contractor

Still Working, Still Helping!

The Zischke Builders team is still hard at work. We are taking appropriate precautions, but the truth is that people still need water or fire damage repaired so they have a home they can comfortably stay in. We are still prepared to assist those in need - we just installed ramps for a homeowner to be able to better access their home alone, without assistance.

Please message me here if you have any work that needs to be done or call 517-242-4353 to talk about any upcoming work you’d like an estimate on. We are still at work and still able to assist you and your family.

A Fantastic Home Remodeling Job! Kitchen, Dining, Floors and More!

Anyone that tells you a remodel will go flawless is lying. There are too many variables and unknowns in a large project that only get revealed during the remodel. The best we can do is expect the unexpected and be ready to switch gears at the drop of a hat. That’s why you want somebody like me with decades of experience who works with only the best professionals in the business.

We recently finished a huge kitchen/ dining room remodel. The homeowner had been wanting to remodel the space since they moved in during the 1980’s. I felt super proud and thankful that they chose to go with my company. They’d seen our work on Facebook and I think that is what set their heart on using us.

They wanted to go with a more modern style cabinet design that had to be pretty custom in order to accommodate filling the existing cubbies in the brick wall. Luckily, I have a close relationship with Nate the owner of Grant Designyard. We set up a meeting with the homeowner and together were able to come up with a design that fit their kitchen.

I was able to sketch a design on the computer based on what walls they wanted removed to open up the space and with their approval, we were off to the races.

The homeowners wanted to save a little money by doing their own demo work so we of course worked with them. They had had a pretty significant belly to their dining room floor so the first thing we had to do after demo was sister in floor joists next to the bowed ones. This resulted in such a quiet and sound floor that the homeowners decided to have us do it to every floor joist throughout the kitchen and living room as well. This was perfect for the ¾” hardwood to come into the living room and dining room and for the vinyl tiles going in the kitchen and entries.

From there, we moved to the insulation and drywall.

Next was the paint and priming followed by new, more modern trim to compliment the new kitchen.

We spent a lot of time with all the subs on site putting our heads together to make sure everything turned out smoothly. This would allow us to finish the project without after-thought trim pieces or any cover-ups. For example, the custom vent in the back of the cabinet. We had Servicemaster come in and soda blast decades of build up from the brick wall while we got to installing cabinets. Nate had to do some meticulous install with the cabinet pull installation. He fabricated a custom jig to router out the doors and drawer fronts so the handles would sit flush.

From there it was pretty much down hill getting the flooring installed, the final trim up and everything painted.

The Quartz counters got pushed back just before Thanksgiving and since the homeowner was having company, we had my countertop guy build an entire kitchen of laminate tops to temporarily go in. He also installed a sink and faucet for a week when the quartz showed up.

The tile backsplash came next with the appliances and range hood installation.

We got the place all cleaned up and the final touch was a custom made bench seat by In Stiches custom fabrics.

The transformation is absolutely stunning. As with any remodel, there were some hiccups, but experience allows us to come up with creative solutions and push through any hurdles to get to the desired outcome.

Anyone that tells you a remodel will go flawless is lying. There are too many variables and unknowns in a large project that only get revealed during the remodel. The best we can do is expect the unexpected and be ready to switch gears at the drop of a hat. That’s why you want somebody like me with decades of experience who works with only the best professionals in the business.

If you are interested in a project like this, call (517) 242-4353 or email zischkebuilders@gmail.com and I will get you a free estimate. Let’s get to work.

Income Property Made Easy

It’s hard to believe this started as a raw, unfinished basement, but here it is now - a living space, a potential supplement to the homeowner’s income, and a place somebody can call home. If you’re interested in creating income space in your home, we can get you on the path and set up - starting with a free estimate. Give me a call at (517) 242-4353, message me here or email zischkebuilders@gmail.com

A Kitchen Saved From Frozen Pipes

When a pipe burst this winter, it ruined this kitchen. Everything down to the very studs had to be removed. It’s an unfortunate danger of cold climates and I wish people didn’t have to face it. When they do - they need professionals to make things right and restore order to their home. That’s where my team and the great people at Servicemaster Absolute Home & Restoration Services come in.

Once the damage was mitigated by Service Master’s team, my team was able to come in, work with the homeowner on their ideal kitchen redesign and make it happen.

With very little hassle, we were able to install new cabinets, counters, floors, trim and drywall with fresh paint.

I’m proud of the work we did here (look at the before photos) and proud to work in a business where we can help people get back to their lives after disaster strikes.

If you find yourself the victim of a burst pipe or other water damage, call Service Master. If you need restoration work or just a good, old fashioned remodeling - call (517) 242-4353 or email zischkebuilders@gmail.com

Doing things the 'Hard Way'

My business has always been centered on the needs of the homeowner and working with the BEST professionals. These cabinets were built on the CNC machine you saw a video of last week. Note I said cabinets - NOT doors. This required us to reverse build the cabinets to match the original doors.

This allowed us to match the upper cabinets with those below the counter. This is important because we wouldn’t be able to replace the lower cabinets without breaking the granite counter top because whoever installed it wasn’t a professional. This would have also likely destroyed the backsplash.

I know this is the “hard way” to do things, but If it meets the needs of the customer and fits their budget, then it’s the right thing to do. It’s also a great example of what’s possible when you have serious professional craftsmen working in your home to solve problems others would have walked away from.