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Ant Builders - Shy Nair logo

Ant Builders - Shy Nair

Electrical for Home Addition or Remodel - Install, Electrical for Home Addition, Electrical Wiring or Panel Upgrade,

About us

Ant Builders started and has grown over the years but we still remain small enough that I still have the time to visit every site each day. I meet every client before the contract is signed and my goal is to deliver on my promise. Check out our completed projects and you will see some very nicely done work that was completed on budget and on time. Our crew is a small group of honest and friendly people. I thank them for delivering a product that I can stand behind. They are the number one reason that I continue to be able to do this for a living. 11 EMPLOYEES. Licensed in DC and Maryland. Jobs minimum of $5,000. May contact through email. Contact: Shy Nair

Business highlights

27 years of experience

Services we offer

Bathrooms, Kitchens, Roofing, Whole House Remodeling

Reviews
5.098 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
99%
4
1%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Showing 1-25 of 98 reviews
Kathy S.
Oct 2016
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Sweet! Loved working with them so much that I want to pop in and visit each time I drive by. They handled all the major design work and the kitchen and bath both are just outstanding. The look of the new work is just amazing and I found it so easy to go to work each day. Best folks ever."

JANET M.
Mar 2016
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Thank you for the review and the business."

Nancy H.
Nov 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$28,000
Shy Nair of Ant Builders was the general contractor/designer for a gut renovation of our basement apartment bathroom - - and as we moved forward, they agreed to squeeze in a substantial upgrade of  the kitchen as well. The work was done in September of 2015, essentially squeezed in before a couple of other major jobs that she already had scheduled..
The price agreed was neither the highest nor lowest of many quotes but the work was ?high-end? as advertised; and it wass always her recommendation that we order high-end fixtures as well.  We expect the quality materials, fixtures and workmanship to be economical in the long run. Shy was forthright about schedule and how the work was to be done and it proceeded quickly with delays only as required for permits, delivery, and necessary breaks as materials needed to dry and cure. Very high quality work with close attention to detail.
A couple of unusual feature for this contractor.  Unlike most other construction contracts we have signed over the years
there was no down payment, and even though the plan was for payments as the work progressed, although we were keeping track of the developing expenses, she did not bill us anything until the very end. Moreover, this contract one was "labor
only" -- almost all the fixtures were extra, discussed and ordered along the way. A downside of this approach, of course, is that the project's final cost was hard to capture at the outset.
We came to rely heavily on Shy?s experience and good taste in determining design, materials and color - - we had our ideas but her depth of knowledge was extremely helpful and much appreciated. The firm?s contacts with knowledgeable
suppliers were important as we needed to move quickly.  In that regard, the project was done on time -- we have never had a construction project stay on deadline.  Shy was always available by phone and e-mail ? sometimes we could hardly keep up with the pace. Workers were clearly skilled, courteous, quiet (for construction), professional in manner, and neat with daily clean-up.
Construction is not generally a pleasant experience but we truly enjoyed working with Shy Nair of Ant Builders would highly recommend the firm.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"My kind of people. Just very decent to all of us and great to deal with. One remark/joke I still remember and laugh out loud. The funniest! Thanks for the review and the work."

Jing Z.
Mar 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$80,000
They are a very good company. They were very fast in responding to my emergency call. They came right away and started securing the roof. They worked until 9 in the evening. They started working on the roof two days later. They did a great job and at a very reasonable price. I have used this company quite a few times and they just renovated my bathroom last fall.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Thanks again for another project. Always appreciate the reviews and the work. Could not ask for a better client."

Catherine B.
Aug 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500
Shy from Ant Builders brought her crew in and they found it in no time.  This was really critical as it was doing damage and we could not figure it out.  It turns out the toilet on the floor above was leaking.  Not only did they find it quickly but they fixed it right away and they fixed it properly so this will never happen again.    They also cleaned up after the work so I could not  even tell the work was done!   The entire team was professional and so nice and friendly.   I felt very comfortable having them in my home.  They even were nice to our dog Penny.   This is truly an amazing company.  I will use them again and again without hesitation.  We used them years ago to remodel several other bathrooms in our home and we were so very pleased with the work.  We have also recommended them to our friends and they have done spectacular jobs on our friends' kitchens and basement remodels.  I am always willing to recommend Shy and Ant Builders without hesitation.  
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Oh Penny has to be the sweetest dog ever! Nice couple, good kids, the best dog ever and a fun mother in law. What else could you ask for in a client."

