I am a structural engineer with over 30 years in the industry. I specialize in all types of residential and commercial structural engineering. I have extensive experience wood construction and in evaluating and modifying existing buildings. I am very familiar with the kinds of issues and problems that occur in residential buildings and the most effective and inexpensive fixes. Call me to discuss your problem.
"Outstanding and very prompt. Very quick to respond to the request."
Gary W on April 2023
I am a structural engineer with over 30 years in the industry. I specialize in all types of residential and commercial structural engineering. I have extensive experience wood construction and in evaluating and modifying existing buildings. I am very familiar with the kinds of issues and problems that occur in residential buildings and the most effective and inexpensive fixes. Call me to discuss your problem.
"Outstanding and very prompt. Very quick to respond to the request."
Gary W on April 2023
We are pleased to offer structural engineering services to Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. We have over twenty years of experience in the field and can help provide a reliable, reasonable solution to your structural engineering concerns.
"The engineer did a review of my property save me money in a long run."
Mel D on March 2025
We are pleased to offer structural engineering services to Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. We have over twenty years of experience in the field and can help provide a reliable, reasonable solution to your structural engineering concerns.
"The engineer did a review of my property save me money in a long run."
Mel D on March 2025
Robert Cowles PE is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.
"Robert was very easy to communicate with and was quick to respond. He was timely with returning the report necessary as well."
ASHLEY V on February 2025
Robert Cowles PE is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers' interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.
"Robert was very easy to communicate with and was quick to respond. He was timely with returning the report necessary as well."
ASHLEY V on February 2025
Omega Construction of Michigan LLC With over 72 years of experience serving the Ann Arbor and surrounding areas, Omega Construction of Michigan, LLC is your solution for all your roofing, construction, siding, waterproofing, remodeling, masonry and chimney needs. Omega takes great pride in our extreme professionalism, timeliness and superior customer service on every job. We make sure to develop a lasting relationship so that the next time service is needed there will be no question on who to call. Your satisfaction guaranteed! Give us a call today, we are happy to help you with your project and look forward to talking to you.
"Critical: Professionalism, Value I called Omega to check out smoke transfer between flues. Al quoted flue top dampers at $900 each and cleanings at $300 each. He said he would need to schedule a day to do the work. Thinking this must be an extensive project, I bought it. Ten days later I finally was called to say they would come that afternoon to do it. After the cleaning they glued dampers to the tops of the flues and were done in about 45 minutes. Al defended his $750/hour labor rate and double cleaning rate, saying it was due to his "high overhead" costs that I didn't understand. I still don't understand. Omega Construction is aptly named, they are the last one you should think of calling. They apparently only maintain their good BBB rating because the BBB doesn't consider "pricing issues" or "buyer's remorse" in their calculations. BBB is basically another way to advertise."
Ryan D on December 2020
Omega Construction of Michigan LLC With over 72 years of experience serving the Ann Arbor and surrounding areas, Omega Construction of Michigan, LLC is your solution for all your roofing, construction, siding, waterproofing, remodeling, masonry and chimney needs. Omega takes great pride in our extreme professionalism, timeliness and superior customer service on every job. We make sure to develop a lasting relationship so that the next time service is needed there will be no question on who to call. Your satisfaction guaranteed! Give us a call today, we are happy to help you with your project and look forward to talking to you.
"Critical: Professionalism, Value I called Omega to check out smoke transfer between flues. Al quoted flue top dampers at $900 each and cleanings at $300 each. He said he would need to schedule a day to do the work. Thinking this must be an extensive project, I bought it. Ten days later I finally was called to say they would come that afternoon to do it. After the cleaning they glued dampers to the tops of the flues and were done in about 45 minutes. Al defended his $750/hour labor rate and double cleaning rate, saying it was due to his "high overhead" costs that I didn't understand. I still don't understand. Omega Construction is aptly named, they are the last one you should think of calling. They apparently only maintain their good BBB rating because the BBB doesn't consider "pricing issues" or "buyer's remorse" in their calculations. BBB is basically another way to advertise."
Ryan D on December 2020
Dwight M. Herdrich, AIA Architect is a multi-disciplinary design firm with over 25 years experience in Architecture, Site Planning, Interior Design, Acoustic Design, Graphic Design, Kitchen Cabinetry and Furniture Design. Projects completed over the years include everything from small home additions, to 100,000 square foot Worship Centers, and many varieties in between. A native of Michigan, Dwight moved to Maine in 1993 following a few years in San Diego, California, where he moved upon completion of his Masters of Architecture at the University of Michigan. After working for a few mid-sized architectural firms in Portland, Maine, Dwight joined Houses & Barns by John Libby in 1998, designing many of the beautiful homes that they have built. After an extended hiatus of pursuing projects on his own in Sarasota, Florida, Dwight returned to Maine in 2011, and continued his passion for innovating the New England vernacular, basing his firm in the Portland, Maine region. Dwight moved back to his home state of Michigan in 2019, where he established the firm, and has done several commercial renovation projects and residential projects in the state, as well as still working on projects in Maine. He lives with his wife and three children in Ann Arbor.
