Client Testimonials

“Absolutely reliable and responsive to our needs”

“We have worked with Gerry Ellsbury and his crew at Plumb Square for thirty years.  Why so long and for so many projects?  Because they were absolutely reliable and responsive to our needs while their work was creative and of first rate quality.  All at a reasonable price."

Philip and Nancy Harter
Washington D.C.
Nancy’s Cell: 202.531.2388

“Seamless integration of our design goals and specifications”

We hired Plumb Square to execute a kitchen plan we had been developing for several years for our 1885 townhouse.  The plan entailed significant modifications to an exterior wall and incorporating numerous large and small design elements acquired from architectural salvage warehouses over the years in preparation for this project.  Gerry Ellsbury worked with us for several months, thinking through the final design configuration and lining up all the specific elements that needed to come together during construction.

The Plumb Square was meticulous in its preparation, protecting floors and fixtures including two of the seven fireplaces that originally heated the house.  A detailed work schedule quickly went by the wayside once demolition started.  After 125 years, there wasn’t a “plumb square” corner in  the entire house, and past structural and design modifications had left behind many problems to solve, requiring an ongoing process of demolition, reclamation, restoration and, only then, construction.  The Plumb Square team kept things moving along efficiently even as new problems emerged, bringing in the requisite engineering and architectural consultants to evaluate and solve structural and mechanical issues before attempting to implement less-informed solutions.  The masonry and carpentry work was executed flawlessly even as the Plumb Square team sought to include us in all upcoming and potentially consequential decisions and accommodating our ideas into the ongoing work plan.  The lead carpenter and job supervisor, Kevin, was adept at balancing the conflicting demands of aesthetic preference and efficient execution, and exhibited a level of skill, craftsmanship, creativity and pride that allowed us to be engaged in the ongoing process without creating chaos or reducing the quality of the results.  Floors were swept, tools put away and all doors locked after each day’s work effort.  Other than a couple of problems with material suppliers, work was only halted at times on our request or when observation time was required to assure that the work to date was done right before moving on to the next step.

Were there moments of frustration and doubt?  Of course: one must anticipate and accept such periods in any major construction project.  The process, however, was made tolerable through the efforts of the team, and the results were a seamless integration of our design goals and specifications with excellent workmanship and efficient execution.  We would certainly use Plumb Square Builders again for a demanding and complicated construction project.

Bob Linden and Nancy Desmond
Washington D.C.
Bob’s work phone: 703.227.8807

“Gerry and his project foreman Kevin were delights to work with”

Major reconstruction such as our project is never comfortable; tearing up and then rebuilding our whole first floor – and living without a kitchen and downstairs bathroom for a few months was hard. However, given the nature of the project, Gerry and his project foreman Kevin were delights to work with. They understood how hard the project was for us (both physical, emotional and financially) and held our hands, kept us informed and the even CLEANED UP every day after work.  And the result, even after nearly 10 years, is still enjoyable. 

The finished product exceeded our every expectation. The design they helped us envision was, and still is, extremely livable, the finished project was, and still is, beautiful. The thing I like about the project is that still, a decade later, it still works and still looks great.  We are very proud of the kitchen and other changes we made.

Plumb Square Builders LLC definitely delivered what was promised.

A small example of why I am such a satisfied customer is the bathroom. When we put together the drawings, we failed to specify that the shower should have a glass door.  The project was bid based on those specifications.  When the time came during the project to finish the bathroom, Gerry asked me if we simply wanted a shower curtain as that appeared to be what we intended from the drawings and specs.  When I told him that of course we wanted a shower door, he said he thought so and had priced the project with the cost of a door (about $1,200) in mind. This little event demonstrated to me that Gerry is honest. He could have easily told me that the door was extra.  He did not.

Would we work with Plumb Square Builders again? Without a doubt.                                

Daniel Dozier and Martha Solt    
Bethesda, Md.
Home – 301.654.8846
Dan’s Cell -301.922.2704

“This project was done magnificently”

Gerry,

I would like you to know how happy we are with the addition that Plumb Square Builders put on our house. We wanted to maintain the look of the house, built in 1906, and yet bring it up to the new millennium. This was done magnificently.

I always like to show to my friends what is over 100 years old and what is new.  It is seamless. The workers were friendly, always on time and left the job site clean, neat and safe at the end of every day. The work was completed in a timely fashion and we were able to live in the house the whole time construction was in progress.  Now, we truly enjoy entertaining and having guests stay at our home.

Brigitte Akalovsky
Chevy Chase, Md.20815
Home: 301-961-2619
Fax: 301-961-2629