The North Star Companies LLC

I have used the services of Chris Marshall (The North Star Companies) on two occasions. The first time was a remodeling of a master bathroom which was challenging because of the slate tiles I really liked. But it turned out spectacularly, on-time and on-budget! The second time was unintended, about 6 months later when I had two mature oak trees fall on my house during a derocho, which was a major headache not only from a re-build perspective, but also as it was an insurance job. It included major repairs to the main roof (new trusses, roof and gutters), repairs for water damage on three floors and the replacement of a roof deck, the ceiling, side walls and all the custom fittings to a new addition I had completed just one year prior. Chris Marshall and his excellent team of subs not only got me back in my house within 3 months, but worked tirelessly with the insurance company to put my house back together, even better than before. Chris is one of the most pleasant people I have ever worked with, even under the most challenging of circumstances. His companies’ work is of the highest quality, and no detail is too small for them to fix. Chris personally even helped me reprogram my door locks with new keys well after hours one evening. He and his team come with my highest recommendation -- if I could give Chris Marshall and The North Star companies 6 stars for this review, I would.

Chris was the best. I had a challenging job to build an addition to accommodate a disabled resident and had some specific needs. His team was the best. It was the cleanest construction site I’ve ever seen. They were the most polite and respectful group each time they were here. And always on time. I have referred him to several friends and would definitely use him again. Chris was very empathetic to my situation and went above and beyond to make suggestions to help make this project even better. As a business owner, he seems to have the right model-good people, great heart and extensive knowledge in his craft.

We have used The North Star Companies for several jobs in the past, with the most recent being the largest. We hired them do a complete renovation of our home in Severn. The job grew larger as demo began and turned into a job requiring the rebuild of exterior walls, demo of concrete slabs - basically the house had to be rebuilt from the ground up. All new plumbing, electric, framing, windows, siding, roof, etc. I have known Chris for 20+ years and was confident that our forever home would be solid and done right. We had a few hiccups throughout the process - as this was done during Covid, so there were supply issues, delays and so forth, but Chris and his guys did an amazing job. We couldn't be happier and are continuously getting compliments on our beautiful home. Chris has been and will continue to be our go-to for any construction needs for us and our family and friends.

Northstar was recommended by a Concierge service. Chris was very professional and knowledgeable. We had an addition added as well as a beautiful sunroom/patio. We also relocated items to allow for more room in our laundry area. His staff was very respectable and competent workers. Though delayed due to the challenges of COVID the end result is beautiful!! Would recommend Northstar without hesitation!!!

On the recommendation of a friend, I contracted North Star Companies for a bathroom and the kitchen/dining area remodel on a 120 year old home. The work included removing an interior wall, gutting the rooms, updating ancient plumbing and electrical fixtures and reinforcing the home with concrete footers. Chris was always available for questions and reviewing work. His crew was very professional, possessed a strong work ethic and left work areas clean every day. When a subcontractor had to make some minor adjustments, Chris kept me updated until the new materials arrived. The result is a gorgeous, transformed home. I rate the quality of the work highly and recommend Chris Marshall and North Star Companies without hesitation.

I waited an entire year after I moved into a house Chris M and his excellent team at North Star extensively renovated to leave an informed review and I have to tell you it’s been marvelous. The house is exceptionally well done, with every detail considered. Nothing significant has gone wrong or reverted in anyway and the one thing (that was expressly not his fault!) that did go wrong he fixed at no cost to me. (The lighting fixture was a dud, but he replaced it within days and we’ve had no problems since.) The home inspector said that whoever built this house built it as if they were going to live there and that is abundantly clear. I recommend Chris and his team without any reservations and if we ever move from the dream house he rebuilt for us, it would only be to the custom he’ll build for us directly. Chris is the real deal and you won’t be sorry to work with him.

Chris worked with us on a two (2) story and master walk-in closet addition to our existing home. He has been using the same building crews for many years and all provided wonderful workmanship. All were very accommodating and worked well in all conditions. COVID period was relatively tough, but Chris managed the materials shortages with very little delays and setbacks. Chris provided multiple ideas for our residence, and all paid off with dividends. He was very instrumental guiding us through our first residence addition. We would give North Star Companies ALL 5 STARS but did not want to sound too pretentious. Chris also has an extensive record for returning to completed work if and when there should be homeowner request. We already had several neighbors request contact details, and we would certainly recommend North Star Companies.

