Earlier this year we had Jim and Brown's Custom Contracting renovate our kitchen and could not be happier with the results. From start to finish Jim was very communicative, professional and easy to work with. He kept us informed throughout the entire process. Our new kitchen looks fantastic and we highly recommend Jim and his team. We'll be contacting Jim for our future renovation needs! read more

Brown's Custom Contracting - General Contractors Near Me

See all

Jim was outstanding in helping me think through the possibilities for a major home addition. He carefully explained design options, permitting requirements, and cost estimates. He is a one stop contractor with connections to architects, designers, and the trades. I feel super fortunate to have him on my team. read more

Quick Summary: Jim runs an exceptionally professional business, and I would gladly hire him again for any job to improve my household. He is an excellent communicator, and his workers were not only courteous but very skilled at their respective jobs. He was able to finish my basement in a timely manner with high-quality materials. I could not be happier with the work Brown's Custom Contracting did within my home. Detailed Summary of My Experience: I contacted Jim initially just to get an estimate for finishing my basement, which was in a state that needed major work because the walls were made of cinderblock and the floors were complete concrete; it was a space that was probably best used for storage and I would not call it "comfortably livable." Jim arrived quickly for an estimate and helped me explore the possibilities of the space, even going so far as to note what would be difficult or expensive to pull off. Within days he provided an estimate for the job, which I found out during the process was a major ordeal involving many phases and individuals, so I'm impressed he was able to produce a price so quickly (and in the end it was an accurate price). I signed Jim up for the job because of his straightforward and pleasant attitude. In the weeks and months that followed (this was a major job, I want to note), Jim gave me frequent updates about what workers I could expect to come by and when/how-long they would be there. Every person who came onto the property was skilled and good about communicating what they would be working on, especially when they had questions about the possibilities of the space. Jim also handled all of the work involving the permits and he worked with the county to ensure everything was up to code. He also alerted me any time there was a change in plans or if there was a possibility of delay. Given how involved this basement-finish job was, there were plenty of opportunities for major hurdles, but the project was still completed in a timely manner, and it was always clear to me what was going on, what would happen next, etc. The final product is everything I could've wanted. Jim made efficient use of the space to make as much of it "comfortably livable" as possible. Even the water heater and HVAC unit were relocated with no diminishment in functionality just for the sake of making the basement as good as it could possibly be. I'm very pleased with the additional space my family has been given, and there isn't a single rough edge in the room. Jim's guys are the best and I highly recommend his service to anyone looking to improve their homes. I have included pictures of the job before and after just so you can see the quality of work. read more

Brown's Custom Contracting - After: - General Contractors Near Me

See all

We hired Brown's for the rebuild of our deck after moving into our new home. It took a while to coordinate a time to meet with Jim, but he was very professional right from the start and provided the most competitive pricing for the job. As a property manager myself, I appreciated his clean contracting process - he'll print out two copies so both you and he can sign, he'll document the down payment amount and check number (and sign), he'll get his insurance agent to provide you with a COI right after, and keep you updated regularly throughout the project and will document any change orders with updated payment schedules. Our deck project became complicated by obvious grading/drainage issues and sunken footers at the adjacent porch that the deck is flush to, which caused our project cost to increase significantly. Some would say that the change in scope is a pricing tactic, and maybe it is for some, but not Jim. He carefully explained and showed us the issues, then helped prioritize them so we knew what really needed to be addressed and what could wait. His sub was great - always on time, productive as hell, and maintained a tidy worksite. You could tell the sub really cared about their work and Jim made it a point to stop by to check in. The end result is a beautiful deck that we cannot wait to furnish and use. The experience with Jim was so great that we will call him when we're ready to bid out our master bath and kitchen reno. He's a good human. read more

Brown's Custom Contracting - Porch was existing, gate was added. Decking is pretty seamless. - General Contractors Near Me

See all

We had a water leak from the roof that did substantial damage to kitchen wall and continuing down to my basement office beneath the kitchen. I consulted several contractors before eventually deciding on Brown's Custom Contracting for the repair project. Jim, the owner, was professional, straight forward from the first conversation and meeting. The project steps were explained by Jim and listed in the proposal and contract. The communication was great and I was kept aware of the appointment arrival times. The work was of the highest quality and the workers were fantastic. I highly recommend Jim Brown and his company, Brown's Custom Contracting LLC for any job dealing with home repair/renovation. read more

