Val-U-Homes, LLC, specializes in home Additions and remodeling in Montgomery County and the surrounding areas. We take pride in providing new home quality on all of our projects
"I hired them for home renovation, and they did a great job. They were very respectful and understanding. When they were done everything turned out great!"
Mistere F on July 2024
Val-U-Homes, LLC, specializes in home Additions and remodeling in Montgomery County and the surrounding areas. We take pride in providing new home quality on all of our projects
"I hired them for home renovation, and they did a great job. They were very respectful and understanding. When they were done everything turned out great!"
Mistere F on July 2024
Freedom Fence and Deck specializes in affordable top quality maintenance free decks and fences. We are an owner operated company with zero complaints. We also have earned a A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We offer a limited Lifetime Warranty on all our work. Angie's List has awarded us the Super Service Award three years in a row.
"Freedom Fence & Deck did an excellent job install our new deck. The sales rep and the workers were friendly and professional. Additionally, I love that the owner of the company is a veteran, and the company offered the best veterans discount compared to the competitive quotes."
Dominique D on January 2025
Freedom Fence and Deck specializes in affordable top quality maintenance free decks and fences. We are an owner operated company with zero complaints. We also have earned a A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We offer a limited Lifetime Warranty on all our work. Angie's List has awarded us the Super Service Award three years in a row.
"Freedom Fence & Deck did an excellent job install our new deck. The sales rep and the workers were friendly and professional. Additionally, I love that the owner of the company is a veteran, and the company offered the best veterans discount compared to the competitive quotes."
Dominique D on January 2025
Maryland most trusted deck builders! Enhance your home's allure and worth with a beautifully designed custom deck. Create a functional outdoor haven for lasting enjoyment with your loved ones.
"They are very attentive for customer service and did a good job on follow-up."
Yiting N on April 2023
Maryland most trusted deck builders! Enhance your home's allure and worth with a beautifully designed custom deck. Create a functional outdoor haven for lasting enjoyment with your loved ones.
"They are very attentive for customer service and did a good job on follow-up."
Yiting N on April 2023
Betterliving sunroom of the Capital area is sub division of Deck Soldier - family own business, over 14 years we spetialise in Deck building , restoration and screen porch constractions. December 2023 is time when we get opportunity to be come dealer for one of the best Sunroom manufactory -Betterliving sunrooms. Beginning of 2024 was education time. We spent 2 weeks with crew leaders on factory in PA - learning new materials and installation process. Another 2 weeks our sales team learned history of 70 years company and saw how every detail of sunroom is made, learn why Betterliving Sunrooms is best quality sunrooms on market. We proud that we build over 30 Sunrooms and screen porches in 2024 and all our customers happy with their final rooms. We sustain our business on quality and integrity. We look forward to earning your business -sunrooms (3 or 4 season , vinyl or aluminum) -screen rooms -porches -deck building -deck remodeling -deck restoration( washing, staining) -paver patio/retaining walls
"Deck Soldier (aka Betterliving) did a fantastic job of powerwashing and then sealing my deck, installing new handrails, and staining the swingset in the yard. Very pleased with their work and their professionalism."
Andrew H on October 2024
Betterliving sunroom of the Capital area is sub division of Deck Soldier - family own business, over 14 years we spetialise in Deck building , restoration and screen porch constractions. December 2023 is time when we get opportunity to be come dealer for one of the best Sunroom manufactory -Betterliving sunrooms. Beginning of 2024 was education time. We spent 2 weeks with crew leaders on factory in PA - learning new materials and installation process. Another 2 weeks our sales team learned history of 70 years company and saw how every detail of sunroom is made, learn why Betterliving Sunrooms is best quality sunrooms on market. We proud that we build over 30 Sunrooms and screen porches in 2024 and all our customers happy with their final rooms. We sustain our business on quality and integrity. We look forward to earning your business -sunrooms (3 or 4 season , vinyl or aluminum) -screen rooms -porches -deck building -deck remodeling -deck restoration( washing, staining) -paver patio/retaining walls
"Deck Soldier (aka Betterliving) did a fantastic job of powerwashing and then sealing my deck, installing new handrails, and staining the swingset in the yard. Very pleased with their work and their professionalism."