The North Star Companies LLC: We had some work in our home and realized right away that we had found the right company to do the work that we wanted done. North Star is very professional and know what they are doing and they are very flexible in what they do, we had some changes that we wanted done in our original project and they had no problem making the adjustment; they were very neat and cleaned up everyday when they left and when the job was complete they brought in a cleaning team to make sure that everything was clean. There is so many things that I like about the company. If you ever have any renovation projects that you need done make sure that you call North Star. Knows about permits if needed one. They know the ends and out on anything that you need to have done in a home outside decks and all which we had done.

We are ecstatic about how our basement renovation turned out! When my husband and I met Chris in March 2021, he was very professional and knowledgeable about what it would for our project. The cost estimate he provided was reasonable and we were able to stay in budget. His team was polite and had good work ethic. Chris was very engaged in the entire project and kept us aware of progress and delays. In addition to the project, they included a few other items that really helped us (I.e., electrical socket in the front of house, cable wiring in the living room for better signaling throughout the house)They did great work and we will be using their services for future projects! We would highly recommend The North Star Companies!

Chris and his team were very professional and knowledgeable. They offered great suggestions and advice above and beyond what I expected. The price was fair and the end result was absolutely fabulous. I couldn’t be happier.

Chris remodelled my home and did an amazing job. The job was essentially a gut job and made the place look amazing. His experience and expertise was invaluable. Him and his team were great, trust worthy and realiable. Very hard to find those qualities in a contractor (Trust me, I've been through plenty of contractors). Also he did everything in a timely manner. Would I hire him again.... I already have! He's now renovating my mom's basement and I know him and his team will do a great job.

We have used The North Star Companies on several out properties in the last year. The quality of work is excellent and the owner, Chris, is professional and accommodating. The homes that they renovate for us always sell very quickly. I highly recommend The North Star Companies for your construction needs.

Chris came highly recommended when I was trying to decide on a builder. He took time to explain all my options. Gave me time to decide. I circled back around to Chris without hesitating. I couldn't be happier. Easy to work with and always returned my calls. I would give 10 stars if I could. Great quality workmanship. Love my new home.

Our home was built in 1946 and needed a full basement renovation. We interviewed five companies and North Star's Chris Marshall was the only contractor that provided us with detailed answers to all our questions and resolutions to issues we did not even think of. No idea seemed too big or small. They have a hardworking and knowledgeable team to handle it all. Their experience really shows in their work and how well they coordinated with other agencies like the county for permits and inspection, gas and electrical companies. We now have a beautiful new basement our family enjoys.

Chris Marshall was a godsend. He renovated my house after two incidents of water damage two months apart, with asbestos being found, causing me to have to live in a hotel for one year and two days. My first flood was caused by a pipe bursting in four spots in the attic causing flooding of the three bedrooms, two bathrooms, family room, living room, dining room and kitchen, essentially that whole side of my house except for the foyer. Those rooms had to be demolished down to the studs, which meant taking out the ceilings, walls, much of the plumbing, electric in the walls, light fixtures, kitchen cabinets and floors down to the concrete slab. Then asbestos was found which caused the demolition to be put on hold until the asbestos was removed. Two months into this, the other side of my home, the studio above the garage, the garage and my master bathroom below the studio flooded because a pipe burst under the studio sink. To say that second water damage was unbelievable and further depressed me is an understatement. I had to move to a hotel as the demolition took a frustrating six months and the demolition company still did not remove all of the water damaged areas. After two months of working with contractor #1 and then #2, I was totally upset at how slowly things were progressing. Each failed to get their renovation bids approved by the insurance company which threatened to stop paying for my hotel if renovations didn’t start soon. What does this have to do with Chris Marshall? Absolutely nothing except that by this time I was so stressed out and skeptical of contractors that when I ran across the GOOD reviews about Chris Marshall and North Star Companies, I did not believe them. In hindsight, when I called and Chris said that he could meet with me that next day, I’m sure that my skepticism was obvious. He surveyed my disaster zone with a friendly and confident professionalism and reassured me that my house could be renovated back to a home better than it was before. His experience with building new homes, renovating general as well as water and fire damaged homes and working with the insurance companies was invaluable. He tirelessly supported me as I worked through the resistance and red tape of the insurance company, no easy feat, to get the rest of my house demolition approved and all of my renovations reimbursed. Chris, his crew, which are like family to him, and his subcontractors were friendly, efficient and professional, treating my house like it was their own. Chris saw more than my vision for just restoring my house and made suggestions for changes in design, repairs and improvements in functionality that I hadn’t thought off. I never had to hunt Chris down; he always returned my calls and texts when I had questions. Chris is detail oriented and was diligent in keeping me informed of any unexpected issues and what stage the construction was in. They performed quality craftsmanship and Chris’s integrity gave me new trust in contractors. Chris said that his job was to complete the work to my satisfaction. He exceeded my expectations so much that by the time he finished making my house a home again, I asked him to work into his busy schedule renovations to upgrade my rental house. Family and friends have visited and remarked at how wonderfully improved my new house looks and functions. I told them that they could have Chris’s contact info only after he finished working with me. But I’ve complemented him so many times that they know his website (my house pics are under “water damage Fort Washington”). I was so fortunate to have found Chris Marshall; I have no reservations and only accolades for his level of professionalism and expertise.