We had a leak under the front door of our new home which led us to Brown and the process of ordering a new door. They had plenty of door options to choose from. Jim is a professional who oversaw every step of the job which was done very quickly. Ideally, we would have liked to see them do caulk on the inside of the door after a project like this but overall a great experience. read more

First - Jim is excellent at communicating with you. He works very hard to make sure you're aware of schedules and progress. I had a pretty complicated project that required moving walls, jackhammering the concrete foundation to move plumbing. Several changes were made mid project and Jim was easy to work through the changes with. A complete gutted bathroom / laundry room renovation. Quality was top notch. The tile carpentry and plumbing work was excellent. read more

Very good craftsmanship and communication. Fairly priced waterproofing, window replacement and refurbishment as well as outdoor drainage work. Pleasant and skilled subcontractors as well. In all, the project looks well done and we await hard rains to test it out. read more

We started with multiple projects for the house, but Jim was very honest and up front and recommended which projects to do first and which ones can wait. And he did not tell us to do the expensive one first - he cared about our budget more than his profit. We moved ahead with two of the projects and they turned out fantastic! His communication was great and his team was very friendly and professional! We had under cabinet lights added, back splash put in, floating cabinets installed, and a door replaced. The finished product looks like it was put in when the house was built - no sign of construction anywhere to be seen. We are already getting comments from friends and family about how great it looks. When project was finished, Jim did not say - let's start on the next project - he said "Give us a call when you are ready for the next one and we will get started." How awesome it is that there was no pressure to move on the next one until we are ready. Great work and professional team - exactly what you look for in a contractor!! read more

We wanted to completely remodel our house, but didn't know exactly how to do it or who would be crazy enough to take on the job. We're talking tearing walls down, moving a kitchen, moving a laundry room, putting a steel beam in the ceiling, adding giant windows, refinishing cork floors type of crazy stuff. Jim was patient and easy to talk to regarding the project. He came over several times to discuss ideas and to confirm he understood our goals. We trusted Jim and agreed to let him tackle this massive renovation. After our agreement, COVID struck and Jim was backed up with a few projects because of various issues related to the pandemic. But once he was able to start our project, he made sure that people were there nearly every day working on our renovation. It was completed within a few months, and thankfully we've been able to enjoy our beautifully renovated house at a time where it seems having a comfortable and workable home is more important than ever. Jim Brown used quality professionals who took pride in what they do. The results make that much clear. I'd recommend his company for any job, big or small. read more

Wanted a custom piece for a retail counter project I had in mind. I wanted a unfinished retail counter so I could paint and get the designed I had in my head made. The piece came out wonderfully! Jim was quick to respond and prompt with follow ups. read more

See all

Fantastic work, and Jim was at the site almost every day for any questions and concerns. He went through all of the options for our screen deck beforehand and was one of the very few contractors that would build on an existing deck. He even used some of the old materials for repairs on the rest of the deck. We'll definitely be using Jim for any large home projects from here on out. read more

Brown's Custom Contracting - General Contractors Near Me

See all

We recently had Brown's custom contracting redo our basement. I checked with 4 different contractors before deciding to go with Jim Brown. I had worked worked with Jim in the past and was satisfied with his work, but still wanted different quotes since this was a big project. I ended up hiring Jim for the following reasons: 1. He sat down with me, took his time and helped me figure out all that I could get within my budget. 2. He provided options that would save money. 3. His communication skills were excellent. 4. His crew was professional and all had background checks. 5. They worked overtime to complete the job on time. 6. They completed the job in less than 4 weeks from their start date- ON SCHEDULE!! I could not be happier with the way our basement turned out. Any major home improvement in our house will always go to Brown's Custom Contracting. read more

Brown's Custom Contracting and I did not end on a good note. I hired Jim to do a large renovation at my home. He was very pleasant and we flushed out the work and got started. Unfortunately, I had a stroke during the work and needed the work to stop for a bit. I started the work again and the COVID hit. Unfortunately, I could not get him to follow through with some of the small problems with the work that he had already completed; from deck replacement boards, to nail pops in newly painted rooms, and screens not hung etc... Jim's crews do excellent work!! Jim is a great guy. I just wish he could have followed through a bit better for me. read more

On 2020, we hired Brown's Custom Contracting for finish our basement. Mr. Brown and his team did such and excellent work that we ended up with a new patio and also replaced our family room/dinning room floors from carpet to hardwood (it was done in 1 day!). We totally recommend this company for your projects. Sorry it took too much time to write this review, we were busy enjoying our improved home! read more

