Google reviewers rate PKB Design Build 4.9 out of 5 based on 61 reviews, noting that the owner replies to 98% of them. Customers frequently praise the company for professional communication, transparent pricing, and successful navigation of historic district approvals during basement, kitchen, and porch renovations. Recurring themes highlight punctuality, design quality, and responsive project management. One common criticism involves a significant budget overrun and design delays attributed to internal staffing decisions.
Google rating: 4.9 out of 5 from 61 reviews (95% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 61 Google reviews (53 with written comments, 5 with photos).
Owner responses: the business replied to 98% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 31, 2026.
Service: Home Remodeling Contractor serving Charlotte, North Carolina.
Data from Google, last updated November 11, 2026.
Star ratings
61 Google reviews we collected
4.9of 5
5 stars5895%
4 stars12%
3 stars00%
2 stars00%
1 star23%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 53 written reviews
98%praise
Praise12798%
Complaints32%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Staff & attitude2721%
Communication2620%
Quality & results2318%
Would recommend2015%
Speed & response1612%
Honesty & trust108%
Price & value86%
What customers talk about
We read 53 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“Given our home's location in a historic district, their expertise in navigating the approval process was invaluable.”
“Paul and his team, especially Dean and Michelle, are easy to work with and helped to turn our vision into reality.”
“PKB's full-service approach included thorough project management, consistent communication, and a shared digital space for collaboration.”
“We definitely recommend PKB based on our positive experience.”
“…closet from attic space, re-created an existing bathroom into a more efficient en-suite and separate half bath for the hallway, turned a nook into an…”
“Due to continued errors and excruciatingly slow delivery, we lost trust in PKB's ability to deliver.”
“The design phase was collaborative, with our input genuinely heard and incorporated, and feedback well-received.”
“The cost of the project was pretty reasonable although any change order does get the standard builder markup so I would advise to think about whether…”
People customers mention
Paul12 reviews
Builders11 reviews
Gennady5 reviews
Chris4 reviews
Michelle3 reviews
Kowalski3 reviews
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Paul and his team were fantastic in every step of the way! We had a vision of what we wanted to do with our unfinished basement and they made it a reality. From designing, finishes, construction, and everything in between, their team went above and beyond!
Services: Basement remodeling
Response from the owner · 3 months ago
Thank you so much, Kreshan! We truly appreciate your kind words and are so glad we could bring your vision to life. Your basement transformation was an incredible project, and we're grateful for the trust you placed in our team throughout the process. We hope you enjoy your new space for years to come. Thank you again for choosing PKB!
Ron N8 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Ron has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Have used Paul Kowalski Builders on two remodels on my 1970's lake house. Paul and his team took a small lake house that had some previous hodgepodge additions and turned it into a cohesive contemporary lake house with great flow. Paul and his team, especially Dean and Michelle, are easy to work with and helped to turn our vision into reality. It makes it easy when working with a design and build firm.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Thanks for sharing your experience Ron! We loved working on your project and making the vision for you lake home come to life. We are honored to be partner on your remodel journey!
Nice job Michelle and Dean!!!
-Paul
Pranali Trivedi5 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Pranali has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We had a very positive experience with PKB for our back porch design and build. Along the way we expanded the scope of the project to also renovate two bedroom/bathrooms. All the spaces turned out incredibly well done and beautiful.
Given our home's location in a historic district, their expertise in navigating the approval process was invaluable. Michelle Sutton, our lead designer, expertly blended aesthetics and function, proving crucial for our project's success. PKB's full-service approach included thorough project management, consistent communication, and a shared digital space for collaboration. The design phase was collaborative, with our input genuinely heard and incorporated, and feedback well-received.
During construction, our dedicated Field Supervisor, Siwatu Spikes, demonstrated exceptional attention to detail, which was key to the project's smooth execution (fellow type As take note). As clients we were attended to regularly by Paul as owner and Jake as Production Manager.