North Star removed the 2nd story back porch of my house and built a two story 18x12 foot addition. They also built a 22’ x 8’ front covered porch as a new entrance way into my home. Everything was tied in nicely to my existing home and the new concrete footers and slab added much needed square footage to our walk out basement. Chris from North Star was a consummate professional to deal with......everything from the process of getting a quote to obtaining building permits to seeing the job through to the very end. I wouldn’t hesitate to hire North Star again!

Chris came into my life and fixed what the previous contractor had left incomplete and restored my faith in human decency. Not only did he help me out at my lowest point, but he also remodeled my entire kitchen, family room, den, and bathroom. Chris' customer service is truly unparalleled, and his workers are polite, considerate, and thorough. I am so in love with my newly remodeled home and will be eternally grateful for Chris' honesty, understanding, and hard work on my behalf. Great experience. Fabulous contractor. Phenomenal results. Cannot thank them enough!

We had an excellent experience working with Chris to finish our basement. He made some great design recommendations. The workmanship was great. We are very happy with end result, would use the company again, and recommend The North Star Companies to anyone with a home improvement project. We are already planning the next project for Chris to work on.

Bottom line: Chris and his crew were fantastic and did a great job finishing our basement! We had multiple companies give us estimates but after Chris stopped by we knew immediately we wanted him to do the job. From the moment he walked in it was obvious he knew exactly what he was talking about and what needed to be done. His knowledge and experience with construction and permitting were immediately apparent. He was incredibly easy to work with and very accommodating. At no point did we have concerns with him or his crew working on the basement when we weren't home. His crew was polite and non-intrusive nor disruptive. The basement looks great and we can't thank them enough.

I had an excellent experience renovating my house with Chris and his team. They were very efficient with their time. The work was excellent, down to the detail. I will be recommending North Star to friends and family.

I found Chris while looking for home maintenance services. When I read the review posted by "Eddie S", I instantly thought, "I need Chris in my life." While I didn't have an immediate need, when I ran into a hiccup of needing my baseboards removed to have a pantry installed in my laundry room, Chris came to mind. I called him and he was patient, kind, informative and willing to help me with very small job. He arranged to come by that Saturday. Well that Thursday, I had no hot water. I called Chris for a plumber recommendation, because another plumber I called, without even coming out, said I needed a new water heater and it would cost $1,500. Chris swung by that morning on his way to another job and looked at my HWH. It turns out that the water heater was off and on a timer. That's why I didn't have any hot water....so with $1500 still in my pocket, Chris removed the timer clip and cut my water heater on, I tested the water and boom, it got hot :-) He also, took care of my baseboards while he was there. And to top it off, he called me later that evening just to make sure that everything with the water was still ok. I couldn't believe it! Needless to say, Chris is everything you want and need in a home owner/maintenance consultant. Honest, patient, caring, and willing to help. I am a new home owner and in the 4 short months since I purchased my home, I have come across some not so honest, not so patient, not so caring, and not so willing to help contractors and consultants. Especially those who work on larger scales, like Chris does. He didn't discriminate against me because my jobs were uber tiny. It's not to say that he will always have the time for me, but he cared enough to try to work me in around his bigger projects and help me. If you own a home, YOU...NEED...CHRIS....plain and simple....case closed.

