The Best General Contractors in Milwaukee Wisconsin

Last updated on July 18th, 2024 at 05:04 am

Located in southeast Wisconsin, Milwaukee is the largest city in the state and internationally known for its famous breweries. It is the perfect place to explore thanks to its beautiful parks. The city also hosts one of the world’s largest music festivals. Milwaukee is also a livable town: affordable living costs, great employment options, and excellent neighborhoods. If you want to build a home in the area or renovate your existing residence, we have compiled 15 of the best general contractors to turn your home from basic to elegant.

If you are thinking about doing a construction project we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

S.J. Janis Company

11501 W North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53226

S.J. Janis Company is an award-winning general contractor that has been providing design, build, and remodeling services to the Greater Milwaukee area for over 70 years. It has collaborated with over 1,400 homeowners, transforming their dream designs into beautiful, functional living spaces. The firm includes a full-service team of designers, consultants, and craftspeople with the experience and expertise to handle any project, whether a single room or a stunning new addition.

Gary Sannes and Nick Sannes lead the team. The former has been the company’s owner since 1984 and learned the business from the ground up. Meanwhile, Nick joined the firm in 2014 and serves as S.J. Janis Company’s president. He is affiliated with the Metropolitan Builders Association and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Carmel Builders

N85 W16100 Appleton Avenue, Suite 212, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

Carmel Builders is a full-service design and build remodeling firm that has been creating beautiful, functional, and meaningful spaces since 1979. The firm provides kitchen and bath remodels, lower levels, additions, multi-room, and whole house renovations to Southeastern Wisconsin homeowners. The family-owned and operated company partners with the best artisans in the region. The firm has established a reputation for helping clients realize their vision and building perfect homes that last.

Carmel Builders prides itself on integrity, openness, and a commitment to educating customers to make the right decisions. Now in the second generation of family ownership, Carmel Builders is led by Louis Weiher. With a background in hospitality management, he has focused the company on providing excellent customer service and the ability to manage projects effectively and efficiently.

Brillo Home Improvements

5315 N Lovers Lane Road, Milwaukee, WI 53225

Brillo Home Improvements is a residential and commercial remodeling firm specializing in every aspect of home improvement, including kitchen and bath remodels, additions, space planning and design, window and door replacement, and attic conversions. It takes a friendly approach to every project and is passionate about providing quality craftsmanship and professional project management. Founded in 1977, the award-winning company serves homeowners from the Greater Milwaukee area, including Waukesha, Washington, and Ozaukee Counties.

Mike J. Bovee, Jim Zaja, and Mike D. Bovee are the founding owners of Brillo Home Improvements. They have decades of experience in the construction field and strive to share their knowledge with clients and the crew. Under their oversight, the firm has received many awards, including the 2018 Grand Prize Winner – Showroom Design – Crystal Cabinet Design Awards.

Callen Construction

S63 W13131 Janesville Road, Muskego, WI 53150

Callen Construction is a home remodeling company customizing each project to increase clients’ home value. It specializes in exteriors, interiors, kitchen remodels, bath remodels, and window and door replacements. The firm serves the counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Walworth, Washington, Ozaukee, Racine, and Kenosha. The firm was founded in 1986 to provide its customers the most innovative home improvement ideas. It takes pride in providing personalized attention to its clients’ remodeling needs.

The firm’s team includes highly-trained designers and skilled artisans. Those craftsmen are led by Tom and Phil Callen, who founded the company 35 years ago. Both brothers have extensive experience in home improvement and remodeling and left corporate life to form their business partnership. Callen Construction was featured in many publications, including MKELifestyle Magazine and The Jacksonville Journal-Courier.

LaBonte Construction

1051 E Ogden Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202

LaBonte Construction is a home improvement company that has been providing superior craftsmanship and exceptional customer service to clients across Milwaukee and the surrounding area for 15 years. The firm provides home remodeling and custom carpentry services and strives to build functional homes where families can make a lifetime of memories. The firm uses the finest quality materials and provides each project with personalized attention to ensure superior results. Since its inception, LaBonte Construction has assembled an impressive portfolio of projects and received plenty of excellent reviews from happy clients.

