JLG Builds

We hired JLG to remodel our primary bathroom. We give JLG 5 stars for quality of work, but removed a star due to communication and timeline issues.

For all of Jim’s skill in procuring a good team of people for our full bathroom renovation, he could really benefit from hiring a project coordinator to run his jobs. If he had someone like Kyle (estimator) coordinating project schedules, subcontractors, and progress updates, then we think he’d really have something special here. His team of subcontractors are excellent and almost exclusively local and family-owned businesses. We received a high quality of workmanship and respect for our home. All workers made sure to leave the front door closed and respected any requests of ours, though they probably should have vacuumed at the end of each day.

Our favorite workers included Woody (tile), Mike (project lead and generalist), Joe and Bob (drywall), Gary Jr and Charlie (plumbing), and more. Woody especially is a craftsman, not just a tile-layer, with a great personality. We could tell that he really wanted us to have a great bathroom and cared about providing a quality product to the homeowner. Even working with their tile designer Jessica at Absolute Design Studio was an absolute pleasure. JLG has a team of great people.

Overall, the scheduling and project coordination of this project were disappointing and we don’t think we’d use JLG again for that reason. During project proposal development, JLG was very responsive, but as soon as we sent the deposit check, they went radio silent for over three months. Our contract stated a project start time of June/July and we had to call them once June began to see when they would start the project. We understand there were some personal difficulties that challenged their schedule, but some communication would have been appreciated. Jim did call us himself to explain this and called again once the project was scheduled to start in 2 weeks. However, just a few days later on a Friday his project lead called us to say they would start on Monday - 1.5 weeks early. We were glad for the early start, but it was difficult for our schedules to accommodate, since we wanted to make sure they were clear on the scope of work. Mike is good at what he does, it’s just unfortunate that they try to use him as a project manager as well. There is generally a lack of communication with project schedule and status because of this. It also seems to be the luck of the draw in terms of who you get to lead your project and work on your project.

JLG projected the project to take 2-3 weeks and Jim told me they work on one job at a time and put all their people on it, but it took much longer (they started July 29th and finished October 4th - about 9 weeks) and they had multiple jobs going at one time. We understand they had some internal staffing difficulties, losing a project lead during the time our project happened, so we were understanding about things proceeding piece-by-piece, but it was a struggle to have the project go for so much longer than expected. In the end, the final product is what matters and we received an absolutely stunning bathroom renovation. We also appreciated the detailed proposal we received up front, their work with us to customize the proposal to our budget and desires, and that the contract meant we knew what to expect in terms of the cost.

I contracted with the James L. Graves Construction Company to replace the roof and gutters on my single-family home. Their estimate was competitive and they were able to schedule the job in a timely matter. Their crew worked hard for two days. They worked from dawn to dusk on the first day and completed the job on the second day. The crew appeared to be experienced in roof repair and replacement. The final product looks great. The crew left the surrounding grounds spotless. The yard actually looked better than it did prior to the start of the job. The only extra cost was for one sheet of plywood to repair an area of rot. I have no complaints and I am happy with the final product.

JLG Builds replaced my home roof, skylights and gutters. I had a great experience with JLG Builds. Bryan was knowledgeable, professional, fair with his prices and easy to work with.

I would recommend JLG Builds to anyone in need of roofing and other home services and look forward to them performing future work for me.

This was my third experience. After having new windows installed, I later needed a new roof. This time I had several exterior doors installed. The sales/estimating process was easy and seamless, Brian Gutin was friendly and knowledgeable and the installation was completed flawlessly. I highly recommend this company.

Graves replaced my roof. It needed three new skylights and all new plywood panels because my old roof was just a few months short of 30 years. The estimate, which was good, described the full price accurately. The work was done on the planned schedule and it was excellent. Bryan who arranged all the work is easy to work with and very dependable. I highly recommend Graves Construction.

I am very glad I went with James L. Graves Construction Company/JLG Builds for replacement of my roof. Not only do they offer and deal with only top grade material but their time and dedication to getting the job done correctly and thoroughly eased my mind with any concerns I might have had in getting my roof replaced. Thanks to Bryan and his team and crew the process and installment went well.