My front yard was a giant sinkhole that was eroding from the horrible rain storms we'd been experiencing the past couple of years. Water was running towards my house and wreaking havoc on my sumpump system. Basically, my level and grading was a major issue, especially after my driveway was re-paved by a different company whom of which graded towards the house. Jim and his team did an excellent job on level and grading my land and surrounding landscape to prevent any water flowing towards the house. They worked with my budget, did the best they could to compensate for he heavy rain they had to deal with while working on my landscaping and even a better job on giving me insight on taking care of my new sod and water drainage system they installed around my gutters. The water completely runs away from the home now. My wife loves the paved walkway and my home is starting to gain some actual curb appeal. I literally have the nicest lawn in the neighborhood now. Thanks guys! They definitely have a customer for life! read more

Brown's Custom Contracting - After - General Contractors Near Me

We've had a problem with water in our basement, coming from multiple sources. Jim's estimate was competitive and we liked how he walked us through everything that needed to be done. We needed to stay within a certain budget, so he discussed all of our options and ways we could do so while still getting an optimal result. His crew was friendly, professional, and efficient, and didn't hesitate to get my approval before doing anything that wasn't expressly discussed (I'm a control freak, so I like that). The first big rain post basement completion, Jim called to make sure our basement was still dry. I am happy to report that not one drop of water got in! read more

Jim Brown and his team just finished remodeling our main bathroom and the results were fantastic. The crew is seasoned, professional and know what they are doing. Jim goes above and beyond in providing a great customer service experience. He asked the right questions and was regularly checking in with us to see if things were going okay during the construction process. When we had questions, he was prompt with responses. We were always kept updated as to when someone would be on site and they were always on time and dependable. read more

Jim & his guys did an awesome job converting our swampy nasty uneven 'yard' under our deck into a beautiful level stone patio. They also pressure washed & stained the wood under the deck. All of the work was done with professionalism, care and speed. We now have a lovely patio where we can sit with a fire pit and roast marshmallows! On a lark my wife called Jim to see if he "knew a guy" that would install a light fixture in our very tall foyer. We had bought a new light fixture and tried to install it ourselves but the 20ft height of the foyer was just too high. Jim's electrician came out and installed the fixture in no time. He had the balance and nerves of steel to have one foot on our half wall & one foot on his extension ladder while he removed the old fixture and installed the new fixture. My wife is very happy I didn't try that! The new light is perfect! read more

I don't usually write reviews, but when I do, it is because the company is awesome. We used them to remodel out basement and the job was perfect! Very detailed estimate to start with. Most of the items completed within the timeframe. They did give us a run around when it came to payments at the end. But everything came out really nice read more

Browns gave me excellent service in every area. I contacted them to do some work on my home before I sell it. Jim originally referred me to someone else because he wouldn't be able to get to me that week. The person he referred me to, never returned my call though. So I contacted Jim again, he apologized and he made the time to do the landscaping at my home. Jim was professional, friendly and accommodating. They did a fantastic job on my front lawn, which was busy anyway. It is more simplistic now and looks great. So when prospective owners come up to my house it won't look a mess anymore. They also pulled out two rose bushes in my back yard. Browns has great prices and they always kept me informed of what was going on. I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for affordable and honest workers. read more

Jim at Browns Custom Contracting was a true pleasure to work with. From the initial quote and walkthrough to the ongoing work and completion - Jim was very professional, courteous, and considerate. We had a pretty intense plan for a remodel of our unfinished basement. Jim was integral in offering ideas/opinions to maximize the space and make the areas more usable and maximized. The daily work was captured and cleaned up above expectations and again was a great experience. Overall the project was on-time, within budget (even when we added a little more :)) and most importantly a really great job. We would and are going to use Browns Custom Consulting again in the future. read more

I called Jim Brown to have my deck repaired and from day one he impressed me. He always either answered my calls or he immediately returned them as well as replied to my emails quickly. He kept me informed of the project and the end result was great! I felt he gave me a great fair price and I would definitely recommend him to family and friends of mine. He was a breath of fresh air compared to contractors that I have used in the past ! Holly read more

Brown's Custom Contracting did a fantastic job on my kitchen grout and bathroom caulking. My wife and I were moving out of our condo, and needed some touch-ups before renting it out. The kitchen grout now looks better than when we first moved in, not joking. Everything was done quickly, cleanly, and extremely well. read more

