Landis Architects | Builders

NB: Should be a 4.5, but that's not an option here. Our renovation project involved putting in an all-new kitchen and powder room, plus refinishing floors, replacing lighting, and repainting living room/dining room/family room/hall on the same (relatively open plan) level as well as some minor exterior work. Project included electrical and drywall but no structural changes. Mold removal wasn't originally part of the project, but, when a problem was discovered, it was handled thoroughly and expeditiously. The good: Overall, the finished project looks great and all the changes we made to our kitchen/main floor work well. Coordination between the design and the construction teams was good and we ended up working with great people on each side. Colleen, who helped us with kitchen design, was very good at laying out/generating alternatives and flagging pros and cons. She was focussed on our objectives and kept working until they were met. Fabricio held down the fort on the construction side. In addition to being a skilled craftsman with high standards, he is someone who is always looking for ways to make things better. He thinks ahead and has a problem-solving mindset. We always felt that he was treating our home the way he would his own. What fell short of perfection: It’s probably worth bearing in mind that this was our first renovation project so it's not a comparative assessment. We've heard other peoples' horror stories and our issues were minor/mostly resolved in real time. That said, two pieces of advice: (1) Make sure the designer you are working with is a good match. If not, ask for someone else. Landis has multiple designers on staff. (2) If you are moving out for renovations, give yourself a cushion (more than a month on each end) wrt alternative arrangements for housing.

Landis has my highest recommendation for Design/Build firms in the DC area. We trusted Landis with the renovation of the second floor of our home - a roughly 150-year-old row house in Capitol Hill (with all sorts of quirks) - and Landis did an amazing job keeping the project on schedule and within budget. The design process was a joy, and they kept us updated with photos and regular reports throughout construction. Keeping the project on schedule was especially important for us, as my wife was expecting a baby to be born within a month or so of the project completion. And to top it off - we started construction right at the onset of the pandemic - and Landis still found a way to make it work! Dana Kaminsky with Landis orchestrated the entire project, and we were amazed with her level of support and the professionalism of the entire design and construction teams. The outcome was spectacular - even better than we had hoped! We were absolutely delighted by the experience.

Landis transformed our kitchen to make it look stylish and modern. The design and layout of the kitchen completely changed, and it looks absolutely amazing! The value of our house has significantly increased. Dana Kaminsky, the team leader, was a pleasure to work with. She has a great personality, cares about her clients, and brings a tremendous amount of value to her projects. Maurice Brown, the project manager, was very responsive and ensured the quality of the work met Landis standards. I felt that all the employees that worked on the project were professional, respectful and dedicated to doing quality work.

We’ve done two big projects with Landis and have been highly satisfied both times. On time, professional, within budget, engaged ownership. Engaged owner who took responsibility for resolving issues; fantastic lead carpenter; willingness to work with us as we made changes in project along the way.

This is the second time we used Landis for the house remodeling. The first one was kitchen back in 2015. This time around, it was a bigger project, adding a new room on the third floor of our town house. We could not be happier for everything they have done. The house remodeling is stressful. Not everything goes perfectly. In that sense, one gets frustrated, but that’s the nature of the house remodeling. They are first and foremost very professional. They try to keep the schedule and budget. They think for us, instead of just getting a job done quick. Stated differently, we trust them, which probably the most important element of picking a general contractor.

An outstanding company who worked with us from day one in undergoing a challenging project with a great deal of flexibility and understanding. Very professional in all that they do with a sincere desire for meeting our hopes and dreams for our home!"

We are very happy with the work and the outcome. It’s hard to believe we did an addition as everything blends in so well. Really appreciated the Time spent in thinking through the design with us and the level of detail that the lead carpenter brought to it.

"Any renovation process can be overwhelming. We had a lot of questions, a lot of changes, and it required a lot of interaction to create our design plan. The entire team at Landis was responsive and helpful throughout the entire process, which lasted almost a year. It is quite obvious that the entire team at Landis has made a commitment to customer service and they will truly do everything within their power to ensure their clients are happy with the finished product. The quality of the build was top notch. They were responsive during the design process and were able to translate our ideas and wants into a cohesive and beautiful renovation. More importantly, throughout the process, Landis maintained excellent communication, adhered to deadlines, and treated our home with respect. I would give Landis 10 stars if I could, and I would not hesitate to use them again."

