If I could give Jim Brown and his team 10 stars, I would. For starters, all of the positive Yelp reviews I looked at ended up being the reason I went with Brown's. Shortly after reaching out to him, Jim made his way to my house in Crofton and gave me an estimate for patching up our deck. The price was very fair and he walked through and showed me the boards he would be replacing and the parts of the deck he would be completely redoing. After my honeymoon, Jim came over and we signed the contract. We really needed this deck fixed up by the end of June (we have a party planned), so we really didn't give Jim and his team a whole lot of time. Jim was able to squeeze us in within two weeks and it took about two full days to complete the job. As an added bonus, Jim fixed a few additional boards, power washed the deck (WOW did it look so much better after this), and he even sprayed off the back of our town home (This wasn't on the contract but he offered to help us out with it, and did not charge us extra for it). Jim and his team really went above and beyond with our deck. It looks so much better, it can support more people, and it is so much cleaner. And the best part about it was, we didn't pay an arm and a leg to have it done. For what it's worth, Jim also served in the military. I know that doesn't mean a lot to some, but it means something to me. Jim also came out here and cleaned the deck himself, as well as checked on his crew while they were fixing it up the first day. It says a lot when the owner comes around to visit the job and also gets his hands dirty. Thank you Brown's Custom Contracting, LLC, we will definitely be using your services again. -CM read more

Friend of mine had his kitchen and bathroom re-modeled along with having a new concrete driveway put in. After looking at all of the work done, I was thoroughly impressed and kept Jim in mind for improvements on my own house. I was in need of some replacement window trim due to age and wood rot. One window trim was visibly damaged and a couple others were questionable. Jim came around for his initial assessment and had no issues with the work being requested. Great guy to talk to and very personable while keeping everything professional as well. He quickly drafted up a contract and the pricing was pretty darn reasonable. After I agreed to the contract and signed, Jim scheduled the work as soon as he could fit me in (which I only had to wait til the next week) and took care of business. His guy working this project was very diligent and an honest worker who was no stranger or slouch to custom woodwork. Was actually pleasantly surprised at how fast the work progressed. Everything was wrapped up in one day and I couldn't be happier with the end result. Definitely going to be keeping Jim for any work in the future and would not hesitate to recommend his business to family/friends/co-workers. Thanks again Jim! read more

Jim and his team just completed basically a full kitchen remodel on our rental house, and we are very happy with the result. Jim's great work is well documented in other reviews and photos here, but what really stood out for us was Jim's communication. I am a military member and had to coordinate basically the entire project with Jim from overseas. In fact, I didn't meet him in person until the day he started the job. Jim was extremely responsive and flexible with time differences, modes of communication, and meeting with a couple different family members in my stead through the process. Jim really took the time to figure out what would work best for our house and situation, and I never felt pressured or rushed. He was always happy to schedule a time for a phone call to discuss things when needed, but also great about using mostly email when a call really wasn't needed. Jim continued the great communication during the job. It was a relatively short job, but he stayed in touch, sent progress pictures, and answered a few additional questions throughout the process. Overall, we are very happy we had this kitchen done right by Jim and would definitely use him again for future projects. read more

We hired Jim to remodel our kitchen, and a bath. His estimate was affordable, but not "the cheapest guy in town". That's right where you want it. As they got into the work, and opened up the walls, I asked for several on-the-spot upgrades to plumbing, electric, duct work, etc. My timetable was flexible, and it probably caused him more of a headache than me, but he had folks ready to handle all our requests. We were not living in the house at the time, but I was able to stop in unannounced many times and was never disappointed by the work that they were doing. The folks he referred us to, at the appliance supplier, and the cabinet/countertop store, were all very patient and easy to work with as we worked our way through the options. The many trade specialists he had working on our project were all nice folks, and Jim was on-site most every day sending me photos and updates when I could not be there myself. Our only complaint was that the dust and dirt from the job was more than we were prepared for, but he paid for a cleaning crew to work all day to clean the whole house. Bottom Line : Quality work, honest company, nice folks, fair price. read more

We wanted to be able to use our deck after living in our house for two years. The floor planks were coming up, the supports were sagging, and the railing was wobbly so it was not safe to be out there. Brown's Custom Contracting was recommended to by our friends who love their new deck! After gathering a few quotes, we decided on Jim Brown and Brown's Custom Contracting because of the level of professionalism and the reasonable quote for the job. Jim Brown took the time to find out what we wanted out of the project and was patient in his explanation of options available. He even offered suggestions that we either didn't know about or had not thought of, to ensure that we got the best outcome and as Jim puts it, "a Primo finish!" During the project the team was courteous and timely (even with several weather interruptions) and always cleaned up the work area each day. I was able to reach Jim same day and he responded to questions/concerns promptly. He even gave timely updates without prompting, so that I was always aware of the progress of the project. We are more than happy with our new deck and would highly recommend Brown's construction! read more

