Every fall, homeowners across our region begin contemplating interior remodeling projects. Hiring a company that understands the nuances of projects like this can make or break the investment, and perhaps no company is better equipped than McHales, Inc. Family owned and operated since 1950, McHales has two divisions: one for kitchen and bath remodeling and another for residential plumbing, heating, cooling, electrical and drain cleaning.  

The company has been recognized by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) for its projects completed by certified crews of project managers, skilled carpenters, licensed plumbers and registered electricians. These are just some of the qualities that set McHales apart in this industry, and House & Home recently had a chance to speak with McHales Head Coach Tim McHale about the state of the remodeling industry, new technology and how giving back to the community is top of mind.  

What makes McHales unique?
We have been family owned and operated for three generations. We’re a complete design/build company, from permits to paint, we can handle the entire project and we do that with an 85 percent on-time completion rate. We achieve this with great people and even better processes. The difference of how we can deliver on-time completion is with our  in-house carpenters, plumbers, electricians and painters. This is what customers are looking for.

What should readers do to ensure they select the correct contractor?
Basically, 95 percent of contractors out there are single-man operations with a pickup truck. Homeowners should do proper research and pick a company that has hard assets,  a brick-and-mortar location or showroom. They should not  just give a deposit and hope he comes back. Check the Better Business Bureau and recent reviews. We have over 1,500 online reviews and we have 300-plus Google reviews. We’re always asking for feedback to improve our systems and processes.

What challenge is the remodeling industry facing?
Labor shortages are the biggest problem out there for everyone. I’m a believer that the trades are coming back. We believe in training  our employees. We have weekly and monthly meetings to educate and cross train. We will have local inspectors review code and OSHA safety meetings. We also pay for our apprentices to continue their education with the Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) at Bucks County Technical High School. They go in the evening and “Learn while they Earn.”

Are there  any new technologies or trends taking hold in the industry?
As more people request the custom showers and body sprays in their bathroom remodels, the benefits of a tankless water heater are more evident. There are limits to the traditional tank water heater. Tankless provides instant and unlimited hot water and they are about 97 percent efficient, lasting 20-25 years. Not only are they space savers, but since there is no tank, there is no risk of it bursting and possibly flooding out your basement, especially if it’s finished.  In kitchens, accessories like charging drawers with built-in outlets and wood tier cutlery dividers are big sellers. Roll-out trays are still very popular and have come a long way. They are stronger and more durable to hold more weight.

What efforts  have McHales made to stay involved in the community?
We have been involved in the community for over 68 years. We love to sponsor teams. We proudly won the best float in the Middletown Township parade. We recently participated in Yardley Harvest Day and we’ll be at the Bensalem  Fall Fest. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is also very important to us. Throughout October our employees will be decked out in  pink shirts, pink work gloves and pink booties, and our company will be donating a percentage of our sales to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

McHales Kitchen & Bath
Levittown, Pa. | (215) 488-7306
McHales.net

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 19, Issue 4 (October 2018). 
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