"Richard is very knowledgeable and got the job done that we needed him to do within a timely manner. The work was excellent and I would recommend him and will use his services again in the future."
"Lewis was professional, courteous, friendly, and helpful. He answered any questions I had, suggested things that would prevent other problems, and helped me with other improvements I was working on. My phone calls were either answered or returned within the hour. Anything I pointed out was taken care of. Prep work began 3 days after our initial meeting and painting soon followed. All work was done by Lewis with some prep work and painting done by Buddy. I had other contractors working in my home, and Lewis and Buddy worked around them. I am very happy with the results and would definitely hire HCP again. "
"RDW Concrete is very dependable and reliable! They are very professional and explained every aspect of my project in detail. Any concrete projects I have RDW Concrete will be the only company I use."
"Josh did a wonderful job on this project. He went above and beyond, and he was very quick to get started. Within one day of telling Josh what I needed done, he had already gotten started! He is very friendly and definitely a hard worker!! I will definitely be using him again in the future!"
"Dearman construction did not disappoint! Very punctual! By far the best customer service and their experience and knowledge of the job requested was outstanding, if you need ANYTHING done from roofing, decking to tile Dearman Construction are the people to go to! Would recommend this business to anyone looking for top notch contractors. Would refer these people to my own family!"
"He showed up on time, brought me to the store to select my tile and plumbing fixtures, the job was finished 2 weeks ahead of the projected completion date. Several years ago Mr. Wood helped me build a new home in Pensacola and from the moment I signed the contract I felt as if he truly had my best interest at heart. He continues to be the one and only contractor I call for jobs both little and big."
Unfinished Carpentry questions, answered by experts
It’s sometimes safe to replace a load-bearing wall with a beam, but you need a structural engineer to sign off on the project. You’ll also likely have to upgrade to a steel I-beam or another material that’s stronger than wood to maintain the level of support you need without the wall underneath.
Begin by analyzing the blueprints and gathering the proper materials before framing a house. With the prep stages behind you, begin by framing the floor of a house on the newly set foundation. Exterior and interior walls come next, along with rough openings for doors and windows. Contractors will then add ceiling and roof rafters to finish things off.
The easiest way to tell if a wall is load bearing is to check if it’s an exterior wall or if it runs perpendicular to the joists above and below it (or parallel to beams). Exterior walls are almost always load-bearing, and walls that run under beams or parallel to them are also usually load-bearing. There are exceptions to these rules, and walls that don’t fit into these categories can still be load-bearing. If you’re unsure, hire a structural engineer to look at your home to assess whether or not the wall is structural.
Your local building code will list all the framing requirements for whatever type of structure you're building. Most exterior walls require spacing of 16 inches on-center, while many non-load-bearing interior walls only require 24 inches of spacing. However, there are also varying requirements depending on your construction material, so checking your municipality's rules is essential.
Most of the time, you’ll want to use screws on your subfloor rather than nails. Nails can actually weaken plywood, whereas screws can easily penetrate without damage. They also form a more secure connection because of their shape, preventing squeaky floors and tightly holding the subfloor in place. That said, some contractors do prefer nails depending on the type of floor covering because they allow for more flexibility.
The Satsuma, AL homeowners’ guide to contractor services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
When you’re tackling a project or hiring a contractor, it’s helpful to know key carpentry terms. From end grain to dovetail joints, here’s a complete list.
House framing is one of the first parts of building a home. To do this, you’ll want to hire a rough or unfinished carpenter. Using this guide, you’ll know what questions to ask and where to look for your house framing contractor.
Buying unfinished cabinets can help you create the custom remodel of your dreams, but is it worth the fuss? This guide will tell you everything you need to know.