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Renaissance Restorations Renaissance Restorations specializes in home additions and major renovations throughout all of Southeast Michigan! Our experienced renovation specialists can help you update and modernize your kitchen, bathroom, or basement will all the latest styles and furnishings the market has to offer. Renaissance Restorations offers custom solutions for home additions including master suites, senior care additions, family room additions, kitchen & bathroom additions, 2nd story additions, and sun room additions.
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Renaissance Restorations, Inc. provides premier home additions and renovations for clients throughout Detroit historic neighborhoods: Indian Village, Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, University District, Boston-Edison, Woodbridge, Grosse Pointe Communities, and Rosedale Park. Renovation is a major undertaking, and choosing the right contractor with experience can help assure that you get the most for your time, effort and money.
We serve as a premier window contractor throughout Detroit's historic neighborhoods: Indian Village, Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, University District, Boston-Edison, Woodbridge and Rosedale Park. Renaissance Restorations, Inc., offers custom wood windows which are made to order for each of our discriminating clients.
Renaissance Restorations, Inc. provides premier masonry services throughout Detroit's historic neighborhoods: Indian Village, Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, University District, Boston-Edison, Woodbridge. Grosse Pointe Communities, and Rosedale Park. Masonry is the construction from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. These can be referred to as brick, block, limestone, or other types of stone units put together by the mortar.
Renaissance Restorations, Inc. provides unmatched carpentry services throughout Detroit's historic neighborhoods such as Indian Village, Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, University District, Boston-Edison, Woodbridge, Grosse Pointe Communities, and Rosedale Park. Carpentry is a skilled trade in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings.
Reviews (14)
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Lori Yates
Jun 22, 2021
Confirming what another reviewer has noted, I have also received a notification that Jamie Craig (the owner) and Renaissance Restorations have filed Chapter 11. So, I don't need to go into too much detail about what a nightmare my experience with this company was. Just look at the reviews from the past two years, it will tell you all you need to know.

A rude and arrogant owner, mostly inexperienced and careless subcontractors, failed inspections, and a timeline three times longer and started four months later than originally estimated. Hiring Renaissance Restorations was the worst mistake of my life, and that's not hyperbole. I know the renovation market is nuts right now, and builders are booked up a year or more, but please don't make the same mistake I did, simply because Jamie promises you he can start soon. It's an empty promise, and you won't be satisfied with the experience or the end product.
Mark Albrecht
Jun 02, 2021
Before I tell you the story take the time and read all the other negative reviews. Then hire another contractor to save your self from his lies, threats and grief. One star is too much for this contractor, but I didn't have a choice. I hired Renaissance Restorations Inc and we signed a contract back in May of 2020 for an addition on my house. He told me it would take about 3-4 months to complete the job.

After telling me this, absolutely nothing happened. I called him several times asking when is he going to start the addition for my house? He kept putting me off, telling me the job will begin soon. Five months later, in October he called me and said I was next on the list and that they would be there in a week. That was a lie, they never showed up.

So I called him again and this time his answer was the cement workers were busy. In January I called him and he told me he would start the job in March 2021. I called him in March and he said we need to break the contract because the price of lumber and everything else went up. He gave me the excuse that if the contract was not broken he would go out of business.

He also said that if I didn't break the contract he would take me to court. I told him that would be like calling the police on your self. I told him if he would have started when the contract was made there wouldn't have been a price increase. Delaying the job was entirely his fault and as a result it has cost me over a year of my time as well as a large price increase for my addition. Save your self the aggravation and hire another contractor.
John M.
May 04, 2021
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. We hired them to fix our slate roof and they did barely okay. The owner wanted as much money up front as possible. They did a horrible job at replacing our eves and then they did not install the leaf guards as promised and paid for. We now have more damage to our roof that we need to pay again to have fixed - NOT going to use them ever again. The owner is a shallow front for cheap and inexperienced subcontractors.
Callie Swanepoel
Jan 02, 2021
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.
Amanda Lockwood
Nov 26, 2020
In March of 2020 my husband and I signed a contact with Jamie Craig the owner of Renaissance Restoration we were looking to add a garage with an in-law suite in the back of the garage of our new house. We paid a security deposit and thought we had hired a good company due to all the good reviews we seen online. We were told that it would take 5-6 months for the project to be completed.

At the end of May we approved the floor plans and was told work would start in a couple weeks. Sadly nothing was started until July of 2020, and the first phase of the cement and footing only took a couple weeks, we were told that the next phase of our project would start right after. Nothing was started until August which was the framing. The gentlemen that Jamie Craig had come out were rude, wrote things on materials like the wood they used and showed up only for a couple hours a day.

After that our project sat for months without anyone showing up, when we asked Jamie why, we were always told "we were bothering him", or "they will be out next week". Jamie only wants to talk to you when he needs to collect payment, after months of waiting they came out to do the siding and the crew Jamie Craig had come out had no idea anything about siding.