Sometimes making the wrong choice brings the right one into clearer view. It’s with this mindset that we post this review for Chris Marshall, the choice we should have made that we didn’t. We had just experience plumbing-related, water damage to our home. Our floors were removed and the tile exposed now was breaking up and being tested for asbestos. Though we were a ways away from the reconstruction phase still, we started researching contractors/contracting companies. We found Chris, who looked wonderful “on paper” and gave him a call. It’s been roughly six months now since I made that call, so I’m not sure if he answered right then or called back, but I ended up talking to him the same day. It was late in the work day, so when he offered to come by to just talk to us and check out the damage, we were really surprised—and thought there wasn’t any way that would really happen. At about 6 p.m., he called and said he would, in fact, come out that evening, if it was okay. We agreed, and he did. He was professional, very easy to talk to, patient, and seemed willing to work with us. In the days and weeks that followed, he quickly responded to all our calls and messages; made a couple more house calls; referred another industry service provider (another mistake we made: not going with his recommendation); provided impeccable documentation for his licensing, insurance, experience; invited us to check out his work personally by visiting a home he’d just built; went back and forth with us about estimates, and adjustments to those estimates, and scheduling. While his quote ended up being higher than we could afford, in retrospect, it wasn’t unreasonable. At the time though, we couldn’t get our insurance to play ball and didn’t feel confident we could absorb the difference between the settlement and Chris’ quote. During this time, my husband considered a contractor whose family attends the congregation we also attended. The family had fallen on hard times recently, and his thought was, “We’re going to give the job to someone; why not bless a family within the congregation?” I was strongly against this as 1) I worried about the possible pitfalls of doing business with someone too familiar, and 2) I was already settled on Chris. He’d already gone over and beyond as far as I was concerned. Despite these concerns and reservations, I appreciated my husband’s heart and decided to support and trust his decision. Regrettably, it turns out I was right. (This is a conclusion he reached on his own as he saw corners being cut, expressed concerns disregarded, and diverse workmanship issues.) That arrangement went horribly, and, in the end, we had to fire this contractor before our home was even far enough along to move back in. Thankfully, family and friends came to our aid and helped us finish up well enough to get us back in our home, refusing to take any money from us at all. Our home insurance co. assigned a post-reconstruction clean-up and restoration service to clean the place up—work that cost thousands of dollars (to give you an idea of the state this contractor left our house). We are thankful to be back home but, here and there, still notice the evidence of poor workmanship and work ethic (taking advantage of our absence from the home during most of the remodeling), which at this point is still more confounding and hurtful than anything else given the somewhat personal connection. We should have gone with Chris, who had proven himself well before he even had the job. And YOU—whoever you are, reading this—provided you are comfortable with him and his quote is budget friendly, should go with Chris. We cannot recommend him based on work performed/service rendered—he doesn’t need us for that: his work and reputation appear to precede him, but we can and do highly recommend him based on his character, professionalism, and well-documented experience. The “world of contractors” is an all-day, all-out dirty, murky trap; there aren’t enough Chris Marshalls out there. Choose wisely.

Chris and his team helped with the wire of my electrical box, installed a new roof, placed a railing on the outside near basement steps and helped with digging on the outside of perimeter to decide water would flow away from the house. I’m very thankful for Mr.Chris help and his team and I’m excited about owning a home for the first time. I also would like others to know that Mr. Chris has kept in touch with me and I would recommend him to others.

Chris provided us with constant feedback during the entire project of renovating our new home and building the master bedroom addition. Any unforeseen items were addressed to our complete satisfaction. Chris and his crew paid a great attention to the details during the whole project. His experience combined with our visions resulted in what we considered to be an exceptional home. He was very consistent in keeping us updated on the progress. He incorporated our ideas and provided us with others that elevated the end results. He was worked closely with when we made changes and did not hesitate in incorporating them. He definitely was the best and easiest contractor to work with in this area. I would highly recommend him to anyone and would not hesitate to work with him in the future.

The owner, Chris Marshall, is very knowledgeable, competent and honest. I have worked with him for many years and can highly recommend him as a general contractor for rehab. as well as complete new home construction.

