Schroeder Design Build

Jeremy Hartman

2024-04

Our project with Schroeder, estimated at 12-15 weeks, wound up taking more than a full year. It was an unnecessarily stressful, frustrating year, that their own employees referred to as “embarrassing” and “incompetent” at various points. The project was mainly focused on our kitchen, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, a staircase, and a fireplace facade. After 15 weeks, all that had been completed was demolition and some rough-ins - for months, we lived in a demolished home with no kitchen, just waiting for updates (pic 1 below - our living room and “kitchen”). The big problem was that Schroeder failed to identify one of the only walls we were removing as load bearing. It took months for them to just come up with a plan to address it (we were told their engineer was on leave). When the plan was finally drawn up, their engineer failed to account for an exterior door, so it took another week to run the calculations to determine that the load would hold over the door frame, and another 2 weeks for the county to review that letter. Eventually, the beam was installed someplace different than we had discussed, which caused downstream problems.We then failed inspections 5 times over several weeks - the first time, the wiring was just hanging from the ceiling (picture 2), no fireproofing had been done, and the inspector was baffled that he was even being scheduled. The second time, the right permit hadn’t been requested, approved and issued. The third time, Schroeder didn’t have the approved plans in the house for the inspector to review… and on and on. We didn’t have even a barely-functioning kitchen (e.g. floor, sink) for over 6 months after demolition. To make matters worse, they did not do much cleaning until a new project manager came on several months into the project, so we were left trying to clean drywall dust and various demolition debris after the good days when any work happened.It was a comedy of errors that could have been avoided through better planning and more consistent management. From demolition to completion over a year later, we went through 5 different project managers, at least one of whom was fired mid-job. Several subcontractors, including tile, drywall, and paint were either fired during the job or (we were told) shortly after because the work they did was so poor. The people Schroeder hired to do some of the most detailed work had little-to-no experience in what they were asked to do, including tile and paint (it was the same guy for both), and the concrete pour for the fireplace (it was cracking after days so we wound up having to just tile over it - again with the unqualified tile guy, even though we were told they brought on someone with more experience). When plans changed after the walls were opened up, the drawings were never updated, so subsequent sub-contractors were left having to figure out solutions on the fly. Change orders were implemented before we approved them on multiple occasions, which led to more problems.This was written based on detailed notes, messages to and from Schroeder, and timestamped photos and videos.

Katherine Sobotka

2024-04

Do not use this company. Their level of dishonesty and lack of integrity is absolutely shocking. We were quoted specific quotes from their project manager and then once we went through the planning phase (and measurements and drawings were made -- and paid for) they adjusted their quote, reflecting a materially higher price, explaining that 'material prices, such as lumber' had gone up (even though the market didn't reflect such price increases). Even though we ended up losing our initial payment, we knew we had to walk away. Would never start a major home build out with a company that demonstrates such dishonesty from the get-go. Think twice before signing a contract with this company. There are much better options out there.

Rodway Newman

2023-04

Four years ago, we used Schroeder Design & Build to replace our front patio and add an oversized 3rd car garage underneath it. The added space is phenomenal, we can park a car and still have rows of storage shelves, 3’ deep and 10’ feet high. We also love hearing how the addition looks like it was always part of original home. They designed and executed it with that goal. That added significant value to our home, well done!Once you work with them you are part of their family. Four years later and they still check in with us to ensure complete satisfaction. Thank you, Mark!Service: Home renovations

Eileen Leidich

2023-10

The design team is knowledgeable and willing to work within budget. The project site manager was very good at attention to detail. Tradesmen did great work, especially the tile installer. The only problem I dealt with was lack of clean-up. Since it was an older home there were issues that contributed to a messy situation. Overall the home remodel looks great.

