"We were very impressed with this contractor. Owner Allen Metcalfe is professional, thorough, and detail-oriented. His advice and suggestions were spot-on. One of the first signs of his professionalism was the clear, detailed contract that clearly defined every action to be taken, both by the homeowner and the contractor. The team working in our home was courteous and attentive to our requests. The job was completed and their workspace was cleaned in four days! We are delighted with the results, and would certainly use this company again."
"It was a pleasure again working with Yosuary Diaz and his team on our unfinished basement renovation. We hired them before for whole house interior painting. I would definitely hire him again for other home renovations. Him and his crew are great and are very skilled at what they do. Diaz was not the cheapest, but also not the most expensive contractor, but overall, well worth it! We had our entire basement gutted out and rebuilt. Diaz and his team rebuilt everything from the sub-flooring, new walls, and plumbing...and other major infrastructure that is not always thought of. We love our new basement with a complete bathroom! We highly recommend Yosuary Diaz and his team if you have a major home project."
"Mr. Gámez had good suggestions on how to meet our design goals in these spaces. The work was done very professionally and looks fantastic. The work crews were skilled and conscientious and were a pleasure to work with. Workers were on site 6 days a week during the work period and the work was completed in only 5 1/2 weeks. We had none of the usual contractor horror stories, only a very smooth experience. We highly recommend Omar’s for painting and remodeling work of any kind."
"We thought Matt Willis was very diligent, responsive and easy to work with. He sent out Gio to lead the work and I was really impressed with him. We've worked with 3 other contractors in the past, one for an addition, one for a kitchen, and one for a bathroom. Gio was definitely the best and easiest to work with. Highly recommend."
"While it is normal for remodeling projects to create chaos and to be the muse of many a horror story, this ended up with a very pleasant end result. We had a complete renovation down to the studs to bring things up to code, which included ripping out the sub flooring and quite a bit of pipes. Parts were ordered and lost and found. Things went on backorder and were discontinued. We fortunately had a fantastic crew. Ismar (the contractor) did an awesome job of making sure that everything was done to spec and built beautifully. He followed our wishes and came back on the weekend and late to be sure the work was done right. The only real challenges were with the design and oversight from the office, between the designer losing our design specs on the first pass and not communicating proactively about delays or back orders, but thankfully these were more annoyance than problem. After a few handoffs, we got Eric E. as project manager, and he saw us through the rest of the project with much better results and only about 30% oversight still needed from us. Overall, we got a great bathroom out of the deal, so 4 stars."
"After consulting with several companies, I decided to hire ESM Construction LLC for the remodeling of my one-bedroom condo. Their pricing was competitive, and Edgar displayed a wealth of knowledge. He was also exceptionally responsive, addressing all my questions promptly. The crew arrived on schedule, and they were both friendly and professional. They completely transformed the condo, installing brand new flooring, ceilings, paint, a bathroom, kitchen, and appliances. I never felt rushed, and every aspect of the project was completed in a timely manner. Edgar and his team were attentive and patient, never once saying, "No, we won't do that!" Finding honest and reliable contractors can be challenging these days. We interviewed several contractors with five-star ratings, but many seemed overpriced, like quoting $5K for cabinets that only cost $3K depending on kitchen size. Some of the five-star contractors even came off as somewhat arrogant due to their reviews, which raised concerns about potential issues. If you spot even one negative review, take it seriously; we’ve paid a steep price for ignoring such warnings in the past. Edgar's team even rectified mistakes made by previous contractors. From the moment we spoke with Edgar, we recognized his down-to-earth demeanor and extensive expertise in his field. We are thoroughly satisfied with our decision to go with ESM Construction LLC and wholeheartedly recommend this company."
"In a world of so many contractors it's hard to know who is reliable and who you can trust to do good work. Well with Go contractors you'll definitely be in great hands. Mr. Gomez and his team were always punctual, very good at communicating and always provided fair pricing. You can tell that Mr. Gomez has a passion for what he does. I previously hired some contractors that botched the job and Go contractors came in and repaired everything and then some. I was very pleased and will definitely be in touch with them again for more jobs. Thank you again!"
"I was very pleased with the results of Fred Contractor LLC work. The team was always on time and completed the job as it was estimated. The price was very competitive. Fred was easy to communicate with and everything was accomplished as it was agreed on in the contract. I would highly recommend Fred Contractor LLC for your home improvement jobs. I am also planning on hiring him for more projects in the house."
"I interviewed serveral contractors for the bathroom remodel at a rental house I own in Pennsylvania in September of 2024. Being from out of state, I was worried it would be hard to find someone reliable. I got a great vibe from Expro Renovators LLC, when they came out to survey the job. They gave me the best bid for the lowest price, and delivered a beautiful bathroom on time and on budget. And MUCH cheaper and nicer than those companies that advertise one day installation, with sub par materials. When we did run into some unexpected problems, the company worked with me to find a solution that I was happy with and within my budget. This may sound like a commercial, but I'm a real person and a satisfied customer, (which in my experience is not that common with contractors these days). If you have doubts, I've told the folks at Expro Renovators they may selectively give out my contact information to prospective customers. Would I use them again? Well, I have a kitchen that needs a makeover as soon as I have the money, and they'll be getting my business."
"Definitely recommended! Alex (the company manager) was very honest in helping us determine which repairs were necessary from an inspection report of our new place, unlike other contractors. He was flexible to our changing requests and his partner Sara was always responsive and helpful. The job was completed quickly, with good quality, and pricing was reasonable."
Unfinished Carpentry questions, answered by experts
The average cost of DIY window framing is about $40 to $60 in materials. If you hire a window treatment professional, you’ll pay for materials plus labor costs—anywhere from $250 to $800 per window. The final cost is highly dependent on the window size, as larger windows are heavier and more difficult to install, as well as the type of window framing material.
You should avoid drilling or cutting into load-bearing beams because removing material will weaken it and increase the risk of structural damage or even collapse. If you do need to drill into a load-bearing beam, speak with a structural engineer first to discuss where it’s safest to drill and the width and depth of the bit that’s safe to use.
You can choose 5/8-inch plywood or 3/4-inch plywood—anything thinner than these sizes may not withstand the impact of debris propelled by strong winds or can be easily torn off by intruders. Remember that the durability of the wood board is crucial, particularly for safeguarding your windows during severe storms. The effectiveness of using wood boards for protecting the investment you made in your home relies on using the appropriate material and ensuring proper installation.
Most load-bearing walls are exterior, though they can also be interior.
Yes, walls on the top floor can be load-bearing if stacked on the floor’s foundation.
The Boyds, MD homeowners’ guide to contractor services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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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.