Get matched with top subcontractors in Burtonsville, MD

Smithwright Home Improvement is a general contracting company providing a broad range of home improvement and home repair services in the Suburban Maryland area. I am a company of one and use subcontractors only when absolutely necessary. 99% of the work I take on is performed by me. Smithwright Home Improvement is licensed with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission since 2004 under license# 89597. I've done mostly flat-fee work under contract with the home owner. Small projects, or handyman related work, bills out at $80/hour with a 3 hour minimum. Angie's List customers receive a 10% discount off labor charges that invoice over $500.00. Discounts do not apply to materials cost which are in addition to labor charges. I do not add any additional costs to materials. You pay what I pay. My business, up to now, has grown strictly through referrals from satisfied customers. In the 20 years since I started this business, I have served hundreds of home owners in this area doing everything from simple drywall work to building large room additions and decks. I pride myself in delivering results that far exceed my customer's expectations. (Please note, the nature of my work can make it quite difficult to take phone calls during the day. The last thing I want is to offend anyone by not picking up or not returning phone calls. Please contact me via text at 410-707-5542 or email at [email protected] as well and I will try to respond to you within 24 to 36 hours. Thank you!).

"The master bathroom renovation process we experienced was frustrating and plagued with many unnecessary delays and quality control breakdowns. Having gone through numerous home improvement projects, we carefully researched companies and selected VKB Kitchen and Bath in large part because of the overwhelmingly positive reviews we read on numerous websites, including Angie’s List. Unfortunately, the company we worked with bore little resemblance to the glowing reviews we read. While we are ultimately happy with the finished product, we do not feel anyone should experience the frustrating ordeal we went through to have a bathroom renovated. Consequently, we cannot recommend VKB Kitchen and Bath. We signed a contract with VKB on March 17, 2016, to perform a complete renovation of our master bath. The project was to follow the VKB designer’s specifications, and was to be substantially completed in 2 weeks—their estimate, not ours—with minor items to be addressed in a final third week. The actual renovation began on April 19th, a week later than originally planned. From the beginning, we experienced problems. VKB gave us access to an automated project management tool to check on the job’s status, see what work was scheduled each day, see any change orders for modifications made during the renovation, and communicate any questions or concerns through its message board. VKB was to use the tool to communicate progress, work schedules, and responses to our questions. If actually used and kept current, it would have been a helpful resource to monitor the job’s status and any slippages. However, VKB rarely used it, and when it was used, it presented grossly inaccurate information (ex., noting tasks as “completed” when they had not been started or were well behind). Toward the end of the job, after numerous delays and a turnover in the subcontractor VKB hired to perform the work and the reassignment of the project manager, the lead designer—Joe—used the messaging feature more frequently to timely respond to our questions or concerns and to better inform us as to the new sub-contractor’s work schedule. Demolition of the old master bathroom took several days, primarily because most of the work was done by one worker. This pattern continued during construction of the new bathroom. Each day, several workers would show up to unload equipment, but then typically most would go to another job site, leaving just one person to handle much of the work. We were told that the crew would begin work between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and would work full days as long as there was work to be done, yet for the vast majority of the time the initial subcontractor was involved, the crew would not show up until 10 a.m. or later, and would usually leave between 3 and 4 p.m. There were days when no one showed up and we were not notified that no one would be coming that day, despite there being ample work. The lack of sufficient workers and erratic work hours were major factors in the job quickly falling behind schedule. When we raised concerns about job slippages to VKB’s project manager, he dismissed our concerns. Serious communication issues existed between the subcontractor and VKB’s project manager which led to mistakes and delays. For example, one key design