"The owner Nick Gnatovich called me right away and then gave me a quote the same day he visited the job site. A week later he was tearing up my driveway. The next day Nick and his crew was pouring concrete. Nick was on the job site everyday and he was very professional. He was always willing to go above and beyond my expectations."
Rockhard Construction is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.
Hi, I’m Kevin with Klock Home Services, proudly serving the Fox Valley area. I provide reliable, detail-oriented handyman and home repair services at fair prices. From furniture and drywall repair to minor carpentry, fixture installs, and general maintenance, I treat every project like it’s in my own home. Whether it’s a small fix or a larger task, you can count on quality work done right the first time.
"I know of no other contractor who has total customer satisfaction as his top priority like Mr. Flanagan does. He is absolutely the best. My basement sustained ankle-deep water as the result of an outdoor basement stairwell drain that violently backed up because its circa-1951 drain line led to the street storm sewer (by design). That sewer was overcome with water during a storm in the summer of 2010 that featured a tornado in my western-suburbs area. Soon after pumping the water out of my basement with a mobile pump, the mess prompted me to (once again*) call Mr. Flanagan (*His crawlspace crew had done a beautiful job finishing my dirt-floor crawlspace with a concrete floor and wall insulation a couple of years earlier). After the basement waterproofing project described in this review was complete, however, I was disappointed with the workmanship: The concrete work looked less-than-professional (out-of-flush with sump flange and the stairwell drain, plus way too many swirl marks and splattering) in the stairwell and basement's appearance areas. In short, it just didn't look like his business's flawless concrete job that was done in my crawlspace just years earlier. Mr. Flanagan agreed. With no questions asked, he immediately had a different crew come to my home, tear out all of the previously laid concrete and drain lines and replace it with the workmanship that he would expect his crews to use in their own homes. The re-do of the project at least had met my high expectations for its cosmetics. And, of course, I hoped it was a sufficient waterproofing solution for my basement. Fast forward just a few short years. Affter having perhaps sustaining that 100-year event with the Chicago-area rain storm of April 17-18, 2012, while my neighbors are pumping water out of their basements, mine remains bone dry. Thank you Mr. Flanagan and Crawlspace / Basement Waterproofing Solutions for a job (design and installation) well done. Your basement waterproofing solution indeed deserves an A+.
"Working with Innovation Landscape, Inc. has been a pleasure, even though I never lifted a finger. Innovation has answered all of my questions and concerns. They are experienced, honest, hardworking people who have made my home so much better. I would definitely use them for future projects."
"They did a fantastic job! Very easy to work with and listened to what was wanted in the project. Very friendly and professional! Also got done the job done in great time! Definitely would use them again!"
"Everything went fine, Patrick came out the day after I called him to give me an estimate on the initial work which included the parts (75 gallon hot water heater and other parts) and labor. Patrick and his guys showed up right on time and completed the majority of the work that day, the only problem was the radiator. For anyone who has radiator heat knows that it can't be beat but replacing parts on an 80 + year old 500lb monster can be quite a task, after finally getting the proper parts and a lot of sweat, the radiator was fixed and is running fine, thank goodness it didn't get cold in that time. Patrick also gave me a price to fix the sewer pipe which would entail breaking out a portion of the concrete floor, digging down about 5 feet through chicago clay, replacing the broken section of pipe and re-cementing the floor. I decided to have this done a few weeks after the initial work, Patrick was unavailable but his wife, brother and another worker showed up and did a great job. I would defiantly recommend them for any plumbing work that needs to be done.
"They repaired my cracks and he later discovered two additional cracks. The guy came back after giving me the quote and now I don't have any water coming in the crawl space."
