Radon-Systems [radon]

614.891.6526 - click post title for website
What can I say. Radon remediation is about as much fun to pay for as lining a chimney. Sucks. January was radon month. With the house closed up tight for winter, it's a good time to check for radon levels.

We checked ours and it came up 8 pCi (average of two tests). Tests are available from Lowes or Amazon and the price includes the lab results. Consumer Reports and the radon contractors claim the DIY kits are reliable.

Radon Systems came in and decreased our level to 1.8 pCi (4 is the action limit) with a straightforward light vacuum system. They gave a good price and did the work quickly and efficiently.

Rating: HIRE

Mad Hatter Muffler [auto repair]

614.279.1111 - no website

I've heard a couple people chime in on this muffler/auto repair place. Here's what one had to say:
Unbelievable. I had an older Toyota where the muffler started sounding bad. I went to Midas and got a quote of $500. I asked if they could just fix the broken part. Nope. So I went to Mad Hatter on a tip. Upon being escorted out to the bay area where my car was on the mechanical lift, the mechanic pointed to the loud part and said I'd have to get that replaced. How much? "$70". What? So I let him know I am perfectly willing to pay more if needed, and say "what about those other areas that are rusting?" (I was shown those by the Midas guy). He said "They got another year or so in them. Come back when they go bad."

Rating: Highly Recommend!

John Vance [carpenter]

jpvance01@yahoo.com

I joined a Yahoo! group the other day called Columbus Side Jobs. Great group to find local talent. Need to be approved to join, but some good contacts.

Contractors on this site need not be tested to be posted. They can be entered, even by the contractor themself, and if hired, can be reported on by the customer. That in mind, John Vance mentioned his qualifications as a carpenter.

Mr. Vance built 220 homes around Dublin early in his career and has helped build 15 Sam's Clubs and Walmarts throughout the midwest. He's been a carpenter for 20 years and can do most things when it comes to a home or building.

John's attentive to his email and can be reached via:
jpvance01@yahoo.com

Buckeye Muffler and Brake Shops [auto repair]

614.262.0721 - no website
3701 Karl Road, 43224

My wife has taken two vehicles to Buckeye. One, a 1986 Honda Civic and her newer Forester. The Honda was a big job but the Subaru was just a $50 weld that came lose. It sounded like a new exhaust system was needed, so we lucked out. Many auto repairs we fall vulnerable to situations we don't understand well enough. So far, I think we can trust Buckeye for an honest evaluation.

Rating: Hire

Garduno's Landscaping [landscaping, etc.]

614.208.1480 - no website
Radon. Ugh. Living on the bedrock of a ravine has it's problems. Good drainage but more radon than we anticipated. We bought a couple Kidde radon DIY kits recommended by a radon remediation contractor (to be reviewed later) and the method recommended by Consumer Reports. The kits come with a sampling vessel and the lab analysis fee is included (about $15 per kit). We sampled our basement the other day. Two days of data collection and 3 days waiting for results by web. Our level was above the action limit of 4pCi/L (our average of two tests was 8 pCi/L).

Action:
Step 1. Clean up crawl spaces.
Make level (and useable for storage while we're at it). Our crawl spaces are mountainous and uneven. We wanted them smoothed out the gaps filled with pea gravel to gain a nice even surface. These will then be capped with plastic (by radon contractor). Filling these spaces entails someone lugging in lots of pea gravel (we need 50 tons!) and spreading it. The typical basement guys were uninterested in this menial task. They wanted to cover the uneven surfaces rendering their use for storage limited. The people at Mr. Mulch on 161 responded immediately to my online inquiry and gave me the name of someone who would do the job. Jesus Garduno showed up promptly and using product from Mr. Mulch. quoted me the job. 3 days work and half the price was materials. Because of the radon determination using two tests, we're anxious to get this job done. We're going to take a chance with Jesus and his crew. Respectful, pleasant, willing to haggle a bit on the quote. Good feel so far. I'll let you know how the job goes.

Step 2. The radon team. Another post.

Well, Step 1 went swimmingly as far as the contracted labor. However, Mr. Mulch's delivery of 50 tons of gravel destroyed my driveway. The fix and who's going to pay is currently being discussed.

Jesus and his gang worked like dogs and got the gravel in the crawl spaces in two days.

Rating: HIRE!
Also January is Radon Action Month (EPA).

Payne's Sevice [auto repair]

614.267.7947 3717 Indianola - no website

We have taken our cars to Paynes for years and highly recommend them. They are a family owned and run business in Clintonville and I trust them. They even have loaner cars for $15.00 per day that are usually older and fun to drive.

Rating: HIRE

Edwards / Mooney & Moses [insulation pros]

614.351.6640 - click post title for website.