We hired The North Star Companies to remodel our basement and create a larger master bedroom. They were helpful, kind, timely and thorough. They willingly answered all our questions, helping us make the most informed decisions for our projects and did great work. They continually went above and beyond to make our home beautiful. We look forward to using them again for all future home projects.

We had a water damaged wall and old roof that needed repair. We got several quotes, most we were disappointed with the lack of professionalism. After finding The North Star Companies we would immediately tell the difference. Chris's knowledge was clear from the first meeting. The estimate was more than fair and his team did an exceptional job. Everything was explained to us in detail; they showed up on time, were friendly and left the job site very clean. Chris made sure we were happy with what was happening. Definingly the most professional contractor we have every worked with. We have several more projects in our home and have already decided to with The North Star Companies again. There is no way I would hire another company. If you hire them you won't be disappointed.

Hello Mr Marshall did water proofing work on the outside of my house. Mr Marshall did an Excellent Job and He was very Professional and his works also. If you want any type of Home and Improvement done on your home. Mr Marshall is the person to call.

Chris is easy to work with and will work with the ideas you have about your project. The people he has working for him do an excellent job.

The North Star Companies, LLC is a fantastic company. I am so glad I found them. I paid another contractor to redo my kitchen and they ended up taking my money and left the job unfinished. Luckily, I found Mr. Marshall and his team at North Star. They came in and were able to turn a disaster into a beautiful kitchen in a short amount of time. I am really grateful for their help. They were fair, easy to work with, and they kept me updated as the process went along. This team is now my go-to whenever I need anything updated around the house. Thank you!

After numerous internet searches, I found The North Star Companies, LLC. Although, judging from the company’s website, it was apparent that the company is quite experienced with much larger scale projects, the Owner/CEO, Brian “Chris” Marshall was kind enough to give his expert treatment to our small Temple Hills, MD home. My husband and I requested a full basement gutting and renovation after a couple of meetings. This posting cannot express our appreciation for the magnificent job that was done! The company provided 5-Star performance in every aspect of the project! Timeliness – The job started as promised and ended timely; the workers began at 8:30 a.m. working straight through daily until 4 – 4:30 p.m. and later, if necessary until the job was completed. Quality – The best choices were used in products, trimmings, etc. throughout the basement; beautiful fixtures were recommended and installed perfectly; edges approximated; doors hung accurately; electrical work done efficiently; and inspection passed. Communication – Excellent personal collaboration during the entire process; exuberating patience and professionalism. Craftsmanship – The closest attention to detail; perfection oriented. Cleanliness – Cleaning was a routine part of the daily project activities; there were no stray paint spillages; no debris left anywhere in or around the premises. Price – The price we paid was completely reasonable for the end product we received; there was no wavering; no unexpected increases. The quoted price was only a few thousand more than North Star’s competitors who could not articulate an understanding of the vision of the proposed renovation as well at the outset – that was our Eureka moment. My husband and I highly recommend The North Star Companies, Chris Marshall for any project a homeowner may have whether it is for large or small home. We know how important it is to find a competent, trustworthy, contractor that has the expertise to beautify your home. Our property value just went up!

I have near-gut renovated two row houses in NW DC over three years including ambitious walkout basement renovations and I wish I had met Chris Marshall at the beginning of the process with House #1 instead of in the middle of the process with House #2 because he was by far the most professional and responsive of any of the nearly two dozen contractors I probably interviewed in some shape or form over 2 years. His quotes were timely and the most detailed, and when I did the math it was actually cheaper to use Chris than to use contractors with much lower quotes because I invariably had to go back and rehire someone new to fix problems left by the cheap guy. The North Star's workmanship can't be better, the crews were professional and tidy, and the prices were actually right in the middle where they ought to be. (I was trying to go super cheap at first). I think the before/after pics for House #2 speak for themselves. I'm hoping to pull equity from this home to purchase House #3 in 2019 and I'm already envisioning using Chris for that project too. Professional, reliable, trustworthy, very knowledgeable, good value for the money. I'm sorry I didn't meet him sooner.

Chris worked with me about 10 years ago and helped me build over 60 custom homes. He did an excellent job dealing with our customers from the design phase all the way until the completion of their home. I would highly recommend Chris and his company, The North Star Companies LLC.

