[Chat] don't hire----

Tue May 2 22:10:36 EDT 2006

Wow, this is wonderful, Emily, many thanks!
Mariann

 > Emily, thank you so much for your list and commentary.
> 
> I add to the list of "don't hire" Tag Electric.  There
> worker told me that if I needed an electrical part to buy
> the lamp at Home Depot, take what I needed from the box,
> and return it because the lamp was "missing parts."
> 
> 
> Christine 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chat-bounces at charlesvillage.info
> [mailto:Chat-bounces at charlesvillage.info] On Behalf Of
> Emily Chalmers Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 3:25 PM
> To: The Charles Village Chat List;
> Chat at charlesvillage.info; Charles Village Discussion;
> Julie Modlin Subject: Re: [Chat] Wanted:
> Handyman/Carpenter/Advice--recommendations
> 
> Unfortunately I returned to the list a message that was
> intended for Didon alone.
> 
> However, now that the word is out, I'll list the
> contractors I've found who have done really wonderful
> work. It took me weeks to find this group, so I hope this
> listing saves others some time.
> 
> Tile: Steve Snyder, Eagle Tile and Marble 443-677-6280. 
> Steve tiled my kitchen floor, which was very, very uneven.
> He not only leveled it out but also did a lovely job with
> the tile. Total cost with the leveling $1200; without
> $800. The old tile was already up, and I bought the new
> tile and grout. Steve also redid the lead pan in my 1930s
> shower, breaking up the old tile and installing new
> waterproofing and tile. It looks great. Total cost $750,
> including material. Steve is a great guy--just be sure to
> tell him to clean up the grout dust and haul away his old
> tile!  He left me with a bag I can't lift . . .
> 
> Flooring: Old World Floors, in the phone book. People in
> CV have talked about Bobby Severe for years, and I'm here
> to say that he is the best. He refinished all the wood
> floors in my house, upstairs and down, and repaired
> stained and damaged areas. The floors look fantastic.
> Total cost $4200--about $1500 a floor and $700 for the
> stairs. He does repairs at $20 a board.  For the record,
> my house is about 1400 sq. ft., all but the galley kitchen
> and baths with hardwood floors. Bobby may charge a bit
> more than others, but his work is worth every penny--and
> he is prompt, pleasant, and clean. 
> 
> Electric:  Ed and his son at E-Z Electric. I hired them
> out of the phone book (they have a display ad). What a
> relief to find them! They don't charge by the minute like
> everyone else, but work on a job-by-basis and will do very
> small jobs. They put outlets in my kitchen and redid some
> of the wiring before the new appliances were installed. 
> Total cost $650.  They also installed a new base fixture
> for a ceiling fan in a room where there had been no light
> fixture for $350. They are pleasant and prompt and as
> noted don't run the meter at $50 every 15 minutes.
> 
> Plumber: Lou Mank and his daughter at Charm City Plumbing,
> also in the phone book. Lou has been around for years. Not
> cheap, but very nice to deal with and very competent. I
> thought I got a great deal on the two commodes he replaced
> for me, as he has to seek out special "thrones" to fit the
> old bases--$656 for two, including hauling away the
> grotesque originals. The kitchen was not so cheap but
> required a lot of work.
> 
> I also have a good carpenter for small jobs, a great
> painter, and a plasterer/mason. However, I am unwilling to
> divulge their names until they are done with my house. 
> The carpenter works in the evenings after his day job, so
> if you want him you must be ready to give up your
> evenings. He has been installing my kitchen and has done
> an excellent job with the Ikea cabinets and has made some
> lovely oak transitions for the floors. The plasterer redid
> a bad skimming job for me, but I won't reveal his name
> because he might give you the name of the carpenter. Mean,
> aren't I? The painter is a very nice, ridiculously
> reasonable guy who also does faux finishes. I know he
> wants more work.
> 
> If anyone's interested, send me an e-mail or call me in a
> few weeks (410-366-4094) and I will post. 
> 
> Best,
> 
> Emily
> 
> NB Here are some contractors to avoid: Mastercraft
> Construction, Tim O'Conner Painting, Stephen Scalf
> Electric, Joe Birch, contractor. Mastercraft is incredibly
> expensive, does dishonest estimates, and really did a
> terrible job on my kitchen floor; the owner then yelled at
> me for half an hour when I criticized his work. Tim
> O'Conner demanded a huge deposit, sent over incompetent,
> really filthy workers to skim the walls, had his hands all
> over me one day, and then screamed at me when I told him
> his work was bad and I didn't want him to do any painting
> (I also lost about $400). Stephen Scalf wanted to do
> $2,000 worth of unneeded electrical work. Joe Birch is
> just plain weird--not unpleasant, just weird. The world is
> full of creepy contractors!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Didon Pachner <pachner at att.net>
> > To: Chat at charlesvillage.info <Chat at charlesvillage.info>;
> Charles Village Discussion
> <discussion at lists.thevillage.org>; Julie Modlin
> > <juliemodlin at yahoo.com> Date: 4/17/2006 8:33:41 PM
> > Subject: [Chat] Wanted: Handyman/Carpenter/Advice
> >
> > Hi Folks,
> >
> > My front porch is in serious need of attention.  I'm
> > thinking about  replacing the rotten boards (tongue and
> > groove) with new boards or if  that's too complicated,
> replacing the entire front porch. >
> > Does anyone know a carpenter/handyman who can do this
> type of job? >
> > Has anyone ever done this?  If so, how complicated is it
> > to replace  individual boards - is it even "do-able"?
> >
> > Thanks!!
> >
> > Didon
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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> 
> 
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