James L Graves has been wonderful. I worked with Bryan Guten. Good work, good pricing, timely completion. I had my gutters replaced and some roof issues fixed. I would definitely use them again and recommend them to anyone looking for home renovation help. Thanks!!!

I contacted James Graves construction in 2023 for a major exterior home renovation project that included a new front door, new front porch posts and railings, concrete parging and painting as well as repair and wrapping of all rake boards and corner posts for a single-family home. I met with several companies for quotes but ultimately chose James Graves for their transparency and their proposed solutions for my home. I met with Bryan for the initial consult was very impressed with the professionalism and the out of the box solutions he proposed. When my door did not fit the specs Provia offered, Bryan worked with his team to make it work for the door that I wanted. What really impressed me was the quality of the work and attention to detail of the end products. Throughout the project (which took several months due to multiple supplies from different manufacturers), Bryan kept me updated on status. I also felt that there was transparency about what is feasible which made me feel comfortable.  Even for minute things like missing a few nails, they came back out to fix it and made sure I was 100% satisfied. That’s how you build a good reputation and long-term customers. I would give this company 5 stars not just for quality but for the excellent professionalism and respect for the customer and their home. I look forward to future projects with James Graves Construction.

Professional presentation, knowledge of system and easy to understand, excellent service, great crew and best price with no haggle. Would reccomend company to friends and relatives.

These guys do excellent work and they are reasonably priced. Several other quotes were more than twice as much. A personal company that does not subcontract out and does not try and take advantage of “Covid prices.” I highly recommend. They replaced a sliding glass door with a traditional door for me.

James L Graves Company was highly recommended to us by our neighbor. The project was to replace all doors, windows, siding, board & batten and to build a portico with cement walkway entrance. Graves offered us a detailed, six-page contract (not the lowest estimate), listing the quality of the materials, along with an intended timeline.
Bryan's attention to detail; and management of the entire project; kept what could have been a stressful experience; to an acceptable inconvenience.
The subcontractors were all HIGH quality, RESPECTFUL people.
TRUST is the basis of any contractual engagement.
We put our TRUST in Bryan & James L Graves Company.
Now we have a BEAUTIFUL "new" home.
Susan K. Hayes
Annapolis, Maryland

We could not have been more pleased with the work done by James Graves Construction! From the first meeting with Byran and his proposal of the work they planned to do , we knew we wanted his company to do the work. I contacted the company based on other customer's remarks and after having the actual work completed, I HAVE to agree with all the positive remarks left by others. The entire process could not have been performed in a more professional manner from start to finish....including the immaculate cleanup after the installation was complete. In addition their estimate was very competitive and actually turned out to be less expensive than the company we originally thought would do the work. I can't imagine anyone NOT being pleased with their work or the personnel working for James Graves Construction. Robert and Judy Covell.

Easy to work with. Bryan G was fantastic in designing and orchestrating the main door, side surrounds, and crosshead upgrade along with repairs needed; always kept the owner informed of progress and updates. Mitch is an outstanding door installer and repaired damage that resulted from original builder's poor workmanship. I will keep Graves Construction as a contact for any future construction and remodeling needs. So glad I contracted with James L. Graves Construction!

Mr. Bryan Gutin came to my house to quote me on a new front door. Not only was the price fair, Mr Gutin was also very friendly and courteous throughout the whole process. Answered all of my questions and let me know what to expect during installation. When the installation of my new door took place, everything that Mr Gutin told me to expect was accurate.

Thanks again to Mr. Gutin and James L Graves construction for a job well done. I definitely recommend their services for anyone looking to get a home improvement project done and done well.

Brian was my rep for my new gutter install ..came by 30 mins after I reached out and had the price for me by 6pm the same day. Install guys were great and iv a large perimeter but they knocked it out in 4hrs.
I got 3 quotes and they were the best price but the whole experience was flawless ..
Support small business

I had a wonderful experience with James L. Graves Construction for my fence construction. Bryan Gutin provided the highest level of service to ensure my fence was installed properly and helped me find a survey company prior to the fence install. The fence turned out beautiful and I have gotten several compliments on the quality. I would highly recommend using Bryan at James L. Graves for any future construction projects.

