Items tagged with 'contractors'
A good chimney inspector?
A new home owner emails:
I am looking for a chimney inspector to perform a level 2 chimney inspection (with video inspection). It's been challenging this time of year to find someone with availability, and some companies have not returned my calls.
I would like to find a chimney business that is properly insured, CSIA certified, knowledgeable about gas insert fireplaces, and, of course, experienced.
Hoping to hear from people who have had good personal experiences ... as there are a lot of very mixed reviews out there about chimney/masonry companies.
It's understandable this is a busy time of year for this sort of business and may involve a wait. But if you're going to be using a fireplace, it's also worth having the chimney checked out.
So, got a suggestion for this new home owner? Please share! And a sentence or two about why you're recommending a service can be helpful.
Earlier: Be it known, this chimney has been swept (2013)
A roofer for row houses?
Nancy emails:
I reviewed the past comments about roofers, but we have a specific need - for a row house. Does anyone have suggestions for roofers for this type of roof?
We have heard in the past that roofing, painting, and similar sorts of jobs on row houses can be a little different for contractors because they sometimes require different staging, just because there's not the same sort of access. So we're curious if there are roofing contractors with a lot of experience doing this sort of job.
Got a suggestion for Nancy? Please share! And a sentence or two about why you're recommending a contractor can by helpful.
A good contractor for installing a fence?
Erica emails:
I'm writing to ask for any recommendations for fencing companies. I know there are a number of options in the Albany area but I'd like to get a recommendation from someone who's had good experience with a company. The AOA community has been great with other topics so I thought I'd give this a shot too. Thanks!
As Erica mentions, there do seem to be at least of handful of companies out there that install fencing. So if you have suggestions, great.
To extend Erica's a question a little bit... We're also curious if there are companies that specialize in various types of fencing, whether it's wood or metal. Or if there are companies that tend do a lot of work on styles of fencing that go beyond the typical stockade style or chain link.
So, got a suggestion for Erica? Please share! And as with any question like this, a sentence or two about why you're recommending a company can be a big help.
Stained glass window repair in a home?
Susan emails:
I am looking for someone who repairs stained glass windows and don't know where to begin. I got name of one vendor, but they mainly work on large windows, such as those in churches.
We have a 1930 home with small stained glass windows. They are starting to come apart. It looks like a previous owner attempted some home repair on them. I don't know if the windows are salvageable, especially withe the bad repair job, but I really want to try to repair them rather than replace them with cheesy contemporary windows.
Do your readers have any recommendations?
There are a bunch of older homes around this area with small stained glass windows. In the city of Albany, at least, you can often find the windows on either side of the fireplace. So, there's gotta be someone who can repair these sorts of windows.
Got a suggestion for Susan? Please share! And a sentence or two about why you're recommending a person or service can a be a big help.
A service for cleaning hard-to-reach exterior windows?
S. emails:
I'm trying to have my windows cleaned (outside), but they are difficult to reach, neither my friends or myself are comfortable climbing up there.
I searched on AOA, but it doesn't seem this question was ever asked (?). If you think this would be of interest to somebody else, and if it's not too specific for AOA, I'd love to hear from people.
S. is right -- we haven't had this question before. And we're a little surprised it hasn't come up before. Given all the old homes in this area (with old windows), there are probably quite a few people for whom cleaning the outside of their upper-floor windows isn't an easy thing.
So, got a suggestion for S. -- either a company or an idea of how to solve the problem? Please share! And as with any question likes this, a sentence or two about why you're recommending a company can be very helpful.
Design help for renovating a small kitchen?
D. emails:
We are wondering if you can help us with recommendations from your readers about kitchen designers locally. We have an old brownstone with a very oddly configured kitchen, and want to do some upgrades. We need help maximizing the space and achieving the look we want. Would your readers have any insight on a kitchen designer creative enough to do this?
We're not looking for the typical overbuilt Chef's Kitchen, but rather a modern take on a smaller space.
