"We used VKB for a complete bathroom makeover based on positive reviews online and found out how good they really are! This company knows how to do customer service and makes your home more beautiful! Junior was our designer and eased us through the design process. This was our first major renovation and Junior explained each step and what to expect. Jason Ali, project manager, was constantly coordinating, checking and communicating as the work unfolded. And to our delight, Pedro, crew leader, Ricardo, and Jose turned out to be our dream construction team. They were sensitive, polite, and skilled as they worked so hard each day. They kept things as neat as they could and without fail, cleaned up well each day. The project yielded some small problems and challenges but each was identified and solved. We could not be more pleased. Gary and Kate C"
"The first reason we would highly recommend Green Studio Builders is the reason we selected them in the first place from a pool of candidate contractors: They listened to us. We appreciated that they were willing to work with our vision rather than trying to upend our ideas. GSB is a design build firm, but we found them surprisingly flexible compared with several architect-contractors we interviewed. The second reason we would recommend GSB is that they finished our project on time and on budget, even though the bulk of the construction took place during the course of the pandemic. They hit their targets even though they were forced to work, unexpectedly, with our family in the house and under foot the whole time. This was no small challenge for all of us, but GSB worked with us to limit the impact and finished the project on time despite the unexpected. The third reason we’d recommend GSB is the quality of the work. From framing to finishings, from the cleanliness of the job site to the custom shelves, their work really is top notch. Nicoleta’s recommendations and her attention to detail helped us improve our design. Our new space – a second story addition and new room off the back – looks stunning, even better than we originally envisioned."
"Our Masonite-sided home of 31 years was beginning to fail, so we decided to reside with Hardiplank. After quite a long search, we chose Sunshine Contracting and can say without reservation it was the finest contracting experience we've ever had. Company president Ryan Sabo came thru with every promise and more. The entire team, Project Manager Nate, Site Manager Kevin and crew Rueben, Demas, Rutiello, & Domingo were professionals and a pleasure to work with. They are true craftsmen, who labored over the details and maintained the aesthetic qualities of our Williamsburg-styled home.They delivered excellent customer service along with a 5-star product. We are 100% satisfied with their work. Really can't say enough, great experience!"
"After talking to and receiving quotes from 6 contractors we selected BK Contractors (Bret) for our remodel. The project included creating a new home office that needed to be insulated and sound proofed, a home theater, a kid’s playroom, half bath, and craft / arts center. Additionally, the hot water heater needed to be relocated with new plumbing lines run. Bret and his team were very professional and great to work with!!! Starting with the design and contracting process, Bret was easy to work with. He was more than happy to spend as much time as needed to help design the project. Like most people, we had a limited budge. Bret was able to offer options that allowed us to stay within our budge while maximizing our design. As for the contract, Bret’s scope of work and contract was thorough and left no doubt we select the right contractor. Within days of signing the contract Bret had the building permit in order and his guys were hard at work. The framing, electrical and plumbing rough-in were competed within a few weeks. All of his employees are very professional, polite, respect your home as if is it their home. At the end of each day, the work site was swept clean and the trash taken out. Throughout the entire project Bret was ALWAYS available and just a phone call away. I would absolutely recommend BK Contractors and will certainly use him again."
"Had a great experience working with Sam for the initial walkthrough. Very friendly and provided a competitive estimate on the spot. Crew arrived on time, completely covered/protected all floors, cabinets, and furniture. Did a great job painting almost two full floors of my home including walls, trim, stairs, spindles, doors, and frames. Touched up all areas of concerned and did a good job cleaning up afterwards. Would recommend and use them again in the future."
"They were at my home before I got there, but otherwise it was okay. They sent two people to do the work, and they did good work. They were very efficient, very helpful and I appreciated their assistance."
"This was a great experience. The Team was top notch and very kind. They were very professional and did a great job cleaning the windows. They were careful and respectful of the home and belongings within. I will be using them again!
Custom Home Builders questions, answered by experts
The average build timeline for a home is between six and 12 months, with timelines pushing toward the upper end of that range if you’re creating a custom design or need a lot of land preparation before getting started. Hiring a general contractor or a custom homebuilder will help speed up the process, as you’ll see fewer delays between different parts of the build process getting done.
Typically, architects do not build homes in a hands-on sense of doing the actual framing, roofing, or other building. Architects usually do not have the training and experience to build the homes they design. An architect would need to know how to do the specific trades required to build a house, which is possible but not a common practice. A general contractor or homebuilder typically oversees the actual details of building the house that the architect designs.
If you want to make your home eco-friendly, enjoy low maintenance, and love the fact that its looks will take people’s breath away (and not because they were trying to blow your house down), then a modern brick home is right for you. You can hire a mason to get the building process started for your brick home.
But if you’re not fond of the color and don’t want to deal with the process of repointing or other repairs, consider going with vinyl or wood. These materials offer a lower cost. While they tend to require more maintenance, they don’t cost nearly the same as exterior brick house repair.
Builder-grade is one of two types of stock cabinets, whereas semi-custom designs allow homeowners some control over the color, finish, or hardware on their cabinets. Stock cabinets are sold in construction-grade and builder-grade designs. Construction-grade cabinets are usually made from inexpensive medium-density fiberboard, which is prone to moisture damage, whereas builder-grade models are a step up with higher-quality materials. Construction-grade designs are the most common type of cabinets in America.
Hiring a reliable home builder is an essential task, but there are a few questions you can ask a potential builder to ensure you they are trustworthy and up to the task:
How long do you expect the process to take?
Are you fully licensed and insured?
How much of the work will you subcontract?
Will you pull all of the necessary permits for the job?
How long is the builder’s warranty you include with your work?
How do you handle resolution for issues I might have with the finished product?
How much experience do you have?
The Dumfries, VA homeowners’ guide to custom home building
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
One of the best ways to expand your home is to build up. That said, the cost of adding a second story in Washington, DC, can range. We'll break it down here.
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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.