Jeffrey L. Koenig is the CEO of LaBonte Construction and specializes in business development, contract negotiation, vendor relations, historic home preservation, and construction science. He bought the firm in May of 2014, aiming to transform the two-person shop into Milwaukee’s premier general contracting firm.

MKE Design Build

3775A South Packard Avenue, St. Francis, WI 53235

Established in 2015, MKE Design Build is a fully-integrated design-build group headquartered in St. Francis, Wisconsin. It specializes in residential and commercial remodels, serving clients across the Milwaukee area and beyond. The firm takes pride in quality craftsmanship, having received many recognitions for its superior quality work. In 2021, it was the Regional Winner for Residential Interior, the $100,000 to $250,000 category at the NARI CotY Awards, as well as a National Award Winner for Residential Bath, $25,000 to $50,000. Since its inception, MKE Design Build has assembled a team of in-house designers and finish carpenters who offer fresh perspectives and quality service.

Michelle Swier and Tom Gies direct the firm. Michelle is the senior designer and project coordinator and has a strong passion for commercial remodeling and a crisp talent for residential design and décor. Meanwhile, Tom is the production and general manager of the company. He is a licensed contractor in Wisconsin and sits on the Board of Directors for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Milwaukee.

Cream City Construction

3112 West Highland Boulevard, Milwaukee, WI 53208

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cream City Construction is a general contracting company specializing in home design, remodeling, and renovation services. The firm was founded with the idea that every homeowner deserves innovative design, superior quality craftsmanship, and personalized attention to detail to every aspect of their home improvement project. The firm is licensed in Milwaukee and throughout Southeastern Wisconsin and has been committed to creating new spaces that reflect clients’ styles.

The firm operates under the management of Jim Grote and Todd Badovski, who have over 50 years of experience in design-build remodeling and renovation. Cream City Construction is affiliated with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Milwaukee and Historic Milwaukee Incorporated. In 2016, it received the Master Bathroom Renovation: GOLD AWARD from Wisconsin Remodeler Awards.

Gabor Design Build

W156 N11238 Pilgrim Road, Germantown, WI 53022

Since 2000, Gabor Design Build has been the leading home remodeler for Wisconsin homeowners. The firm has earned a reputation for providing the highest standard of service in the home remodeling industry and helping families create a unique and perfect living space that will last. The firm has built a portfolio of whole house remodels, multi-room projects, additions, and custom homes located across the Southeast Wisconsin community. As a family-owned company, it aims to deliver projects that balance design and function.

Nathan Gabor owns and directs Gabor Design Build. The firm started as a one-person remodeling firm and gradually became one of Milwaukee’s best. Before starting his company, Mr. Gabor worked for Eppstein-Uhen Architects and Winters Design Group. Numerous media outlets have featured the firm, including the NARI Milwaukee Home Improvement Radio Show.

AB&K

3636 South 108th Street, Greenfield, WI 53228

AB&K is an award-winning remodeler that has been operating in Greater Southeast Wisconsin for over two decades. The firm specializes in whole home remodels, kitchen remodels, and bathroom remodels and is known for its innovative designs. Having received over 40 independent, national, and regional remodeling design awards, the firm prides itself on its superior quality projects. AB&K partners with industry-leading construction professionals to ensure the highest quality of craftsmanship on every home it transforms.

Since 2000, AB&K has built a portfolio of renowned projects, a testament to its ability to provide excellence in the industry. Jeff Klement owns the firm and has 35 years of experience in the home remodeling field. The firm’s work has been featured by multiple media outlets, including MKE Lifestyle Magazine, NARI Milwaukee, and on the NARI Home Remodeling Show.

RJ Builders

4316 N. Oakland Avenue, Shorewood, WI 53211

Founded in 1995, RJ Builders is a home remodeler striving to make every project special and unique. The full-service remodeling company provides additions, kitchen and bath remodels, garage remodels, exterior design, existing space utilization, windows, doors, windmill replacements, and design services to Milwaukee’s North Shore and the surrounding community. The firm has earned a reputation for offering vision and value to each project regardless of size or scope. The firm has provided superior customer service and design-build solutions since its inception.