We did a major design/build project with Landis on a historic home where we gutted and updated the existing interior and then added a large addition. They were simply amazing to work with. Super organized, trustworthy, on-time, high quality and the finished product is perfection. Many of our neighbors complimented us on such a courteous and efficient team during the renovation process -- when do you hear of that?? There were often up to 20 tradespeople working at the same time to get a long job done in exactly the time they said it would. Highly recommend Landis for large and complex projects.

One of the first things I noticed in our job with Landis was the respect shown by everyone who came to the house. They were always on time, communicated thoughtfully, and showed serious attention to detail. Dale, Brett, and Carlos in particular impressed me with their communication and craftsmanship. I highly recommend for any construction job, big or small.

Landis helped us build a fairly large addition on the back of our 1934 home, including kitchen/family room, deck and master suite. We love it! The addition has really helped us make good use of both the older part of the home as well as the new. They did a fantastic job blending the two, so that the back half fits in well with the original home both in style - and more impressively, technically. The floor levels match perfectly. We also wanted to stay in our house during construction, which was a challenge, but the Landis staff were great at keeping things as clean and neat as possible and respecting our privacy. A special shout-out to Andrew, our Project Manager, and Ken, the foreman, for being really great to work with. Our architect Diego has since moved on, but he did a great job with the design as well. Very much worth it, only wonder why we didn't do this years ago!

Landis got the job done! We desperately needed a firm to transform an old top floor into a Master Suite. The firm came in quickly, worked with us, and designed an amazing space. We needed a firm to handle all aspects of the project. Landis has in-house architects, designers, project managers, and tradesmen. They work as one unit, which benefited us tremendously. They handle all the details. Highly recommended.

Landis has done two projects for us: expanding the house, with new kitchen and master bedroom, and later converting two porches into living spaces. Both times, we have been impressed by the quality of design and execution. The crews are really skilled, and good problem solvers when faced with structural issues. Schedules are met. Oversight is consistent and helpful. We are very happy with the results. Andrew Kerr, the project manager, and Ken Guillett are both very professional and skilled, and were a pleasure to have in our home. I have recommended Landis a few times at this point and am always happy to do so.

We used to have an attic as our second floor. We now have an entire entertainment center as our second floor thanks to Landis. We have a much better view and expanded living space upstairs and the remodeling is beautiful. In addition, we added a bathroom and a guestroom, so we had extensive work done. The personnel was exceptional, Tahani Share was great with the designs and Allen Apple and Tito were excellent in their professionalism and consistency with keeping us up to date. I love recommending Landis whenever I hear about a friend thinking about remodeling!

We hired Landis to create an addition on the back of our home expanding our kitchen and living area. We wanted more natural light in our home and Landis was able to provide just that with well placed skylights and windows. Tahani Share did great work with the design plans, and Jon Bein and Luis Orellana were regularly on site and kept us updated with the process every step of the way. Everyone we worked with was very conscientious and skilled, and pleasant to have in our home. This was very important to us considering our renovation took about 6-8 months. All in all, we highly recommend Landis. It is not the cheapest service, but you get what you pay you for, and they hit their deadlines with quality work.

We had a huge flood that damaged our basement significantly. We hired Landis to come in and demolish what was left of our basement and we had them install new floors, walls and ceilings. The crew that came in was very professional, and Jon Bein made sure I was kept up to date on the progress each week. Luis Orellana did a great job with all the carpentry. It's funny, nowadays I'm almost glad the flood happened because Landis came in and made our basement spectacular. It was worth every penny.

We hired Landis to do a full renovation of our house. They were able to provide with a wonderful finished product in just 6 months, everything from our driveway to our attic was renovated on some level. We added a new kitchen and master bedroom and the whole thing is beautiful - the kitchen of my dreams! Landis is professional and easy to work with - always responsive and willing to talk through an issue or a change during the work. Neighbors also appreciated attention to our community. Carlos Rodriguez was here everyday and paid attention to everything, as well as tidying up every night - he even went around with flyers to all the neighbors before work started to let them know who they could contact if they had an issue. Landis also stands by their work - our retaining walls started to lean after three years and they came back and re-did them after determining the cause of the problem. I would highly recommend Landis for any your reconstruction needs.

I went with Landis Construction for a project in my house involving extending the back deck and converting our screened porch into an additional back room. Ethan Landis took me through what the process would look like and what the final result would be, and we continue to be very pleased as our two sons spend a lot of time in the new room. Ethan also invited me to his office where he showed me how I could see the project in 3d as it was being completed. Jon Bein, the project manager was very professional in his consistent updates of how the project was coming along, and I would recommend Landis to anyone looking for a high quality renovation or addition to their home.