They were not wrapping the house with Tyvek wrapping which was stated in our contract and what we paid for. The trim that was installed around our windows was all dented and banged up, they actually broke the tile in our shower due to hammering so hard on the outside while installing the new siding, lets also not forget they didn't cut a hole for our dryer vent or water hose.

They just covered it all up. They never even finished the job and just quit showing up. From the end of December we have never heard anything from the owner Jamie Craig, the Project Manager Brian or the Assistant Project Manager. Lets also not forget to mention Jamie Craig WASN'T paying the company he receives materials from, they actually sent us a letter to notify us that materials weren't paid for and we actually owed them money.

They even threatened to put a lien on our house due to the amount that was owed. I have actual had to hire a new contactor to finish the project that they started and also fix the damage they caused to our house and to fix all their mistakes since clearly things were not completed to code or down correctly. I wouldn't recommend them at all!
Eleanor Litt
Feb 09, 2020
Mr. Craig will answer this complaint with, "She created a hostile work environment", "She kept changing her mind", "The plans were insufficient", "She took six months to hire an architect (he was to provide by contract), "The plans were wrong", on and on but these are all blatant lies. He will say I fired him before he had a chance to finish. He will say I did this before (and I won) so many will try and take advantage of a single working mother.

Anyone whom he did not call back is just lucky believe me. Began work at the end of September 2017 and STOPPED November 2018 asking for new plans, and my hiring a new architect, knowing that old plans needed "tweaking and a little modification". The ponding of the flat roof/deck and leaking which were brought to his attention at that time had nothing to do with having new plans. Began improper installing of cladding and wrong color (May 2018) (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 in spite of notes with measurements accused me of ordering incorrect windows. Accused me of changing walls constantly (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 it was a deck, 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 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. The city found mistakes (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 un-capped wires using old panel, beams placed in such a way that it would not support a deck Mr. Craig claims he knew nothing about in spite of pictures sent before contract signed. 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. Notice 5 star reviews different names but same words verbatim. Wait for my review labeled "Full review pending."
Susan L.
Jan 06, 2020
Do not use this company! Run! The owner doesn't go on site, hires cheapest sub contractors without oversight, knows very little about building.
Rob Herman
Dec 06, 2019
The absolute worst customer service we have ever experienced. The accounting is suspect and the contractor is one of the rudest people I have ever dealt with. I wish I could give them zero stars. I would not recommend that anyone hire this company for any job. The ceiling is cracking. The trim is separating from the walls. The bathroom sprung a leak and damaged our vanity and our kitchen ceiling. Jamie Craig used threatening language on one phone call with my wife and then again in a voicemail, that I still have saved if anyone would like to hear it.

I know that he offered to help us out in the future but seeing as how he and anyone representing his company aren't allowed in my house, that's definitely not going to happen. Furthermore, reading through other reviews, it is obvious that someone is creating fake accounts to give good reviews. There are several reviews that are word-for-word duplicates of other positive reviews. If I were you, I'd be weary of any 5 star ratings.
Eleanor Smith-Litt
May 26, 2019
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". Job supervisor turns out to be a former school social worker/psychologist and his ex wife.
Aftab Hassan
Feb 23, 2018
We had been seeing Renaissance Restoration ads in the Grosse Pointe News for a while, so when it was time for renovations we decided to give them a call for a quote on our work. Mr. Craig, the owner came out along with Jeri Lathum and talked to us about our kitchen project as well as flooring. The amount of time they spent blew away the competition.

They were genuinely interested in the details and the project. During the entire time of the project we were made to feel that our investment in the project was secondary to the detail and perfection of the whole scope. I wish more companies had an old fashioned attitude like Renaissance, where the craft is still the most important part.
Muhammad Ilyas
Jan 07, 2017
I own a very old house in Farmington that has had additions before. I searched for a company that specialized in old home additions and found Renaissance Restorations, Inc. in Birmingham. I called and talked to a friendly guy, Mr. Craig who was the owner and he told me it would be no problem for his company to do a nice job and that their experience would make my addition look like it had been built with the house. Mr. Craig came out and gave us a great price and with his architect the design worked well for a master suite addition. My wife and I are very happy with the professionalism and the finished project.
Amjad Aslam
Nov 13, 2016
Our roof starting leaking so we called Renaissance Restorations. To our surprise the owner, Jamie Craig came out. He was quite pleasant and knowledgeable about roofing. We have a challenging roof with a steep pitch. He showed us a few lines of shingles Renaissance carries. We decided on Enviroshake shingles, a recycled roofing product. The installation went great, and not only it is environmentally friendly they look beautiful. They also provided seamless gutters their truck came and made them right at our house and were up in a day! I recommend this company to anybody in need of roofing services.
Judith R.
Nov 12, 2015
My brick garage sustained a giant hole as my husband accidentally plowed through it as he backed in. Renaissance Restoration provided the best estimate for repair so we went with them. The finished job was done well and it looks phenomenal! We live in an historic district and it is important that any "outside" construction be done well. I would definitely use this company again and would recommend them highly.
Ste H.
Sep 13, 2015
This company used cement mortar to repoint our historic brick home resulting in damage to the older mortar and brick.