Andrew H on October 2024
Joist construction is a company committed to the quality and agility of its services, Keeping the dates of your schedule transparently and efficiently. The contact is direct with the company's founders. JOIST is focused on renovating and improving the most beautiful points of your residence, such as Decks, balconies, gazebos, fences, patios, and everything else that our customers need. We serve mainly in the Maryland, Virginia and DC areas, but if you are not from these areas, please contact us to try to make your project viable. If you planning to enlighten your patio or just perform a small repair on your deck, we are the company you are looking for, count on JOIST construction for a new home! Get in touch now!
"The work on my deck was very quick and well done, and adjustments were made smoothly. The management was excellent and I couldn’t be happier that I chose Joist. I have already passed their information around to neighbors!"
Nina A on March 2025
Joist construction is a company committed to the quality and agility of its services, Keeping the dates of your schedule transparently and efficiently. The contact is direct with the company's founders. JOIST is focused on renovating and improving the most beautiful points of your residence, such as Decks, balconies, gazebos, fences, patios, and everything else that our customers need. We serve mainly in the Maryland, Virginia and DC areas, but if you are not from these areas, please contact us to try to make your project viable. If you planning to enlighten your patio or just perform a small repair on your deck, we are the company you are looking for, count on JOIST construction for a new home! Get in touch now!
"The work on my deck was very quick and well done, and adjustments were made smoothly. The management was excellent and I couldn’t be happier that I chose Joist. I have already passed their information around to neighbors!"
Nina A on March 2025
Full service remodeler and builder with in house carpentry crews. No carpentry subcontractors. Hands on direct supervision by ownership on every project. Replacement of windows and doors along with siding and flooring. Projects ranging from $700 step replacement to "magazine ready" home remodeling at $400,000.
"I couldn't be happier with the work they did! We loved working with the Elite team and they created a gorgeous room for us that is being used and enjoyed by our family and friends."
Rebecca B on October 2022
Full service remodeler and builder with in house carpentry crews. No carpentry subcontractors. Hands on direct supervision by ownership on every project. Replacement of windows and doors along with siding and flooring. Projects ranging from $700 step replacement to "magazine ready" home remodeling at $400,000.
"I couldn't be happier with the work they did! We loved working with the Elite team and they created a gorgeous room for us that is being used and enjoyed by our family and friends."
Rebecca B on October 2022
FA Outdoor Spaces is a large exterior home improvement company servicing Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland. With roots in Design and Build having serviced our clients at our sister company FA Design Build, we bring 45+ years of professionalism to every project we undertake. We have teams dedicated to each region ready to serve you. We specialize in all things Outdoors, like Trex & Timber Tech composite decking for new builds, deck reflooring/rerailing, deck enclosures, three season rooms, sunrooms, patios and fencing — all backed with a lifetime installation warranty you won’t find anywhere else.
"Brandon Campbell was very knowledgable about construction and local requirements. FC Outdoor Spaces did everything he promised and on time. Everyone I encountered from the firm was efficient, hardworking and polite. I highly recommend FA Outdoor!"
Cindy C on May 2025
FA Outdoor Spaces is a large exterior home improvement company servicing Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland. With roots in Design and Build having serviced our clients at our sister company FA Design Build, we bring 45+ years of professionalism to every project we undertake. We have teams dedicated to each region ready to serve you. We specialize in all things Outdoors, like Trex & Timber Tech composite decking for new builds, deck reflooring/rerailing, deck enclosures, three season rooms, sunrooms, patios and fencing — all backed with a lifetime installation warranty you won’t find anywhere else.
"Brandon Campbell was very knowledgable about construction and local requirements. FC Outdoor Spaces did everything he promised and on time. Everyone I encountered from the firm was efficient, hardworking and polite. I highly recommend FA Outdoor!"
Cindy C on May 2025
At River View our renovations stands out for its comprehensive services, expert team, customized solutions, quality assurance, proactive communication, attention to detail, timely completion, and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Let us turn your renovation dreams into reality request a quote today!
