To help you learn a little more about LaBonte Construction, here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get from potential clients.
While our company started as a remodeling and custom carpentry firm, our talented staff has a lot of new construction experience. In addition to the highest-quality remodeling in Milwaukee, we also build custom homes and outbuildings for discerning clients.
When we get calls about new construction homes, we often receive requests for extreme energy efficiency, complex layouts, and details such as timber framing and lake homes.
We are not a design-build remodeling firm. We can do CAD drafting if you would like to select your own finishes, but we do not have a selections coordinator.
See also: Why You Should NOT Choose A Design-Build Remodeling Firm.
Our years of experience have shown that using a separate designer actually saves money: Clients don’t pay a commissioned salesperson. More importantly, partnering with a qualified architect and/or interior designer results in a better finished product.
The best designers do not work at construction companies, but they do collaborate with us! We would be happy to make a referral to one of Milwaukee’s talented designers.
Another benefit of choosing us over a design-build firm is that if you do not like us or feel we have not treated you fairly (you won’t), you can walk away and hire someone else, because you own the plans and design.
Our goal is to earn your business—not to trap you with fees or a plan that is not yours.
Our process has been refined over our almost 20 years in business. Please see Our Process to learn more.
We are a boutique firm. We do not have anyone who works in sales or who is paid a commission. We self-perform finish carpentry, some demolition, tile, and rough carpentry.
We have four project managers and a full-time estimator. We also have in-house accounting to ensure your records are top-notch. Our field and cabinet shop staff varies in size, but we are always hiring!
We aim to start most projects within 45-60 business days of a signed construction agreement.
Project duration is dependent on the scope. Everything we do is customized, so once we have a good idea of the entire scope, we can then provide an estimated duration.
We take pride in finishing on time, every time. Unless we give you notice of a change in the schedule, we will hit our delivery date.
The early 2020s saw delays from vendors, but with our size, buying power, and organization, we were able to keep most projects on track.
Our computerized software will tell you which trade(s)—plumbing, carpentry, etc.—will be scheduled each day of your project.
If you read about us online or ask a neighbor who has remodeled with us, they will all tell you that we do not jump from job to job, and that any day we can have someone on-site, we do.
17 years.
Usually, the answer is yes, but it is best to call. Factors that can influence our coverage area include:
We most commonly work in Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, River Hills, Fox Point, Bayside, Mequon, Wauwatosa, Lake County, Brookfield, and Elm Grove.
We are proud of our relationships and our communication with clients. In addition to being assigned a dedicated, qualified project manager, each client is given access to a portal where you can:
Our firm typically has 12 to 15 projects under construction at one time based on size, location, and complexity.
We try to group our projects together for efficiency to save money for our clients and use our project managers’ time as efficiently as possible. We visit your project often to make sure that our work aligns with our motto, “Home is in the details.”
You can view our home remodeling portfolio here. You can also view our work on our Houzz profile and by following us on Facebook or Instagram.
Yes! We have worked with all of the best designers in Milwaukee. A call to us will yield a great list of firms to interview.
No. It is best to call, but if we are already in your neighborhood or have worked with you in the past, we are happy to complete a small project like a powder room. It does not hurt to ask!
Most of our projects cost between $50,000 and $5 million. We know it is a big range, but we do everything from bathrooms to new homes with all the bells and whistles!
While we do have qualified, expert carpenters on staff, we do not offer carpentry services outside of a larger project.
If the labor market frees up in the future, we will revisit this policy. If you are an existing client, please give us a call and we will do our best to help or point you in the right direction.
While it certainly can make our job easier, many remodeling projects can be coordinated to accommodate owners remaining in their homes.
We can meet with clients on weekends if required and work on Saturdays when needed on unoccupied homes with the client’s permission.
While commercial work makes up less than 1% of our historic portfolio, we have done several commercial projects.
We are best suited for tenant improvement work with a focus on quality, and projects with a lot of millwork and complex finishes—similar to our residential remodeling projects.
Common projects of this type would be law office remodeling, investment firm buildouts, and luxury boutiques. We also would never say no to an existing client if the project is within our expertise.
About half of our staff came from the commercial construction world, so you would be assigned a project manager familiar with the work required and applicable codes.
Most of the remodeling projects we do require a permit. You do not need to pull a permit; however, we usually do.
This permit would fall under our license. We also coordinate subcontractors who need additional permitting such as plumbing and electrical. Permitting will be part of our initial conversation.
The answer is usually no. Owner supplied materials voids your warranty, can slow us down, and ends up not being much of a savings when you factor in the aggressive discounts we get as builders.
We strongly discourage any material not provided by us or a trusted design professional with insurance and the knowhow to estimate the correct amount required.
Exceptions are items like historic light fixtures and appliances.
Of course! We have a passion for historic craftsmanship, and it is always an honor to see our work next to the amazing work of our forefathers.
We also have our own millshop in Riverwest that can mill and create custom molding profiles to match existing conditions.
If you completed a project with us, your plans are in your warranty file that you were provided.
If you need us to send you a PDF version, please ask. If we completed a project for a past owner, please contact us about retrieving plans and specifications for that project.