In construction, unexpected variables are inevitable. PKB's integrity and authentic values were evident throughout, making all the difference in achieving a successful outcome. We definitely recommend PKB based on our positive experience.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Pranali,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review! It was a pleasure working with you on your back porch and bedroom/bathroom renovations. We're thrilled to hear that our team's full-service approach—from design through construction—made the process smooth and successful.
Navigating the challenges of a historic district can be complex, and we're glad our expertise helped make that part easier. Michelle, Siwatu, Jake, and Paul all appreciate the kind words and were proud to be part of your project. Your collaborative spirit and clear communication helped us bring your vision to life. Thank you for trusting PKB and for recommending us. We’re grateful to have been part of your home’s transformation!
Debbie Garland4 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Debbie has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Actually did not have any work done by PK. My plans changed but I still had the privilege to meet Cathy my first contact whom was so kind and informative who then referred me to Chris a client success manager whom was easy to communicate with and felt comfortable talking with him about what I wanted and needed along with sending photos to him.
My experience with the team was professionalism, a team working together, and was definitely going to work within my budget, not theirs. Did not get to personally meet Paul but when he went to look at premises (no one could be there) the report came back with great news and money he could save me.
I would absolutely highly recommend PK Builders and use them if needed in future!
Response from the owner · a year ago
Debbie,
Thank you so much for taking time to share your experience with us. We are happy to have had the opportunity to meet with you, learn about your goals for your home, and review all your options. Helping you make an informed, confident decision (even if it is not to remodel) is our top priority. We wish you the very best and hope our paths cross again in the future!
Becca Brinkley Bishop11 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Becca has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We have engaged PKB to help us renovate our home, and although the project isn’t completed yet, I’d like to commend the team on the incredible job they have done so far. We are updating a 1920s bungalow that is more complicated than some newer homes, and we insisted on keeping as much of the home’s original bones/ charm as possible. We chose PKB given their extensive track record with historic homes.
Paul and Chris have been wonderful to work with from the beginning. They spent plenty of time and consideration to understand our goals for the project and were very communicative and upfront about any ideas that didn’t make much sense or would be more costly than we anticipated.
Michelle, the designer, has been amazing. She has transformed our home with such vision and thoughtfulness. Like others at PKB, she has been candid and creative with our unique home. We thought we knew how we’d like the project to turn out, but she has brought it to life beyond our imagination.
A very thoughtful, professional, and transparent process thus far. Huge thanks to the whole PKB team, and we can’t wait to see the final prouct.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Becca, Thank you for sharing your positive experience with our team! We appreciate the nuances and details that come with remodeling your older home and love the opportunity to create a space that accommodates your modern lifestyle. This is a fun project and we can't wait to see it through to completion!
Neal Karas3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Neal has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We recently worked with PK Builders on the initial stages of our home renovation, and I couldn't be more impressed with the service we received. From the start, the team was professional, attentive, and truly interested in understanding our vision.
What stood out the most was the concept rendering they provided—absolutely stunning! It gave us a clear, realistic visualization of what our space could become, and helped us feel confident about moving forward with the project. The attention to detail and creativity in the design was beyond what we expected.
The team communicated consistently, answered all of our questions with patience and insight, and really made us feel like valued clients. Even though we're still in the planning phase, this rendering gave us the excitement and direction we needed.
Highly recommend Michelle and team to anyone looking for a trustworthy, skilled, and creative remodeling partner.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Neal, thank you for sharing your experience with our team. We love helping you envision the project and feel confident about your decisions - and our team!
Chris Barry AbramsLocal Guide · 22 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Chris has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Top notch experience with the PK Builder team. We are under a house renovation currently. We bought an older home (built in 1982) that needed quite a bit of work and updating. We were looking for a mid-century modern look.
We were referred to PK Builders and we couldn't be happier! Our entire PK team are pure professionals! We knew they were the match for us when PK's owner, Paul, "saw" our vision and was just as excited as we were to create our forever home.
