contractors

Photo by PoPville flickr user Ranpuba

Central Air Conditioning Installation:

“Does anyone know what cost estimates would be to install central a/c in a 1200 sq ft row home? Obviously prices will vary depending on layout, duct work, etc., but I am trying to get potential ranges of cost, even if the range is huge.”

Creative Rehearsal Space in Petworth?

“I have a small theater company that is producing a play this summer in a Petworth bar. We would love to keep the rehearsals in Petworth as well so the cast and crew will learn the neighborhood and frequent the bars. I’m looking for creative suggestions for free or reasonably priced rent-able spaces (unfortunately, my house is not quite big enough). Anyone have any ideas?”

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Repair or Replace Porch Roof – Contractor Recommendation:

“I have a small front porch (64″ x 187″) with an old roof that has no gutter. Instead, it has an ineffective little trench scooped into it, attached to a tiny, always-clogged little pipe. The roof itself is old and most likely leaking, so there’s a good possibility that there’s some structural water damage.

I would like to repair the roof, recover it, and attach a gutter and downspout to a rain barrel (which I already have). I’m not sure who I should hire to do this, though. Is this a job that a handyman can do, or do I need a roofing company. Will a roofing company even do a job this small?

I have attached a photo of the gutter and some of the damage that makes me think I shouldn’t just slap some rolled asphalt on and call it a day.”

Exposed HVAC Ductwork:

“My wife and I own a small rowhouse in the Shaw neighborhood. It was more-or-less a gut job when we purchased it. After gutting it, we’ve decided to keep an open floor plan on the main floor and to leave the joists exposed, rather than hanging a sheetrock ceiling. We’re ready now to install a new HVAC system and plan to install exposed spiral ductwork. We’ve had a hard time finding HVAC companies that do exposed ductwork. We have an estimate from one company, but would love to have at least two or three estimates in hand before hiring someone. Given that we’ve seen exposed ductwork in commercial spaces all over DC, we’ve begun contacting commercial HVAC companies. But we’d love some recommendations from PoPville. Anyone have an exposed duct installer recommendation for us? Thanks!”

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Photo by PoPville flickr user johnmcochran2012

Appliance Repair Recommendations?

“Does anyone have know of any good appliance repair people in the District. My dishwasher is not really washing my dishes.”

Done a dig-out under your porch and kept your brick columns?

“I want to do a basement dig-out, including digging out under the porch. But I have two brick columns in the front of the porch. Once contractor said that if we wanted to keep the same bricks that it would be easier to take apart the columns and rebuild them. Another said it would be easier to keep the columns up, underpin them, and pour new foundations.

The cheapest thing to do would be to remove the columns completely and rebuild them with new bricks. But they’re the weird beige color bricks, which are hard to find and to match with the house.

So has anyone done a dig-out under the porch and kept the brick columns by underpinning them? Or by removing and rebuilding them?”

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

brick repointing:

“The brick on the front of my raised lawn wall needs repointing. It’s a 1923 house with that funky grey stone that looks like mottled teeth which a number of the Wardman style houses in the Columbia Heights East townhomes boast. I don’t know if I can just go to HomeDepot to get some mortar to redo in those spots where it has completely disintegrated, or if I need to hire someone. Suggestions or referrals would be appreciated. Thanks!”

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Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

Suggestions for Insulation and Air Sealing Contractor:

“With the cold weather we’ve realized the extreme need to properly insulate the portion of our house which was previously a three seasons room. I am aware of the DC SEU rebate program and am wondering if anyone has used any of the approved contractors (Access Greene, Leone Tech LLC, Elysian Energy, LLC or ROMA R.O. McMillan & Associates LLC) to do air sealing or insulation and if so would you recommend the contractor you used. Why or why not?”

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Replacing galvanized pipes:

“It seems that one of the galvanized pipe in my house has rust buildup or some other issue. There is hardly any water pressure. The rest of the pipes seem fine and the water pressure is okay. Has this happened in your home? Did you have the pipes replaced with copper or pex pipes? How much did it cost? Would you recommend this company?”

Looking for basement digout contractor:

“I just bought property in DC and want to digout the basement to make a nice (permitted and legit) rental unit. I’d be happy for any contractor recommendations to get the work bid out.

I’m also 100% interested in any success, failure, hilarious, or horror stories on the subject of basement work, rental permits, etc.”

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Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

General Contractor Recommendations:

“We’re looking to install some small-ish built-in shelving, install a bathroom vanity, and to help us complete some other smaller projects around the house. Can anyone recommend a good general contractor or contracting firm in DC?”

Insulation of converted sleeping porch?

“Before we bought our rowhouse, the old exterior wall was expanded out to include the sleeping porch. The basement was not dug out, so the hardwood floor on the main floor in the old sleeping porch is significantly colder than the rest of the floor. I presume they put some amount of insulation below the sleeping porch, but I’m wondering if anyone else has the same issue? I knew the floor would be somewhat colder, but I’m surprised at how significant the difference in temperature is.”

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