My wife and I hired Jim Brown based on his excellent online reviews. We were not disappointed! Of the three estimates we received Jim was neither the least nor most expensive but he responded promptly to my call and seemed genuinely and enthusiastically interested in making sure our project was done well and to our creative satisfaction. His subcontractors were professional, did excellent work and kept our home as clean and free of clutter and debris as possible. They generally treated our house as if it was their own. Jim was also very reasonable when it came to negotiating the bill and allowing us some leeway for work we preferred to do ourselves. Jim and his subcontractors were typically prompt and communicated consistently when unable to make an appointment at the given time or date. One particular issue with our project kept giving us trouble and Jim was relentless in resolving the problem. I came to have complete confidence in Jim and his commitment to excellence and professionalism and recommend him and his company without reservation. Best of all, my wife loves the completed project!!! Thanks Jim! read more

My husband and I recently contracted Brown's Custom Contracting to install a 12x20 brick patio with a brick walkway leading to the deck and to enlarge our 8x8 wood deck to a 8x20 deck using azek. Mr. Brown was timely with providing a quote and once the contract was signed by all parties and all permits were received from the county, all work was completed by the date promised. All workers were kind and courteous and ensured that everything was the way we wanted it before the job was completed. Mr. Brown came to the work site every day to check on the progress and to ensure we were happy with the work. When everything was completed, Mr. Brown himself ensured the entire work site was cleaned up and there was nothing for us to do but enjoy our new patio and deck. We are extremely happy with the results!!! All of our neighbors are amazed at how it looks and can't stop complimenting us on how it improved the look of our home. We highly recommend Brown's Custom Contracting!!! John and Cathy Buonantuono read more

We found Brown's Custom Contracting through an online search as we were interested in having our master and hallway bathrooms renovated in our 50 year old ranch home. Jim immediately set up a time to meet with us to discuss the specific changes and ideas we wanted to make. Since we have small bathrooms, considering the age of our home, Jim was very informative and helpful in making use of our space. Throughout the renovation Jim's team was professional, courteous, friendly, respected our property and did fantastic work. Jim was always available to us and responded quickly to all of our questions and concerns and he was very accommodating in making changes and offered suggestions along the way. All this resulted in two beautiful renovated bathrooms with which we are very pleased. In view of our experience we have already referred Jim to a friend. We would highly recommend Jim and his crew to anyone who is seeking affordable and reliable home improvement work. read more

Our house got hit by lightning on July 19. The insurance company did not have anybody good on their list. After checking here (and Angie's list) I came up with three names. One contractor came out and stayed about 10-15 minutes and then way underbid on the estimated job from the insurance company. When I contacted them about it they never got back with me. Another contractor had dollar signs in their eyes and claimed they could get the insurance company to fork out more, gave us a verbal estimate but never a written one. Mr. Brown was the only contractor who came and took his time, looked at the estimate from the insurance company and worked within the parameters. Plus he promptly gave us a written estimate. I appreciated his straightforward way of working with us, did an especially great job on the exterior work and really freshened up the upstairs bathroom once the hole in the side of the house was fixed! I highly recommend him. read more

Brown's Custom Contracting is who you hire when you want the job done right. We've learned lessons the hard way having dealt with other contractors in the past, so we didn't think twice and called Jim when it came time to have our main bathroom remodeled. He and his team are knowledgeable, honest and upfront about all aspects of your project. Rather than simply telling you what you want to hear, Jim always provided us with the pros and cons of various options. He does a great job of communicating throughout the project, and was always just a phone call or text away if we ever had any questions. Jim and his team want to ensure you are happy with the project, and are willing to come back and tweak things if-needed...not just hurry and finish, then never hear from him again. We are very happy with our new bathroom (pics above - grey/white bathroom)...and will definitely call on Jim for any home improvement project going forward. read more

We had a couple of walls removed to open up the space in a small beach bungalow. Built in the 1940s, I knew there would be challenges. Jim was thorough in looking both in the attic and in the crawl space to ensure he understood the magnitude of the project. Other contractors were going to skirt the building inspectors but as we were only a few blocks away from city hall, that was not a good plan for me. Jim ensured we had plans and permits to avoid complications with the city and county. This did result in delays due to modifications required by the inspectors. Jim kept us informed throughout the process and the results were fantastic. We were comfortable with giving him free access with a key in a lock box outside the front door. Honesty, integrity and a solid work ethic are his defining characteristics. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a contractor in this area of Maryland. read more

