"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"
"Green Studio Builders (and specifically its owners, Chris and Nicoleta Papadopoulos) helped me take a financially devastating
situation with my house and turn it into an opportunity to create a home that I love. A little backstory: I bought my home in Hyattsville in 2009. It was a single family detached colonial with a three-story addition on the back-side of the house. In 2010, I was told by a county inspector that the addition was un-permitted. It wasn?t clear until 2012 just how faulty the construction of the addition was. Long story short, it became clear that the repairs needed to bring the addition up to code were going to cost 150K or more. It took me a year find a way to finance the repairs. Once I had, I hired an engineer and architect to draft rough plans to inform estimates. Enter GSBuilders.
When I met with Chris for the initial walk-through of my home, he was sympathetic, attentive, and optimistic. I felt immediately at ease and could tell that he was an expert who would take great care in fixing the mess I?d inherited. He recommended a complete demolish and rebuild, adding valuable square footage and ensuring that things would be wholly right. He was the only contractor to suggest a complete rebuild. The added value was double the added cost! When his estimate came in as one of the most competitive for a rebuild, I was delighted.
Chris and Nicoleta made their support clear from the start. Chris spent his own time cleaning up the messes in the plans drafted by the architect and engineer I'd previously hired. He and Nicoleta both helped me navigate a personal health crisis in the middle of the project, meeting me on site to provide reassurance and welcoming me to their offices regularly with advice and espresso. Nicoleta spent hours helping me coordinate finishes. She acted as my designer at no extra charge. even making trips to tile stores and walking me through other finished project sites (with owner's permission) for inspiration. Nicoleta has a generous heart, exquisite taste, and great strategies for creating beautiful spaces on a budget.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to William Reyes, the foreman assigned to my project. When Chris and Nicoleta had to tend to a family crisis of their own, William stepped in and held my hand through every step of the project through completion. Every renovation has its hiccups and I always knew I could count on William (Mr. William as I took to calling him because he always called me Miss Pamela) to come up with a great solution that would keep the project on track. In some cases the obstacles became opportunities for improvement! I couldn?t have asked for better.
I could write for pages and pages about the specific ways in which GSBuilders saved my house and my sanity. Thanks to Chris and Nicoleta, my grief over this unexpected financial blow has become delight in my beautiful home. I am forever grateful and cannot recommend their services highly enough. I can, however, offer individuals venturing into a project with GSBuilders some advice that will make everyone?s life easier.
1. Start your project with GSBuilders from the drafting stage.
My only regret is that I didn?t find and work with GSBuilders and their engineers and architects from the start. They have a well-coordinated team and the quality of the work for the price can?t be beat. Save yourself the headaches and trust them with it ALL!
2. Know the specifics of your budget and start collecting photos of spaces and finishes you love.
Nicoleta can work magic within your preferred style and budget, especially if you have specific price points for finishes and have a clear aesthetic. And even if you don't, Nicoleta will help you figure it out. That is tremendous added value.
3. Keep the GSBuilders team on speed dial and never hesitate to call.
Chris, Nicoleta, and William all made it clear to me from the start that they were willing to help at every turn, but sometimes I didn?t reach out because I didn?t want to be a bother. MISTAKE! It became clear that transparent and regular communication made everyone?s lives easier. The team always got back to me within hours if not minutes and was happy to be in the loop. A connected team is an empowered team.
4. Stop by the office.
The espresso is hot and strong and you may even come on a birthday and get a cupcake! In any case, you?ll get a warm welcome and all the support you need to navigate your renovation.
Thank you to the whole GSBuilders family for your love and support in this journey. I?m eternally grateful for you all!