Jim did an excellent job on our home improvement projects after we purchased our house. He kept our wood floor and basement finish project on time while keeping us informed, even though we were not in the area. Jim does honest work while looking out for your best interest throughout the job. read more

I recently hired Brown's Custom Contracting to regrout a shower, mount a television, and install three ceiling fans in my home. Jim came out and looked at what I wanted and got back to me with a quote in just a few days. He was friendly and helpful, and discussed my options with me, issuing a second quote when I wanted some things done differently. Once we made a deal, Jim worked with me to schedule a date and was able to get everything done within a week, well before the date I'd requested he have it done by. The people who came out to do the actual work did a great job, and when they were done Jim came by to ensure it was done correctly. Overall great experience, would recommend. read more

I called Jim after discovering some water and mold damage in my vacation home. He was able to find the problem -- a leaky toilet. He gave me a detailed quote to not only fix the problem but to remediate all the mold. I used the opportunity to make some improvements. Jim worked with me to help us get our place back in order and better than ever. He was quick, competent, friendly, and helpful. He was very professional and saved me money where he could. The job was great -- my place looks beautiful. He took care of all the finishing touches and trim work. I highly recommend him. read more

This summer I discovered water leaking into my basement which was a result of shoddy workmanship done prior to me owning the home. To make the situation even worse, after examining the issue closely, I found that the entire rear basement wall was leaning out as if it had been yanked outward a few inches from the top of the wall. It was a nightmare of a situation, and I knew it was far beyond my skill to fix it by myself! This was a multi-stage project: starting with correcting the leaning basement wall and incorrectly flashed deck, then replacing the first floor sliding door which was another source of water leaking, then doing some extra electrical work I wanted done while the walls were open, then re-insulating, drywalling, and reinstalling the molding. This was my first experience hiring a contractor to work on my house, and boy was it an education. I contacted about 6 different companies to come out and take a look at it. Out of those six, only 3 returned my calls and came out to look at it. Out of those 3, only Brown's Custom Contracting came back with a quote and was responsive throughout the process. It's a sad state of affairs when most contractors won't even respond to your emails or phone calls in a prompt manner! But I quickly found out that Jim Brown wasn't most contractors. He responded almost immediately to my emails, texts, and phone calls. He made sure I was happy with the work done at each stage of the process, and I was! His quotes were fair, he worked with my budget, and he went above and beyond what was in the contract in order to ensure I was satisfied. I can't recommend Brown's Custom Contracting highly enough. Next time I have a project I need done on my house, I know who I'll be calling! read more

We used Jim at Brown's Custom Contracting (BCC) to remodel our very dated kitchen. We had reached out to Jim over a year ago but had to put the project on hold. When we were ready to proceed again, he came back out without any hesitation to give us an updated quote and was upfront with his pricing and how he handles jobs. Once we selected BCC, we went to pick our selections for cabinets, counters, flooring, and backsplash. From where we live, the one down side of working with Jim's group of vendors is location, but they understood that we lived an hour away and fit us into their schedules so we only had to make the trip twice (once to make the selections, and once because we wanted to confirm we still liked our original choices). Demo began about a month after we signed with BCC. Four weeks after the work began, the project was finished, right on target with Jim's original estimate of how long it could take to complete. We had a few hiccups along the way with mislabeled tiles, but overall his crew and vendors were great. The electrician did the work quickly and efficiently, and we appreciated how neatly he did his work. The tile people also made quick work of the flooring, and helped us troubleshoot an unforeseen hiccup with where we wanted the backsplash to end versus the type of cabinet we had selected. The cabinet people also were very quick, and worked with us on our more unique setup to help give the installed cabinets a more finished look than otherwise would have been (the bottoms of some of the cabinets would have been visible, so they used matching paneling to give it a more finished look). The drywall crew, in our opinion, was the weak link in Jim's crew as they worked quickly, but made a few mistakes that had to be fixed later. Our house is pretty old, so having perfectly straight lines is difficult, but we felt that the dry wall people could have done a few things better had they taken more time. Overall, Jim was great to work with and spoke with whenever we were concerned about something, and problem solved pretty well whenever we ran into an issue. He took notes during our initial meetings, but we wished that at time he would take additional notes in regards to our specific concerns as the project progressed. Still, in the end all of our concerns were addressed and the project turned out looking great. We've worked with other contractors in the past that left us regretting ever hiring them, and Jim was aware of this so he went the extra mile to make sure we didn't have that experience with him. He's a friendly, nice guy who we enjoyed working with. We are extremely happy with our remodeled kitchen and would definitely call Jim to give estimates for other jobs that may come up at the house in the future. read more

