A Tradition of Quality

How Bartelt went from a two-person operation to one of Milwaukee’s most in-demand remodeling firms

Rick Bartelt’s father started teaching him carpentry when he was only 12 years old. He spent his adolescence and early adulthood working with his father on projects across Milwaukee.

“I always pushed my dad,” Rick says. “I would say, ‘Hey, we’re working for all these general contractors. We could do what they do. We could build a business. And he always said, ‘Well, someday, if that’s what you want to do, you should.’”

So in 1984, at age 22, Rick took the leap and started Bartelt Remodeling with his wife, Chris. That first year, they ran the operation out of their West Milwaukee house, with Rick doing the remodeling jobs and Chris handling the books.

The business started out mostly remodeling garages, but the quality of the work quickly led customers to request other projects from Rick, and within a year he was hiring a team of contractors and designers. By 1989, Bartelt had grown large enough to necessitate a new office in West Allis. The firm became a full-service remodeling business, designing kitchens, baths and entire homes, and even building custom houses from the ground up.

In 2009, Rick moved the business to its current Delafield location, and in 2012 his daughter Amanda joined the growing team. Today, Bartelt remains a leading remodeling firm in Wisconsin. It’s well-known for crafting classic looks that stand the test of time. Bartelt has a team of designers and experts, as well as a wide network of trade partners who help ensure every project is timely and exceptional.

“The majority of our customers now are repeat and referral,” Rick says. “That’s because we take good care of them – it’s how we’ve developed the reputation we have. It’s a wonderful thing to look back and see that.”

“I'm very proud of the legacy we’ve built.” RICK BARTELT