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.
"They installed my fence in 2019 and it was fantastic!! Now, we had a great sales rep who did a fantastic job for our repair due storm damage. But there's no customer service (3rd party contractor site, hard to navigate), no onsite supervisor walk through at the end, no email, no call. We did get an email 3 hours later, balance paid, how nice. I wouldn't recommend this company now at all."
Diane P on July 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.
"They installed my fence in 2019 and it was fantastic!! Now, we had a great sales rep who did a fantastic job for our repair due storm damage. But there's no customer service (3rd party contractor site, hard to navigate), no onsite supervisor walk through at the end, no email, no call. We did get an email 3 hours later, balance paid, how nice. I wouldn't recommend this company now at all."
Diane P on July 2025
I started Straka Contracting over a decade ago in Howard County after having gained considerable experience in all areas of home improvement. Much of that know-how came from working with my father who has been in the trade since the 1960s. Today we serve the central Maryland area with a full array of services including remodeling, additions, decks, fencing, roofing, skylights, siding, windows, doors, gutters and gutter guards. Straka Contracting is dedicated to quality work and we offer a guarantee to back it up on every job. What’s more, when I take on work I am personally involved from beginning to end, making sure things are done properly. Karel Straka, Owner Straka Contracting
"Karel Straka has helped me on and off with construction items on my townhouse for almost twenty years, making major changes to my deck and patio among other things. I find him easy to work with, very thorough, trusty-worthy, reliable and affordable. Sometimes I submit my own design, and he always does it better."
Ken M on January 2025
I started Straka Contracting over a decade ago in Howard County after having gained considerable experience in all areas of home improvement. Much of that know-how came from working with my father who has been in the trade since the 1960s. Today we serve the central Maryland area with a full array of services including remodeling, additions, decks, fencing, roofing, skylights, siding, windows, doors, gutters and gutter guards. Straka Contracting is dedicated to quality work and we offer a guarantee to back it up on every job. What’s more, when I take on work I am personally involved from beginning to end, making sure things are done properly. Karel Straka, Owner Straka Contracting
"Karel Straka has helped me on and off with construction items on my townhouse for almost twenty years, making major changes to my deck and patio among other things. I find him easy to work with, very thorough, trusty-worthy, reliable and affordable. Sometimes I submit my own design, and he always does it better."
Ken M on January 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
We are a company with more than 10 of experience in the construction industry. We provide a quality work to all our clients. We've built an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction by providing quick estimates, a great attention to detail, and competitive pricing.
"The work was done in the highest heat of the summer, and all the workers always had a smile. They were skilled professionals, courteous and neat. Geo (the owner) was on site daily and responded to my texts. He was able to explained the work in a manner that educated us and helped us with our decision-making. It was Great dealing with the man in charge !"
Annette M on October 2024
We are a company with more than 10 of experience in the construction industry. We provide a quality work to all our clients. We've built an excellent reputation for customer satisfaction by providing quick estimates, a great attention to detail, and competitive pricing.
"The work was done in the highest heat of the summer, and all the workers always had a smile. They were skilled professionals, courteous and neat. Geo (the owner) was on site daily and responded to my texts. He was able to explained the work in a manner that educated us and helped us with our decision-making. It was Great dealing with the man in charge !"
Annette M on October 2024
Over 12 years in business! All home improvement work, concrete, brick, decks, garage, bathrooms, kitchen, basements
"Project was a new deck, started last year 2024, should have been completed before the end of that summer, here it is Jun 2025 and still not complete, talk to owner several times said still no movement forward, board cracking all over the place due to screws not normal wood cracking, even thought the wood is cracking more and more day by day since the deck is not complete it has not been sealed. Boards do not line up, come home one day during the build to to 3’ wide steps, we ordered 5’ wide steps, no communication between the project manager and the builder. They walked in one day and said we are done except for the sanding and staining, we asked where the post lights were, they said we didn’t order them, I said check the contract, there response after checking was oh our bad, they did a makeshift attempt to add post lights and not the ones we wanted. Talked to the owner (Bill) several times, each time I have to re-explain the issues, each time he says he will come out and make it right, still no appointment and no visit. These guys claim to be a Vet Owned Business, they give it a bad name. I have given him 5 days to respond or we seek legal assistance/action. With they way this project has gone I don’t understand how they stayed in business or received any good reviews. I would give no stars if I could."