The company delivered outstanding results in repairing a roof last year. This included the actual roof replacement plus wine water damage inside of the house. In addition, we purchased new gutters. The company was responsive and prompt, which to us is unavailable. We are very happy with the end results and will recommend them.

Bryan and his team were awesome. They showed up on time, cleaned up at the end of each day and did excellent work. I would highly recommend them and will use them again the future. They tore down my current front porch, a planter wall, and removed the tree and lamp post. They built a new front porch with stairs, a covered portico and new walkway. I had asked for lights built into the stairs and a hand rail. They didn’t disappoint and exceeded our expectations.

We have used Jim Graves Construction for 2 big jobs, the latest being replacing the siding on our 1960's era home. (The other job included installing a totally new bathroom and renovating another.) As before, they are just the best in every area of construction, supervision, and responsiveness. They even responded creatively, and in perfect concert with us during the supply shortage, continued on pace even though one project manager had his truck stolen -from his home with all of his tools, and another had an infected hand. I have some construction experience, and they are so good that I don't even feel jealous that I can't do the big jobs myself any more. The jobs are beautifully done, and his sales staff has never tried to sell us up. Now that IS unusual. Most highly recommended.

I highly recommend Graves construction. I have used them many times in the past (3 roofs, complete redo of a house, gutters, remodeled bathrooms…). I have used other contractors but will never use anyone else. They are: personal, professional, communicative, responsive, offer a great value and committed to ensuring you are satisfied with the outcome of the project.

We met with Bryan initially and felt comfortable with him and the pricing he quoted to replace our front entry door and storm door. The doors took a while to come in but that was not James L. Graves company’s fault, just the current supply chain issues. Our project was scheduled soon thereafter and the installers showed up on time. It turns out our project was not as straightforward as anticipated and took a different approach and therefore took additional time and material. There were a couple of concerns with the installation that I raised the first day which were addressed when they returned the following day. James L. Graves honored the original price quote, did a quality job and we are very happy with the new doors and finished product! We will definitely consider them for future work.

I have purchased two full roof replacements from JLG Construction. One when I was selling my previous home, and another when I purchased my current home. My experience was so wonderful with JLG the first time, I didn't hesitate to call them when I needed another roof. Bryan Gutin is consummate professional who took his time to answer all of my questions and made sure I understood the product I was buying. The work crews were great as well. Their work was professional and they left my yards clean when they were done.

Bryan and his team came out to my business to look over our roof to find why we had leaks. They found a few problems that lead us to make the discission to replace. During the replacement found some flashing that was wrong and replaced it at no charge. I highly recommend this company as they are professional and trustworthy.

Bryan was very easy to work with and provided expert advice. He was flexible and responsive to my concerns and was able to accommodate me. His crew was excellent. They were on time and completed the work in less than a day and thoroughly cleaned every bit of debris removed from the old roof. I highly recommend them for your roof replacement or repair.

Project 1 - New larger gutter installations on house went very well. Cost was reasonable too.
Project 2 - Complete refurbishment of kitchen including all appliances through recommended supplier.

I have waited 14 months to do this review as I wanted time to get used to the new kitchen and assess the durability of the work done.

We did have to wait a very long time for the work to be started, but once started it moved to conclusion very well indeed, thanks to Mitch.

This was a highly successful project carried out under the oversight of a really talented site manager Mitch. He was brilliant and a delight to work with.

Every trade was 5 star quality, although we were not entirely happy with the electricians.. They did well with lighting the kitchen and had far, far, more work to install the new range to code than I ever envisaged.
One man in particular was quite intimidating and the contractors all refused to put in new switches and outlets in the powder room as expected. Yes, we had asked for new switches and GCFI in the newly decorated powder room, but they were not specifically in the contract/order. I was pleased with their work and indicated I was prepared to pay them to do this, and could even supply the new materials from stock already on site, but they steadfastly refused. Only since the project have we been tripping the circuit breaker if we use the air frier, toaster and desktop microwave at the same time. Redistributing appliances has now eased that problem.

