"They were the best contractor I have ever hired. Contractors were very professional. They were punctual and performed everything that was requested. They went above beyond on every task. Completed project quickly and were very meticulous about cleaning up every day. Have already told my neighbors about their outstanding work."
"George Wells was a pleasure to work with. His team took the time to make small additions to our deck that enhanced the appearance. Since Wells and Wells is a general contractor I fully intend to use them for all my future needs such a flooring, painting and window replacement. Outstanding work."
"I’ve been using Two By Four Construction since moving to PWC four years ago. They do quality work at reasonable rates. Reliable and honest, family owned company which is a definite plus!"
"Five stars! We cannot say enough great things about Manex Remodeling. This team did a wonderful job on multiple projects for us. Since this was our first time undertaking remodeling work, we were initially nervous about finding a reliable, competitively priced contractor, but Manex exceeded all our expectations.
Not only were they great to work with regarding our budget, but they are also simply good people. We truly enjoyed working with Tony, Ed, and their highly skilled team. We hired them for two bathroom remodels, a 4 season sunroom addition, and a deck—all of which turned out beautifully. They also completed landscaping and a retaining wall, new fence and concrete underneath the deck in addition to helping us to replace our roof. I really can’t thank them enough for the amazing job they did.
If you are looking for trustworthy, highly skilled professionals who deliver results you will love and feel like you are working with friends or family, believe these five-star reviews. The"
"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."
"Since day one, Deybi and his crew have been able to solve any electrical problems I've had and provide efficient and effective solutions at a proactive level, long term result. First time working with them was due to our previous preferred electrical contractor failing to help with complex electrical problems at a commercial space (office space), so after some looking we found DBG Electric. They were able to help with setting up light switch wiring, installing cubicle receptacles and replacing fluorescent light ballast along with breakers. At another commercial site, we needed help with installation of power packs, emergency lights and flood lights. All of these were installed in a high ceiling area, which was no problem for DBG. They've also helped with lighting a my personal residence, ranging from kitchen light replaced with LEDs to recess lighting needed in the basement. I highly recommend using them, specially with difficult projects that require some ingenuity."
"Me. Soles is a very profesional general contractor it guide us and informed everything little detail throughout the process and his work was impecable and very profesional. He was able to provide several alternatives and ideas for the project. I will definitely recommend him and hire him again for all my future projects. He even provide us with references of his job and this was very helpful before we hire his company. Me and my husband are very please and happy with the results. Thank you Quality Improvements LLC and Mariano Siles"
"We are very happy with the work Home Equity Contractors did for us. Especially appreciated the prompt communications from Brett and that Brett cared about the health and safety of his crew. The crew did a great job, nice cleanup. We would definitely hire them again."
"Best contractor I ever worked with is Marvel Homes, (301) 785-2171, a small firm owned and run by Devin Nasvaderani, truly one of the nicest, most knowledgeable, most organized and honest people I have ever worked with. I have done three projects with him, and been thrilled beyond expectation each time. Devin's is the firm I chose to rebuild the damaged portions of my house after a big fire there. Because we had been through so many problems with other contractors leading up to the rebuilding - despite checking them out and watching them closely - we were REALLY careful before selecting the contractor who would do the rebuilding. We read EVERY single detailed review on Angie's List, we interviewed the top "contenders," and chose Marvel Homes. Even with all of this high expectation, I was blown away by the experience of working with someone who is honest down to his bones, cares about the quality of his work down to the smallest details, is a phenomenally good carpenter with a small crew of stellar, hard-working people he trained himself, was spot-on with every time estimate and cost estimate - and for all of this is relaxed and warm at the same time. They say at the end of a long project with even a good contractor you are "sick of each other" by the end - on the contrary, I was actually sad when the work was done, that's how positive the experience was. In fact, when we needed to replace old windows at my family's house, and I wanted to winterize my screened porch, I chose Marvel Homes for each of those projects and the experience was every bit as positive. I will give details that may help give you a fuller picture of our positive experiences with this business. 1). Many contractors we spoke to came with glossy brochures and polished salesmen. Devin came himself, no glitz or fake conversation, looked at the job with what was clearly a trained eye, and answered all of my questions honestly and to whatever detail I needed. After all we had been through, I had gotten so sick of the "schmoozy" soft-sell/hard sell routine of the bigger companies who talked a lot without saying anything, this was like a breath of fresh air on a stuffy day. 2). His low-key demeanor may fool you. Devin is the most skillful and experienced carpenter/craftsmen and most organized contractor I ever met. He looks with a trained eye at every aspect of the job, and is clear and up front down to the smallest details. He wakes up at 5 each morning and before he leaves for his first job or meeting, he has a print-out of each and every thing he needs to do or discuss on each job, site, or client he will meet with that day. Unlike many good contractors who are not so good with paperwork, Devin's paperwork was so helpful all throughout the project, for planning, knowing when we needed to make choices of materials, knowing when to expect which aspect of the job, knowing breakdown of costs - everything. 