We wanted to turn our living room into a craft room and worked with Jim on the strength of a recommendation by very selective friends. He was as good as they said. His very competent and pleasant electrician added recessed lighting, a wall-mounted TV, and some extra outlets as requested. His carpenter installed a double "barn door" across the entrance, which was challenging but executed well, keeping to the promised schedule. We brought Jim back to resurface our very tired deck and replace the front storm door, two sliders, and a bay window. Once again, his crew was very competent, and we successfully worked through some supplier hiccups to get results that fully met our expectations. Invariably each day's interaction with Jim would end with him asking whether there was anything else that he needed to do to make us happy. He succeeded! read more

So I found Jim on Yelp, and I have never created an account until now. This guy is wonderful, guys are great. After he would finish me and my father would just walk around looking at the work that was done and admiring details. He deals with high quality materials exclusively (ceramic tile, hardwood floor, granite counters, and solid wood cabinets), because he is giving you some of the best work you can get. As far as price goes I think he is very fair for what you get, and when the job is done, it's correct. Finally one of the best things I enjoyed was I never had to micromanage or answer a million questions, Jim asked me a series of questions at the start, what I wanted to accomplish, what would bother me, etc. I made sure he was paid on time and our relationship worked. After funds clear up I plan to use Jim again for various projects. read more

I initially discovered a suspicious crack in my wall near the ceiling a few months back. When Jim came to investigate, they found termite damage to the structure. Naturally, I was concerned but Jim was sure to fully inspect my home to discover the full extent of the damage. It was a big project and it took longer than I expected due to permits and different county inspections (framing, electrical, insulation, etc) but I'm thrilled with the quality of the finished product. Feels like a brand new home. Jim's crew was professional and respectful of my space. After the project was complete and I paid the final invoice, I wanted some additional caulking on my windows on the outside. Jim was kind enough to send his guy out to take care of it. Jim strives to make his customers completely satisfied. Thanks Jim! read more

I found Jim on the internet, choosing him because he had good Yelp reviews. He got back to me very quickly after I initially contacted him, unlike other attempts I made to find a contractor. We had several unrelated projects that needed to be completed - interior painting and carpentry, tree removal, and shed demolition and replacement. He assessed the work and got a contract to me quickly. Work started soon after I signed the contract. His crews were all competent and did good jobs. The crews spoke well of Jim, which I appreciated. It's always good to know that the people doing the work respect the boss. Jim kept in touch and came by to check on the progress of all work, and always checked with me to make sure I was happy. I am a very satisfied customer. read more

My husband and I called several contractors in the area about a deck repair/rebuild. Not only was Jim one of the most professional guys that came out, he was also very honest with us about what the job would require, and he was more than happy to provide an estimate for us. On top of this, his estimate was lower than the other contractors we contacted. He and his crew started just a few days after we signed the contract, finished the job faster than we expected, and the deck looks better than we ever could have imagined. It is absolutely beautiful. We could not be more pleased with the work that Brown's Custom Contracting did for us! In fact, we will be calling Jim's company anytime we have additional "contracting projects" for our home! read more

My front porch was sagging and needed to be completely replaced. Having never needed to replace a porch before, I had a lot of questions up front. Jim came by the house, answered all of my questions, and followed up with a thorough estimate for the work that needed to be done. The team worked quickly and the new porch looks great. Because of a couple of minor delays, the work hadn't quite wrapped up by Friday afternoon - Jim and his team were able to come by on Saturday morning to finish up, which was much appreciated. Jim was quick to return my calls during the process and spend the time to answer my questions. I would definitely recommend giving Brown's Custom Contracting a call for this type of project. read more

I took a chance and called Jim because of the YELP reviews. We called Jim to get an estimate for helping us with landscaping before putting the house up for sale. Jim came quickly for estimate and had his crew show up on time and finished as planned. Jim offered a great price. He checked on the job site daily. It was very easy to interacting with Jim on email and the phone. As many contractors that have been through our house in the past few months getting ready to sell the house, Jim is our favorite. I wished I had called him first for all of our needs, it would have been less stressful to get our house on the market. My husband and I both recommend Jim. Thanks Jim to you and your crew. read more

My parents needed their roof repaired and because they are old is a bit hard for them to search online, therefor that job was mine. I found Brown's Custom Contracting via Yelp and based on the reviews I called them. They came the next day and evaluated the roof and even if it was a bit over my parents budget we still fixed it with them. They came on time for the appointment and they told us the step-by-step process. I am giving 4 stars because of the lady who answered the phone, she gave me the feeling I have interrupted her from her sleep or something. I am happy that in the end the roof was fixed and to my surprise ON TIME. read more