Landis has been an excellent firm to work with for each of the 3 projects I have hired them for. From the original restoration of my house's significant water damage to bathroom replacements to exterior work and roofing, they have always been quality focused, professional, and providing a smooth experience overall. I want to give Ethan Landis and Joe Caw a shout out in particular, I always recommend them to friends looking for home renovations.

Over the years, Landis has renovated the majority of our house! We are extremely pleased with each project and are able to now appreciate the kitchen, basement, garage, bathroom, and our daughter's room in a way we simply could not before. From 2008 to now, we continue to have a great relationship with Landis and we recommend them for any residential remodeling or addition work.

Landis added an addition to our home last summer. We are ver pleased with our new sunroom. It is a great family space. Landis staff are very professional and does quality work. The process was stress-free. I would highly recommend.

We hired Paul Gaiser, Architect, to design a new kitchen/dining area by opening up our old dining room/kitchen and adding a small addition, From our initial discussions, Paul understood that light and open space were a priority, and his design was perfect. We loved the two peaked roof design that he incorporated into the new addition section. From outside, it made the addition look unique. On the inside, the higher ceiling in this area made the whole room feel larger and created interesting spaces for two fans and shelving. Paul was able to give us plenty of cabinet space and also two large windows to let in the light we craved. The project took about three months, and we were surprised at how easy it was to live in the house as it progressed. The project was within budget and could not have gone more smoothly. We definitely recommend working with Paul Gaiser and his company. It was a fantastic experience.

Paul Gaiser (Architect) provided a wonderful design and saw it through to completion. Along the way he skillfully adjusted to concealed conditions and ultimately provided a "special and memorable space" for our family.

We hired Landis for a full-house renovation. "House rescue" may be a more apt term. Ours was a "project house" -- a neglected property that required a considerable amount of work, from basic systems and construction to finishes. We would hire them again in a heartbeat. We went to Landis after working with another company for several months. When that other company did not work out, the Landis team stepped right in and showed great organizational and technical acumen from beginning to end. The office professionals and construction team alike know their stuff. The architects and designers "got" our tastes and needs and were able to produce the results we asked for, along with many that we did not realize that we wanted -- and now love. The construction crew was 100 percent "on it." We got to know them quite well -- with a project like ours, we interacted quite a bit. We had many meetings at the site and many emails were exchanged. As a household with two working adults, we appreciated the ease and flexibility of communication. And of course, they did fantastic work. Now, several months into living in our house, the Landis team continues to be responsive to all manner of questions we have. From fusebox to dishwasher function, they have been great with it all. Importantly, the entire Landis team was on top of developments and techniques in design and construction. They knew about available materials and trends (in design and function, e.g., energy efficiency). This was more than we could have asked for. And when making our choices throughout the process, they consistently honored our request to be cost-conscious. They respected our budget concerns and worked with us, routinely pricing out for us assorted options at different price points. We are Landis fans and recommend them highly.

From start to finish Landis was great to work with. My designer spent time understanding my needs and wants and make great suggestions all along the way. They provided advice that helped me make selections that met my vision and didn't bust the budget. They did a great job planning and scheduling so things were completed as planned. The results are beautiful and for an extensive remodel relatively low stress.

Professional work from start to finish - complete gutting and replacement of kitchen and combining two tiny bedrooms into one. Although expensive, Landis was very accurate about costs and never tried to up-sell or push me to expensive frills.

We are a flooring subcontractor that’s been working with Landis Construction since 2008. It is a vibrant group with a unique company culture. Landis approaches a job differently than from just a hammer and nails aspect. The design team considers the surroundings—how it looks aesthetically, how it fits the age of the home. The project managers are bright, knowledgeable, and understand many of the problems that construction in the DC area can bring—especially on older homes. When there are variances or problems, it’s a collaborative effort to solve the problem. Also much appreciated is the fact that when we arrive to work, the job-site is prepared, organized, and clean! There is also a clear strategy and thought behind the order and dynamics of subcontractors so the guys coming behind us don’t damage the work that we’ve done.