Megan N.
Aug 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,000
Shy and Alex were amazing. They consulted me throughout the whole process. They found the door I wanted and made suggestions as we started work. They did a great job communicating with me about the work/complications and decisions that needed to be made. When they opened up my door frame they found that the door had not been framed correctly. They showed me the problem which was that the frame consisted of 2 boards nailed together as opposed to one continuous board. They explained why this was a problem and proposed solutions which they completed quickly. Then they showed pride and thoroughness all the way to the end of the job. Matched the paint on the exterior, found the trim stain on the inside, etc. To top it off, they are super nice people.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"That has got to be the best anniversary gift ever. Nicest and sweetest couple ever. This lady has got to be one of the best people. The entire crew loves them."

Eve E.
Jul 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Shy and Alex are the best. We have used them twice and both times the work was outstanding (complete renovation of a bathroom and total roof replacement), enough so that we have just hired them again to renovate a second bathroom and plan on using for a kitchen renovation. The workmanship is great, the communication is great, the problem solving is great, the crew is great; clean up every night is great, the contract is complete, timing of the job is on point. Shy and Alex are very knowledgeable, they are very creative, we cannot say enough good about them.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Thanks for having us back. The bathroom is going to be amazing once done. Just another 2 weeks of banging and dust and your soaking tub will be ready for you. Love being back at this home! Nicest sweetest people ever!"

Cassandra M.
Mar 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$50,000
.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"They came up with a really great design on the kitchen. Bravo! I posted some pics online and I have had several people want the same look. Just a very sweet family. The work was messy replacing ceilings and they were so patient daily. The cutest kids too."

Greg S.
Mar 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$7,600

Shy & Alex were very responsive from our first contact, to thorough estimates on the work to be performed, through to completion.  Shy communicated with us along every step of the way, made excellent recommendations in areas to save money, and ultimately saved us money and provided better solutions than the home inspector cited.  We had a complete electrical "heavy-up" performed from 100 amp to 200 amp service; new electrical panel (old one had water damage) installed;  water pipes and faucets re-routed; all electrical outlets replaced with updated, grounded service; bathroom, kitchen plumbing and fixtures replaced; new water line from hot water heater and replacement of a new water main, to remove corroded galvanized pipes; replacement to code of venting for clothes dryer and bathroom venting; water drainage issue repairs from downspouts into new drainage systems to move water away from foundation; mail slots install in solid core door (small but done as a "house warming gift" as well as other small repairs - where do you find contractors like this!!!).  All our work was performed with no oversight by us needed, because as noted, if there were questions on anything - Shy communicated with us quickly and often with solution to propose.  EXCELLENT Experience and we WILL use Shy Nair & Aunt Builders again - we give she and her crew a solid recommendation, without any reservations!!!  THANKS Shy!




Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Wow is all I can say. This couple is just so friendly and sweet. They have this amazing house over looking the Potomac in DC. I have house envy! I really would jump at the chance to work with them again. Just really easy and fun people."

John M.
Mar 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
It was a great experienced. Shy knew her stuff, was honest, and was a good communicator. She let me know all issues involved in the project, and her crew did a great job and completed the project promptly.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Thanks. Just so nice working with this client. It was a real pleasure to work with him. Super nice."

Chris M.
Jan 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$120,000
She was great to work with. She took care of all the permitting and made the process of renovating the home as is easy as
possible for me. She brought samples of materials and was always responsive to my requests. She made several suggestions on how to improve our plans.  She was always polite to our neighbors (even the one that complained a lot about construction) . Everything was completed on time except for the patio which was not her fault (a neighbor contested the permit). All in all a great experience.  I could not recommend her more. I have since used her on another project much smaller
in scoop and that went great as well.


Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Super chilled client. Ever so nice to deal with. As I say all the time that nothing goes as planned in construction and it is always good to work for people who can just let me handle the issues."

