Client Stories

Melissa McHugh
Wake Forest, North Carolina

Melissa McHugh moved with her family to North Carolina from Delaware for a new job opportunity and a more family-oriented community. Melissa, who is a wife, mom and registered nurse, said the kitchen in her new home was the only room that she didn’t like. She hired Chad Palatine, Graycastle Home Improvement, to update the kitchen and make it larger. Chad took down a wall to expand and reposition the kitchen layout and built a larger island and pantry.

The McHugh family: Sean (left) Makenzie, Melissa, Cayden and dog Penelope.

“I met with two other general contractors before finding Chad. I saw photos on Facebook of a house he had remodeled and knew he could provide me with the quality craftsmanship I was seeking. Upon meeting him I learned he was kind, caring and someone I could work with.

We had a strict budget and Chad understood that. His accurate project timeline allowed me to prioritize my to-do list and meet the deadlines for choosing the paint colors, lighting, barndoors and backsplash. I really enjoyed collaborating with him to make my vision come to life.

Each day, he communicated what work was going to be done and kept his jobsite—our new kitchen–as clean as possible. Chad became a part of our family. As my son would leave for school, he would ask Chad what was going to be completed that day. When he came home, Chad would ask him if he approved of the progress.

No one else works in my home except Chad. He listens, is budget conscious, trustworthy and collaborative. I can tell he truly loves what he does, and I readily refer him to others.”

Forrest and Kay Lewis
Wake Forest, North Carolina

The Lewises moved to the Triangle in 2015 to be closer to their son and his family, which includes their two grandchildren. Chad Palatine, owner and operator of GrayCastle Home Improvement, and his trusted team of subcontractors have worked on multiple projects throughout their home including a bathroom remodel, new hallway and stair railing, updates to their garage, outside deck remodel, and many other upgrades and updates. Originally from Michigan, Forrest and his wife Kay say they quickly developed a rapport with Chad not only because of his quality work, but also because of his friendly demeanor and fellow Midwesterner roots. 

“Overall, I trust Chad. I don’t try to negotiate his pricing or compare his estimates with other general contractors because he is cost effective and I know the job will be done right.

Chad was referred to us by our son after he had completed some work on his house. We initially hired him in 2016 to make multiple upgrades to our home with the biggest project being a bathroom remodel.

He helped us tear out an old jacuzzi tub that was replaced with a shower, install new tile on the floor and walls, add a fresh coat of paint, and install new light fixtures and hardware. He knew my wife loved watching Property Brothers on HGTV, and as a joke I carried out our old toilet during demo—which is something the brothers have homeowners do on their television show.

During the bathroom remodel, he discovered a hot electrical wire under the old jacuzzi tub, and he came up with the idea to redirect the wire to become a new set of electrical outlets underneath the house, which was helpful.

Chad is also a great resource for subcontractor referrals, and we have worked with many of them directly. We can always count on them to deliver quality work that meets his high standards.

I appreciate Chad’s knowledge, honesty, creativity and his attention to detail.”

Patricia Matheis, MD
Wake Forest Dermatology
Wake Forest, NC

Working as a dermatologist and owning her practice keep Dr. Patricia Matheis busy each week. When she decided to update her home to improve its aesthetics and make it more comfortable for guests, she needed a general contractor who she could trust to get the work done without her constant oversight. She was referred to Chad Palatine, GrayCastle Home Improvement, by a colleague in her office. She hired Chad to remodel her laundry room, guest bedroom and bathroom, and update the Lutron® lighting system and floors throughout her home. He also discovered and remedied other issues overlooked by previous general contractors.

Dr. Patricia Matheis is a dermatologist in Wake Forest, NC.

“I was never home while Chad and his subcontractors completed their work, but I could always count on them to be there. Since I was so busy during the week, Chad was incredibly accommodating to my schedule and even made himself available to meet with me on weekends.

In addition to the projects I initially hired him to complete, Chad also alerted me to other issues he discovered in my home that were overlooked by previous general contractors. Instead of ignoring these problems, he kept investigating and fixed them properly.

I trust him implicitly and even allowed him to remodel my home office when I was out of town for a long weekend. When I returned, the project was done perfectly and he left everything so clean, I couldn’t even tell someone had been working in my home.

His many years’ experience enable him to take what you’re thinking and make it a reality. He always delivered when I had an additional request.

Now when he completes projects around my house, it’s like a trusted friend assisting me.”

Sharon H.
Wake Forest, North Carolina

Upon her retirement, Sharon finally had time to complete renovation projects in her Wake Forest home. First on her list was adding an elevator to her three-story home to make it easier for her aging mother and dog to go up and down the three levels. Sharon hired Chad Palatine, GrayCastle Home Improvement, to build the elevator shaft and elevator. Next on her list was to update her guest bathroom and completely remodel her kitchen. After four months of renovations, her home looks and functions how she wants.

“I lived in my home the entire time Chad was working on it. There was little disruption and he always thoroughly cleaned up at the end of each workday.

The best part about working with Chad is he communicated with me throughout every step of each project. Each week, he set a level of expectation and if the goal was not met or there was a delay, he’d let me know why. It wasn’t a mystery.

I also worked with an interior designer and I was the liaison between her and Chad, but I liked that Chad was the one responsible for working with the subcontractors. I didn’t want to oversee them and because of him, I didn’t have to take on that extra responsibility.

Adding an elevator and completely renovating a bathroom and kitchen are extensive projects, but the entire process went smoothly because of Chad. When I have another project, I will work with Chad again.”