Renaissance Restorations

It is my strongest recommendation that you DO NOT even consider Renaissance Restorations Inc for any project. This company is horrendously managed which is directly reflected in the execution and quality of their work. We signed a contract with Renaissance Restoration to complete a second floor addition of a master bedroom and bathroom and residing of our entire home. We were initially told the project would take 5-6 months. It took 14 months from the time we signed our contract to project completion and this is ONLY because we took on a significant portion of the project management and labor ourselves. The contract requires payments nearly in full long before the project is completed, which financially traps the customer, and we naively fell for this trap. Furthermore, every single tradesperson (plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc.) hired by Renaissance Restoration expressed mutual frustration and disappointment in working with this company.

I am more relieved than I am satisfied with the completed project. It came at a great cost both financially and emotionally. I urge you to save a bit more money to hire an established general contractor with a strong history and strong evidence of quality work. If this is not an option, you are better off figuring out how to manage the project on your own than investing in the services of Renaissance Restorations. I beg you to learn from our poor judgement and mistakes!

P.S.- I expect the company may respond to this review in an attempt to pin the blame on me or something/someone else. Please take heed that I am genuinely and fervently trying to help the next person planning a home improvement project.

Eleanor Smith-Litt Began work at the end of September 2017 and work STOPPED November 2018. Stopped work asking for new plans, and my hiring a new architect, knowing that the old plans just needed "tweaking and a little modification". The ponding of the flat roof/deck and leaking which were brought to his attention at that time (November 2017) had nothing to do with having new plans. Lied about my "taking six months to hire an architect which was hired a month later". Began improper installing of cladding and wrong color (May 2018) at first (blamed me in spite of numerous emails to the contrary) which have gaps with nails showing and unfinished yet still insists I owe $14,000 for that. DELAYED THE JOB FOR 8 MONTHS USING EVERY EXCUSE POSSIBLE. Wrong windows ordered yet. in spite of notes with measurements as part of meeting discussion, accused me of ordering incorrect windows. Accused me of changing walls constantly which required new plans (have pictures sent him and showed him of my original renderings which never changed). Then changed to needing new plans by an architect because he said, "These plans are all wrong, something is wrong with these plans". When asked why he didn't catch original plans mistakes, he admitted to never reviewing original plans because he said, "I am a contractor, I don't read plans". His work failed to use correct plywood, not tongue in groove (according to contract and original plans), shims which caused weakness in what he knew was to be a deck now denies knowing, warped/split posts which roofer admittedly "thought he sealed and must have forgotten", wrong roofing materials (contract calls for EDPM he put in rolled shingle which is against code), Insufficient support beams in wrong direction and unsupported, not creating required pitch for flat roof/deck causing ponding brought to his attention via email, pictures sent, and in person, which he ignored, switched electric to other side of the house with wires hanging to close to the house (DTE energy sited it is against code and a fire hazard), no access to crawl space, lack of proper venting, crawl space not insulated, encapsulated according to code and Michigan law), After wrong materials, wrong construction, failing to adhere to the contract, failing to call for inspections came to light, company owner QUIT in AUGUST 2018 stating, that I "caused a hostile work environment" and presented a "danger" to the giant men one spoke minimal English so was called the "manager" when two weeks before text indicates, "How much he valued our friendship". He took revised plans to the city March 5, 2018 approved iMARCH 7, 2018, yet kept insisting that plans not approved until JUNE when I called the city. Told me in JUNE (I have text) that as soon as he got back from New York (sent me baby pictures and friendly texts contrary to his declaration that I caused, "A hostile work environment" and he had just gotten permit approved (AGAIN ANY ATTEMPT TO DELAY JOB). Actually his mistakes had nothing to do with NEW plans (original plans according to the City required minimal changes) they were in violation of the contract and city codes. All my new architect and the city saw his mistakes with his materials (plywood, roofing material, no insulation, no access to the crawl space, broken sump pump letting water flow under the addition into the crawl space, moving electric so DTE said it was a fire hazard and against code, beams placed in such a way that it would not support a deck that the owner claimed, "Would support a car" which were in violation of contract, original plans, and oral agreements. Said that he never knew it was supposed to be a deck in spite of many emails in which it is referred to as a deck and numerous pictures sent. Accused me of just trying to get out of paying when I had to pay again to have everything he did ripped out, brought up to code, and pass inspections. He never called for any inspections and when I did the inspector said, "Did you fire this guy yet".