Is GS Construction a good alternative to Modern Builders & Design?

If you want to work directly with the owners and keep control of your design and materials, GS Construction is a strong alternative to Modern Builders & Design. Greg and Patryk Szady are a father-son team who run every project from the first call to the final walkthrough — there is no rotating cast of coordinators, and you can bring your own designer or architect (or be your own) and shop your own materials from our trusted material sources.

How does GS Construction's pricing compare to Modern Builders & Design?

GS Construction gives you an itemized, transparent estimate with no labor marked up through layers of middlemen, so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Pricing on any remodel depends on scope and finishes, so the best way to compare is to request an itemized estimate from GS Construction and from Modern Builders & Design and put them side by side.

What areas does GS Construction serve?

GS Construction serves the northwest Chicago suburbs — including Arlington Heights, Palatine, Schaumburg, Barrington, and surrounding communities — for kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home remodels, additions, basements, exteriors, and mudrooms.

Can I bring my own designer or buy my own materials?

Yes. You can collaborate with the independent designer or architect of your choice, or design the project yourself. We point you to our trusted material sources, follow your requirements, and install the materials you purchase — your design, your decisions.

Alternative to Modern Builders & Design

GS Construction vs Modern Builders & Design

Family-owned: Father & son
Combined experience: 40+ years
Verified reviews: 71+
Licensed & insured: Yes

Considering Modern Builders & Design for your kitchen, bathroom, or whole-home remodel? Here is a factual side-by-side so you can compare options before requesting estimates.

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Source: modernbuildersdesign.com

Criteria	GS Construction	Modern Builders & Design
Ownership Owner-operators are personally accountable for your project — not a sales rep who moves on after signing.	Family-owned, father-son team (Greg & Patryk Szady)	Varies — verify directly with the company.
Your point of contact Every hand-off between coordinators is a chance for details to get lost and mistakes to creep in.	Patryk & Greg Szady — the owners — are your single point of contact from the first call to the final walkthrough	Larger firms often hand you to a different coordinator at each phase; ask who your day-to-day contact is and whether it changes.
Design approach A flexible design model means you keep control of the look and the budget instead of being funneled into one in-house package.	We build your project and collaborate with the independent designer or architect you choose — or you can be your own designer: we send you to our trusted material sources, follow your requirements, and install the materials you purchase. Your design, your decisions — we are flexible	Many firms steer you into in-house design or subcontract it; ask whether you can bring your own designer/architect.
Pricing transparency An itemized scope lets you compare apples-to-apples and see exactly what you are paying for.	Itemized, transparent pricing — labor is not marked up through layers of middlemen	Some firms subcontract the trades and add a labor markup on top; ask for an itemized scope and who actually performs the work.
Who does the work Who actually holds the tools — and who supervises them — drives quality and accountability on site.	Owner-led crew self-performs most trades; specialists are vetted and supervised by us	Ask how much is self-performed vs. handed to subcontractors, and who supervises them on site.
Combined experience	40+ years	Verify directly.
Primary service area A contractor who works your area daily knows local permitting, inspectors, and supply houses.	Northwest Chicago suburbs (Arlington Heights, Palatine, Schaumburg, Barrington, etc.)	Barrington, Round Lake, and surrounding Chicago suburbs
Project types	Kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home remodeling, additions, exteriors, basements, and mudrooms	Kitchen, bathroom, and basement remodeling plus painting and flooring
Permit handling Unpermitted work can stall a future home sale and void insurance — confirm who is responsible.	We pull permits and coordinate inspections	Varies — verify directly with the company.
Project communication A live portal means you always know the schedule, what changed, and what you owe — no waiting for a callback.	Daily — your private client portal to track your schedule (past and upcoming), current change orders, and up-to-date balances — plus a direct line to the owners and weekly progress updates	Ask whether you get a real-time client portal for your schedule, change orders, and balances, or just occasional email/phone updates.
Photo proof	Hundreds of in-progress and completed project photos on-site	Varies — verify directly with the company.
Public reviews Reviews across multiple independent platforms are harder to game than testimonials on a company's own site.	Verified reviews on Google, Houzz, Yelp, and Angi	Varies — verify directly with the company.
Estimates	Free in-home estimate with itemized scope	Varies — verify directly with the company.
Licensed & insured Proper licensing and insurance protect you if something goes wrong on the job.	Yes	Varies — verify directly with the company.