Judy O.
Oct 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
The roofing job went very well and they deserve an A+ overall, no doubt about it. We have mostly dealt with the owner, Shy Nair, but the crew who performed the roofing job was also very good. They are extremely reliable. I also like that they know what they can and cannot do, and where their expertise lies. If they think another contractor is better suited for a job, or is more knowledgeable about a specific project, they will advise you who they would recommend and why.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Great couple. Very patient as we went through material changes to comply with Historic Georgetown. Great sense of humor which is priceless."

John M.
Oct 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$7,000
I wasn't at home when they actually did the roofing work, but when I dealt with the owner of the company she seemed very straightforward and honest. I got a good feeling that I wasn't getting ripped off. Also, they did a great job cleaning up as well.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Always great to have a client that can trust what your trying to accomplish. I am off to his house to estimate the next project and happy to do so. Thanks for the project."

Martin P.
Aug 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$80,000
We had a fantastic experience with Shy, Alex, Roberto and the entire crew!  They tried to minimize any inconvenience to us arising from the remodel, as we were living in the house while it was going on.  They accommodated us so that they could do the demolition while we were on vacation.   They installed plastic tarp throughout the house so as to minimize the effects of dust.  At the end of each day, the crew would clean up quite thoroughly (and at the end of each week, they even applied murphy's oil soap to our wooden floor!)



There were very few delays, even though some materials that we had ordered from a third party provider did not arrive on time.  Shy tried to find solutions so that we could finish close to the date that we had projected.  Whenever any problems came up due to materials, she was extremely transparent in reporting them and found creative solutions.  She was very diligent in supervising the job.  She came in almost daily.  She followed-up with furnishing and fixture providers on our behalf, and was able to get us discounts for many products.



The work itself was stellar.  The crew was so professional.  We are so pleased with our new bathrooms.  They did such a nice job with the master bathroom that Porcelain, the company where we purchased most of the furnishings and fixtures, would like to showcase it in their promotional magazine.



We will most certainly continue to work with Shy and Ant Builders on any future remodeling projects in our house.  We are planning to install a new roof with them in the Spring.  I would recommend them highly.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"FANTASTICO! We all love this word now. The client was a really good designers. Probably one of the best baths we have done. They were very nice to all of us including my crew. Much appreciated."

Eve E.
Aug 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$9,400
This is the second time we have hired Ant Builders (last year they remodeled a bathroom).  Again we could not be more pleased with the work performed, the communication, and the professionalism of the contractor and crew.  The work was performed on time and at the estimated cost and our new roof looks beautiful!  The quality of the workmanship is outstanding. The crew showed up on time every morning (and even worked Saturday to finish the project), they were pleasant, very hard working and they cleaned-up perfectly every day before leaving.  We could not be more pleased with this company -- honestly if there was a rating beyond A we would give it.  We will continue to use Ant Builders for all of our projects.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Last time they hired me I got home made corn fritters. The night before the project I had a dream that the client and I ended up fighting about corn fritters. I walked off the job because there were no corn fritters. Lol. Thanks for the work but also thanks for fresh corn fritters."

Larry B.
Feb 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
They did an excellent job and I would use their service again.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Talk about the best couple for my business. Always recommending us to his neighbors. They are really the very best people to help a small biz out. Thanks and I really appreciate the time you take to put our names out there."

Julie W.
Jan 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
We needed repair work for our bathroom shower.  Ant Builders fixed our tiles.  Their work was excellent and fast.  I have always had a great experience using Ant Builders.  Wouldn't go anywhere else!

Breda G.
Jan 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,600
We are repeat customers with good reason - Ant Builders are the best. They arrive on time and carry out their work efficiently and to a very high standard with good attitude. They were indulgent of my moving a mirror from one wall to another and then to another - each time involving the installation of a support bracket, replastering and repainting the wall. They are tidy in their work and always clean up, removing all debris and trash. The area under the stairs is clean and neat - I'm delighted to have a drain pipe to carry away any water that might accumulate - Ant Builders think of everything. They worked with us to find a solution to the 13/4 inches extra required by the refrigerator. Once part of the wall was down, they noticed that the support beams for the stairs had been cut at one point and repaired these also. As I said, they carry out their work to the highest standard. It's always a pleasure to deal with them. We recommend them highly.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"She sent us home with chocolate covered cream puffs. Home made cream stuffed delicious goodies. Not the first time she has treated us. Called me mid day and asked to get the crew lunch. The absolute best! I am always happy to go there no matter what and so is the crew. So thoughtful about the entire crew. We are happy to move that mirror again:)"