Chris L., our project guide, has been with us from day one, keeping us informed of all activity, timelines and progress. It's great to have Chris there to ask any and all questions to.
Our architectural designer, Michelle, has taken our thoughts and ideas and created the most magical design.
A big shout out to our designer, Miranda, who has created the aesthetic and "feel" that we envisioned in our home. Through the furniture, rugs, tiles, down to the pulls on our cabinetry, I am beyond thrilled!
AND last BUT not least, this could not all come together with out our FANTASTIC Field Supervisor, Dan! Dan and his team have worked diligently through the cold winter and have gone above and beyond to make sure that our house is safe and exactly the way it needs to be. Dan comes up with suggestions that we haven't even thought of. Dan is communicative with us on a daily basis without us having to be there.
We are so very thankful we found PK Builders!
Response from the owner · a year ago
Chris, thank you for sharing your positive experience with our team! Your enthusiasm is contagious and we have loved working with you to transform your home. Bringing your dreams to reality is our goal and we are all excited to see the final results! Thank you, Paul
elan ziff3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews elan has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Paul and his team are fantastic, they were fully transparent about the process, timing, and costs for our renovation. We loved working with them and highly recommend them for any home additions in Charlotte.
Response from the owner · 2 years ago
Elan and Ashley, Thank you so much for leaving us a review and you kind words. We enjoyed working with you and look forward to the next opportunity! - Paul
Chris MillerLocal Guide · 15 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Chris has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We had a very good experience with PKB. They built a new en-suite and walk in closet from attic space, re-created an existing bathroom into a more efficient en-suite and separate half bath for the hallway, turned a nook into an office and built a new covered patio with fireplace and several bells and whistles out back. Jennie Bridges as finish designer (and her assistant Angie Towne) and Dean Steliotes as our on-site supervisor (and his boss Jake Warchola) were great to work with and made sure everything was done top notch. Jennie has a great eye for finishes and was always willing to go the extra mile to get a new sample and bring it to our house to look at in the space if we still had doubts. Dean spent long days at our house for several months and was very responsive to issues that popped up and we really enjoyed having him around to oversee the project. Henry Longhi was easy to work with as our intake coordinator and helped with initial selections and design that helped kick start the project. And Michelle Sutton as architect drew up great plans that were able to be executed in some challenging spots. I’m a bit of a neat freak and Dean did a great job of keeping walk ways covered and doing their best to contain dust. The cost of the project was pretty reasonable although any change order does get the standard builder markup so I would advise to think about whether the convenience of having PKB do some of the smaller projects while all the major work is being done is worth the extra cost versus finding the contractors yourself once the main project is done. We decided avoiding the hassle of dealing with it ourselves was worth the extra cost. Overall, we are very pleased with the end product and would recommend PKB for your major house renovations.
Response from the owner · 2 years ago
Chris, thank you for your review and for acknowledging your positive experience with specific team members. You were a pleasure to work with and our team had fun with the creativity of this project. Wishing you all the best!
Matt Miller4 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Matt has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We gave our trust and $20,000 to Paul. He used it as an opportunity to train his staff. We came to the business with a rough home design and asked for tweaks to the purchasable plan. They spent all the money to produce an ugly mess from scratch instead, at $200,000 over budget. The design took an absurd amount of time because he tried to use an internal designer instead of an architect. Paul's team also failed to honor the cost control measures in his contract, potentially in material breach. Due to continued errors and excruciatingly slow delivery, we lost trust in PKB's ability to deliver. Use caution - we wasted $20,000 and 1.5 years. We went with another builder with the same parameters and they have been able to actually achieve what Paul merely promised.
Response from the owner · 2 years ago
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear about your experience, and regret that we did not meet your expectations.
We value your feedback, as it helps us improve our services. Our team will reach out to you this week to better understand how we could have provided a better experience for you.