Lauren McMinn

2023-05

We used Schroeder Design/Build for a whole home renovation and addition to our 60-year-old home. From our initial inquiry to a couple of follow-up items years after the project was complete, Schroeder’s responsiveness and attention to detail has continued to impress us. Their team was communicative throughout the entire process; our project was completed on time and within budget. They truly listened to our family’s needs and wants, resulting in a home we now love to live in.Services: Home renovations, Deck construction, Home addition construction

Nicole Kilker

2023-10

Extremely professional, great communication and follow up! Basically a one stop shop for everything from drawing up the plans, getting the necessary permits, construction and interior design. Extremely professional and respectful, especially since we were living in the home during the 4 months of construction with kids and two dogs!Services: General construction, Tile work installation, Install flooring, Home renovations, Bathroom remodeling, Fan installation, Paint indoors, Painting, Interior finishing, Remodeling, Drywall installation, Bathtub installation, Roof installation, Home addition construction, Drywall repair, Flooring, Home construction

Giulliana Gonzalez

2023-04

We had two separate estimates with SD for 3 projects to reno our house. We met with Franc who was very genuine, kind, informative and professional. I was intimidated by taking on the various projects, but his effective communication and evident experience made everything feel much less overwhelming.Just as we were going to sign the contract for our reno designs our house flooded (worst timing!) and we ended up having to tackle costs of water damage instead. Given our scope and timeline had drastically changed, we've had to defer our initial plans and address pressing needs instead. My review is fully credited to Franc Cordero for reaching out to support us and check in on us through the damage repairs even though we didn't work with SD to address them (due to our need to work ASAP on repairs w/o time for a design/build). We look forward to working with SD in our future home reno projects and highly recommend reaching out if you are looking for someone that will walk you through the whole process.Services: Drywall installation, Home addition construction

Wade Chilcoat

2023-04

My wife and I purchased a 5,000+ sf single-story luxury home that we wanted to convert into a premier residential assisted living facility for seniors living with dementia. To give proper care, we needed to convert the home from a 5 bed/4 bath into an 8 bed/9 bath so that each of the eight residents could have their own private bedroom and bathroom. We also wanted to include specific design elements to make the home bespoke for memory care, such as Dutch doors for all bedrooms, ADA-style bathrooms with roll-in showers and grab bars, widened doorways, and paint schemes to help with wayfinding and toileting. Needless to say, this was not the typical renovation project so we needed to find a good partner who was willing to think outside the box and really take the time to educate themselves on evidence-based design for dementia and then competently execute the work. We interviewed four different contractors but felt that none of them had the resources, experience, or flexibility of Schroeder. We are VERY happy with the Schroeder team all the way from the initial design phase up through production. Architect Chris and Designer Nina went above and beyond in answering our questions and exploring alternate solutions for the challenges encountered during the project. Production manager Selema was very responsive and professional during a construction phase beset with supply chain and labor shortages during Covid. The home turned out beautifully and we constantly get compliments from the residents and their families how happy they are to be living in a gorgeous real home instead of some large big-box facility. Should we be fortunate enough to expand to a second location in a few years, I would not hesitate to work with Andrew and his team again. Wade Chilcoat, Tilden Memory CareService: Remodeling

Rich White

2021-04

My church used Schroeder Design/Build to totally renovate the kitchen and to replace windows in the Sanctuary including several clerestory windows approximately 30 feet in the air. I was the church's Project Manager so was the prime interface with the Schroeder people. They were great to work with starting from our initial meeting through the design phase, getting county approval and then the execution phase. When the Sanctuary windows were being replaced, their workers always left the Sanctuary in pristine condition for worship services. The kitchen renovation occured during the Pandemic which made it more difficult but the end result is awesome. Their designer listened to all our needs and concerns and delivered a great design. Their project manager was great to work with always available whether by text, email or phone. Now that it is completed, congregation members are thrilled to have a new kitchen and impressed at the quality of the work.Services: Tile work installation, Install flooring, Fan installation, Refurbishment, Remodeling, Drywall repair, Flooring