I'm sitting in my new TV room admiring the view of the newly completed open floor concept on my first floor, and acknowledging the fabulous work done by the Landis team. The floor plan design, selection of cabinets and countertops, attention to detail, and EVERYTHING else is just stunning. The folks at Landis really know their stuff, and I am SO GLAD that I made the decision to have them do the work. Everyone that I encountered...from the owners, to the designer and project manager that were assigned to my project, carpenters, and other staff, were extremely professional, knowledgeable, courteous, and hardworking. It was a massive project, and one that could have potentially been extremely stressful, but I felt confident that my home was in good hands with Landis Construction. I would hire them again in a heartbeat if I had another home to renovate! I would close by saying that whenever things came up that were problematic, they were always resolved by honest communication. They are the best!

I love the work that was done in my home. Landis was not the least expensive contractor but the work was superior. I live in a 120 year old home and the work that was done kept in sync with the age of the home. One would never imagine that the alterations were done in 2014, until one opened the closets or looked in the bath. The improvements appear to be original. Landis also stands by their work and comes back to fix any problems. I would definitely hire them again and recommend their work. Caroline Mindel

I used Landis for both design and build for a major kitchen reno/with structural work moving outside basment stairs, moving interior ground floor bathroom and expanding an upstairs bedroom. In the design process they were responsive to our needs, questions and budget. They did good work - and had a great onsite master carpenter, in particular. They used their own workmen when possible to ensure high quality and when they used subcontractors they held them to very high standards. They did great work and were timely even though we experience two major snowmaggedon events during the course of the project. In short, I'd use these guys again. They weren't the cheapest option, but I didn't want to gamble on having this done right and timely, and they totally came through for us.

I commissioned Landis to design and build a new home for me in the Palisades area of Washington DC. I had definite ideas on what I wanted and many aspects of the floor plan but I found their chief designer excellent to work with as both a sounding board on ideas I already had as well as bringing in ideas I hadn't even thought about. He was also excellent on figuring out all the detailed design elements that home designers like me never even think about. The construction went very well; the company made a fixed price proposal and they delivered. There were five change orders but they were all initiated by me. One of the things that attracted me to Landis is that they have a substantial team of tradesmen of their own which, in my opinion anyway, provides a better level of quality assurance. Where they used sub-contractors (HVAC, siding, framing, finish carpentry, etc.) the quality of the people they work with was also uniformly high. I have been living in the house for nearly 2 years now and I have encountered no major issues. The sole call back related to a minor HVAC problem--the sub-contractor responded rapidly and did not even raise the question of payment.

We hired Landis to design and build an expansion to our second floor that included a new third bedroom and master bath. Landis was recommended to us by a friend who used them for an addition to her home and we were impressed with the work. We received estimates and design concepts from several design/build firms before embarking on this project. The estimate from Landis was the most reasonable and we liked their design the best. Our experience with Landis was positive. They set a detailed, but realistic schedule and kept to it, which was important because we were living elsewhere during construction. Landis emphasizes communication with the homeowner. The project manager met with us at least weekly and was otherwise available by mobile phone and e-mail (and he responded quickly). We also found the Buildertrend web site used by Landis helpful for tracking progress, confirming material and fixture selections, and viewing photos of the ongoing project. We were pleased with the results. The work is excellent and we appreciated the various minor recommendations made by Landis to improve the project as we went along. As with any project, it is important to be clear with your contractor about exactly what you want and monitor the project accordingly, but Landis minimized these types of issues with their management approach.

Multiple small projects, One large 2 story addition that included expanded 2 children's bedrooms, built a bathroom and expanded the existing space below the new addition. Currently working on another addition with Landis. They are remodeling and expanding our existing laundry-room/mudroom.

We used Landis for a moderately complicated renovation of a 102-year-old foursquare. We changed the second floor from 4 bedrooms + 1 (very old) bathroom to 3 bedrooms + 2 baths (one in a new master suite with two walk-in closets, too). They also did a variety of other projects throughout the house, including installing an 1100-bottle wine cellar in the basement, various lighting, sound, ethernet, and electrical work, installing a skylight and closet in the breakfast alcove off the kitchen, etc. Overall we were exceedingly happy, and have recommended them repeatedly. The project grew significantly in scope and cost as we did it, but with the exception of discovering once the walls came down that we needed to put in new structural supports because of the renovation, all of the changes were because we expanded the scope of the project. The project took somewhat more time than anticipated, but mostly because of those changes. The craftsmanship was superb. And they have been very good about followup on a few small issues over the course of the past year, as well.

