After experiencing numerous bad experiences during their home remodeling, Scottsdale residents Debbie and Nathan Newman were ready for a change.

“We had so many nightmares with so many contractors,” Debbie said. “It was completely stressful.”

Until they met Patrick Benkowski, owner of Roadrunner Custom Remodeling, Inc., of Fountain Hills. Before calling Benkowski, the couple had remodeled nearly the whole house. Each project was difficult. When it came time to remodel the master bath, Debbie wanted to be sure she had the right contractor.

She found Roadrunner Remodeling on the Internet.

“I called him, and he came out right away,” she said. “He was very good. Very impressive. He answered all my questions satisfactorily. We were impressed.”

So impressed that she didn’t call anyone on the list of 25 references Benkowski supplied.

“I think if someone gives you 25 references, they must know what they’re doing,” Debbie said. “We just trusted him.”

Debbie said Benkowski provided accurate, detailed information.

“He told us everything up front,” she said. “There were absolutely no surprises.”

The Newmans’ bathroom was built 15 years ago when they built their Pinnacle Peak-area home.

“The entire bathroom was gutted,” Debbie said. “We took out the vanity, tub, shower and toilet. The only thing that remained was the stone floor, which had installed about a year ago. They worked around the floor.”

Debbie said Benkowski had the same worker on the job every day.

“That was unusual compared to our past experiences,” she said. “And he was very professional. He pleasant to work with and he did everything so well.”

She said that the configuration of the master bath required part of the wall in the master bedroom to be torn out.

“It was a little awkward, but he was so neat and cleaned up at the end of every day,” Debbie said. “We couldn’t have been more pleased.

Roadrunner redid the lighting, installed a custom vanity, painted the bathroom and installed a new window. Debbie chose an unusual surface for her new shower.

“I wanted river rock,” she said. “It turned out wonderfully. My grandchildren love it. It’s like being outside.”

Debbie said the master bath is probably “my favorite room.”

She said the experience of working with Benkowski really helped her feel that way.

“The room is so well done,” she said. “Patrick was a real pleasure to work with.”

The Newmans are relieved to be done with the two-year remodeling of their home.

“I only wish we had found Patrick in the beginning,” she said. “I know the experience would have been completely different. At least we have a good feeling at the end of all of it.”

Roadrunner specializes in kitchen and bath remodeling but will perform any size job for previous customers.

Benkowski said a master bathroom remodel in today’s market such as the one he did for the Newmans will start at about $15,000. Kitchens would range from about $35,000 (on the low end) and “the sky’s the limit” for the upper end.  “When you are using a licensed professional who has years of experience, you will come out way ahead in the long run,” he said. “You could get it done for less, but you get what you pay for.”

Benkowski, who is a certified remodeler (CR) with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and a member of the Central Arizona Better Business Bureau can be reached by calling (480) 816-0788. To view before and after photos and other useful kitchen and bathroom remodeling information, visit www.roadrunnerremodeling.com.

Benkowski, who is 2007 Chairman of the Board of the Arizona chapter of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI), has been in the remodeling business for 31 years. He has been in Fountain Hills eight years.