"Dwight is great to work with. He’s always positive and has great design aesthetics."
Joshua L on May 2024
Dwight M. Herdrich, AIA Architect is a multi-disciplinary design firm with over 25 years experience in Architecture, Site Planning, Interior Design, Acoustic Design, Graphic Design, Kitchen Cabinetry and Furniture Design. Projects completed over the years include everything from small home additions, to 100,000 square foot Worship Centers, and many varieties in between. A native of Michigan, Dwight moved to Maine in 1993 following a few years in San Diego, California, where he moved upon completion of his Masters of Architecture at the University of Michigan. After working for a few mid-sized architectural firms in Portland, Maine, Dwight joined Houses & Barns by John Libby in 1998, designing many of the beautiful homes that they have built. After an extended hiatus of pursuing projects on his own in Sarasota, Florida, Dwight returned to Maine in 2011, and continued his passion for innovating the New England vernacular, basing his firm in the Portland, Maine region. Dwight moved back to his home state of Michigan in 2019, where he established the firm, and has done several commercial renovation projects and residential projects in the state, as well as still working on projects in Maine. He lives with his wife and three children in Ann Arbor.
"Dwight is great to work with. He’s always positive and has great design aesthetics."
Joshua L on May 2024
At Great Lakes Gardening LLC, we believe in great design, dependable implementation, and delivering excellent service to our clients. Our team understands that landscapes should be unique and customizable because everyone is different. Since opening in 2015, we've been on a journey to make gardens and landscapes better as a whole. And we will never stop improving. Our gardens are designed to be long-lasting and evolve with time, which is why we've developed tools to help track individual progress, big or small.
"We had a fantastic experience with Great Lakes Gardening. Drew, the owner, was great to work with — friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly cares a lot about the quality of his work. He took the time to understand what we wanted and made some really helpful suggestions along the way. They built a retaining wall for us and did a full refresh of our garden beds. The wall is solid and looks great — really well done. The plants they brought in were top quality and everything was placed with a lot of care and attention to detail. The whole crew was professional and respectful of our property. You can tell this is a business that takes pride in doing things the right way. We’ve already gotten a bunch of compliments from neighbors, and we’re thrilled with how it all turned out. Highly recommend!"
Nicole S on May 2025
At Great Lakes Gardening LLC, we believe in great design, dependable implementation, and delivering excellent service to our clients. Our team understands that landscapes should be unique and customizable because everyone is different. Since opening in 2015, we've been on a journey to make gardens and landscapes better as a whole. And we will never stop improving. Our gardens are designed to be long-lasting and evolve with time, which is why we've developed tools to help track individual progress, big or small.
"We had a fantastic experience with Great Lakes Gardening. Drew, the owner, was great to work with — friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly cares a lot about the quality of his work. He took the time to understand what we wanted and made some really helpful suggestions along the way. They built a retaining wall for us and did a full refresh of our garden beds. The wall is solid and looks great — really well done. The plants they brought in were top quality and everything was placed with a lot of care and attention to detail. The whole crew was professional and respectful of our property. You can tell this is a business that takes pride in doing things the right way. We’ve already gotten a bunch of compliments from neighbors, and we’re thrilled with how it all turned out. Highly recommend!"
Nicole S on May 2025
Super Service Award 2021 - 2016!! Landscape designs using ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, and herbs to create artistic, unique combinations to beautify the home and outdoor living spaces. Specializing in year round color, container planting, seasonal accents, and event staging. Award winning design. Featured in The Style of The Detroit News, and Detroit Home. Member of The Herb Society of America, Southern Michigan Unit, Cranbrook House & Gardens Auxiliary, MNLA
"Jackie is very talented in designing wonderful landscaping that offers year-round color and beauty; promotes honey bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with a perfect blend of perennials and annuals; and works closely with us to make sure we are included in all of the design planning. We have worked with her for many years and couldn't be happier with our landscaping! She is top notch!"
Lisa B on October 2023
Super Service Award 2021 - 2016!! Landscape designs using ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, and herbs to create artistic, unique combinations to beautify the home and outdoor living spaces. Specializing in year round color, container planting, seasonal accents, and event staging. Award winning design. Featured in The Style of The Detroit News, and Detroit Home. Member of The Herb Society of America, Southern Michigan Unit, Cranbrook House & Gardens Auxiliary, MNLA
"Jackie is very talented in designing wonderful landscaping that offers year-round color and beauty; promotes honey bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with a perfect blend of perennials and annuals; and works closely with us to make sure we are included in all of the design planning. We have worked with her for many years and couldn't be happier with our landscaping! She is top notch!"