Laura Herz

2022-04

We used Schroeder for our home renovation and love the work that was done. They remodeled our main floor to open up the kitchen, dining room and living room and it is life changing! We now have separate work spaces (2 people working from home), a larger kitchen and are now using our living room! We couldn't be happier with the workmanship - even now a year later we have very few issues (and those are minor).I would however recommend that anyone working with them get their own designer to help with the process - as we felt we "didn't know what we didn't know" and it ended up costing us in the end as we started to see how the space was actually going to function. The design folks at Schroeder are focused on very specific tasks (mostly cabinetry design) - not on the whole design and function of the renovated area.Services: Tile work installation, Install flooring, Tile work replacement, Paint indoors, Refurbishment, Painting, Remodeling, Drywall installation, Plumbing fixture installation, Drywall repair, Flooring

Stephen Goldsmith

2021-04

The Schroeder team renovated our kitchen to give it a universal design (make it accessible for a person in a wheelchair). The staff communicated well throughout the whole process using the CoConstruct project management site. We liked that they had more cabinet and flooring options available than a few other design firms we had considered. They were very conscious of our project concerns and did a great job of mitigating them. The work crew was professional throughout and made sure to keep the place clean at the end of the day. The project was done quickly but correctly, which was appreciated.

Debbie Fulmer

2022-04

We had the best experience with Schroeder from the first meeting to the final walk through. We redesigned living/dining/kitchen into a large open concept. The design team was wonderful, knowledgeable, and helped us pick the best options for us. The GC was friendly and always had a smile. Whenever we had a question he got us the answer. When there was an issue he fixed it. The trades people were also great, the painters, electrician, and flooring people were especially exceptional. Everyone that walked through our door was friendly, knew they trade, and did a wonderful job. I highly recommend Schroeder Design and Build to my friends and family.Service: Remodeling

F V

2017-04

My wife and I bought a house in Northern Virginia in the spring of 2015. A year later we decided to add a new addition to the existing structure. We contacted several design-build firms including Schroeder Design, and decided to go with Schroeder due to several factors including budget estimate and prompt response time. This was our first major renovation project, and they addressed the many questions and concerns we had about the process before we contracted them to do the work.During every phase of the project, from planning, design and material selection, to demolition, construction, and cleanup, we were informed and kept up-to-date on what was happening to the house. We were also impressed with Schroeder’s website as a communication and project management platform. As clients we could easily see where we were in the project schedule, upcoming project milestones, selections made, the project budget and our communication history with Schroeder.Schroeder impressed us with their professionalism from beginning to end. Of course, the end product is the most important part, and we have enjoyed our new addition immensely. We couldn’t be happier with the results and would recommend Schroeder for house renovations.

Leeann Alberts

2021-04

My husband and I had the pleasure of working with Schroeder Design/Build Inc. after we experienced a whole house fire in 2018.As I use a wheelchair, we not only needed to find an excellent design and construction firm, we needed to contract with a firm who understood ADA compliance issues.Schroeder has long standing experience with aging in place design. They addressed concerns in the architectural phase that had not even occurred to me which make my life in my home easier.Schroeder also worked with our insurance company as needed to resolve technical issues to the satisfaction of all concerned.Because we suffered a whole house loss, the rebuild was a long process, but Schroeder kept us up to date with weekly in person status meetings. This allowed all parties to recognize and address issues early and get them resolved quickly.Schroeder Design/Build is a family run small business that can handle large and small jobs. They provide a warranty to ensure satisfaction after the move in is complete. They have won many local and national awards.I highly recommend Schroeder Design/Build.Services: Tile work installation, Install flooring, Fan installation, Exterior painting, Remodeling, Drywall installation, Plumbing fixture installation