I contacted Brown's Custom Contracting regarding installing a fireplace mantel surround and over mantel. Jim called me back to discuss the project and asked me to e-mail him the details. I never heard back from him. I followed up with a second e-mail asking if he was interested and ---nothing. I have working in the construction industry and know that small projects can easily lead to larger one (which is the case here). If they were not interested or had a long lead time, I could understand. Just communicate! Customer service starts with a response. read more

STOP! You've found him! You may have spent forever researching who is going to fix your back door leak or to repair those wires some irresponsible electrician left live without a box. And you may wonder how on earth to tell all these people apart. THIS is the place! Brown's Custom Contracting is just amazing! Our house has a lot of issues and Jim has only begun to tackle them all, however the first two projects we tasked him with were fixed this week with as much care as my dad would use. Seriously. (And I used to think people who said that were just exaggerating.) Jim and his dad installed a new back door for us, taking the time to achieve a perfect custom fit and repair damage left by a misguided knucklehead who thought he knew his way around a sledgehammer. Jim and his crew are careful, professional and cleaned EVERYTHING up before they left, going above and beyond our expectations. We also got some electrical work done and his electrician is fantastic as well. Knowledgeable, helpful, and willing to offer plenty of advice. Jim is very straightforward and will not screw around. He offers his honest opinion and provides trustworthy, reliable service. We are looking forward to having Brown's put in a new kitchen in our in-law suite soon! Thank you guys!! read more

Jim did several major jobs on our property: interior painting, kitchen floor/cabinet painting, landscaping, HVAC work, and waterproofing a flood-prone basement. We checked for pricing from other contractors and he always came in with reasonable bids. We really liked the people he had doing the work. With several large projects there were bound to be some glitches and he always listened to our comments and fixed problems we came to him with. On a personal level, he's a very friendly guy, easy to communicate with, follows up on calls/emails/texts quickly. Jim Brown deserves all the good ratings he's getting here on Yelp. read more

I reached out to Brown's Custom Contracting for a project at my parents home. The back door was in pretty bad shape and I wanted to get it replaced before the winter set in. Jim was very responsive and came out to do an estimate right away (the week of Thanksgiving if I recall correctly). Jim was very personable and honest. After the assessment of the back door he sent me the estimate shortly thereafter. It took a little time as the door was a custom order, but once it came in, Jim's team was able to get the entire job done in on the day we decided just a few hours. My parents are incredibly happy with the outcome and have mentioned to me on several occasions that the room where the door is feels noticeably warmer. I plan on doing more updates to my parents home in the future and I will not hesitate to reach out to Brown's Custom Contracting when the time comes! read more

I recently hired Jim Brown, based on previous Yelp reviews, to do some work for my rental property in Crofton. I was hesitant, being all the way across the country to hire a contractor from the internet to do work in MD, but boy was I happy with Jim's work! First of all he went to assess the property and took photos and texted and emailed them to me. He gave me an appraisal for worst case and best case scenarios, and assured me he wouldn't undertake any extra work in the worst case situation without approval. He did excellent finish work on a larger wood construction project, and was also graciously willing to do smaller yard work and other handyman projects around the house. My tenant and I were really pleased with his work and I am already using him again. I am very pleased, what a relief to find someone good! read more

We hired Jim to remodel our kitchen in our newly purchased house. He gave us a reasonable quote in line with other contractors we considered. We decided to go with Jim due to his excellent reputation, attention to detail, and willingness to work with our vision and make it happen. Jim was very communicative during the entire remodel process, even when we decided to change our mind about how to do one section midway through. He and his team did a fast, fantastic job using quality materials and workmanship. We love the kitchen, and will definitely use Jim again in the future! read more

We invited several contractors to take a look at a bathroom needing repair and improvement. He was clear about how he does business, including timing, cost, and recommendations. In fact, his recommendation was to not do any of the scope we originally expected and instead he found one quick minor repair which didn't earn him anything but saved us thousands of dollars. I wish everyone worked like Jim and highly recommend his services. read more