Lisa B on October 2023
Thank you for your interest in our services! Through dedication to our customers and our commitment to quality, we feel that we can offer you the best service in the construction industry. Every home or business has things that need to be done. At Marsh Contracting we help take the pressure off you, by offering a wide range of services from small repairs to large remodeling projects, Marsh Contracting is the contractor for you. We are licensed, insured and provide free estimates
"Marsh contracting came in and took our 50+ year old bathroom and made it into a great, functional space. I wish I could explain the awfulness of the "before" situation they were facing. Tile and plaster 3 inches thick; square, heavy bathtub that need to be removed; galvanized steel pipes with years of corrosion blocking water flow. They had great suggestions for improvements and helped us stay within our budget while still taking care of the things that needed to be done. They were prompt and worked quickly; the only hiccup was on our side with a delivery issue, and they were able to work around it and keep the project rolling. Bob and his team were upfront with us on everything, and I felt that I had a clear idea of how the project was moving along, next steps, and the timeline for completion. Communication was never an issue, whether via email, phone, or text. And my super picky Father in Law has even complemented the great tile work!"
JoAnn L on January 2019
Thank you for your interest in our services! Through dedication to our customers and our commitment to quality, we feel that we can offer you the best service in the construction industry. Every home or business has things that need to be done. At Marsh Contracting we help take the pressure off you, by offering a wide range of services from small repairs to large remodeling projects, Marsh Contracting is the contractor for you. We are licensed, insured and provide free estimates
"Marsh contracting came in and took our 50+ year old bathroom and made it into a great, functional space. I wish I could explain the awfulness of the "before" situation they were facing. Tile and plaster 3 inches thick; square, heavy bathtub that need to be removed; galvanized steel pipes with years of corrosion blocking water flow. They had great suggestions for improvements and helped us stay within our budget while still taking care of the things that needed to be done. They were prompt and worked quickly; the only hiccup was on our side with a delivery issue, and they were able to work around it and keep the project rolling. Bob and his team were upfront with us on everything, and I felt that I had a clear idea of how the project was moving along, next steps, and the timeline for completion. Communication was never an issue, whether via email, phone, or text. And my super picky Father in Law has even complemented the great tile work!"
JoAnn L on January 2019
A heartfelt thank you to our frontline heroes! Grays Outdoor Services proudly offers $200 off every $1000 spent as a token of our sincere appreciation for your dedication. For over a decade, our professional team has been committed to delivering exceptional outdoor services throughout the Metro Area, crafting superior quality for countless properties. You can count on us for reliable, on-time service for all your outdoor needs. We value the opportunity to earn and maintain your business. As a full-service company with a dedicated local team, we're ready to provide the professional and timely service you deserve.
"Grays did a great job. They showed up as scheduled, did the job quickly and efficiently. Everyone was pleasant and cleaned up all of the debris before leaving. I was very pleased with their work."
Linda S on October 2024
A heartfelt thank you to our frontline heroes! Grays Outdoor Services proudly offers $200 off every $1000 spent as a token of our sincere appreciation for your dedication. For over a decade, our professional team has been committed to delivering exceptional outdoor services throughout the Metro Area, crafting superior quality for countless properties. You can count on us for reliable, on-time service for all your outdoor needs. We value the opportunity to earn and maintain your business. As a full-service company with a dedicated local team, we're ready to provide the professional and timely service you deserve.
"Grays did a great job. They showed up as scheduled, did the job quickly and efficiently. Everyone was pleasant and cleaned up all of the debris before leaving. I was very pleased with their work."
Linda S on October 2024
Family owned business, approx 25 employees, offer subcontracting, billing net 30, accepts all major credit cards
Family owned business, approx 25 employees, offer subcontracting, billing net 30, accepts all major credit cards
The timeline for basement ceiling modifications spans four to 12 weeks, with the specific duration depending on your chosen method and project complexity. Floor-lowering projects often require more time due to careful excavation and foundation reinforcement processes.
Weather conditions, permit processing, and unexpected structural discoveries can extend the projected timeline. Most homeowners should prepare for some disruption to normal household activities during critical construction phases.
Converting previously unusable basement space into a functional living area often increases your home's assessed value, which may impact property tax obligations. Tax assessment practices vary significantly between municipalities, with some jurisdictions basing calculations on finished square footage.
To avoid surprises, contact your local tax assessment office before beginning construction to understand potential tax implications and budget accordingly for any anticipated increases.
Engaging a qualified structural engineer represents an essential first step for any basement ceiling project. These professionals evaluate foundation integrity, soil conditions, and load-bearing requirements to determine feasibility and recommend appropriate approaches.
Their expertise helps prevent potentially catastrophic structural issues while ensuring compliance with building codes. Although this consultation adds to initial expenses, it provides crucial guidance that may prevent costly mistakes or safety hazards.
Historic or aging properties present unique challenges when modifying basement ceiling heights. Older construction methods, outdated materials, and accumulated settlement issues require specialized assessment. Heritage designations may impose additional restrictions or requirements on modification approaches.
House-raising often provides advantages for older homes with compromised foundations, as it allows simultaneous foundation repair or replacement during the ceiling height modification process.
While professional contractors must handle all structural modifications, homeowners with appropriate skills may complete certain finishing aspects independently. Tasks potentially suitable for DIY include non-structural elements like painting, trim installation, or basic finishing work.
However, all excavation, foundation modification, and house-lifting operations require specialized equipment and expertise. Attempting structural work without proper qualifications creates significant safety risks and potential property damage.