Get matched with top architects in Dahlgren, VA

"?Evolution Drafting has been very difficult to work with. I have been passed from employee to employee, with unreturned calls and missed appointments. I am still waiting on a meeting to review the changes we want, yet I keep getting emails with their own concept of our project instead of a proper Teams or Google meeting. I was even sent an email to schedule a ?revision if needed,? which makes it feel like I am being blamed for not accepting a design we have never discussed in detail. My time is as valuable as theirs, and the lack of clear communication and follow?through has been extremely disappointing.? I understand that things happen in life, but I also know they have a phone, and a simple call, text, or email would prevent me from wasting my time waiting on them. I have already paid, and it appears I will not receive the final product until after Christmas and New Year?s. I am disappointed.? "

"In the spring of 2024, I started on a project to add a porch to the front of my house. Tucker gave good advice on surveying the lot before working on the design. Looking at my house and the other houses on the street, he should have realized that a $50,000 porch would not make economic sense. I wish he would have talked me in another direction. Some of the features I requested were not on the initial drawing, nor was there a description of the materials. I assumed he did not take good notes at our initial meeting. They are poor estimators of their timer requirements. Quality of drawings was good. I wish Tucker would have talked me out of a porch addition at our initial meeting. I would have been happy to pay him for the time he spent. My full review is on my blog at { removed link} "

"I placed a notice on Angi that I desperately needed an architect. I was given a list of 5 companies, however Campbell Architects (CA) contacted me first. As a matter of fact, I do not recall any of the other companies reaching out to me. When I tell you that Johnathan Campbell stepped in and did what I needed him to do which was to draw a PLAT of my property, he also went above and beyond what one would expect someone as busy as him to do. He came in and recognized that in addition to needing a PLAT, I was also having a terrible time getting the work on my property completed because a hostile neighbor continuously contacted the DOB with false statements causing me to incur numerous Stop Work Orders. When I asked Mr. Campbell what his experience was with this sort of thing, he told me and then offered his help. What I found was a very thoughtful, quiet, and professional architect who had seen it all. Not only did he understand the situation with the neighbor, he also understood my plight with the DOB and set about methodically, and very carefully stepping in to argue my case for me. He has the experience, he has the knowledge, he has the patience and he is an established and well known architect in this area, and highly respected at the DOB. It took me six months to get a response from the DOB, but once Mr. Campbell stepped in, it only took one day. My point here is that the magnitude of an individual's professionalism, knowledge and capabilities is reflected in the work product and engagement experience you the homeowner will receive. Here, Mr. Campbell made a WORLD of difference in my life as a homeowner trying to do her best against a system of mostly men who know the system, who can be cavalier and do not really care that we the homeowners have become frustrated with DOB. Mr. Campbell is an ANGEL. If you ever need an architect, he is your guy. He is a no nonsense kind of man who really, really cares about people and understands that most homeowners are "no match" for the DOB machine that controls the movement of homeowners here in the DMV. I am so grateful to Angi for creating a platform where I could find Mr. Campbell. I honestly do not know if I could have survived my nightmare ordeal without his knowledge, strength and capabilities. I now consider him to be a friend. I was shocked that he was willing to help me with the crazy man next door, but he took all of that on. He has made a difference in my mental health and ability to complete the work that I started, which the neighbor constantly stopped. I feel that I got more than an architect when I met Mr. Campbell. When people tell me they need an architect I always tell them JOHNATHAN CAMPBELL FROM CAMPBELL ARCHITECTS. This is the best company I have worked with in years. So grateful to have met him."

"Owner Ricky Stroup was infinitely patient with us, as after our initial meeting it took us over a year to hire his company to do this work. During that year, we had multiple conversations with him regarding the scope of our project, and he was as willing to contract the scope as to expand it. He wrote several proposals for us, so we could see the financial impacts of our different scope options. Our indecision on scope, and delay in scheduling, never caused any frustration or ill will on his part. Mr. Stroup was helpful, friendly, and patient throughout! His team installed everything in one day, and all who worked on our project were extremely courteous and professional. We have been very impressed with the quality of the work. Working with Gutter Glove of North Carolina was an enjoyable experience, and I recommend this company!"

"Definitely would use again. Very high quality work completed on time with great communication."

"I highly recommend Bull Construction & Roofing. Shawn was great and very knowledgeable. The crew was awesome and very professional . They were very careful with yard items and there clean-up was superior. Our job was completed on time and all expections were met. Great company to work with."