decision prior to commencement of the renovation was the removal of a ceiling and wall bulkhead to allow for more open space. The bulkhead wall contained a ventilation register which had to be removed and rerouted through a toe-kick in one of the new vanities. Due to miscommunications, the subcontractor tiled over the ventilation opening on the floor. The crew had to subsequently pull up newly-installed tile to create a ventilation path and install a new vent. However, because of the manner in which this ventilation path was constructed, the floor register did not fit properly flush with the tile floor. It still does not fit properly to this day. To be fair, issues arose which contributed to delays in the job that were not originally anticipated. For example, when the subcontractor finished the demolition, he noted that the floor was not completely level. To his credit, he took steps to fully level the floor, which took a day to complete. Additionally, in designing the new bathroom, the designer envisioned shifting the position of the toilet. As the job progressed, the subcontractor and project manager realized this would not work without extending a wall. We agreed with this change, which added another day to the project. Finally, we were scheduled to be out of town beginning in mid-May, which resulted in the crew not being able to work on the job for 10 days. Yet, had the job met the original contracted timeframes, it should have been completed nearly 2 weeks prior to our trip. When little additional progress had been made 2 weeks after our return, VKB reassigned the project manager and Joe, our lead designer, fired the subcontractor and brought in a new subcontractor to complete the bathroom renovation. However, this subcontractor had to work us into his existing jobs, putting a strain on his crew. To further complicate the new subcontractor’s job, there were numerous instances in which materials delivered were either defective or incomplete. For example, a large wood linen cabinet was unfinished on one side, resulting in VKB having to order a piece to finish the side. Additionally, the cabinet, and two vanities that were to be installed were supposed to have two side-by-side doors. When we inspected the delivered cabinet and vanities, we found that they had single doors. After noting this to VKB, we were told that the manufacturer did not make vanities that had two side-by-side doors, though they were in VKB’s design and the contract specified them. When we noted this would be problematic with respect to the linen cabinet given its placement in the bathroom, VKB said the cabinet could have side-by-side doors but it would require re-ordering them. We later found out that any re-ordering of items would require 2-to-3 weeks from the time of ordering until the items would arrive. While a 2-to-3 week delay was bad enough given the significant slippages already incurred, it turned out that VKB also misjudged other wood materials needed from this same manufacturer to complete the cabinet and vanity installation–such as trim and crown molding we had requested prior to commencement of the renovation–which resulted in another several weeks of delays. The end result of these missteps was that the new subcontractor had to pull out on two occasions for a period of 2 weeks each to allow time for new and/or replacement parts to arrive. Additionally, VKB twice sent out a separate crew to install the shower door and glass, and each time, the crew had to leave without performing the installation because work on the shower was not sufficiently complete for them to install the glass. When they were finally able to attempt the installation, they discovered an error in the manufacturing of one side of the glass. They had to reorder the side, resulting in yet another delay. Perhaps most disturbing is that the door and glass had been ready for weeks, yet no one checked them to ensure the manufacturer had completed them to specification. Other examples of this abound, including delivery of bathroom sinks and countertops which were not properly made and hardware for the cabinet and vanities, which were missing handles. Many of these problems could have been prevented or at least detected and addressed earlier had VKB had an effective process in place to ensure all materials ordered from vendors were inspected for both quantity and quality as soon as they were received. As a result of these problems, our master bathroom renovation—which was to have taken at most 3 weeks—took nearly 4 months to complete. Final work was completed on August 8th. Even at that, we ultimately settled for certain things simply to end the ordeal and move on. For example, the floor register that had been improperly installed by the initial subcontractor was never properly resolved by VKB—its solution was to cut the register bottom"