Greg D

2022-04

DO NOT HIRE SCHROEDER DESIGN BUILD. We hired Schroeder Design Build in late 2019 to redesign a home built in the 50s that needed a full renovation. What we found out - very expensively - was that this was waaaaay over their capabilities. We ended up firing them after about 6 months and after the second phase of their design process. Below are our reasons:As a client who wants a home redesign and expansion, we should have been able to talk to a real architect. In the first kick-off meeting, we asked if they had an architect on the project and they said they did. However, Andrew hid, yes hid, that architect from us. We never saw him or her, nor chatted via phone, in person, or zoom and he tried to quietly pass off their CAD person (who was nice but not a real architect) as the one responsible for the design. After a few rounds of really bad design and no one taking responsibility for it, Andrew began just designing it himself. We felt like we had to be the expert designers to guide them. Nothing that came back had any architectural rationale. The process was all very sketchy. We got a home design that looked like a Best Buy store. And after paying $40,000 to get through the second phase of the design process, all we had were basic floor plans and an exterior image. No actual architectural drawings with design specifications, elevations, or engineering plans. The next TOP 10 in the Metro DC Design Build group we hired delivered all of that in the first round of architectural plans.But here's what should scare you the most as a home renovator:1. Andrew called our loan officer multiple times to ask how much we could afford - He made our banker feel very uncomfortable. Our loan office called us to let us know what was going on.2. Andrew refused to show us exactly what design plans were submitted to the appraiser. We asked multiple times for these files that were shared with the banks appraiser and he never responded. He avoided sending them every time.3. The bank's independent appraiser actually complained to us after his interactions with Andrew. The appraiser very kindly offered to help explain the rationale for the valuation and suggestions on improvements to the design that could improve the value. However, after all of the interactions with Andrew, the appraiser told us that Andrew just couldn’t understand, saying he "just doesn't get it." What infuriated us most is that the appraiser also told us that the plans submitted to him didn’t even look like completed plans! If you ever go through a complete home renovation with expansion, you’ll soon learn that one of the most important parts is the home valuation of the final plans. Andrew completely botched this part and frustrated the bank’s appraiser.4. Their process for arriving at a scope within your budget is disingenuous. They lead you down a path that is way above your budget and then start taking things away in order to arrive closer to your budget. For example: you expect new drywall in a complete renovation project but yet we heard "we’re sorry, this scope assumes using the existing (50 y.o.) drywall and plaster. If you want new drywall, that will add to the scope.”5. There was no "what can we do to make this right" from Andrew when we told him he was fired. There was no refund to correct the clearly insufficient design skills of whoever the ghost architect was on our project.Never would I recommend them to anyone. We threw away 6+ months with them. $40,000+ on sketches that were not worth $5,000.Of recent May 2021: I went back into one of the vendor stores that Schroeder introduced us to and spoke with one of the designers that helped us 18 months ago. I told the vendor our situation and this person said they had others leave Schroeder and work directly with the vendor. They weren't surprised with our situation.Service: Remodeling

Virgilio

2022-04

The Right Contractor Makes the Difference Undertaking a remodeling project is a difficult process because there are so many decisions that must be made regarding cost, schedule, and materials. However, once you’re committed to the remodeling effort, choosing the right organization to perform the work is the biggest decision you will make. So, how do you choose the right organization? Obviously, you want someone that’s honest and that will give you a fair price. But there are other important considerations. Do they have the resources to do the job? Are their workers skilled? Can you trust those workers to be in your home, with your family? Can you depend on them to develop a rational schedule and then stick to it? There are so many considerations that choosing the right organization may seem overwhelming. Fortunately, there is Schroeder Design/Build (SDB). When we decided to remodel our small kitchen we chose SDB as our remodeling partner. For us, SDB was an easy and logical choice because we had worked with them in the past and knew what to expect. In our first partnership, SDB added a front porch and carport to our home. They did such a wonderful job we naturally thought of them when considering our small kitchen remodel. Our only concern was the small scope of the project. Would SDB agree to take on such a small project? We called SDB and were thrilled when they agreed to meet with us. From the very beginning of our second partnership, we knew we had made the right choice. Even though the scope of our kitchen remodel was much smaller than our earlier remodeling project, SDB provided the same professional service. Remodeling, when done right, can add value and convenience to your home. The most important step in the remodeling process is the choice of a remodeling partner. SDB is an honest, competent, and dependable remodeling partner that we would recommend to anyone considering a remodeling project. We partnered with SDP twice and will make them our first choice for all future remodeling plans.”Services: Install flooring, Paint indoors, Exterior painting, Remodeling, Drywall installation, Plumbing fixture installation