3). He does it right. Even if it costs him, he absorbs the cost to get it right. In contrast to the companies that would spend hours talking to me without providing any detail or accurate estimates at all, Devin spent 40 hours of work on his own time without getting paid for it, in order to get accurate estimates and details on each aspect, so I knew exactly what to expect time-wise, and cost-wise, so the insurance estimate would be spot-on, etc. 4). When the refrigerator came, I had chosen a bigger one than we had planned for. The island was already in, but Devin was concerned that with the few extra inches of the refrigerator, the smaller aisle space might be annoying when we would be using it, moving about the kitchen, etc. He arranged to meet me at the house to see what I thought, and then suggested we move the island a few inches back. Despite the fact that I was the one who had chosen that particular refrigerator, he did not charge me for the cost of moving the island, even though I suggested that that was only fair. He said something like, "the job isn't done into you are happy, and we get it right." Who does that? 5). His small crew is terrific. He has trained all of them, and treats them well, so they form a really cohesive team. They arrived on the dot when they said they would, and they left the work area and house cleaner than when they arrived. The respect they showed for me and my things was remarkable, which blew me away after having worked with companies that treated my house like their own work space, without regard for the people or things in it. 6). We had to work with insurance on the big job. Devin's estimate was so "on point" that there was no dispute over any of it, the insurance issued the check without delay. His time estimates of when a part of the job would be done were true and exact, making it possible for us to plan around when certain parts of the job would be done. And his cost estimate was exact also. He is licensed and bonded. He does things by the book, and in fact, the only "negative" comment we ever found for him on Angie's List is "he refuses to use cheap materials." Thank goodness he doesn't. There were so many things I noticed after I moved back home that I never would have noticed while the job was underway, so many corners a less honest or less skilled contractor could have cut that would have slipped by me until long after they were paid and gone. I can't tell you how many times I felt so grateful that we had found Devin. The fire was a nightmare in so many ways, but I have often said that finding Devin and Marvel Homes more than made up for it. His reputation for excellent, by the book, safe work was clearly known to county inspectors, and every inspection went smoothly, without surprises or problems. After you have had a fire, you especially appreciate a contractor that does it safely, and right. He charges a fair price for high quality work. Before Devin I used to try to get things done at cheaper prices. The work was cheap and I would have to supervise every inch and every minute of it to be sure, and even then, I got burned. Devin told me once that a large portion of his jobs are coming in and doing it right after someone cheaper botched it up. Having now worked with a company where I didn't need to supervise ANYTHING to get a proper, careful, skilled result and promised result, I will never go back to the other way."
Unfinished Carpentry questions, answered by experts
It’s sometimes safe to replace a load-bearing wall with a beam, but you need a structural engineer to sign off on the project. You’ll also likely have to upgrade to a steel I-beam or another material that’s stronger than wood to maintain the level of support you need without the wall underneath.
Yes, walls on the top floor can be load-bearing if stacked on the floor’s foundation.
Most of the time, you’ll want to use screws on your subfloor rather than nails. Nails can actually weaken plywood, whereas screws can easily penetrate without damage. They also form a more secure connection because of their shape, preventing squeaky floors and tightly holding the subfloor in place. That said, some contractors do prefer nails depending on the type of floor covering because they allow for more flexibility.
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.
Converting a carport into a garage can vary in difficulty depending on its configuration, the condition of the foundation or slab, and its location relative to the house. The process has a lot in common with a home addition, but you can often skip non-essential finishes like fine flooring, trim work, or even drywall and HVAC. The conversion requires experience with drywall, insulation, and other building materials to ensure it’s done safely and correctly. While it might be possible for a DIYer with the proper tools and skills to do the work, it is a complicated and potentially dangerous job. If you’re new to basic construction, it's best to leave this project to the professionals.
The Dumfries, VA homeowners’ guide to contractor services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Need to run electricity to your basement? Learn about the cost to install an outlet in an unfinished basement and what factors affect your project cost.
Learn how to hire a qualified fence painter, from finding reputable pros to asking the right questions. Get expert tips for your fence painting project.
When you’re tackling a project or hiring a contractor, it’s helpful to know key carpentry terms. From end grain to dovetail joints, here’s a complete list.