"Repair of framing was done quickly and professionally. Window pane teplacent was outsourced to a subcontractor who took much longer than I was told to comete i stallation. When finally finished, the work was very satisfactory"

We at FAMB Constuction LLC, we focus on quality services over quantity. We use our years of experience and expertise to complete your project with perfection. Customer service and honesty are the most important aspects of our business and your satisfaction is guaranteed. Please call us today for an estimate.

"BEWARE OF CONTRACTORS. PERIOD.
I give this a B rating overall because the first handyman (I believe his name was Chris) they sent did MAJOR DAMAGE to my home. He was aloof, very unprofessional, and then drilled several holes straight through a plaster wall as he attempted to wall mount a television. The other side of the wall is fully wallpapered, and the paper has been damaged and has holes in it--this is in my living room. That contractor was horrible and wasted an entire day in my home doing little other than causing damage. He had a p*** poor attitude--stating that "he felt this indoor task of hanging things was beneath him" because he "builds things", and then went on to curse out the woman at JW who assigned him the job as I stood there listening to him on the phone. He also told me snidely that he didn't care that he caused damage because JW would just send somebody out there to clean up his mess--he is just a subcontractor so has zero accountability he said, so he didn't care. Just horrible.
HOWEVER, the JW office team was very apologetically and immediately sent someone out to survey the damage, and they offered to repair the wall and replace the wall paper for free. I ultimately declined because it would be an even greater inconvenience for me to go from what was supposed to be a simple hanging job that should have taken less than 4 hours, to then have JW trash my living room for a day with a construction project that required removing built in bookcases so they can repair small holes and re-wallpaper an entire wall. Just wasn't worth the headache in the end to me, but I unfortunately am stuck living with the damage and am just hiding it behind some books.
Beyond this, they did send out two great guys who I highly recommend--Ever & Johann--who finished up the original job that the first guy botched. Ever & Johann are fantastic, really reliable, very skilled, and fast! I felt bad for them because they were sent to clean up a colleagues mess. I really wish they had been assigned to us in the first place because they were fantastic. I will rehire them for another job I have pending. 
All in all, the problem with companies like JW is that they subcontract their projects to random contractors, and there is little in the way of quality control or accountability. For every great guy like Ever or Johann you get a jerk like the one who trashed my walls. JW is really just a middle man in many ways that takes calls for work and then goes out and finds folks to do it. The people who work for the company are great--from the guy that came out to give an estimate, to the person who took the incident report, to the woman who does the scheduling... but the contractors are hit or miss. I recommend that you ask for Ever & Johann. Otherwise be cautious because you don't know who you'll get.
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"When our renovation project fell apart, we heard of Marvel Home Improvement through friends who had used Devin's services and were very satisfied with the experience. We checked several references, all of which were glowing. We asked Devin, the owner of the business who serves as general contractor for all projects, to assess the condition of our house and advise us on how to fix it and complete the project. The house was empty and unlivable at the time. We needed a contractor who could accurately provide a timeline, a good cost estimate and contracting process. Marvel has a reputation for on-time delivery and excellent cost and project management. Devin impressed us with his experience and responsiveness. He quickly also referred us to an excellent architectural designer who helped us to move forward with fixing design issues and finalizing a design. Devin's team started the project on schedule. The workers were courteous, tidy, and respectful of the property every single day. They cleaned up the job site at the end of the day and worked quickly and competently throughout the day. All sub-contractors on the project obviously had long-established, positive professional relationships with Devin. From the painters to the flooring company to the tile installer to the electrician to the mason who built a stone fireplace, the subcontractors provided pricing and service that obviously reflected an outstanding relationship with Marvel Homes. Devin also provided accurate updates on costs on a regular basis and made excellent suggestions on where/how to save money without sacrificing quality. He personally arrived on the job site daily. When questions or issues inevitably arose, he addressed them immediately. He communicated with us on a daily basis, never hesitating to let us know the status of the project or about any structural or materials issues. As a result, we were well-informed throughout the project. Devin is also outstanding at on-time delivery. He provided a schedule of work at the start of the project and then emailed us regularly to make sure that we were making decisions and keeping up with the project. He often collected information for us about pricing and delivery times and dealt directly with materials providers, ensuring that the project would stay on track. The choreography of the work was a great demonstration of strong organizational and time management. Most importantly, we will actually be sorry for the project to end, as we've enjoyed working with Devin so much. He is a rare blend of integrity, humor, competence, personal responsibility and experience. We went from disappointment and despair about our home renovation, to great satisfaction at the beautiful work that has been done. We endorse Devin and Marvel Homes without reservation and will hire them again should the need arise."

We pride our company on reliability, great communication, integrity, and quality work. We are experts in our trade and will do our best to keep you as educated as we can on your particular task or project. We look forward to earning your business!

"Chevy Chase Remodeling did an exterior renovation for us, including replacing our roof and siding, painting our house, replacing a window, and adding a new screened-in porch and patio in our backyard. They took care of the design work as well as arranging all the subcontracting to perform the construction work. The owner, Steven, and all the subcontractors were friendly, easy to work with, and professional. It took a while, as we expected, but they worked overtime to complete on time the one part of the project we needed done by a certain date. And they did a great job overall--we are very pleased with the final results. The house looks totally remade and the porch and patio are just what we were hoping for. We recommend them!"

"It looks like we have a new house!  Everything looks very professional, excellent quality work.  They finished on time, with some minor touch-ups to be completed on the finish date.  We would definitely use him again.

Omar is very professional and courteous and knows a lot about construction.  They have great service, they always responded promptly to any requests, and any changes we asked for were made right away.  They went above and beyond to make us happy with the work.  Omar took a lot of time to make sure we were happy with the floor stain and paint colors and did lots of test patches for us. They did extra stuff like install a baby gate at the top of our stairs, and came back to do some touch ups after we moved in.  After we moved in I was also concerned about the type of baseboard heater that was installed in our basement (dangerous opening for children), and Omar came back to install a different one at no charge.  They also ran into some issues and had their work cut out for them moving our upstairs toilet, but he said he would compelete the job he promised at no additional charge, eventhough it turned out to be a lot more work and effort for them than anticipated.  

There were some increases in price due to things we added on, upgrades for a better carpet (we didn't like the builder grade), and we added on extra wiring for speakers.  The subcontractor Juan Carlos knew a lot about electronics and did a great job!  Despite our add-ons and changes they still stayed pretty on-target for the finish date.  And Omar was very clear about what increases in charges would be made and what was included in pricing, and what items we would have to buy ourselves."

We are a highly skilled crew of carpenters who specialize in the design and construction of residential build projects. With a focus on kitchen/ bath, custom woodworking, basement remodels, additions, entertaining spaces, and more. Interior and exterior projects considered.