I have just returned from spending the winter in Florida to arrive home to a beautiful, fully renovated townhouse in Lanham, MD. North Star was recommended by a friend who had her side driveway constructed in North Beach. I had a friend sit through the initial interview and we both came to the conclusion that we could trust Chris to deliver on his promises. Chris took us to see two houses that were renovated by North Star. The North Beach house was one that I had frequented. I was in awe of the transformation! After selecting North Star, I was in Florida for the complete renovation so all communication, product selection, pictures, progress reports and guidance was done through email, text, HOA approvals and many phone conversations. The initial contract increased slightly due to repair of two defective floor joints and drywall in my living room. However, during the renovation I choose to replace the two sliding glass doors and front door, substitute the cultured marble bathroom counters with granite (highly recommended) and replace the 35 year old roof. These upgrades were done with a simple addendum to the original contract. Having full confidence regarding the progress, I made all increment payments due and made the final payment with a few remaining items as I knew that Chris and his crew would be there to finish. I have read all the reviews and just want to assure you that they are real. We are a privileged group to have contracted with North Star and Chris Marshall. I invite you come visit my newly renovated townhouse and see the high quality of the finished product.

We recently hired Chris Marshall and the NSC, LLC Team to complete a TOTAL renovation of our dream home. Chris and his team FAR exceeded our expectations, the quality and workmanship of what they delivered speaks volumes about this company. Our home is absolutely gorgeous and the envy of the neighborhood. Chris helped us make major decisions and gently guided us around keeping our wants inline with our budget, which I am sure was a struggle at times. He was super timely, considerate, informative and just the OPPOSITE of everything we had ever heard related to hiring a contractor. He completed the entire renovation in 90 days; we moved in on 12/23 as promised giving my family the best Christmas present EVER!!!

I contacted and hired The North Star Companies LLC to remodel my kitchen. Chris Marshall responded prompt and timely with great ideas and suggestions to enhance my kitchen area which also lead into enhancing my dining room area as well. All of my concerns and interests were treated with concern and factual details that were accurate. I was quite impressed with how Mr. Marshall expended himself with a hands on approach to ensure all work was completed with great detail intact. I was very very impressed with the final product and everyone raves about the transformation!

Mr. Chris Marshall is very good at what he does. Very good communication throughout the project. Always informative and customer service oriented. Even if there was something I noticed I didnt like or wanted to be changed, Chris made sure it was fixed to my liking in a timely manner. I am pleased with the work done to complete my basement and am very happy that Home Advisor suggested The North Star Companies LLC, namely Chris, to be my contractor. If I ever need contractor work done, I'll be calling Chris Marshall to get the job done correctly and efficiently.

We used North Star Companies this past year for several large projects. We had to sell our family home and after many years of loving wear and tear, it needed a lot of work. Chris and his guys did a complete remodel of our home, including three bathrooms, a kitchen and a basement. His workers were courteous, on time and cleaned up after themselves. Seeing as how I live out of state, Chris handled everything for me. The work was completed in a timely matter and pretty much on budget. A good price for all they did. We hired him too to remodel my brother's condo. I would use him again and highly recommend anyone to him.

We contracted The North Star Companies to first remodel our master bath. They were very competitive in pricing and did an excellent job. Chris Marshall, his staff, and contractors were all very knowledgeable, respectful and provided top quality work. We then had them remodel our kitchen. This was a complete demolition of the original kitchen and dining room. Removal of a supporting wall (with new beam to support added). The transformation was amazing. They did everything the way we wanted, with professional advice along the way. We are planning to have them back next year to remodel 2 more bathrooms. Highly recommended.

North Star installed two fences and gates for us. They were very professional, timely and did a first class job.

The North Star Companies remodeled my basement bathroom which involved stripping everything down, including opening up the concrete floor to re-channel the piping for the shower and the toilet. They were very clean and polite, I appreciate the way they worked with my schedule, my budget, the limitations of the bathroom - sometimes being creative, as the bathroom was less than perfect to begin with. I would highly recommend them for you construction/remodeling projects.

The contractor was very knowledgeable and experienced in replacing of my front porch. The job was done in a professional and timely manner within a reasonable budget. Also, this contractor was hired again in August 2015 for addition work. Planning to hire this contractor again in 2016.