We had a similar question a few years back. But we're interested in the small space/odd space part of D.'s question. There are so many older homes in this area with kitchens that are, by modern standards, small or cramped or just lacking certain amenities that people often look for now. So we'd love to hear how people adapt and update these spaces.
Got a suggestion for D.? Either a designer to recommend or resource to check out or even an experience to share? Do tell, please! And a sentence or two about why you're recommending a place or designer can be a big help.
Suggestions for a tile installer (including one who might not mind an assistant)?
Jessica emails:
I'm looking for a tile contractor to do a small kitchen (16x16') and bathroom in Troy. I have the tile picked out, but need an installer. Looking for someone who is responsive, has some availability this month, and reasonably priced. I'd also be interested in working with someone that would let me participate in the work and learn for myself how to do it.
We had a similar tile question a few years back. But Jessica's interest in finding someone who'd let her work alongside and learn is a a different angle. And it makes us wonder if maybe the right candidate won't be a traditional contractor.
Got a suggestion for Jessica? Please share! And a sentence or two about why you're recommending a person or business can be a big help.
Design help for organizing a house?
Melissa emails:
We've lived in our house 10 years, and are in need of some help. We are a family now, with all the 'stuff' that comes with that, and just cannot figure out how to make a more grown up house that uses space well and files away all the paperwork of elementary school. Are there local decorators/organizers folks can recommend? Is that a real thing?!
We're always amazed by how people who have eye for design can rearrange a space to make it work better or just feel better.
Got a suggestion for Melissa? Please share! And a sentence or two about why you're recommending a person or service or idea is always helpful.
Restoration or re-glazing for an antique tub?
Courtney emails:
We have a bathroom renovation coming up and I found an antique clawfoot tub to use in the bathroom. It needs a little TLC - can anyone recommend someone who specializes in re-glazing and restoration? Bonus points if they have experience with antiques!
The first idea that came to mind when we say Courtney's question was that a call to Historic Albany parts warehouse might be a good place to start -- they might have some suggestions.
But if you have a specific service or contractor to suggest, even better. Got someone in mind? Please share!
A good contractor for smaller around-the-house jobs?
M emails:
We have a few "honey-do" items around our house that need more than a amateur touch, but not a full blown "Bob Villa" contractor with a camera crew. Items such as grout work/repair, installing a grounded outlet, painting trim and a bilco door, some repairing of concrete work... I need someone I can trust, who is reasonable, but not a fly by night operative. Suggestions?
We get the impression it's hard to find someone to do these sorts of in-between level jobs -- maybe a little more complicated than a Saturday DYI project, but not big enough for a big contracting company.
So, got a suggestion for M? Please share! And a sentence or two about why're suggestion a person or company can be very helpful.
Contractor for building stoop replacement?
S emails:
I'm looking to have my stoop replaced, and I was wondering if I could summon the AOA crowd to find a good contractor.
There are a bunch of neighborhoods in the Capital Region where the buildings have stoops. And while it's a feature that no doubt lasts decades (or should), at some point things do crumble. So presumably there are contractors with expertise in rebuilding them.
Also: We wonder if there are contractors that specialize in building/replacing stoops in historic districts?
Got a suggestion for S? Please share! And a sentence or two about why you're recommending a contractor can be very helpful.
photo: Casey Normile
Contractor for new driveway and grading to fix water runoff problem?
Anonymous writes:
A few times a summer we get water in our garage, and then our house, during heavy rains. After watching what happens (it's kind of hard to explain) we're now pretty sure we need a new driveway with new grading and maybe some additional drainage work. Maybe also an actual drain. Maybe some foundation work. We don't know for sure. Previous homeowners took some steps to address the problem and it seemed to help a bit, but we want to fix the problem for good.
We don't know exactly what sort of contractor we need. So we're hoping people might have suggestions. Both for type of contractor, and also for specific companies. Thank you.
