Contractors You Can Count On
For many, the warm weather months are the season for home improvement. And, because most of us can’t do it all by ourselves, it’s also time to research the reliability of home repair businesses. Although there are resources like the Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List, but we can also rely on the experience of our fellow neighbors. This post can help compile our local recommendations. Please share your responses to any of the questions that apply (but keep it positive. see below).
- Have you had any particularly good experiences with contractors recently?
- Do you need work done and you’re looking for a referral?
- Are there skilled neighbors in the area who might like to barter or charge a neighborly rate?
- Who did the work on the facade of the West End Market?
-Keep it positive. This comments list will serve as a list of credible resources. Comments that only serve to warn people against contractors will be deleted.
We do most of our renovations ourselves but deamed installation of A/C just too big a job. We couldn’t have been more pleased with JAMES RIVER AIR. We did it 3 years ago on their 1/2 off deal that they run every spring. The 1/2 off deal was for real when we compared it to other quotes. They were sensitive to our desire not to put bulkheads all through the house, Happy to put our condenser on the roof to spare what tiny yard we had and were in and out in 2 days with no mess left. Our A/C is able to keep our house more than 20 degrees below outside temp (which is all A/C is supposed to be able to do) and we’ve never had a summer electric bill reach $90 (usually $50 in the winters).
I’ll 2nd James River. They’ve done good, quick, reliable work for us, too.
My go-to contractor on jobs too big for just me is Jim at Reveal, Inc..
We hired out the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. The plumbing was done by Fosters and we couldn’t be more pleased. They were professional, prompt, and cleaned up their mess. Genial too. And reasonable on price. The HVAC was done by Acors and Giffith and we were also quite tickled by them as well. They worked clean and contentiously. So much so that two additional houses on our block contracted them to put in their new systems.
My FAVE contractor is Andy Nelson. She is an all around handperson. She did much of the renovation on our previous house (full bathroom reno, major kitchen reno, replacing of doors). She also did quite a bit of carpentry on this place including hanging doors, installing beadboard, tiling floors, and install the new back yard fence last week. She is the hardest worker I know, clean, and totally reliable. Email me for a phone number.
We had good luck with our exterior paint job using 89-Paint.
This is an inspiring compilation of upkeep. It almost makes me feel guilty for procrastinating on so many house projects. Here’s what I need to do or have done:
-All windows and trim repainted inside/out.
-Leaky garage roof.
-Upstairs bathroom remodel.
-Central air install (after hitting the lottery).
-Get stairs to stop creaking.
-Fix water damaged back wall in guest room
-Re-do ceiling on back porch (replace all wood slats)
Does anyone have any recommendations for people who might want to take these on or help us knock’em out ourselves.
I too do most of my own remodeling, the only thing I hired out originally, was HVAC, and would not recommend that company to save my life.
However, I do have a couple emergency contacts for things like fixing the incredibly old furnace in my basement or siding the garage.
John Williamson is my general contractor of choice, sided the garage and tiled the bathroom shower. email me for a phone number.
Dave Elvy does glass block and masonry (hired him to repoint the brickwork) for a great price. Again, email me for phone number.
For HVAC, I now use Air-Pro Mechanical. I got a quote from James River to replace a part on my furnace, they said it would be 1600 and that i should replace it. These guys came in and fixed the existing one for 250. I trust them.
That’s all i have.
My email is dvbii at nadami dot com
I have done a lot of work and can recommend the following that have I used and passed along:
Chavez Painting – inexpensive and very, very hard working kid. City resident and took over firm after father died. They come when promised and their prices are great.
Kinetic Elec. – Scott Hawkins is a neighbor on Maplewood and owner of the firm. He is a Master Electrician. His work was great and he did my elec upgrade.
Ross Hardwood – Some of the best work I have seen. They do home city-wide include Monument Ave residents but the prices start as low as $400 a room.
BTP Mechanical Company – This is the firm that did my central air. They cleaned up daily, made on the holes need for vents, fished the duct work, worked late to finish on time, and when they met an extra work items they did not charge me a $.01 more for the work.
If anyone wants contacts for the parties I will be happy to send them to you.
michael.paul.dodson at verizon.net
People often ask me who did the porch railing and gate on the front of our house. That would be Hans Crafted Inc. (Hans Semetana (804)319-0659).
I’ll 2nd James River. They’ve done good, quick, reliable work for us, too.
My go-to contractor on jobs too big for just me is Jim at Reveal, Inc..
I’m desperately in need of concrete masonry and brickmasonry to repair my sidewalks and walls. Anyone?
http://widespreadsolutions.net/
Widespread Solutions is also a great contractor. They do drywall, demo, and some landscaping. Very cool owner.