Our home has a rather unique construction. It's like an old schoolhouse. Block, uninsulated and unfinished inside and out. Painted and cool looking, but uninsulated, cold. After a bunch of research, we identified Edwards / Mooney & Moses as our insulation contractor. They provided a detailed contract, were punctual and above all, offered a great foam insulation product. For our application (every job is different and ALL jobs require a thorough evaluation and lengthy visit with an estimator - worth the time) they used a non-urethane based foam called R-501. NO smell, the workers didn't even wear masks. You could hold the new foam before it cured and it didn't smell a bit. It's an aqueous based product that sets up like styrofoam.

Our heating demands are still being evaluated since the job was done. I suspect we're saving about 15% so far this winter. Any questions on your situation? Don't hesitate to have them out. No pressure.

Rating: HIRE

Bunk and Loft Factory

614.484.0130 - click post title for website

An amazing local resource of rock solid furniture! This place is a retail outlet, but a contractor as well. We bought our daughter's bed and our bed there about a year ago. The showroom is a bunch of "templates" of what they can build. You simply go through the showroom, pick a style and dial in your preferences: wood, finish, slight changes in dimensions to suit your home, etc. Totally customizable because your bed will be built after you place your order. Then for a small fee, they take the bed in, assemble it. The sales people are friendly, the installers are friendly and if there's ever a creak, they'll come by (even on a Saturday) and fix it. Great local service.

Rating: HIRE

ATT - we're mediocre because you have no one else to call (telephone)

1.800.tough.luck - click post title for website (and to place a service ticket). While this isn't a local contractor, the technicians are local and you have no choice when the problem exists outside your home but to call them - in India. This is the first bad contractor on Columbus Contractors.

Recently, city contractors were repairing our sewer lines (maintenance throughout the neighborhood), they knocked down our land line connection to the telephone pole. Accident, happens. Now, I had to get it repaired. Calling ATT will cost you a good half hour of frustration. To put in a service call, the fastest way is to register online (yup, another loginid and password). They schedule the job and, to their credit, they'll come quickly. The problem is: How many times will they come quickly? You're at the mercy of the capability of the technician. The jobs often require several trips (in our experience) and throughout the repair you have no land line and you won't get a credit on your bill for the lost time.

VOIP may be an option, but you are still limited on the inside of your home to use the internal phone wiring. Maybe it's a better option.

Rating: NO CHOICE

Victor Newman & Co. (taxes, accountant)

614.459.4754 - no website

Victor's been doing our taxes for years. He's located at 4900 Reed Road and is competent and quick. He'll disclose clearly by phone what he charges for each component of a tax return and has always been reasonable.

Mr. Newman also offers financial planning and services (this service we have not used).

Rating: HIRE

Petco Animal Grooming (pet care)

614.298.8014 - click post title for website (of local Olentangy Store)

This store is a chain, however, it has pet care and grooming on weekends. I use this all the time to get my dog a bath and nail trim on Sunday mornings since my job prevents me from going to the vet for these small things. The grooming service opened about a year ago and I believe they still have, for dogs, a nail trim/bath combo by appointment on Sundays.

Other Services they have on site.

Rating: HIRE

Ahlum & Arbor (arborist)

614.876.5622 - click post title for website

Dave Ahlum is a busy guy. He's done nice work for us trimming trees on our home on E. Maynard and now gives us help with our new property. Last winter's late cold snap killed one of our Redbuds. He came out and told us not to worry about it, it's dead. No charge. He'd take it down but it was small enough and we decided to do it. For big jobs, he has a full crew come in and charge you for the length of time it will take for full trimming (for highly wooded lots). Smaller jobs can be evaluated without you even being there. We've done this once and were not dissapointed. He's an arborist and you tell him your priorities (I want to save the tree if possible, or I want it cut nicely because it's my neighbor's and just a small part is on my property, etc.) and he'll discuss what he'll do and schedule you.

Easy to work with. He's busy though. Get on his queue fast.

Rating: Hire

Columbus Road Runner (cable internet/tv)

614.487.7766 - click post title for website

I wouldn't put a local utility up here, but given the ubiquity of residential broadband, I thought it'd be apt to comment on the service from RoadRunner Columbus.

Yesterday, I was cutting down a tree in my front yard and took down the cable line. My wife called and they came running and arrived practically before the cable hit the road. The cable guy, turns out was a former Marine and was a riot. He told me it'd cost $150 for a Sunday repair. I reluctantly agreed. He said "kidding" and laughed. Free. He was quick and friendly. I've never had trouble when it comes to these guys. They call before they arrive so you don't lose a day of work and are always competent.

Rating: Hire

North High Collision (autobody repair)

614.436.0300 - click post title for website

A couple months ago, my car got rear ended. Ouch. How inconvenient. However, my daily jaunt to daycare and to work carries me past this collision shop. I went in for an estimate and asked how they are rated on Angie's List. They didn't know. They told me it was too expensive for businesses to sign up to see their ratings. I've observed rapid turnover of the wrecks in the lot and seemed a reasonable risk. They fixed my car perfectly and in reasonable time.

Rating: HIRE