The floor was dealt with very fast and very well but we were left with a 1/2" drop of the floor under the door mouldins/frames, which I do admit I undertook to deal with myself.

As stated I am delighted with Mitch's management of our $60k project, but
I was still surprised that Jim Graves did not pay us a visit afterwards in person to see the results himself.

I would recommend that he does that and that despite vendor assurances the buyer does still need to analyze the contract with a fine tooth comb to spot any work scope assumptions by the buyer, and/or accidental omissions by the vendor.

Billing and communication was very good. The office, and poor Stewart the Designer, had to be exceptionally patient with us and they were.

I still rate 5 star and highly recommend this company, if you are prepared to wait for the best quality, have a great site manager and continue to monitor the work and contract closely.

So far very good. Job not finished yet so check back with me later for pictures & final project review.

Things went on smoothly from the contract to the end ,excellent, professional,friendly,I would hire Bryan for my next project because Bryan was on the top of the project,thank you Bryan surely I’ll see you again.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I contacted JLG for an estimate on a proposed Sun Room Addition. After waiting a month to get a visit for an estimate, they came out and looked at it. I gave them a plan that I had drawn which they said "would help a great deal". I waited for about three weeks and heard nothing so I called. They told me that a specialist would need to come out to check on some things. It was obvious with the second inspection that they had not even begun an estimate. After waiting another three weeks and hearing nothing I e mailed them and told them I was very disappointed in their lack of service and communication. They could not provide me an estimate in six weeks.

We had Graves Construction renovate three rooms in our house: the kitchen and two upstairs bathrooms. The kitchen and one bathroom were immaculate, with some minor and easily corrected issues. The second bathroom, though, has been a drawn out on-again/off-again nightmare for the past three years.

We have had two major leaks, both with the commode, that resulted from poor plumbing installation that degraded over a short amount of time. An unsecured PVC ring was used (less than a half inch thick) above the flange and below the wax rings. This lead to a slow leak that has now caused a hole in our kitchen ceiling.

The previous leak (from the original issue) has still not be mitigated. Other minor issues (securing the fixtures) were addressed after my first review. The rest were not.

Now we are dealing with the faucet fixtures in BOTH bathrooms being loose from the wall, and likely more additional work to get them fixed.

The project started much later than advertised (six months) and lasted two weeks longer than stated. The wonderful tile and cabinetry work is overshadowed by the damage the upstairs bathroom has caused.

I would still recommend this company for non-plumbing projects, or at the very least, be sure and hire a plumber to double-check their work. Also, you should anticipate that the project will not start (or end) on time.

I would recommend this business to anyone.
JL Graves redid our kitchen. It is in a projected room off the back of the house, mostly covered in glass. On the second day of demolition they discovered that the entire back wall along with the rafter ends were rotted out, presumably from an inept installation of gutters that allowed water to leak into the wall. I suspect that this would be well outside the wheelhouse of most remodelers. There was a lot of reviewing of the situation – the original glass installation was custom made and an expert on glass installation was brought in whose advice was overruled by the owner, one of several decisions that he made that seem to reflect his extensive experience . Ultimately the roof was rebuilt, the rotten rafter ends replaced with a technique called scarf jointing, apparently a boat building technique that the project manager, Mitch, knew how to do. The owner James Graves was very involved in the project and visited regularly. We are very happy with the final result and consider ourselves lucky that we used their company.

I have reached out for a quote both via the online request and the email address provided in the contact us and have had no response. Upset with the lack of response. I get that we are in a unique situation with COVID but i have not had this issue with other services needed.

James L. Graves Construction did a fantastic job replacing the siding, gutters, and shutters on my home in Crofton. The job was completed quickly, professionally, and our home looks brand new again. I would highly recommend.