We compare publicly available information only. Always verify details directly with each company before making a decision. Information verified June 2026.

How GS Construction compares to Modern Builders & Design

Modern Builders & Design is a Round Lake general contractor that also offers painting and epoxy flooring. GS Construction focuses specifically on remodeling craftsmanship — kitchens, baths, whole-home, additions, basements, and exteriors — across the Northwest suburbs, with 40+ years of combined experience and the owners running every project.

Want a second opinion before you decide?

Get a free estimate Call (224) 735-4200

The GS Construction difference

Your designer, your decisions

We build your remodel hand-in-hand with the independent designers and architects you choose — or you can be your own designer. We send you to our trusted material sources, follow your requirements, and install the materials you purchase. You are never funneled into one in-house look — we are flexible.

Transparent pricing — no labor upcharge

Many firms hire out the trades and mark up the labor on top. We give you an itemized scope and clear pricing, so you know exactly what you are paying for and who is doing the work.

One team, start to finish

Patryk and Greg Szady are your first and last point of contact. With bigger firms a new coordinator owns each phase — and every hand-off is a chance for confusion and costly mistakes.

Daily — your project portal

Log in to Daily any time to see your past and upcoming schedule, current change orders, and up-to-date balances — no guessing, no waiting for a callback to know where things stand.

Testimonials

Your Neighbours Love Us

Real reviews from homeowners. Ask us for live phone references.

5 Stars — Joan D

Palatine, IL · Mar 2026

Read More Testimonials Show This Review →

Why homeowners choose GS Construction

Family-owned father-son team; you talk directly to the owners.
71+ verified reviews across Google, Houzz, Yelp, and Angi.
We partner with the independent designer or architect of your choice — or you can be your own designer using our trusted material sources.
Itemized estimate and transparent pricing before work begins.
Permit pulling and inspection coordination handled for you.
Daily client portal to track your schedule, change orders, and balances in real time.
Hundreds of in-progress and completed project photos on this site.

How to decide

Request itemized estimates from at least two contractors.
Ask whether you can bring your own designer or architect.
Confirm who self-performs the work vs. who is subcontracted and marked up.
Confirm who pulls permits and how inspections are scheduled.
Ask who your single point of contact is — and whether it changes each phase.
Ask whether you get a live portal for your schedule, change orders, and balances.

Do your homework: the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Protection office explains how to avoid home-repair fraud and choose a reliable contractor.

Recent GS Construction projects

Prospect Heights Home Remodel
Prospect Heights, IL
Modern Grand Room Remodel
Mount Prospect, IL
Arlington Heights Home Remodel
Arlington Heights
Historic Palatine Kitchen
Palatine, IL
Palatine Kitchen Remodel
Palatine, IL
Barrington Kitchen Transformation
Barrington, IL

Is GS Construction a good alternative to Modern Builders & Design?: If you want to work directly with the owners and keep control of your design and materials, GS Construction is a strong alternative to Modern Builders & Design. Greg and Patryk Szady are a father-son team who run every project from the first call to the final walkthrough — there is no rotating cast of coordinators, and you can bring your own designer or architect (or be your own) and shop your own materials from our trusted material sources.
How does GS Construction's pricing compare to Modern Builders & Design?: GS Construction gives you an itemized, transparent estimate with no labor marked up through layers of middlemen, so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Pricing on any remodel depends on scope and finishes, so the best way to compare is to request an itemized estimate from GS Construction and from Modern Builders & Design and put them side by side.
What areas does GS Construction serve?: GS Construction serves the northwest Chicago suburbs — including Arlington Heights, Palatine, Schaumburg, Barrington, and surrounding communities — for kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home remodels, additions, basements, exteriors, and mudrooms.
Can I bring my own designer or buy my own materials?: Yes. You can collaborate with the independent designer or architect of your choice, or design the project yourself. We point you to our trusted material sources, follow your requirements, and install the materials you purchase — your design, your decisions.

Get a second opinion or free estimate

It is smart to compare. We are happy to give you a no-pressure estimate even if you are already talking to Modern Builders & Design.

Request a free estimate Call (224) 735-4200

This page compares publicly available information about Modern Builders & Design for informational purposes. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Always verify details directly with each company.

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