Get matched with top architects in Middletown, 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.? "

"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!"

"My wife and I are incredibly satisfied with our renovated home. From the design work done by Dave at NRG to very efficiently use our limited space, to the on-schedule completion of the work to facilitate our tight move-out/move-in schedule, to the outstanding punch list finishing work the NRG team did to make the minor repairs involved in every home project, to NRG's doggedness and determination to make sure we are satisfied all the way to the finish line--we really couldn't ask for a better home renovation experience. Even after unexpected but essential change orders like a new roof and sistered first floor joists, and the inclusion of the unanticipated desires like the purchase and installation of the basement Murphy bed, NRG's original price estimate was within a couple percent of the final total, which really says something about the effort and quality Dave and the NRG team put into their work, their professionalism, and their determination to get it right. My wife and I got everything we wanted at the price NRG quoted, which was right smack in the middle of the five bids we received and was quite fair and reasonable. NRG's commitment to stand by their work has given me great peace of mind. We have had minor hiccups since moving back in, each of which has been successfully and quickly resolved, and whenever something unexpected occurs, I remember and rest on Dave's assurance: "If there's an issue, we'll fix it. We stand by our work." That's exactly what Dave and NRG have done. Dave is not just a general contractor, he also serves as a counselor and mentor throughout the renovation process whom you can trust."

"We’ve used many contractors in the past, but this time, we decided to use one that came highly recommended by a friend instead. And boy, were we glad we did! Jackie, our designer, and Nicely Done Kitchens and Baths (NDKB) are tremendous! We expressed our vision for a new kitchen and Jackie went to the drawing board and came back with plans they were even better! And Jackie even found a way to give us our dream gourmet kitchen without breaking the bank. She did a superb job and we couldn’t be happier. NDKB really is a boutique design center that holds your hand all the way from start to finish. And Olivia, our project manager, was wonderful, as well. If you go with NDKB, you won’t be disappointed."

"I used Apex to fix a situation where water would leak into my basement through the electrical panel during a long, heavy downpour. It was a particularly unique and difficult problem to solve which involved excavating under part of a flagstone patio, determining the source(s) of the leak and sealing. Their final solution was very thorough and attacked the problem from multiple directions. I was impressed with their dedication to doing the job right. The clean-up was also thorough (the patio looked better after they left than before they started!) The crew was great! They worked hard and knew what they were doing. Since it was such a tricky problem, Lou, the manager, was on-site for most of the day. They also have an excellent electrician on the team which was a definite plus for this project. I used Apex a couple of years ago to renovate the basement and was very pleased with the result of that project as well. They’ve been in the business for many years and are deservedly proud of their reputation for quality work. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again."

"Rating 2 star because quality of tiling work is decent. This company is not cheap, but overall work quality is cheap. After completing the bathroom remodel, we found the hand shower was not working. They first blamed Delta, saying it faulty. I called delta customer rep in front of him and delta pointed out the problem with installation. Cutting the new bathroom tile was expensive, so Sosa did something from the back of bathroom by cutting a drywall, and both rain/ hand shower started working. We had the feeling that something is not correct because there was not enough water pressure and water was not warm enough. And here it happened exactly after 2 months, the shower system stopped working. When I called Sosa to check what’s going on and he responded “it was working when I left” . So I had to call another agency, they cut the drywall and showed me the poor quality plumbing done by Sosa. They re-did the plumbing and shower system started working."

"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."