Greg M.
Nov 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$30,000
Ant Builders are the best contractors I have worked with in 10 years of home ownership.  We used them to gut and rebuild two largely original 1935-vintage full bathrooms in our house, and they did a tremendous job every step of the way.  They may be the most timely contractors in the history of the world: they never failed to show up on time, and they got the job done more quickly and efficiently than we had expected.  Communication via email and phone was always fast and easy, and there were never any mysteries about what was happening; even when I went out of town for a couple weeks while the work was ongoing, they emailed me pictures of the progress!
On price, they may not provide the cheapest estimate for any given job, but they will provide the most honest estimate, which I think is more important.  Our bathrooms were challenging, but they have worked on many similar jobs in old houses like ours, and were able to give us both a detailed estimate and a great idea of what to expect as the project unfolded.  When Shy looks at a project, she will tell you very directly what she thinks about the work to be done - there is no hidden agenda or effort to sugarcoat anything in an effort to make a sale.  You are then charged only for the work that is needed, so that the price can actually go down if something is easier or less complicated than originally expected.  (First time I'd ever had a contractor charge me LESS for certain things than originally estimated.)
The work itself was excellent, and the bathrooms turned out much better than I expected.  They are so nice that I almost feel guilty walking into them, like I must have wandered into some rich person's house. 
We had them do some other minor work around the house while the bathroom work was ongoing (install a few ceiling fans, paint a room, change out some door knobs, etc) and that was all done well, too.  Shy always told us up front what it would cost, and there were never any unexpected charges.  She made great recommendations for products and fixtures along the way.  We are already using them for some additional renovation work around the house.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Super nice folks. Filled a cooler of sodas and Red Bull for my crew before he headed out of town. It was really appreciated by the crew. The new project is going on right now and they are just so easy to deal with. I could not show up on a Monday recently because we started a new project and they were so understanding about it. Plus their little girl has got to be one the the best kids around!"

Eve E.
Jun 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$20,000
From start to finish we could have have been happier -- if there was a rating above A we would give it.  We had set up interviews with 4 potential contractors, Shy and Alex were the second contractors we met with.  We knew immediately that we would go with them even before we got the bid.  Shy and Alex are easy to deal with, full of great ideas and are complete problem solvers when in comes to an old house. They listened to us to understand what we were looking for and then came up with perfect ideas of how to renovate the bathroom and maximize the space.  They provided us with a complete list of what fixtures we would need to purchase and guidance on what not to buy.  Same thing with the tile -- excellent advice as to what to purchase, what works well, etc.  The vendors and their respective consultants Shy recommended to us were also great -- very helpful and knowledgeable.  Shy and Alex went out of their way to resolve a delay issue we had regarding tile we had chosen -- they actually went to the tile shop and came up with a work around which actually turned out to be better than what we had originally chosen.   The crew that worked in our house for three weeks were great, they polite, excellent crafts persons and they cleaned-up perfectly every evening.  Shy's estimate of the time required for the job was completely on point, they finished exactly as estimated.  The quality of the workmanship is fantastic, they even duplicate the trim in the house.  We feel that we have finally found a "go to" contractor for  the balance of the work needed in our house.  Another great thing about Ant Builders is that they communicate with you daily -- there was never an instance where we could not get a hold of either Shy or Alex and one or both were at our house every day.  When in came to painting the hallway Shy disagreed with our paint color selection and actually went and got paint samples of what she thought we should use and again perfect.  Anytime you have a renovation project in the house for more than a day or so it can be overwhelming.  I have to say we never felt that way which is a tribute to how great Ant Builder's is to work with. 
We would highly recommend Shy and Alex and the crew at Ant Builders.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"So I got to go over to their house when the work was completed. Amazing Thai food I must say. I could not think of a better thank you. They treated the crew to beers and Alex and I got the best Thai ever!!! Home cooked to boot. You can only love work when you have good clients. Thank you."

