Testimonials

My house has been loved by Erik and his crew for two decades. From building custom bookcases, trim, moldings and finishes to match the 1921 Craftsmen details to building an amazing bathroom, fences, porch, and so many strange jobs that old houses need to be loved through, Erik and his crew have been there. While he shows up ready to talk me out of most projects, telling me my life will not be improved by them, he is often wrong, and indeed, my life is more joyful, less stressful and more beautiful because of the work he and his crew do. Not only that, but my son has gone from a baby where everyone would unplug all tools in the house when they left so that the toddler would not turn them on accidentally to us all discussing theology, philosophy or fishing. You get more than just great work, you get an intelligent human being who can bring meaning to the work and point out systems in the home and the world impacted by your choices. Living and loving a Craftsmen or other beautiful old home is made pleasurable by partnering with Erik at your side. Don’t hesitate to call and give him your money. Not only will the work be amazing, you will enjoy the experience as much as construction can when everything is torn-up. Years later, I look at projects we did and still marvel at smart designs and choices Erik brought to my life.

We have had the fortune of working with Erik for over 20 years. Our Victorian-style home is located in a Milwaukee Historic District and repairs and refinements require specialized talents, which Erik has in spades. Erik has partnered with us on the design and construction of our carriage house garage, an extensive 2-story porch addition, and countless window and exterior repairs and refinements. Erik is detailed in his work and thoughtful in approach. We would recommend Erik without hesitation and show off his work with pride.

I watched Erik build [his former] company from the ground up. No one had a maverick spirit like he did! His ability to keep learning his art and his craft and work hard (so incredibly hard) was unmatched. He genuinely believes in the value of historical restoration, of conservation (environmental and otherwise), and there was such connection and integrity among and between all of the manifestations of his work (building, remodeling, activism, intellectual writing). There are buildings on the East side and the north shore and elsewhere that simply would not exist--or would not be existing as wholly or as intact, true to their original form--if it weren't for Erik and his work. There are customers who learned why restoring their old homes mattered and was important, when they may have made other decisions had they not met and consulted with Erik. None of that work--building, restoration, activism in urban agriculture, writing so compellingly about the relationship between all of these things--can be erased. It belongs to Erik and I can't wait to see what he does next.

I have been privileged to know Erik Lindberg for over 20 years, as an outstanding restoration artist/artisan, offering mindful approaches to extremely complex challenges at scores of historic and vintage homes. Erik has provided excellence and value for demanding and discerning clients, as a hands on contractor embodying Milwaukee's high craft tradition. Milwaukee homeowners are lucky to have Erik to call upon.

Thoughtful Craftsmen(formerly Community Builders) has been my go-to source for historic restoration and expert advice for almost two decades. Erik Lindberg was the brains and a good deal of the brawn behind Thoughtful's success. He is a problem solver with a knack for highly creative solutions. It is Mr. Lindberg and his expertise and honesty that I want and his new company, Artisan, will be my new go-to source.

We hired Erik and his team to restore the exterior of our 1890 Victorian home. Erik advised us on all of our options, gave us a fair quote and worked with integrity to complete the project. Erik was deeply knowledgeable about the ins and outs of historic home restoration. His ability to balance advice on whether to replace or restore, always with our best interests in mind, demonstrates his integrity and dedication to customer satisfaction. His willingness to share insights into the process helped us understand the complexities of the work, fostering a greater appreciation for the effort involved. We had a positive experience working with Erik on the extensive restoration. Despite facing significant labor and material challenges during the pandemic, Erik remained dedicated to delivering high-quality work. His approach to our project was commendable, focusing not only on getting the job done but doing it right, even if it meant revisiting stages of the work to ensure the optimal outcome. We have received numerous compliments on the work and love the historic details that were added back to our home.