Stuart B on June 2025
Over 12 years in business! All home improvement work, concrete, brick, decks, garage, bathrooms, kitchen, basements
"Project was a new deck, started last year 2024, should have been completed before the end of that summer, here it is Jun 2025 and still not complete, talk to owner several times said still no movement forward, board cracking all over the place due to screws not normal wood cracking, even thought the wood is cracking more and more day by day since the deck is not complete it has not been sealed. Boards do not line up, come home one day during the build to to 3’ wide steps, we ordered 5’ wide steps, no communication between the project manager and the builder. They walked in one day and said we are done except for the sanding and staining, we asked where the post lights were, they said we didn’t order them, I said check the contract, there response after checking was oh our bad, they did a makeshift attempt to add post lights and not the ones we wanted. Talked to the owner (Bill) several times, each time I have to re-explain the issues, each time he says he will come out and make it right, still no appointment and no visit. These guys claim to be a Vet Owned Business, they give it a bad name. I have given him 5 days to respond or we seek legal assistance/action. With they way this project has gone I don’t understand how they stayed in business or received any good reviews. I would give no stars if I could."
Stuart B on June 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.
"I’m so happy with how easy it was to work my project manager, Veronica. She clearly explained how the project would proceed and followed up to make sure the work proceeded on time and with attention to every detail. Now my porch is exactly what I wanted. It makes me happy just to sit there on my porch swing and enjoy the detail and care brought to every aspect of the project."
Sharon D on June 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.
"I’m so happy with how easy it was to work my project manager, Veronica. She clearly explained how the project would proceed and followed up to make sure the work proceeded on time and with attention to every detail. Now my porch is exactly what I wanted. It makes me happy just to sit there on my porch swing and enjoy the detail and care brought to every aspect of the project."
Sharon D on June 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
Abbey Fence & Deck Co., Inc., boasting one of the area’s largest and most versatile facilities, has been serving metropolitan Baltimore with pride for over 70 years. Family owned and operated, our guaranteed workmanship has added distinction – privacy – and security to thousands of homes, businesses, government and industrial sites. Prior to 1985, Abbey Fence Co., Inc. concentrated predominately on residential fencing. In October 1985, Fritz Fence, a well known and respected company in the commercial and industrial market, was acquired. It was a perfect fit and today, Abbey Fence & Deck Co., Inc. remains dedicated to providing quality materials, labor and professional service at competitive prices. Abbey Fence & Deck Co., Inc. is a member in good standing of the American Fence Association and the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. We are extremely proud of our charitable endeavors as well. Materials have been donated to Grant-A-Wish Foundation at Johns Hopkins, the Ronald McDonald House and the Compassion Center in College Park, MD.
"We contracted Winkler Deck and Fence to replace 4 gates and perform minor repairs on our existing fence after receiving a referral. The initial engagement with the owner Curt was pleasant, the quote we received was reasonable, and the job started 8 weeks after we signed the contract. Unfortunately, that’s where the good ended… On the day of the job, the crew didn’t let us know they were onsite, which wasn’t a good start. Then after the work was completed they left without notifying us that the job was done nor doing a walkthrough with us. The next day we looked over the work and noticed that two of the installed gates were not level and were substantially tilted to one side. We contacted their office manager, Tammy, who stated that the owner Curt would stop by the following day to review the issues. Curt was a no-show and after following up with Tammy she stated he would stop by the next day instead. He was again a no-show. We once again followed up and asked for a specific day and time that they would come out so that we didn’t have to miss work again and never received a response… The following weekend Curt finally showed up unannounced and without notice and never apologized for the no-shows. He then immediately asked in a defensive tone “What’s your problem with the gates?”. We explained the issue and he tried to blame it on the previous fence builder. We stated that the previous gates were level and installed correctly and he replied “Well then what do you expect, this was a repair job”. Uh ok… I expect properly built and installed gates, per our contract. He finally agreed that one of the gates should be rebuilt after initially denying it had issues and said he would try to reposition the other gate to reduce the slant, but he clearly was not happy about doing the work. Also, after providing feedback on the crew’s disappearing act he stated “We have bigger jobs than this that are more important”. When I stated I couldn’t recommend them to others due to their lack of customer service, he walked off and barked “We have plenty of other work in this area so I’m not worried about it”. Wow… A simple apology would have gone a long way… Ultimately they did fix the gates and followed up to see if we were satisfied. However, based on our overall experience I would not recommend this company due to their lack of basic customer service, lack of basic respect for their customers, and shoddy workmanship. Also, they clearly don’t value smaller jobs, which is a bad move on their part because they lost future business with me as well as my neighbors who asked about my experience."
Anthony C on March 2023
Abbey Fence & Deck Co., Inc., boasting one of the area’s largest and most versatile facilities, has been serving metropolitan Baltimore with pride for over 70 years. Family owned and operated, our guaranteed workmanship has added distinction – privacy – and security to thousands of homes, businesses, government and industrial sites. Prior to 1985, Abbey Fence Co., Inc. concentrated predominately on residential fencing. In October 1985, Fritz Fence, a well known and respected company in the commercial and industrial market, was acquired. It was a perfect fit and today, Abbey Fence & Deck Co., Inc. remains dedicated to providing quality materials, labor and professional service at competitive prices. Abbey Fence & Deck Co., Inc. is a member in good standing of the American Fence Association and the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. We are extremely proud of our charitable endeavors as well. Materials have been donated to Grant-A-Wish Foundation at Johns Hopkins, the Ronald McDonald House and the Compassion Center in College Park, MD.