"We write this review as a sigh of relief now that our renovation project with River View is finally complete. The quality of the final work is excellent, and the construction crew, architect, and county inspector were all great to work with. The original crew we worked with, led by Edwin, were so hardworking, friendly, thorough, and fast. That's what really pushed us from 2 to 3 stars. However, the process getting here was frustrating and unnecessarily chaotic. Timeline & Communication Issues: Initial promise: We were clear that the renovation had to allow us to live in our home during construction and be completed before Christmas. Early communication: Our original project manager, Cris, was personable, and early communication seemed fine, if a bit informal and sometimes inappropriately personal. Major miscommunication: Near the holidays, we discovered that the plans submitted included cutting into the roof — something we explicitly said we didn’t want. This contradicted verbal assurances and caused major last-minute changes. Project Management Failures: Poor planning and oversight: Cris and the architect’s plan didn’t align with the construction work. We had to get involved directly with the county to fix errors. Paperwork errors: Incorrect submissions to the county added delays and confusion, which we had to monitor ourselves. Last-minute scramble: We were cleaning up dust on Christmas Eve due to these planning failures. Personnel Turnover & Lack of Handoff: Cris leaves the company: No proper handover to James, the new PM, who was unfamiliar with our project. Crew replaced: The original crew, who were great, were gone; new crew had no context or direction. James leaves: Another handoff with no context — the third PM had no idea about our project or its outstanding items. Escalation mishandled: When we raised our concerns with Kyle, the CEO, the response felt dismissive, with no accountability for the previous missteps. In summary, it's a beautiful end result... but we’re glad it’s over. The process left us frustrated, confused, and frankly, exhausted."
Brian M on April 2025
At River View our renovations stands out for its comprehensive services, expert team, customized solutions, quality assurance, proactive communication, attention to detail, timely completion, and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Let us turn your renovation dreams into reality request a quote today!
"We write this review as a sigh of relief now that our renovation project with River View is finally complete. The quality of the final work is excellent, and the construction crew, architect, and county inspector were all great to work with. The original crew we worked with, led by Edwin, were so hardworking, friendly, thorough, and fast. That's what really pushed us from 2 to 3 stars. However, the process getting here was frustrating and unnecessarily chaotic. Timeline & Communication Issues: Initial promise: We were clear that the renovation had to allow us to live in our home during construction and be completed before Christmas. Early communication: Our original project manager, Cris, was personable, and early communication seemed fine, if a bit informal and sometimes inappropriately personal. Major miscommunication: Near the holidays, we discovered that the plans submitted included cutting into the roof — something we explicitly said we didn’t want. This contradicted verbal assurances and caused major last-minute changes. Project Management Failures: Poor planning and oversight: Cris and the architect’s plan didn’t align with the construction work. We had to get involved directly with the county to fix errors. Paperwork errors: Incorrect submissions to the county added delays and confusion, which we had to monitor ourselves. Last-minute scramble: We were cleaning up dust on Christmas Eve due to these planning failures. Personnel Turnover & Lack of Handoff: Cris leaves the company: No proper handover to James, the new PM, who was unfamiliar with our project. Crew replaced: The original crew, who were great, were gone; new crew had no context or direction. James leaves: Another handoff with no context — the third PM had no idea about our project or its outstanding items. Escalation mishandled: When we raised our concerns with Kyle, the CEO, the response felt dismissive, with no accountability for the previous missteps. In summary, it's a beautiful end result... but we’re glad it’s over. The process left us frustrated, confused, and frankly, exhausted."
Brian M on April 2025
OVER 100 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE AS YOU PATIO AND HARDSCAPE EXPERTS! SBC Outdoor Services was founded in 2015 by Brad Crist. Brad had over 15 years of experience in the industry and wanted to create a landscaping company that could hold true to the concept of “quality landscaping.” Ever since then we've been constantly growing as a high-end hardscape, landscape design, and commercial maintenance business. Over the course of our existence, we've earned a great reputation for quality service and we aim to not just maintain our reputation for excellence but to constantly improve it. That's why we only hire the best of the best. Our management team alone has over 30 years of experience in the industry and members of management used to maintain the White House. The rest of our team is similarly qualified and has over 100 years of combined experience. At SBC Outdoor Services we believe that landscaping is an art, not just a skill. We not only teach our employees proper installation methods but also encourage them to take initiative and to completely pour their imagination and skill into their work. Our design and installation divisions make sure that the product will be very functional as well as attractive while our maintenance division employees take great pride in the ongoing beauty of your property.