"I purchased a big deal from Angie's List and their services turned out fine. They were a little late. I gave the fellow a little bit of a leeway and he took a little bit more leeway than I would have preferred. In fact, I was getting ready to give him a call and he sent the crew over, and they did the job. I just paid them the flat amount; they did not try to pressure me with any add-ons or anything like that, which was fine. I was actually wondering if they were going to do something like that, but they did not. So that was certainly a nice thing. They did what they said they were going to do. They were acting like they were in a big hurry. They were two guys and they worked as a team, and they were gone in, I think, like about an hour or something like that. It was like at least a week, if not two weeks, before they actually did come back and as I said I had been getting ready to call them in trying to find out what was going on when they finally did show up. I thought they would call in advance which they did not, so I was a little bit disappointed about that. I did not see them doing anything what I would call sloppily; they were kind of in a hurry. I did ask a question and they did do some certain tertiary types of things, like part of a gutter guard had fallen off and they did put it back on, which I had requested so that was fine."
On average, pressure washing a house can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours. The time frame to pressure wash or power wash your home, fence, or other property depends on the size of the project and the complexity and accessibility of the areas that need cleaning. Part of the time required to complete the job includes setup and removal of equipment needed. A two-story house with a steep roof may require working from scaffolding or a ladder, likely adding to the time required to finish the project.
The ideal PSI (pounds per square inch) for a pressure washer depends on the surface you are cleaning. For general home use, a pressure washer with a range of 2,000 to 3,000 PSI is recommended and powerful enough for most residential projects.
The specific PSI you should use varies by task:
High-Pressure Tasks (2,500-3,000 PSI): Tough materials like concrete, stone, masonry, and brick can handle higher pressures. This is suitable for removing stubborn stains from driveways or cleaning graffiti.
Low-Pressure Tasks (around 600-1,300 PSI): Softer surfaces require a gentler touch to avoid damage. Use a low PSI setting for cleaning wood decks (especially softwoods like pine and cedar), vinyl siding, outdoor furniture, and stucco.
For best results, choose the right nozzle for your surface, such as a 15-degree nozzle for siding or a surface cleaner attachment for driveways. Using an extendable wand can also make the work easier and more ergonomic.
Filling small cracks in your driveway with patching material is usually the most affordable fix, costing about $2 to $3 per square foot. For larger damage, however, these repairs won’t last, so it’ll save you more to resurface or replace the driveway, depending on the extent of the issues.
You should avoid using a pressure washer on any surface or item that could be damaged by the high-pressure spray, as some materials are too delicate to withstand the force.
Key items and surfaces to avoid include:
Electrical Components: Never pressure wash electrical systems, as water can cause short-circuits and create a safety hazard. This includes utility meters, breaker boxes, electrical outlets, generators, and HVAC or air conditioner units.
Delicate and Fragile Materials: Fragile items can crack, shatter, or be stripped by the pressure. Avoid pressure washing windows, glass, light fixtures, shingled roofs (especially asphalt), and stucco.
Painted, Stained, or Sealed Surfaces: Unless your goal is to strip the finish, do not pressure wash painted surfaces, stained wood (like decks), or anything with a protective seal that could be stripped away. Be especially cautious with older surfaces that may contain lead paint.
Soft Woods and Certain Decking: Delicate surfaces like softwood, composite decking, and antique or wooden patio furniture can be etched or damaged. If you must wash wood, use a lower-powered pressure washer with a wide-angle nozzle to prevent damage.
Living Things: Never use a pressure washer on people, pets, or plants. The force can cause serious injury and will destroy landscaping.
Pressure washers are better for residential use. Power washers are best suited for cleaning very hard surfaces (like concrete and cement) and removing tough stains or tacked-on grime. Meanwhile, pressure washers have more uses. For example, you can use one to deep clean a wooden fence, spray down your vinyl siding, or clear out your gutters.
The Spring Valley, IL homeowners’ guide to concrete driveway services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Between the endless customizations and decades of strength, the cost of a concrete driveway may be worth the investment. Let's break down your bottom line.
Before you hire a pro to pour a new concrete driveway, you should have a good idea of what you need. Discuss these concrete driveway installation questions with a pro.
Thinking about a new concrete driveway? Learn about installation costs, design options, and how to hire the right local pro for your home's exterior upgrade.