"We just finished a spectacular custom home project in McLean, VA and we are so very grateful to Seth Ballard and his team! If you are considering hiring his firm, look no further. There can be no better architect in the DC/VA/MD area – and his pricing is more than fair. We first picked Seth because we loved his architectural style and heard that he had a reputation for ensuring that his plans are executed with impeccable precision and attention to quality. Also, his references were stellar….without exception, his former clients offered glowing praise for his talent, diligence, and follow-through. And now that we are former clients, we understand why. We always knew we were going to have a gem of a home with Seth at the helm. What we did not fully appreciate at the beginning was his proven ability to help us STAY ON BUDGET and his deep bench of connections with first-rate contractors and subcontractors who were prepared to bend over backward to meet Seth’s exacting standards. Here are just a few highlights from our experience: CONCEPT PHASE: During the initial meetings at our home, Seth went the extra mile to learn all about our lifestyle, future needs, architectural likes/dislikes, and budget. During this stage of the process, he would effortlessly make freehand drawings to help us visualize potential styles and layouts. We ultimately elected to go with a craftsman design, with lots of wood features inside and out. PICKING THE RIGHT PROPERTY: Seth joined us for car rides through the local neighborhoods, helping us to scout out the property that was best suited for our construction plans – free of any potential HOA or permitting snafus. DESIGN: With Seth’s guidance, we iterated on different design options. The design phase was high-tech and highly visual. Lots of 2D and 3D elevations, plus 360-degree videos. At each step, Seth clearly identified the estimated construction cost, and we would make decisions about what to dial-up and what to dial-down. For example, we elected to go with a cheaper asphalt roof (rather than slate), but with a more premium window. There were literally dozens of choices like that, and Seth did a superb job of helping us to make the right trade-offs and to “value engineer” the house. PICKING THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR AND SUBS: One of the things that distinguishes Seth from the competition is that he works closely with a handful of contractors and subcontractors who have already been “pre-screened” for excellence. Seth connected us with a general contractor who was not only honest and diligent, but whose carpentry was truly “artisan grade.” Seth also drew upon a stable of outstanding subcontractors – in areas such as HVAC/plumbing, electrical/lighting, structural engineering, cabinetry, tile, drywall/paint, countertops, hardwood flooring, landscaping, etc. It was perfectly clear that these subs were striving to deliver the highest quality and exemplary service. Why? Because Seth was an important source of repeat business for them. This made them extremely responsive. BUDGETING: Seth developed detailed spreadsheets estimating costs for every aspect of the project, as well as options for “enhancements.” Once we made our choices, he was instrumental in securing a FLAT FEE CONTRACT with the builder (inclusive of subs) for everything we wanted. To provide even more control over the cost, the agreement specified that certain items would be “owner provided, contractor installed.” This meant that, regardless of whether we bought pricey appliances or tile or flooring, it would have no impact of the builder’s fees. To his credit, Seth’s estimates were quite accurate, and the project stayed on budget. ARCHITECT FEES: We negotiated a flat fee for Seth’s architectural services, and got way more than we bargained for. We had no idea Seth would stay so engaged throughout the project -- micromanaging every detail, and even offering interior design suggestions (e.g., stains and paints, cabinet and window designs, furniture layouts, etc.). It became clear that, regardless of how much we had agreed to pay in fees, Seth was “all in,” and was committed to ensuring that the end result was perfection. To be sure, in any large construction project, there will be some hiccups. But this was yet another area where Seth shined. Rather than being indifferent, or pointing the finger at those who were actually at fault, he would step up to “own the problem” and take charge until the issue was resolved. In one such case, he developed a design tweak that saved us money and produced a more beautiful result in the process. We never had to stress too much, because we knew Seth was 100% engaged and we could trust that the final work product would be a treasure of a home. One final thought. While Seth’s tremendous talent is obviously perfect for large custom projects, we have no doubt that he can deliver outstanding value for smaller home renovations too. When we did kitchen/bath renovations in our prior home, we naively thought that a “design-and-build” firm would deliver the best solution. With the benefit of hindsight, we could have done so much better hiring Seth as the independent architect and separately hiring a builder who would be accountable to the architect. The result would have been better quality construction, a better value, and far less stress. So whether you are about to embark on a modest remodel or getting ready to “dream big” with a new custom home, look no further than Ballard Mensua Architecture."

"Good submitted project ideas and nice designs were provided"