"We contracted Winkler Deck and Fence to replace 4 gates and perform minor repairs on our existing fence after receiving a referral. The initial engagement with the owner Curt was pleasant, the quote we received was reasonable, and the job started 8 weeks after we signed the contract. Unfortunately, that’s where the good ended… On the day of the job, the crew didn’t let us know they were onsite, which wasn’t a good start. Then after the work was completed they left without notifying us that the job was done nor doing a walkthrough with us. The next day we looked over the work and noticed that two of the installed gates were not level and were substantially tilted to one side. We contacted their office manager, Tammy, who stated that the owner Curt would stop by the following day to review the issues. Curt was a no-show and after following up with Tammy she stated he would stop by the next day instead. He was again a no-show. We once again followed up and asked for a specific day and time that they would come out so that we didn’t have to miss work again and never received a response… The following weekend Curt finally showed up unannounced and without notice and never apologized for the no-shows. He then immediately asked in a defensive tone “What’s your problem with the gates?”. We explained the issue and he tried to blame it on the previous fence builder. We stated that the previous gates were level and installed correctly and he replied “Well then what do you expect, this was a repair job”. Uh ok… I expect properly built and installed gates, per our contract. He finally agreed that one of the gates should be rebuilt after initially denying it had issues and said he would try to reposition the other gate to reduce the slant, but he clearly was not happy about doing the work. Also, after providing feedback on the crew’s disappearing act he stated “We have bigger jobs than this that are more important”. When I stated I couldn’t recommend them to others due to their lack of customer service, he walked off and barked “We have plenty of other work in this area so I’m not worried about it”. Wow… A simple apology would have gone a long way… Ultimately they did fix the gates and followed up to see if we were satisfied. However, based on our overall experience I would not recommend this company due to their lack of basic customer service, lack of basic respect for their customers, and shoddy workmanship. Also, they clearly don’t value smaller jobs, which is a bad move on their part because they lost future business with me as well as my neighbors who asked about my experience."
Anthony C on March 2023
Green Future Construction and Tree Specialists is the area's premier full-service company for all your outdoor needs! With experts in construction, landscape design, and tree services all under one roof, we make scheduling your project easy and ensure it’s managed seamlessly from start to finish, exceeding expectations every step of the way.
"Absolutely recommend Green Future-they removed an enormous tree from our back yard, which we were extremely anxious about. They were fantastic; fair priced, very fast turnaround from estimate to completion."
Dyana Q on April 2025
Green Future Construction and Tree Specialists is the area's premier full-service company for all your outdoor needs! With experts in construction, landscape design, and tree services all under one roof, we make scheduling your project easy and ensure it’s managed seamlessly from start to finish, exceeding expectations every step of the way.
"Absolutely recommend Green Future-they removed an enormous tree from our back yard, which we were extremely anxious about. They were fantastic; fair priced, very fast turnaround from estimate to completion."
Dyana Q on April 2025
Start by balancing style, budget, and the statement you want to make. The “best” tile is the one that looks great, lasts, and fits your price point. If funds are tight, consider splurging on a small accent band in a premium material and using economical options elsewhere. Ceramic and porcelain offer the best mix of durability and cost, while glass delivers a high-end sparkle—just expect to pay more for the wow factor.
Your pool can be finished with materials other than tile to achieve a fresh look. Alternative finishes such as plaster and aggregate offer distinct benefits: plaster provides a modern, cost-effective finish that may require more frequent upkeep, while aggregate finishes deliver superior texture, durability, and enhanced safety. These options allow you to choose a look that best complements your pool design and lifestyle.
Tile life span comes down to material, installation quality, and how well you keep up with maintenance. Most pool tiles hold up for 10 to 20 years, but top-tier ceramic or porcelain can stick around for decades—sometimes close to 100 years—if you stay on top of cleaning, water chemistry, and routine upkeep. This regular care keeps colors vibrant and prevents costly repairs.
Retiling your pool opens the opportunity to improve other related areas of your outdoor space. When you re-tile, you can simultaneously address projects such as replacing the vinyl liner, repairing structural cracks, or upgrading your pool heater. Coordinating these improvements not only streamlines the renovation process but also enhances the pool’s overall functionality and appearance, adding lasting value to your home.
Maintaining your pool properly is essential to keeping your tiles in excellent condition. Your pool tiles remain durable and visually appealing when regular cleaning, balanced chemicals, and effective water circulation are maintained. In addition, weekly cleaning, prompt removal of deposits, and periodic resealing of grout not only preserve tile strength and color but also safeguard the overall pool safety for you and your guests.