreed upon price. This was dealt with honestly and clearly. We are currently involved in the completion of the second half of the project. We would highly recommend RDB for any job, big or small. They are spectacular. This house will now last for decades before needing any further repairs. Everything is both solid and beautiful, ranging from the custom-built bookshelves in the first study to the new wooden floors, to the bluestone patio, and the retaining wall they built along the driveway.

I picked RDB after talking with two other companies because they had the most creative ideas about how to meet my goals and I had seen their work in a neighbor's house. They emphasize open and ongoing communication with their clients and, given all the details associated with a remodel project, this is critical to success. I used my dining room as my temporary kitchen, and they supplied hot plates, etc. so I wouldn't need to buy something that I wouldn't need after the project was over. Then COVID-19 hit. We were about 80% complete. The refrigerator and range were in but no sink. They wanted to get me out of the dining room but without a counter top they couldn't install the sink. In about a day they put in a quick particle board counter top and a laundry sink in the location of the future dishwasher. It gave me water on my first floor and allowed me to start using the kitchen in a temporary state for the duration of the shut down. We communicated during that time and I felt very taken care of-- something incredibly helpful when you had no idea when they would be allowed back in the house. Before and after the COVID shutdown they were on schedule. As far as the pandemic, we talked easily and openly about safety for them and for me so we would all feel comfortable having the work completed without risking possibly infecting each other. I would hire them again without hesitation. When I think about the experience and the end product I think this sums it up the best: Every time I walk into my kitchen, not just every day, but every time, I smile.

Rochman Design Build just completed an innovative basement speakeasy project for us. They had a great vision for this unusual project. The workmanship was impeccable, and they completed the job on time, and on budget. We couldn't be happier. The work is first rate.

Our multi unit project in the Water Hill neighborhood could not have gone any better!!! We doubled the square footage in the upper unit and did a kitchen remodel on the ground unit. Gary, Susan, Glen, Brian and the entire support team were professional and led us through the design and decision making process with just the right amount of push-back when we were starting to get off track. They genuinely listened and treated the choices as if they were paying for it themselves for their own house. The ownership of this project also extended to all of the subcontractors on the project. With the excellent supervision and involvement from Rochman Design Build our neighbors commented that they barely realized there was a construction project going on. The site was kept clean and organized and they were respectful of the neighbors. During the entire project, they provided us with weekly updates. They hit every deadline and even delivered the final project ahead of schedule AND under budget!!!! It was amazing and we definitely became the envy of many of our friends who have struggled through remodel projects. We sincerely hope you consider them for any and all of your upcoming projects.

Like many old homes, we faced a series of unusual challenges in our Burns Park home. Rochman Design Build helped us figure out how to solve three very different lingering issues that had been bothering us for years. They helped us with a complete bathroom expansion/remodel, partial kitchen revamp, and sunroom ceiling/roof transformation. We chose Rochman Design Build since they could help us with these three different projects, while also giving us confidence that they could solve any "old house" issues that crop up when doing any deconstruction. The team is outstanding in all respects, and a pleasure to work with! the design process helped us think through several options, and they provided us with some new perspectives that were better than our initial thoughts. During construction, they effectively managed all details with impeccable care, and minimized any disruptions to our everyday lives. Even after uncovering hidden problems during deconstruction, they were still able to complete work on schedule. We are very pleased with the final results, and will definitely seek their help for future projects!

RDB expertly guided us through improving our home and developing beautiful, functional spaces. Gary Rochman and his design teams are creative and remarkably helpful. During several months and iterations of a plan for a major house remodel, they were patient and responsive to our suggestions. The transition to the Build process was smooth. RDB had anticipated most of the issues in our home, but there were issues that became apparent once the walls were open. At these potentially difficult moments, they clearly communicated the problems, developed options quickly and offered insightful advice about advantages and disadvantages of each option. When we identified issues, they took the same approach and worked with us to find a solution. They obviously take great pride in managing a project well, finishing on schedule and on budget. Even after our project was technically completed, RDB has returned our calls or emails and come to our house to address issues. They are amazing professionals.

We hired RDB to construct a 2-story addition that enlarged and improved our kitchen, created a mudroom, and expanded an existing bedroom with an en suite master bath. As part of the same project, we also refreshed existing finishes (new tile/fixtures in half bath; refinished hardwood throughout; updated fixtures and lighting) and significantly revised the layout of the existing first-floor spaces. Needless to say, it was a dauntingly complex and expensive project... and yet, we don't regret a single moment or penny we spent. The results are nothing short of spectacular. The 23-week project was only 8 days over schedule, which is both remarkable in the industry, and also largely attributable to changes/additional requests WE as the homeowners made along the way. We love every tiny detail of our "new" home - RDB was impeccable in their execution; responsive and accessible; thoughtful and well-coordinated. The job site was clean and well-kept, we participated in weekly (brief, well-organized, with good documentation) on-site progress meetings, and we couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Highly recommend.