Cathy Tunis

2015-04

We worked with Schroeder to get a beautiful addition to our house that made our lives much richer. We now have more room to entertain, more natural light, and a beautiful outlook into the woods behind us. The Schroeder architect, designer, project manager, and lead carpenters were all very responsive and easy to work with. Everything was done according to schedule, with constant communication, and within budget. We could not have been more pleased with the experience and the end result.

Sherry Sharif

2015-04

Everyone at Schroeder was extremely professional, courteous and pleasant to work with. The design exceeded our expectations and the field crew who did the work were detailed. They were very considerate of our family needs during the renovation. We recommend them to anyone looking for a professional Design/Build firm in Northern Virginia.

Michael Addabbo

2021-04

We had Schroeder do a renovation to add another bedroom and full bath to our house. Their work was top quality, within budget, and completed as scheduled, with great communication throughout the process. This is the second major project we've done with them and we'd definitely work with them again.

Jan Chizzonite

2015-04

Schroeder Design/Build redesigned our Master bath/dressing area to give us a more functional updated master bath, created an upstairs laundry room as well as adding an ensuite bath for another bedroom. They are a full service company,from creating the design to following through in making it exactly as it was planned. They have a trustworthy, courteous and hardworking group of craftsman. Everyone at this company, from the person answering the phone to the owners care and work hard to make one's renovations go smoothly.‎ When your home is a work zone, its important to have a reliable, honest company that meets deadlines and delivers a product that exceeds your expectations.

Muriel Jedlicka

2022-04

“A wonderful family owned business. They worked with us from start to finish. Showed up on time each day, helped us stay within budget, finished the project (a room addition and kitchen renovation) within the estimated time. I have recommended them to many and have had them complete two other projects for me.”Service: Remodeling

Benjamin Ranieri

2020-04

Schroeder Design/Build is a phenomenal builder! I have seen several of their homes, including a fully eco-friendly green home. Worked with their rep for over a year. Extremely capable and impressive company! Very professional and very capable. Deirdre McSorley is a rockstar too! She goes the extra mile for everyone!

Tonya Newman

2020-04

Lofty promises with shabby timeframes & results. In summary a 5wk 'proposed' project (after the deposit was cashed & our front yard was trashed) has taken 7 months... and they are still not finished. Poor communication with the homeowner re: delays & the reason, no control over their subcontractors (who show up when they want), no respect for the property being our home (trash left strewn about the property daily), no accountability for delays timelines & major design errors that did not follow the original plan. For the price point of work they should & need to do better. Overextending to get additional jobs is no excuse for poor customer service. Again... 7 months later we're STILL tracking them down to simply complete the job. Unacceptable.

Kathy Marten

2015-04

I knew my master bath was ugly, I just didn't know it could look this beautiful! From start to finish it was smooth sailing. Working with the designer, Fonda, was a joy. She helped me select from large selections and kept me in budget. The workers kept my place as clean as possible and finished on schedule. They took my ideas and made them better. Not only would I use them again but I referred my daughter to them and her fabulous new kitchen will be done within the week. This may sound silly, but every

Brenda Dodd

2015-04

I am so thrilled with my new kitchen!!! I could never have imagined in my mind how beautiful it could be. Schroeder has such amazing vision. I could not have asked for a better group of people to work with on this remodel. Today as I sit at my new breakfast bar peering out of my beautiful custom windows watching the snow fall I am so blessed!! Thank you Schroeder Design Build and your entire team!!

susan Cole

2023-04

Great people! At first 2 bad it didn't last.