Like most people the prospect of renovating is daunting as this is not something we do very often. Bathrooms are not something you want to get wrong. Do it once, do it properly, they are expensive rooms and we all spend a lot of time in them.
Ali from Tradezmen was 1 of 5 quotes I had to renovate my bathroom. My property is double brick construction and the bathroom is on a concrete slab and upstairs. There's more work involved then a timber framed house.
Ali was the only one who understood what I was trying to achieve, he gave options and then solutions even when it meant more work for him and his team. He did what others weren't prepared to do and followed through to the very end.
Ali's quoting style was totally different to everyone else. Where others gave a quote with allowance for tiles, fixtures and fittings Ali quoted in a way where all the work was done leaving me to pick and pay for my tiles fixtures and fittings. Ali sent me directly to his suppliers and negotiated on some of the prices to get me a better deal, for instance on my bathtub which was 3 square corners and 1 rounded had RRP of $1495 which I paid $950 . This is his point of difference and the benefit is you make the choice and you get what you pay for.
An example of that is a quote says “allowance” of $20 / sq mtr for tiles, are they an $11 / sq mtr tile being supplied ?? you don't know, All tiles are not the same as with all taps ect...
The same effort and hard work goes into the job underneath what is the finished product. The reality is don't get bogged down on $/sq mtr cost of tiles. Over my 31sq mtrs of wall n floor tiles my average was $42 /sq mtr meaning the cost difference over the whole job between a quoted allowance of $20/sq mtr from others and what I purchased was $680, it's nothing in the scheme of the total outlay your investing, spend a little extra on the things you use and see everyday, even if it stretches your budget find the extra. You can buy tap ware with a 15yr warranty or a 1yr warranty. It's not for no reason you pay a little more for quality and it's worth the initial outlay for the end result. Don't cheat yourself.
At different stages different trades are required and Ali was here when each of them arrived and would check their work before the next stage. He takes 100% ownership over what happens. It's easy to tell he has an experienced team who take great pride in their work.
Some of the main things of my project included moving a bath waste in the concrete slab also a vanity waste which moved through the concrete slab into the brick wall. This allows a wall hung vanity. I had power points added to a shaving cabinet, also into a wall for a heated towel rail, separate power for lights and a fan as well as a ceiling mounted heater. Everything including my ceiling was ripped out and replaced and the modern clean look of the shadow line ceiling was worth the few extra dollars too.
In terms of value for money quotes had a variance of $11000 between highest and lowest. I finished up paying 60% of the variance over the lowest quote. Given Ali's knowledge, skill and contacts there's no way in my mind anyone else would have deliver the end result that Ali and his team from Tradezmen have delivered me. 100% satisfied with no buyers remorse of any kind.
Given my bathroom experience I would without hesitation absolutely call upon Ali in the future. For anyone reading this considering a bathroom renovation do yourself a favour and have Ali from Tradezmen come and meet with you. Out of a 5 star rating for a review I give Ali and his team a 6.
Michael Starr
Blacktown NSW