As always with these sorts of questions, a sentence or two about why you're recommending a contractor can be a big help.
Got a suggestion for Anon? Please share!
Good contractor for roof repair?
Anonymous says:
It looks like there's a leak in our home's roof, probably around where the vent for the plumbing sticks out of the roof. I have a feeling it's not a big or complicated repair, but I'm also not so confident about climbing out on the roof myself to fix it. So I was hoping people might have suggestions for good contractors for roof repair.
We looked through past questions and we've had one about slate roofers, and one about
So, got a suggestion for Anonymous? Please share! And, as always, bonus points for sentence or two about why you're suggesting that company.
Contractor for a tub replacement?
M emails:
I'm looking for a contractor and/or plumber who can remove a bathtub and replace it with a walk-in shower, grab bars and other safety features for a senior citizen.
Sometimes the first step is just figuring out what sort of contractor you're looking for. So, in this case, we're curious if this a job that can be handled solely by a plumber, or if it's a job that would require someone more along the lines of a general construction/remodeling contractor.
Got a suggestion for M? Please share! And bonus points for a sentence or two about why you're recommending that person or company.
Contractor for building a patio?
From Anonymous:
We're hoping to build a paver patio in our backyard, nothing too complicated or big, though it'll probably require leveling and raising a part of the yard a foot or two. So maybe it will also involve a short wall or something.
We've had some bad luck so far getting contractors to call us back or show up for appointments for an estimate. I realize this is a busy time right now, but still. If you're not going to be able make an appointment, just call to say so.
So, we were hoping people at AOA might have suggestions for good contractors for this sort of work.
As always with these sorts of questions, if you have a company or contractor to suggest, we'll be awarding non-redeemable bonus points for a sentence or two explaining why you're recommending that company.
Got a suggestion for Anonymous? Please share!
A good heating/cooling company?
Dan emails:
My wife and I recently purchased a home in Rensselaer County, and need to address the home's heating/cooling ductwork. The system needs to be inspected/sealed (I will do the insulating myself). Can anyone suggest a good-quality business for this type of work?
We had a sort-of-related question last year, but it looks like we haven't had general question about good home heating/cooling contractors in a while.
So, got a suggestion for Dan? Please share!
A good mason?
Jessica R W emails:
Doing an interior gutting of our new property, my husband and I found that our wood-frame house is actually a wooden exterior with an interior lining of brick! Our demo guy said he had never seen a house like this. I am looking for a mason to replace any missing bricks and repoint as needed.
"I've never seen something like this" isn't always the best news from a contractor.
The photo on the right is one that Jessica sent along of one of the bedrooms during demo.
Got a suggestion for Jessica? Please share!
Advice for fixing old lath-and-plaster walls?
Matt emails:
Does anyone have suggestions for a contractor that can repair lathe and plaster walls? I have part of one wall that has sustained water damage from leaky chimney flashing and another wall where some of the final smooth coat has cracked apart. I've done some research and know that some contractors suggest tearing it out to the studs and replacing it with drywall (which would also give an opportunity to put in some insulation on the outer walls).
I like the plaster walls because they're thicker and more substantial than drywall, and provide good sound dampening between rooms. The idea of just ripping them out seems counterproductive (and quite frankly, a waste) to me. However, I realize repairing them is probably a lost skill and not many people do that anymore.
Any suggestions for contractors or input otherwise would be greatly appreciated.
This area has a lot of old houses, so we're guessing there are contractors who do this sort of work. But, as with most things that aren't common, it might end up costing a lot.
So, got advice or a suggestion for Matt? Please share!
Help with a demolition project?
Jessica emails:
I'm looking for a local demolition crew to take down old walls and some ceilings down to the studs in a turn-of-the-century house. Some walls are lathe and plaster, some are covered in paneling or dry wall.
If you have someone/a company to suggestion, great. But if you don't, maybe you have some ideas about how Jessica could go about finding someone to help with this project. (As with so many things, there has to be a better way than Craigslist.)