I went on Angie's List seeking someone to do several home improvement projects, including remodeling the master bathroom. I located Brown's Custom Contracting who had a wonderful rating on Angie's List. After reading the reviews, I decided to send an e-mail outlining the type of work I wanted done. Jim Brown, the owner, contacted me immediately and we set an appointment for him to come out to my home. Mr. Brown arrived on time and was very cordial. My husband and I liked his attitude and sense of humor immediately. We discussed the projects in detail, with Jim offering several excellent ideas. He said he would send us a proposal. After receiving Jim's proposal, in which he worked to stay within our budget, we hired him. Jim was professional and patient throughout the project. Jim took time out of his weekends and evenings to help us locate our bath fixtures and everything that was needed to renovate our bathroom. He far exceeded our expectations. Throughout the project, he kept us in the loop so that there were no surprises at the end. We appreciated his thoughtfulness and candor during the project. He is not a contractor that will nickel and dime you to death. As part of the bathroom remodeling, we had asked Jim to install an exhaust fan above the window. Jim called us immediately to inform us that the location would not work. We decided not to install the fan. Jim called us back with an alternative. We left the details to his discretion and everything worked out well. He found he could install the fan in the ceiling and vent it outside through the soffit without it being noticeable from the outside. Jim knows his craft which we appreciated. Also, we had asked Jim to paint a bedroom. When he started to do the requested painting, he thought the color we had chosen was not going to work. Jim immediately called to inform us. He left the sample on the wall for us to decide if we wanted him to continue with the color. He was correct. We chose another color and it is beautiful. We are glad Jim had the foresight to notice that the color was wrong and not proceed. While working in the basement near the furnace to vent our dryer outside, Jim smelled gas and brought it to our attention. He also had someone test our HVAC system for the gas leak. To our surprise, we did have a small gas leak that we had not noticed. It shows how diligent he is in doing his work above what is being asked of him. We have been very pleased with Jim's workmanship and the caliber of individuals that work with him. Upon seeing the finished bathroom, we could not believe it. It is beautiful. Jim did a fantastic job. We are so pleased. If you want to work with someone who has integrity, ethics, extraordinary work habits, patience, a great personality, and knows his craft, Jim is the person. We would definitely recommend Jim Brown of Brown's Custom Contracting to anyone. We will be using him again. read more

My backyard was inhabitable for two years and I finally decided to fix it up. I reviewed multiple landscaping companies on Yelp and had at least four of the top rated companies come to my home for estimates. Jim Brown came to my home and I instantly knew that he was the right person for the job. He was professional, personable and patient. He took time to answer all my questions. He definitely made me feel like he was an old family friend! Even though I have a small backyard( town home) I wasn't made to feel that he didn't have time for a 'small' project. On the initial consultation, Jim made suggestions that other companies didn't and paid attention to details. He actually came out with a measuring tape! He quoted a price, start date, duration and delivered as promised. I had open and directed communication with him, my decisions and vision were their top priority. I'm very pleased with my new backyard and I highly recommend Brown's construction! I also have to mention the other 'Jim' that was wonderful and part of his team. I have a beautiful garden that I've received many compliments from neighbors and friends. Thanks Jim! read more

BCC just finished installing a patio in my back yard. The quality of the work is excellent. They accommodated a late design change on my part with no additional cost. They worked with me on the design and provided samples for me to look at. Jim was in constant communication so I knew when things were happening. The price was reasonable and they finished ahead of schedule! All in all, you can't ask for much more from a contractor - on time, good price, excellent quality, great communication. I will definitely use their services in the future. read more

Honestly, I wish there was an opportunity to give a 6th star. I had Jim put a parking pad in behind my rowhouse in Baltimore. (Which by the way, having a parking pad has TOTALLY changed our lives - amazing!) We had to work around a few pipes in the back. One was the sewer return that Jim had a plumber come out and shorten so that it wouldn't stick too far above the pad and be a nuisance - no problem. I had previously thought that the other pipe was a vent for the sump pump. Well, Jim called to tell me that the other pipe was just a broken piece of PVC shoved six inches into the ground!!! Jim was amazing. He had his plumber come out again to meet me after work so that we could make sure that the sump pump was properly vented because we were worried that the house inspector had missed something. The plumber came out, looked things over and said that we were fine, it vented to the roof, it took him about three minutes and he didn't charge us a cent. I offered to give him gas money but he wouldn't have it. (We never did figure out what that PVC pipe was doing hanging out there - gotta love Baltimore.) Anyway, the whole experience was amazing. We even had him pressure wash and stain our deck while he was here and it looks great. And now we are thinking about another project. He's a little addicting, he's so good, it makes you want to get things fixed! And if you want to see his work on the pad in person, just walk in the alley behind the 200 South block of Bouldin St. You'll know which one it is because it looks awesome! read more