Ann Gaeta and Kevin Kysley own the firm. The former serves as the principal designer and leads every project’s client relations and design. Meanwhile, Kevin is responsible for managing all the construction of the firm’s remodeling projects and providing input on their initial development.

Design Group Three

5050 N Port Washington Road, Milwaukee, WI 53217

Design Group Three is one of southeastern Wisconsin’s most trusted residential design-build companies. The firm specializes in design-build, kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, additions, and whole house remodels. Since its inception in 1989, it has delivered consistently outstanding designs and developed the best possible solutions that cater to clients’ specific needs and budgets. The firm has an unwavering commitment to quality construction. Every project is possible through the knowledgeable support and hard work of its staff, architects, and carpenters.

The firm runs under the leadership of Adam Schwai and Jeff Brady, Design Group Three’s principal partners and designers. Both are NARI-certified remodelers. Under their oversight, the company has won multiple awards, including the NARI 2022 Regional CotY Award Winner, in the Residential Exterior $100,001 to $200,000 category.

Barenz Builders

N112 W16700 Mequon Road, Germantown, WI 53022

Barenz Builders is a Wisconsin custom home builder that has been constructing luxury homes and remodels since 1977. Since its founding, the firm has been committed to delivering outstanding quality and beautiful homes. The firm wants to redefine clients’ home building and remodeling experiences. It has an impressive portfolio of custom homes, lakes, and remodeling projects. The firm has achieved complete customer satisfaction by treating customers’ homes like their own. Barenz Builders understands that home building is one of the most significant financial decisions homeowners make, so it strives to complete each project on time, within budget, and in line with the highest quality standards.

Ronny Barenz serves as Barenz Builders’ president. He has 18 years of comprehensive experience in the home remodeling industry and is a NARI graduate master builder and NAHB-certified green professional. The firm was featured by multiple press publications, including The Milwaukee Business Journal.

Dimension

3315 N 124th Street, Suite A, Brookfield, WI 53005

Operating out of its office in Brookfield, Dimension is a design, build, and remodeling company that has been providing home improvement services since 2006. The firm specializes in a wide range of projects, including kitchens, master bathrooms, basements, additions, custom home construction, project management, and architectural and interior design. For 15 years, the firm has built a strong reputation for promptness, quality work, friendliness, honest cost estimates, and excellent design solutions. Dimension takes pride in being a small design-build firm with a large firm’s design expertise and resources.

Dimension operates under the supervision of David Kallie. He serves as the firm’s president, CEO, and project manager, and he has nearly 30 years of experience in construction. He is a member of the NARI Milwaukee Board of Directors and a member of the board for Step Beyond Green to Healthy.

Pekel Construction & Remodeling

2132 North 70th Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53213

Pekel Construction & Remodeling is a Wisconsin award-winning design-build remodeler passionate about making each project extraordinary. The firm opened its doors in 1995 and has become a recognized, trusted leader and an authoritative voice in the remodeling industry. The firm offers every client personal and professional treatment from initial contact with the team and each phase after that. The team believes that each client deserves equal attention, regardless of their project’s size and scope.

David Pekel leads the company as the CEO. He is a master certified remodeler, a universal design certified professional, a certified aging-in-place specialist, and a certified construction professional. For 26 years in the business, Pekel Construction & Remodeling has received numerous awards, including the NARI 2016 Region 3 North Central CotY Award in the Residential Exterior Under $100,000 category.

Highland Builders

8008 Town Hall Rd, Kewaskum, WI 53040

Highland Builders is a custom home builder and remodeler developing fine custom homes throughout West Bend, Milwaukee, Mequon, Cedarburg, Grafton, Hartford, and Slinger. The firm was established in 2003 and consistently provides exceptional services and delivers extraordinary results. As a client-focused company, Highland Builders strives to provide each project personalized attention to ensure outcomes that meet client expectations. The firm’s commitment to excellence and satisfaction is evident in the copious testimonials from delighted customers.

Todd Wolff and Shane Pionkowski co-founded the company 18 years ago. Their shared values and expertise in construction led them to form their home building company. Highland Builders’ works have been featured in multiple press publications, including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Builders Showcase Magazine.