So, got a suggestion? Please share!
A good company/person for drywall work?
Sean emails:
I live in Albany and have an upcoming renovation project and would love nothing more than to pay someone else to do the drywall work. In the past, my wife and I enjoyed learning + doing it the first time, grumbled our way through it the second time... and are now loathing the prospect of having to do it a third time. Would any of your readers happen to know a person or company they could recommend that might be able to spare us from this misery and gladly take our money??? Please please please!
Sometimes the lesson of a DIY project is that you shouldn't do it yourself. And there's nothing wrong with that.
So, got a suggestion or advice for Sean and his wife? Please share!
A contractor for mold remediation?
Jessica emails:
We just bought a 2nd property to flip for apartments, and the basement ceiling beams are covered with multiple types of mold. We were initially going to do the clean up ourselves, but my allergies can't handle it (even when using a respirator). This is something I want to bring in a professional for. Can the AOA readers recommend any good mold remediation companies? We want someone reliable and affordable.
We wonder if there's any sort of certification or licensing for companies that do this. You know, can anyone call themselves a "mold remediator?" (Here's the state Department of Health's page on mold -- it has some basic background info.)
Got a suggestion or advice for Jessica? Please share!
Contractor for matching historical building style?
Omar emails:
I'm buying a victorian-style house in Troy soon and would like to have a garage built. I would like it to match the style of the neighborhood so I'm envisioning a cinder block garage, possibly with a brick facade. Can anyone recommend a good mason or whoever does this kind of work?
We had a similar questions earlier this year, but it was focused on indoor carpentry work. As we said then, there are so much old houses in this area, there have got to be companies that can building something to fit with the style.
Got a suggestion for Omar? Please share!
Help with kitchen renovation design?
M. messages:
We are thinking about doing a kitchen renovation. Got the contractor, got a "look" picked out, but kind of clueless about the actual design process. Has anyone had a good experience with a designer, either through one of those kitchen renovation one stop shops, or an independent person?
We're always a little amazed by how talented designers can look at a situation and see solutions/angles/ideas non-designers might miss. And, sure, hiring one will probably be more expensive. But when you think about how much a kitchen gets used -- and how frustrating a design flaw can be over the years -- it can be worth the extra money.
So, got a suggestion for M.? Please share!
Experience with home radon mitigation?
Carl asks via Twitter:
Hey @alloveralbany, know you just did an ask, but can you ask about [experience] with radon mitigators? #askingforafriend #justincase
Quick background: Radon is a radioactive gas that's released from rock and soil, and in some cases, it can get trapped by a house, especially the basement. Sometimes the levels are high enough that it's a health threat (radon exposure can cause lung cancer). Here's an EPA page with radon info.
There are test kits for radon, and you can get one for under $10 from New York State. In cases where radon might be collecting at dangerous levels in a house, modifications can be made to mitigate the problem. Here's a state Department of Health checklist for questions to ask contractors.
So, all that said, anyone have a suggestion or experience to share with Carl? Please share!
A landscape designer for a backyard makeover?
ChuckD emails:
It's time we did something about the backyard. But we're not interested in some HGTV thing with all parts sourced from a Big Box DIY store. We're looking for a creative designer/contractor who will design and build a natural backyard space to include replacement of a ratty deck, a rattier wood fence, inclusion of an existing inground pool, two existing happy doggies, and most importantly, an awareness and interest in those gray areas between indoors and out and work it into our passive solar house. Can anyone recommend someone who will think outside The Box and help us realize our ideas? Cuz we're clueless.
Even on a small project there can be a big difference between what the typical person can scratch out on the back of an envelope and what a professional designer can put together. And a landscape designer might be able to lend some helpful expertise on the sort of plants and other features that will make the new backyard easier to maintain over the long run.
So, got a suggestion for Chuck? Please share!
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?