Breda G.
May 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,000
Fantastic. Ant Builders are the best. They work with you, explain clearly what has to be done and why and then carry out the work in an efficient, clean and friendly manner. At all times, one feels totally secure with their expertise and workmanship. The job was very tricky, removing some narrow, small glass tile from a feature wall in our bathroom and replacing that to perfection.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Contractors are lucky to have clients like this. They recommend us all the time and treat us like friends when we come in. The entire crew remembers our small honorary crew member who brings all his tools out of the toy chest and "fixes" stuff. They really are just super nice to all of us. Who else would buy the entire crew a bottle each of Black Label Scotch as a Thank you gift. My guys still remember that gift. Generous and so appreciated."

Sandra P.
Apr 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$35,000
It went very well.  Shy and Alex are great to work with.  We talked about what we wanted to accomplish.  Shy made suggestions and gave us initial estimate, and we agreed on mutually convenient time for start and completion of the job.  Work was done in a timely and efficient manner.  Customer must choose floor and bathroom tiles and fixtures, but there is a contractor's discount.  They are very good at follow-up and stand behind their work.  We would recommend Ant Builders without reservation.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"What a basement to walk around in. Absolutely the best collection of antiques. Such an interesting person who you can talk to all day. Super easy to work for and always ready to make decisions. Nice people. I must say that the flooring choice in the office the client made is one of my all time favoraites. Looks like real wood but tile."

HOLLY C.
Jan 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$110,000
Overall a fabulous experience.  Excellent communication and follow-up; crew was polite, professional and just actually nice to have around. Shy takes pride in her work and stands behind it; she encourages inspection by third party and stands behind warranty.  Other contractors were daunted by the house and scope of the project; Shy embraced it and performed perfectly.  We have already commissioned another project with Antbuilders and recommend Shy and her crew highly and without reservation.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Too nice!!! Really laid back and fun to work for. Amazing house, nice clients and even cuter dogs. Zoey was always happy to finish our lunches for us... I just love working for people like this. Although it rained in the middle of the project daily, they were so understanding when it took longer than we had expected. My dream house. Set off in the middle of DC but surrounded by woods."

SHERRY M.
Dec 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$15,000
The renovation went extremely well given the age of our house, the fancy tile work, and the delays caused by the glass and countertop fabricators. They were careful, efficient, gave great advice, finished on time, and were fun to work with. Their workmanship is superb, down to the smallest details. I'm not sure how they did it, but they even generated a whole lot less dust than I anticipated. Their crew members were friendly, polite, and considerate. They took care to protect our floors and our front porch (which they used as a staging area).
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Super nice couple. Nothing goes as planned in construction and they remained patient and fun while we came and went from the house. Even when we hit a snag here and there they were willing to make decisions without any hassles. They have a very beautiful house and I must say some of the best furniture I have seen. Their designer Carolyn Thomas of Jennifer Gilmer did an amazing project and the final product is stunning. Custom built ins made this smaller bath pop. She also was super responsive to any questions. Thanks for the review."

David H.
Oct 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$11,000
House was built in 1891, so not the simplest job.  As part of the job, all flashing was replaced.  Siding is cement shingles, which requires skilled work.

i requested oversized gutters as replacement.  Ant was able to make some changes to the soffit to make that possible.

Porch roof was low slope, so we used ice and water shield under the shingles to add some insurance.

Ant made some good suggestions to deal with things that came up during the job such as wrapping high trim in sheet metal to eliminate the need to paint.
Response from Ant Builders - Shy Nair
"Thank you so much. Super nice couple. Had a good vision of what he wanted. One of those really old beautiful Victorian houses. Nice person and I still get calls from people he has recommended. Thanks for the referrals. I just finished your friend's roof and I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of putting my name out there."
Showing 1-25 of 98

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FAQ

Ant Builders - Shy Nair is currently rated 5.0 overall out of 5.

No, Ant Builders - Shy Nair does not offer free project estimates.

No, Ant Builders - Shy Nair does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.

No, Ant Builders - Shy Nair does not offer a senior discount.

No, Ant Builders - Shy Nair does not offer emergency services.

No, Ant Builders - Shy Nair does not offer warranties.