"Outstanding. Looking for high quality siding/Hardie Board, roofing, windows, I highly recommend Sunshine Contracting. About a month ago they finished putting Hardie Board on our Tudor-style home to replace rotting wood and stucco and did a fabulous job at a very fair price (we checked others). The crew was fantastic. Hard working, considerate, friendly, respectful – and talented. I was amazed by their skilled precision and dedication to doing the job right. Nate, the supervisor, kept progress moving efficiently. The crew leader, Ken, knew his stuff and is well-spoken. The house looks beautiful and the Sunshine team ensured everything was cleaned up, put back in order, even preserved gutters. Ryan, the owner, took extra measures to ensure we got the custom colors and other features we wanted. The team was exceptionally respectful of our having to work at home, observed proper social distancing, and scheduled work in stages to be far less disruptive than we thought it would be. We were dreading this job, but the experience with Sunshine put a smile on our faces."
"My second time using BK Contracting and I couldn't be happier. Just bought a single family home in Leesburg as an investment property. Bret's team remodeled the kitchen (installed all new appliances, fixed some plumbing and replaced the linoleum floor with tile). The kitchen looks absolutely amazing with the stainless steel appliances and the high quality floor.
He also totally overhauled two bathrooms including the entire floor with tiles, replaced all the vanities, toilets, mirrors and lights. Basically, two whole new bathrooms.
The basement had some shoddy work to be repaired. There were entire dry walls missing and all sorts of weird electrical cabling. Bret's team fixed all of it and honestly, it looks about as different as it gets.
All the work was completed in less than 3 weeks and I was able to place the home on time. Consequently, the home was leased out in less than 12 days to a new tenant and I could not be happier.
Best of all, I had to text Bret at odd hours on a Sunday with a broken thermostat / heater issue, and he promptly responded with valuable advice on what the problem was and how to mitigate it. Not sure who else would have given me free advice on a Sunday.
Overall, a huge fan of BK contracting. I had a flooding in my personal home earlier in 2015 and BK Contracts totally rebuilt my basement (insurance claim) and it looks so much better than before.
Bret's a real gentleman and a man of his word. He has always stayed very close or below his budget estimates and I know I will be using him for future renovations of my investment properties.
"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."
"Very good work on my mother's house. Adam, the project manager, was very helpful in measuring and recommending the fixtures and cupboards. etc., which I then picked out and ordered from Home Depot. Everything was done quickly and the clean-up was thorough with minimal intrusion on the home health aide's schedule. Planning to replace living room rug with wood and will definitely hire them for this. "
"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
Building a house without blueprints is not advised. It will prevent you from obtaining necessary building permits and meeting building codes and is likely to result in shoddy construction and unsafe living conditions. Detailed blueprints ensure that a house is built to exact specifications and is constructed safely and structurally stable.
The term “cottage” is subjective, so there’s no rigid definition, but it generally refers to a small home with simple and purposeful architecture that embraces nature and focuses on charm over everything else. Cottages are typically 1 or 1 1/2-stories tall, usually with gabled roofs, and are built out of natural materials that help make the structure a part of the surrounding nature rather than something that stands out from it. A big part of what makes a cottage a cottage is the decor, which includes natural materials from the nearby area.
In most states, you can build an in-law suite on your property as long as you follow local building codes. However, it's important that you have enough space on your property to accommodate the new structure. A functional in-law suite in your backyard will require between 300 and 800 square feet of space.
Historically, Tudor homes originally stemmed from the 15th and 16th centuries, while Victorians appeared during Queen Victoria's reign in the 19th century. The design and structural differences are significant as well. The many types of Victorian architecture—such as Italianate architecture—typically feature ornate trim, wood siding, wraparound porches, and tall towers on top, such as belvederes. On the other hand, Tudor-style homes feature white stucco exteriors with exposed wooden rafters marking the house frame both inside and out.
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.
Wondering how much it costs to build a house in Washington, D.C.? Use this guide to cover all your bases, from permits and planning to construction and finishing touches.
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.
Garages increase curb appeal and have a high ROI. Use this guide to learn about the average cost to build a garage in Washington, D.C., and budget for your project.
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.