Landis has don't three big renovations, and numerous small jobs, for us over the past 12 years. I recommend them very highly. The whole team, including subcontractors, are all really skilled, friendly, reliable, high quality people. Ethan Landis is just fanatical about quality. He more than once made his team redo something that looked fine to me. He is also a super nice guy and very knowledgeable. The design team is great as well.

We have hired the Landis Construction firm twice for major renovations/additions to our home and are extremely pleased with the quality of their work. From the initial design phase through to the last item on the punch list, the firm is responsive and responsible in pursuit of a quality product. I highly recommend their work and would not hesitate to hire them again.

The firm charged a lost of money for feasibility and early design phases. The designer assigned to the project - bathroom remodel - was in her final weeks with the company, but we were not told that she would not be available for the duration. Ten when we hired landis to go to the next phase on some exterior work, they simply never got the job scheduled or done. They returned our deposit when we requested it.

The Landis team expanded and renovated our kitchen, first floor bathroom, second floor bathroom. In addition, they added new roofing, siding and front and back decking. My family and I were quite pleased with the results. They were very professional, friendly and prompt. The designer, project manager and other team members provided exceptional experience and knowledge to all aspects of the project. The kitchen is now beautiful, functional, and is a joy to look at. In addition, the outside of house has a major transformation, and receives a lot stares from neighbors. I would definitely hire Landis to do other projects and recommend them to others.

Project consisted of design and construction of a second-floor addition, including a master bedroom with walk-in closet, a bathroom and office. The design provided by Landis was creative and highly functional, and the construction process was highly professional. All of Landis's employees were consistently responsive and accommodating. The overall experience was excellent.

I want to complement Landis Construction on the excellent work they did in significantly expanding our kitchen and den, putting in all new bathrooms (4) and buiulding a lovely new bedroom on our third floor for my teenage daughter. The workmanship was very good and the workmen were all skilled and good professionals with whom to work.We have received complements, both about the exterior and interior, from all of our friends and family. I recommend Landis Construction highly! J.M. Jones

We chose Landis to do a major remodel of our kitchen, which involved moving a powder room and creating a mud room. We also had them enclose a screened porch. Our house was built in 1917 and I wanted a kitchen that would harmonize with the historic nature of the house. We were quite pleased with the entire Landis team, from initial design work, through actual construction and project management. I actually enjoyed the process especially the early design consultations and the weekly meetings with the 'team' led by the project manager. The carpenters, plumbers, elevtricians, etc did their level best to mitigate dust and disruption throughout the six or so months the project took to complete. As to the finished product, we really couldn't have been more pleased. Our newly renovated kitcen is not only beautiful but functions exactly as we had anticipated. Overall, a terrific experience.

Landis completed a renovation of my kitchen and basement; both areas were transformed from dark dingy spaces to functional modern spaces that suited my family's needs. The kitchen was a total gut and reno that opened up the kitchen to the dining room and provided additional counter space and functionality to a once closed off and desolate room. The basement was dark and cavernous without any useful space and function. A new bathroom was created, new laundry area, a new space that could be used as a play area or office space and a family TV space.

Landis is simply, the cream of the crop, I'm qualified to say it. I know it because I've had Landis come three times now, since 2007, have seen the quality of the work they do, but just as importantly, the excellence they show by bringing the client/s into the process, every step of the way. When you work with a design build firm, you have the benefit of working with those who understand today's current costs. Unlike architects who have seasoned understanding, a design build firm knows what wallboard costs this week. With computer assisted design, you can get under the hood with designers and try something here, or move something there. Great fun, they 'let you drive' sometime, you're part of an evolutionary decision process. No need for 'change orders' if you were there at the planning. With each of three projects, Landis had to go through the county historic board. Much of it is prior experience with them, telephone contact, but Landis actually showed up to the evening board hearing...I did not. Shows their level of excellence. It's pathfinding for Landis and for Historic itself, dealing with top drawer professionalism. With this current project, Landis designed the deck that translated perfectly from what I stated, I.e., good design and sturdy. Rather than worry that 'this fella who works from the back of the truck' is doing it right, Landis has given methodical attention and has had inspections as the permitting requires. The stairs have three stringers, the previous deck staircase had but two, and the stairs wobbled in a short time. Landis is an asset to the DC Metro area. On the 2007 project, I learned from the electricians and plumber....they want to work with Landis. As for why, I guessed right....Landis is above board, keeps tight timelines, streamlines so nobody shows up only to have to wait around. Plus, they're just fun to work with, knowledge aside. Told them, it's like having brothers-in-law in the trades and not having to buy the beer.