contractors

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ketzirah Lesser & Art Drauglis

“Dear PoPville,

I want to do a major yard overhaul – redoing the parking pad, walkways, front steps, putting in a retaining wall, replacing sad patchy grass with low-maintenance ground-cover plants. But I don’t even know where to start. I think I’ll need a hardscaping contractor and a landscape architect? Who do I call first? Or would one company do both services? If I have two parties, how do I manage the budget? For example, if I have a landscape architect do the design work, but then hardscaping contractors give me quotes that are way too high, will I need to pay the landscape architect all over again?

If anyone has done a similar project, how much did it cost? My yard’s not big (lot size is just under 4000 sq ft), but it’s a lot of work.

I’d also love any recommendations.”

“Dear PoPville,

Looking to have roof patio expanded. Does anyone have suggestions on the process for how to go about getting a permit, etc. This is what it looks like now (above.)”

“Dear PoPville,

I would love your advice from people on architects or contractors they’ve used. We’re considering adding a roof deck and a few windows to our home, but have no idea about regulations/process/cost, or who to ask (do we need an architect or is a general contractor enough)?”

Photo by PoPville flickr user John Cochran

“Dear PoPville,

We just bought a 1920s rowhouse in Petworth/16th St Heights that still has a lot of its original character – including its internal walls, hallelujah! The previous homeowner lived there for almost 40 years and, while it has been lovingly maintained, it hasn’t really been updated or modernized except that at some point the sleeping porches on the back on both floors were enclosed. We’re interested in re-doing those enclosures properly, including adding a full bath to the top floor, a half-bath to the ground floor, and fully enclosing the basement space underneath the sleeping porches (which was never done) to make a laundry room.

We’d love referrals for design/build firms, architects, and/or general contractors you’d recommend who will respect the historic character of the home. Most of the renovations we’ve seen in person or found via google are in flipped houses, and we absolutely do not want to create a totally open-plan ground floor! If you’ve done something similar to what we’re hoping to do or have any suggestions for professionals to contact, we’d appreciate hearing from you!”

Photo by PoPville flickr user echaik

“Dear PoPville,

Does anyone know of any company that repairs or replaces gas lamps? My parent’s house in VA has a gas lamp at the front steps. My contractor said the mantles (the part that glows with gas flow, shaped like a light bulb) need to be replaced. But you have to turn off the gas first. Gas company said the lamp is not metered, so they do not service it. I said I can smell the gas flowing, very faintly, if you stand next to the lamp, since the gas is not being used to light the mantles, they said they will not shut off the gas. I can’t find the shut off on or near the lamp itself, the screw on the side which is supposed to control the gas flow doesn’t seem to do anything. Lighting shops say they only deal with electric lights, not gas.

The lamp seemed to be running fine for many years, it provides good light on the front steps. I think due to age the mantles just disintegrated. Would be great to be able to fix it somehow.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Eric P.

“Dear PoPville,

Looking for a local plumber or plumbing company that has experience working with PEX tubing and fittings. I removed the drywall in my ceiling of my dining room and I would like to reroute the cold & hot line in a more efficient matter. Current water pipes are copper, 10-15 years old (1/2 in size), but I don’t need to replace all of it, only a portion the run across the ceiling. The current copper lines run below just below the floor joist and previous owner built a huge and ugly bulkhead (since removed) to hide these water lines. I estimate total amount of tubing that needs to be replace is 30 feet total, 15ft for hot and 15ft for cold. Does anyone know of anyone working with PEX? Thanks,

Owner of ColHgt Row House”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Pablo Raw

“Dear PoPville,

Mold has formed around some of our air conditioning vents in the ceiling. I once bought a Groupon or livingsocial coupon for mold prevention services and they upcharged us for everything (not surprising). DIY is an option too I suppose, but I’m not confident I’ll be able to tell if it’s more pervasive than the area’s I can see. Let me know if you can help!”

“Dear PoPville,

I’m wondering if you can put a request out for recommendations for exterior wood window painters. I’ve tried to search for companies via our neighborhood listserve, but did not get any responses. I also have memberships in Angie’s List & Checkbook, but I’m having difficulty zeroing in on reviews for exterior painting, and specifically wood windows. We hired painters about two years ago to do paint work on the trim who had great reviews, but they ended up getting so much paint on our brick home, that I would never hire them for actual window painting.

I should also specify that we want loose paint at least scraped and/or removed with a heat gun/infrared heater, but this is also lead paint and we have a baby in the house, so we definitely need someone who will take the necessary precautions.
Thank you.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Erin

“Dear PoPville,

My wife and are looking to put a small parking space behind our tiny Columbia Heights row house. Ideally it would be paved brick with a sturdy gravel foundation, but we could settle for a cement slab.” Any recommendations on who could do this and what the approximate cost would be?