Overall the project went well from quoting the job to completing the installation. Bryan was very helpful throughout the entire process. Prior to the new roof, we had a leak. JLG Builds was the only contractor who offered to walk the roof to determine where the leak was coming from to help determine whether we needed just a repair or replacement. This was done at no additional cost. We got quotes from several contractors with all providing the same product and being around the same price. The willingness by JLG to figure out the leak was what set them apart. During the installation, additional unknown issues were found that JLG was able to address that day and were very reasonable with the pricing. They performed other work such as cutting open one of the peaks to allow for proper airflow at no additional cost. We have one skylight that we paid JLG builds to re-flash. After they started the work, they found that the existing flashing was perfectly fine and didn't need to be replaced. They left the existing flashing and removed the cost from the final bill. They easily could have not said anything and we as the home owner wouldn't have known the difference. The initial quality of their work seems really good. Only time will tell with something like a roof. They left the outside of the house cleaner than when they started. Overall, I am happy with the results and would recommend JLG builds.

I recently had my roof repaired by James L. Graves Construction. I called for an estimate and they came out promptly. Their assessment of my roof repair was thorough and their estimate was reasonable and comprehensive. Because of pending rain, they asked if they come a day early. I was impressed. They did an excellent job on my roof as well as repairing the bay window metal roofing. My nephew who has a roofing company in Georgia was vising the next weekend and said they did an excellent job and was very thorough in providing me with quality materials. I am very happy to have chosen a reliable and professional company. Bryan, who oversaw everything, was a pleasure to work with.

We used JLGraves for a big kitchen remodel. We removed two walls and moved the kitchen. Jim is very knowledgeable and gave us the confidence that they could do the work. The price point was fair and we didn’t feel like we were being overcharged. We have already recommended them to neighbors. Tom was the lead on the job, and I can’t say enough about his great work and attention to detail. Thanks JLGraves!

I hire James Graves for a work in my kitchen/dining room - wall removal, dry wall, floor and painting. We discussed all details in advance and there was no surprises. Jim was very prompt and the communication with the office was very fast via emails. I highly recommend and would definitely hire them again.

Jim was proffesional from begining to end. We had major renovations done to our home. He took care of everything from permits through final sign-off. He often found better ways to do things than we ever imagined - less expensive/more efficient too. He truly cares about his customer's satisfaction - even months after the project ends (and the checks have cleared). Indeed, after this major project, we had his group come back and remodel a bathroom in our house. I recommend him to all of my friends.

After interviewing 5 contractors to gut and expand my kitchen, I decided on JLG. That was 7 years ago and it was the best decision made. Jim and his team were professional and courteous, and not only respected my time during the process, but also respected my neighbors time regarding hours of work.

Jim has an eye for detail and provided ideas that I never would have imagined. Seven years later, I am still in awe of my beautiful kitchen, which is constantly complimented by everyone who visits.

For me to provide a 5 star rating, you must be the best. Believe me when I say, JLG deserves 10 stars!!

James L. Graves did my bathroom and I love it. They were very professional and quality of work is exceptional. I would definitely recommend this company.

Jim Graves has been our contractor for the past 10+ years as we have, section by section, torn down and rebuilt our 1950's home. He has always been on time and on budget. The thing that is hard to describe that Jim brings to the job is his eye--time after time his suggestions and creative problem solving have led to solutions that we love. His is picky and the work is alway top notch.

In 2011, James L. Graves Construction completely remodeled the kitchen of our home in Pasadena, taking it down to the joists and studs and creating from that, a lovely, tiled, granite-countered kitchen with beautiful cabinets and stainless appliances. Jim gave us an estimate to start with and stuck to it, even after discovering some "surprises" hiding inside the walls--surprises which his crew handled perfectly, by the way. What we ended up with was everything we had hoped, on schedule and just as great as we had hoped. I highly recommend this company!

I was in the process of refinishing my basement and did not want to handle the dry wall and insulation part of the project. Jim did more than expected. Even though it was only the items listed above that I needed, his experience, foresight and recommendations led to him installing gas lines and adding a new fireplace which really made a big difference in our basement enjoyment. Very helpful and professional and at a fair price!

James L. Graves Construction combined two bathrooms for us into a single, luxurious bathroom. We love it! We received other estimates that were lower for the work we wanted done, but you get what you pay for. This company was worth every penny.

Jim gutted and rebuilt my kitchen seven years ago. What an amazing job. Not only was the work flawless but his assistance with design was invaluable. I get compliments all the time.
Hire JKG. DO IT NOW!