"I hired them to do landscaping and a driveway, my drive way is crumbling and have holes in it."
Cynthia R on December 2023
OVER 100 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE AS YOU PATIO AND HARDSCAPE EXPERTS! SBC Outdoor Services was founded in 2015 by Brad Crist. Brad had over 15 years of experience in the industry and wanted to create a landscaping company that could hold true to the concept of “quality landscaping.” Ever since then we've been constantly growing as a high-end hardscape, landscape design, and commercial maintenance business. Over the course of our existence, we've earned a great reputation for quality service and we aim to not just maintain our reputation for excellence but to constantly improve it. That's why we only hire the best of the best. Our management team alone has over 30 years of experience in the industry and members of management used to maintain the White House. The rest of our team is similarly qualified and has over 100 years of combined experience. At SBC Outdoor Services we believe that landscaping is an art, not just a skill. We not only teach our employees proper installation methods but also encourage them to take initiative and to completely pour their imagination and skill into their work. Our design and installation divisions make sure that the product will be very functional as well as attractive while our maintenance division employees take great pride in the ongoing beauty of your property.
"I hired them to do landscaping and a driveway, my drive way is crumbling and have holes in it."
Cynthia R on December 2023
Homecraft is a 2nd generation, family-owned remodeler specializing in decks, roofing, siding, windows, and finished basements. We handle all steps of a project from planning, to permits, to building. When you partner with Homecraft you receive the finest materials - custom cut on site. This provides flexibility in design and perfection in construction. Since '96, homeowners have thanked us for establishing a company that cares. We take your ideas, add our building experience and together create a custom project that extends your living space and adds value to your home. Award Winning.
"Had an excellent experience working with Jeff on my deck project. The work is top notch and exactly what I wanted for a fair price. No BS up sales or any of that. Will definitely look to rehired for any future work."
Gregory B on January 2025
Homecraft is a 2nd generation, family-owned remodeler specializing in decks, roofing, siding, windows, and finished basements. We handle all steps of a project from planning, to permits, to building. When you partner with Homecraft you receive the finest materials - custom cut on site. This provides flexibility in design and perfection in construction. Since '96, homeowners have thanked us for establishing a company that cares. We take your ideas, add our building experience and together create a custom project that extends your living space and adds value to your home. Award Winning.
"Had an excellent experience working with Jeff on my deck project. The work is top notch and exactly what I wanted for a fair price. No BS up sales or any of that. Will definitely look to rehired for any future work."
Gregory B on January 2025
You need to secure a permit for a tornado shelter when local building codes require it. A permit confirms that your shelter meets safety and construction standards to withstand extreme weather events. FEMA guidelines P-361 and P-320 establish these safety requirements. Permit costs range from $430 to $2,240. Contact your local building department to verify the necessary permits and ensure full compliance with all regulations.
Yes, FEMA will fund up to 75% of your storm shelter installation if all eligibility conditions are met. FEMA allocates funds to state authorities where strict guidelines determine approval and disbursement. Contact your State Hazard Mitigation Officer to determine your funding options and initiate the required process. Secure the necessary documentation to access this financial support.
Tornado shelters add significant value to a home by enhancing both safety and market appeal. A secure storm shelter not only increases the resale value by up to 50% of the unit cost but also provides multifunctional benefits in areas prone to severe weather. Homeowners who integrate features like a gun safe or wine cellar maximize their investment and overall home desirability.
A pre-built storm shelter delivers distinct benefits by reducing overall costs and installation time. A pre-built unit eliminates extensive on-site construction expenses and comes in a variety of sizes and materials to suit different family needs. This design flexibility provides robust protection, ensures rapid installation, and secures your home against extreme weather conditions.
The installation time for a tornado shelter depends on the type chosen. Pre-built shelters are installed in four to eight hours, providing a rapid and secure solution. Custom-made shelters or those that require land excavation demand significantly longer time, taking days or weeks due to extensive preparation, structural assembly, and precise installation to fully meet safety standards.
Space is a critical factor in a storm shelter. FEMA mandates a minimum of six square feet per person for tornado protection and ten square feet per person for hurricane safety. For example, a 5-by-6-foot shelter meets the needs of a family of five in a tornado-prone area. Extra room accommodates emergency supplies and ensures safe, comfortable movement during severe weather events.