"Review by John Haugh, Greencastle, PA. Project: remodel master bathroom and make it handicapped friendly. The Conrad Homes work team (Patty and Blake) were excellent to work with and did an outstanding job. They were completely cooperative in taking our suggestions and doing the work as we wanted. I would not hesitate to have them help with any future remodeling jobs we might have at our home in the future. The work done on our master bathroom was clearly superior to the work done on our bathroom by the builder when the home was built in 2010."
"VKB Frederick remodeled our basement and turned an area that was mostly being used for storage into a space our family can actually enjoy. We wanted it to feel comfortable and finished, but also practical enough for everyday use. This was our first renovation of this size, so we had plenty of questions throughout the process. The team was responsive and explained things in a way that made it easier for us to make decisions. We also appreciated the crews attention to the finishing details because those little things really make a difference once the project is complete. The basement no longer feels like a basement. It feels like another level of our home, and we are using the space far more than we expected. We?re very pleased with the transformation and would recommend the VKB Frederick team."
"Great guy, casual approach, does not ask enough questions. As a homeowner, I don't have his knowledge and is up to him to educate a little better. Overall, very, very good."
"Howard Shires From American Home Contractors came out to my house today and repaired my roof. He arrived on time and did a great job. I would highly recommend Howard to anyone needing roofing work."
"This was a great experience all around. We looked at Talon and another construction company. The other company had a hard time "getting it", i.e., what we were looking for, but when we dealt with Talon's designer and partner, they did. We did get both bids as close as possible in terms of what was being offered. Talon's pricing was competitive. The project was contracted for in August 2013, and completed April 2014. There was some initial delay waiting for utility companies to move the meters -- some of this was facilitated by Talon and some I had to work directly with the utility company. This was the most frustrating part of the experience, but I think most of the delays were from the utilities themselves. Washington Gas was particularly hard to work with. Demo of our portico was finally initiated (start of construction) in November. The construction crew worked through some tough weather as the winter of 2013-2014 was pretty fierce. Loss of time due to weather was minimal, though, as unless there was a huge snowfall, they were out there. The carpenters who were here on a daily basis were competent and friendly. We couldn't be happier with the final product, and often neighbors come by or stop us on the street to compliment us on it. "
"I needed a new deck and repairs to my front walkway and steps. Not only was I quoted a fair price, the work was begun and completed in record time by an amazing crew. Best of all, Sam was a joy to work with (a strange word to use when dealing with contractors but absolutely true)—no high pressure tactics just a willingness to get me through the process as easily as possible. Sam even offered to deal with my HOA if needed. They are a 1-stop shop for any type of work you need done no matter how small. Sam will be the first person I call when I need more work done. P.S.: a neighbor hired him after seeing the work done at my house."
"It was easy making an appointment. The office staff was helpful and I had a choice of days and times. Appointments are set for a 2-hour window and the technician called one-half hour before arriving. Part of the work was covered by a local online coupon and part was a repair. The technician, David, was excellent. He was knowledgeable and competent at the job and was a pleasure to work with. I didn't know how he would solve the problem of the bracket, which was installed by another company. The replacement looks like it will last as longer than my house lol. The price charged was reasonable, and the work was done quickly and clean-up was perfect. Needless to say, I will use ABC for any garage door work in the future. "
A carriage house is a freestanding building, while a townhouse is connected to other units. A townhouse is a full single-family home and typically shares a parcel of land with other connected homes. A carriage house is rarely used as the sole single-family home on a property and is most often an additional building sharing property with a traditional single-family home.
A green home is one that focuses on conservation, with the goal often being net-zero carbon emissions and self-sustainability. It will often include some kind of self-generation equipment, like solar panels or a small wind turbine, high-efficiency electrical components and mechanicals, and high-quality insulation and air sealing to reduce the loss of conditioned air. Many green homes also include xeriscaping or rainwater collection to cut down on drainage and water consumption.
Ultimately, a work warranty is only as reliable as the contractor you’ve hired. That’s why trust and reputation are such important factors, in addition to having a solid contract and confirming appropriate licensing, insurance, and bonding. When looking for a contractor, it’s a good idea to read online reviews and ratings to see what kind of experience past customers have had. Issues with your contractor can make for an unsatisfying renovation process, but a reliable contractor can make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Whether a prefab home is worth it or not will depend on your personal needs and preferences. Overall, prefab homes tend to cost less than traditional homes, although they also tend to have lower resale values. Another thing to consider is that prefab homes usually last 50 to 60 years or longer, while traditional homes last 50 to 100 years or more.
The primary reason homes have crawl spaces is so the foundation can reach down below the frost line to avoid dangerous soil movement and structural damage when the ground freezes. They’re more popular in colder climates where the ground freezes down to a few feet, and slabs are most popular in warmer areas where there is no frost line. Crawl spaces also provide a space for utility lines to run where they’re at less of a risk of freezing.
The Braddock Heights, MD homeowners’ guide to home building services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
When building a home, going custom gives you the freedom to create your dream house. Learn about the cost to build a custom home and the factors to consider.
Thinking about a custom home building project? Learn about design options, average construction costs, and how to hire the right local pro for your new house.
Building your dream home starts with hiring a builder. Here is how to find a builder who understands your needs and preferences for your brand-new home.
