"I can’t say enough great things about Walter! He completed multiple projects in my home, and every single one was done with precision, professionalism, and attention to detail. From start to finish, he was reliable, communicative, and clearly takes pride in his work. He showed up on time, came prepared, and handled everything efficiently—no shortcuts, just quality craftsmanship. What really stood out to me was how he took the time to explain things, offered helpful suggestions, and made sure I was completely satisfied before wrapping up each project. It’s not easy finding someone you can trust in your home, but he exceeded all expectations. If you’re looking for someone dependable, skilled, and professional, I highly recommend him. I will definitely be using his services again!"
"Carlos is an amazing carpenter! He has completed multiple large projects in our home. Specifically: (i) stabilizing old wood floors; (ii) constructing custom made bookshelves & desk; and (iii) creating an absolutely gorgeous hand rail for our staircase. His prices are reasonable and his professionalism is exceptional! We highly recommend Carlos for all your home project needs."
"He and his crew did a fantastic job. He was here on time every day. He did not waste any time doing the work. When they took a break, they went right back to work after. We didn’t have any problems out of them. Sometimes, he may have stayed longer than scheduled or would even come on a Saturday to work because he was on a schedule. I would recommend him to anyone and I have already recommended him. They were satisfied customers too."
"Justin did an outstanding job on removing the old shower with great care and professionalize. He did an outstanding job on the build out of the new shower. He subcontracted the tile work out to a great tile craftsman but not the cleanest craftsman. They blow tile dust all over our basement but the tile job was good. However, once the dust all over the place was brought to Justin attention, he personally clean and paid for a cleaning service to clean our basement.
"The carpenter (working from a high ladder) replaced the rotted wood with new pieces (cut to fit), sealed the joints and restained the new pieces to match. It was a very professional job."
"When I first met Chris, I was interested in moving from a apartment to house. A friend showed me their house and the finished renovation of his house and it was beautiful. I soon got in touch with Chris to act as my realtor and then renovator! As a first time homebuyer it took me over a year to find that house. Some houses I had lost out on the bidding but I'm glad I found this beautiful home. This house required a total remodel - bathrooms were remodeled, closets were added to bedrooms, crawlspace was conditioned and encapsulated; new furnace installed with new central heating an air conditioning, new propane fireplace installed, tankless water heater installed, new carpeting and beautiful hardwood floors! All new windows were installed and brand new doors. Chris has suggested that i get the antique white paint for the main living quarters of the house. However, after I saw in my old apartment light I wasn't pleased with it. I went to meet Chris to make the selections to pick out the shower, and flooring for my laundry room and kitchen! (Its a lot of fun! Its like being on HGTV without the cameras!) Chris wanted to show a house that had the fixtures for the bathrooms and when we entered I noticed the beautiful paint and mentioned it to...he said it was the antique white! So take from this, just go with what he suggests! There was one surprise that came out of no where when the door rim board below the back door was found to be rotten because it was leaking. Unfortunately it wasn't noticed in the home inspection. The floor joists were repaired because of water intrusion and rot. After the remodel, I got numerous compliments on how beautiful the house looked and people inquired about who was my contractor....I was very happy to say its was Chris Marshall of North Star and for them to contact him. Its taken me a long time (over a year and half) to get my review written. Before I wrote mine I noticed a few people that Chris showed my house to after the renovation to show his work, have also had their projects completed and their reviews done! I'm happy to see that they were very please with the work done in my house that they stayed with Chris and his company to have their own beautiful home! Its wonderful that Chris and his crew can make people's dreams come true! Chris's crew is great to work with, too! Thank you for"
"Excellent experience. Starting with Calvin (our designer), Jason (PM) and Walter (Crew Lead) they did an outstanding job. Easy to work with and all details handled upfront. No surprises. If the Crew had any questions, they always deferred to me (and wife) and proceeded as we directed. Very respectful of my home, kept the site clean and always removed the construction debris in a timely manner. They provided such an outstanding service, they will be remodeling at least one other bathroom. Top notch."
"We are very pleased to have found 7th State Builders through Angieslist! We hired them to rebuild our deck, and could not be more satisfied with the result. It is beautiful and unique, so much better than we imagined it to be. Chase, the owner, arrived right on time for our first consultation, which we greatly appreciated. He walked my husband and me through the project, giving ideas and options that surpassed our vision and matched our budget -- he even talked us out of a more expensive project, which showed honesty and a commitment to the satisfaction.of his customers. From our first meeting, we could tell he has a great enthusiasm for design and quality. The work was done in a very reasonable time frame. The workers were super courteous, friendly, professional and respectful of our home, making sure to clean up thoroughly at the end of each day. We will definitely use them for future projects. Many thanks to Chase, foreman Jamie, and his crew!"
"“I strongly recommend JW Home Improvement for all home repair and renovation needs. Over the past few weeks we have had various projects completed, including, exhaust fan installation, stairwell repair, dry wall repair, exterior dormer and trim replacement and gutter/downspout painting. All of the technicians were friendly, prompt, knowledgeable, respectful, highly skilled and operated efficiently to finish ahead of scheduled time. Pedro, Kevin and Antonio in particular were exceptional in going above and beyond to produce truly beautiful work. The craftsmanship and precision displayed by these technicians was extraordinary and they were an absolute pleasure to have in my home.”"
Barndominium Builders questions, answered by experts
If you’re building a pole barn in place of a traditional home, lenders usually don’t offer traditional mortgages for these structures. You can also expect higher insulation costs and building permits may not be allowed in your area. Even if you’re just using a pole barn as storage or as a shelter for animals, these structures are less durable than steel buildings and require more maintenance.
The difference between a pole barn and a stick-built barn is in the construction. Large poles in the ground provide support for pole barns. For stick-built barns, 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 lumber (known as sticks) create a frame around load-bearing beams. Stick-built construction is far more popular for residential homes. Pole barns are more cost-effective because they require fewer materials and less labor.
Your foundation contractor will first need to remove the topsoil and any vegetation within 4 feet of the area around the barn. They’ll need to ensure they have clear access to the site to begin excavation, after which they can begin construction.
Whether pole barn posts should be set in concrete depends on the soil surrounding your home. If your soil is compact and digging conditions are agreeable, then setting pole barn posts in concrete is an ideal option.
It is almost always more affordable to buy an existing home than to build a new one. Building a home involves numerous costs, including labor, permits, inspections, utility hookups, and brand-new materials, finishes, and appliances. Additionally, new construction loans can have higher interest rates than traditional mortgages, and property taxes on new homes are often higher, increasing long-term costs. An exception is a DIY house build, which can be cheaper than buying an existing home if you do the labor yourself. While building is generally more expensive, a new custom home offers complete control over the layout and design. Furthermore, new construction is typically worth more than a comparable pre-owned home and may provide a better return on investment if sold quickly.
The Bowie, MD homeowners’ guide to barndominium building
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
One of the best ways to expand your home is to build up. That said, the cost of adding a second story in Washington, DC, can range. We'll break it down here.
Wondering how much it costs to build a house in Washington, D.C.? Use this guide to cover all your bases, from permits and planning to construction and finishing touches.
A barndominium offers lots of advantages, including durability and versatility. But is building a barndominium the right choice for you? Let’s find out.
