Planned, then built.
What we take on
01 — Kitchens
Cabinetry, counters, tile, electrical and plumbing all land in the same few square metres, in an order that cannot be rearranged on the day. Most of what makes a kitchen run late is a decision that was still open when the trade arrived — which is why selections close during design here, not during demolition.
Kitchens — A kitchen is five trades in one room.
02 — Bathrooms
The part that decides whether it lasts is finished before anything looks finished: the pan, the membrane, the slope to the drain, the ventilation that actually moves air outside rather than into a joist bay. Tile is the part you see, and it is the last thing that matters.
Bathrooms — A bathroom is waterproofing wearing tile.
03 — Basements
The excavation, the foundation and the roof above it are already paid for — nothing else adds living space without buying those three first. Three things decide whether it works, and all are invisible once the drywall is up: moisture, egress and headroom. A basement used for sleeping needs two exits by code.
Basements — A basement is the cheapest space you will ever add.
04 — Whole home
Every trade wants the house at the same time, and the order they get it in decides the schedule more than any single crew's speed does. It is also the scope where the gap between a designer's drawing and a builder's price does the most damage, which is the argument for settling both under one agreement.
Whole home — A whole-home remodel is a sequencing problem.
05 — Additions
Wisconsin footings go below frost penetration or at least 48 inches, whichever is deeper. That single requirement is the largest cost difference between an addition here and the same addition in a warm-weather market — a deeper hole, more concrete, and a start date the ground decides rather than the calendar.
Additions — An addition starts four feet underground.
06 — Windows
This is a northern climate zone, so U-factor governs and solar gain is often a benefit rather than a problem — the opposite of how windows are sold in the sunbelt. The other half of the job is the wall: an insert leaves the siding alone, full-frame opens it and lets someone fix the flashing above each opening.
Windows — Here a window is judged on heat lost, not sun blocked.
07 — Siding
Wind-driven rain, ice at the eaves and freeze-thaw all attack the layers nobody sees — the weather barrier, the flashing over openings, and the kickout where a roof edge meets a wall. That last detail is missing on a remarkable number of houses and rots sheathing behind an elevation that still looks sound.
Siding — What ruins a wall is behind the siding, not on it.
08 — Roofing
Heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper roof; the meltwater refreezes at the cold overhang and backs up under the shingles — uphill, which no covering resists. The durable fix is insulation, air sealing and ventilation, with ice-barrier membrane at the eaves as the backstop. Shingles alone buy a season.
Roofing — Most winter roof leaks are not a roofing problem.
09 — Painting
A film lifting off an exterior wall is usually moisture driving out through it, not weather beating on it — a ventilation problem wearing a paint problem's clothes. Inside, low winter sun rakes across a wall at an angle that shows every ridge, which is why preparation here is judged against raking light rather than overhead light.
Painting — Paint fails from behind, not from wear.
10 — Flooring
Most houses here sit over a basement or crawlspace, and a joisted floor deflects — which is what cracks grout and loosens tile. Over a basement slab the question changes to moisture from below. Either way the subfloor is assessed, and sometimes stiffened, before anything bonded goes down on top of it.
Flooring — A floor is only as flat as what sits under it.The Monarch difference
When design and construction are two separate contracts, the gap between them becomes the homeowner's problem — discovered mid-build, priced at wall-open prices. Monarch runs both under one agreement, so structure, cost and sequence are answered on paper. The finished rooms feel resolved because they were resolved — layout, light and finish answering one plan.
A finished Monarch kitchen & bath.
Before & after
The clearest way to judge remodeling is to look at it — the same room, before and after, under your hand.
BeforeAfterPrimary bath, opened up
Framed shower and drop-in tub out; full-height marble-look walk-in shower, freestanding soaking tub and a painted vanity in.
Bathroom remodeling →
BeforeAfterFrom oak to open
Oak cabinets and tile floor give way to cream shaker fronts, quartz counters, a full-height hood wall and wood-look flooring that runs into the living room.
Kitchen remodeling →
Where every project begins
Design & preconstruction is the stage that turns an idea into drawings, selections and a price the build can actually keep.
What we take on
Every one of these is planned in design and preconstruction first, then built against a defined scope.
The comprehensive projects — several rooms, systems and finishes moving as one plan.
The two rooms where layout, services and selections decide everything.
New square footage — tied into the house, or standing on its own foundation.
Four-season exteriors: porches, decks, siding, envelopes, elevations.
The part you see and the part you do not are the same project. Most of what determines whether a remodel lasts is finished before anything is finished.
How we work
Most construction problems are planning problems that arrived late. Preconstruction is where they get caught.
Understand the property, the goals, the investment expectations and the timeline before anyone walks the house.
Walk the home together, read the existing conditions, and identify the real constraints and opportunities.
Define the likely scope and establish an early investment range the project can be shaped against.
Detailed measurements, layouts, selections, trade coordination, engineering and architecture where required, and a scope priced by the people who will build it.
Finalize scope, schedule and construction investment in one agreement before work begins.
Dedicated execution — sequencing, communication, quality control and disciplined change management.
Punch list, final inspections, closeout and a walkthrough that hands the home back to you.
What clients say
.“Highly recommend! Everything went smoothly from start to finish and the job was done in a timely manner. Most importantly we absolutely love how our kitchen turned out!”
“We had a great experience with this company! The quality of their work exceeded our expectations and they kept us updated throughout the entire process. It was very stress free! We will definitely be recommending them to everyone!”
“Had a great experience with Luis and Eli! They were professional, reliable, and made things easier for us. They paid attention to what we wanted and all the details. Very kind dudes. Very happy with the final results of the project!”
“Elijah was very helpful and respectful. He answered all of my questions and was able to break it down easy for me to understand. If you are looking for anyone in the Phenix area this is I'd call again any day of the week”
“Very professional and does very good work! Would recommend to anyone!!”
5.0 from 8 reviews. Read them on Google
How we operate
Where we work: Waukesha · Brookfield · New Berlin · Wauwatosa · West Allis and across Southeast Wisconsin.
Every community we serveDoing homework first? Design-Build vs Hiring a Designer and Contractor Separately · Living in Your Home During a Remodel · Allowances, Change Orders and What a Remodel Price Includes · Remodeling Permits in Southeast Wisconsin · Frost-Depth Foundations in Wisconsin · The Material Index
Start here
We come to the property, walk the space, and talk through scope, sequence and what has to be answered before anyone can price it honestly. The design consultation is free.
Financing options are available for qualifying projects. Ask our team about current options.
Or start right here
A few lines is enough. We read every one, and we reply with what would have to be answered before anyone could price it honestly.
If you would rather talk it through, call (602) 345-1223.
Prefer to give us the full picture now? The longer project form asks about budget, timeline and the property, and it gets you a more useful first reply.
