Home Improvement Contractor, focused on providing real solutions to a range of areas related to a home's performance. "Home performance" is concerned with the comfort, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, occupant safety, and durability of a home. We perform envelope (i.e. weatherization; doors & windows; roofing & siding), HVAC, and remodeling upgrades.
I am one of two owners of the business. I, and\or my brother, deal directly with you (the homeowner). I am also on site for every project I implement (an insulation project, a ventilation upgrade, new doors & windows, etc.). We work with licensed partner contractors for electrical (Root Electric) and HVAC (Frosty's Heating & Cooling) services.
Business highlights
14 years of trusted experience
Services we offer
Comprehensive building envelope upgrades (i.e. new roofs, siding, doors & windows); lighting upgrades; heating & cooling system consulting & upgrades; air leakage sealing; cellulose & spray foam insulation; high-performance ventilation. General remodeling.
Please note that while this company holds itself out as a company, its status as a corporation was terminated by the Virginia State Corporation Commission effective 6/30/15.
Description of Work: They are not licensed nor are they a legitimate corporation in Virginia.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
1.0
professionalism
1.0
Jonathan S.
10/2015
5.0
electrician, energy audit, insulation, lighting
+ 2 more
Positive Energy was very professional, fair, accommodating and polite. They sealed off all work areas to limit the amount of dust and debris that would get into non-work areas. The quality of the work seemed to be good. The communication while on site and about the work was excellent. The only challenge was getting the work scheduled and understanding at various points along the way, when work was going to stop and start. We did not always feel like we knew "what the plan was."
Description of Work: Positive Energy did a home energy usage assessment, including thermal imaging and a blower test. They implemented many of the recommendations from this assessment including Existing Insulation Removal & Disposal, Attic Floor Air Sealing, Exterior Wall Insulation, Skylight Well Insulation, Attic Floor Insulation, boxing and sealing all "can lights" in ceilings, and installation of LED lighting fixtures.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,875
David R.
04/2015
5.0
electrician, energy audit, insulation, lighting
+ 2 more
No deficiencies of consequence but I had to pay attention as work progressed; supervision of laborers sometimes insufficient. Obviously proficient at insulation work; not facile with other aspects of the job.
Description of Work: Remove existing attic blown-in insulation. Caulk/seal all upper sill plates, all walls. Remove existing ceiling lights in kitchen and dining room; Install 11 new recessed ceiling lights (wiring by other contractor).
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
scott J.
04/2015
5.0
energy audit
+ -1 more
Very detailed audit of my home and comprehensive list of suggested improvements.
Description of Work: Energy Audit
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$250
Jeffrey S.
04/2015
5.0
electrician, energy audit, heating & air conditioning/hvac, insulation, lighting
+ 3 more
I am very pleased with the results. Patrick and Mendon are dedicated to doing a good job. They work the details as if was their own home. Patrick is very knowledgeable about energy efficiency is able to recommend details specific to the situation. Patrick found numerous leaks in the ducting that where causing loss of AC into the attic. Another contractor I talked with prior to Positive Energy was just going to blow insulation over the ducting without checking it.
Description of Work: Insulated and sealed attic. Sealed ducting in attic and installed new insulation. Upgraded recessed lighting to LED lights that are sealed. Fabricated raised platform in attic for access and storage above new insulation. Fabricated a new attic access insulated cover. Fabricated two fireplace insulation panels.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,200
Rebecca K.
12/2014
5.0
energy audit, insulation, roofing, contractors
+ 2 more
The work was approached in a thoughtful way and executed carefully. The repair anticipated trouble that had not yet developed into a problem. The solution is attractive, simple and durable. The cost of the job was very fair and reasonable. In addition, +Energy had done work for us previously. That was phase I of an energy efficiency "retrofit" of our dwelling, an inexpensive construction dating to the post WWII years which is pathetically inefficient from an energy perspective. The house sits over a crawl space and phase I involved a significant upgrade to the vapor barrier over the soil "floor" of the space, closed-cell foam insulation of the foundation wall perimeter and installation of air circulation and venting so as to maintain a consistent level of humidity in the space and avoid mold and mildew formation that could produce odors that could affect air quality in the living space. The pricing was very competitive with respect to other estimates and extras were thrown in for the originally-agreed price -- Wow! - we certainly didn't insist on that. This work was done during the summer, but +Energy has been out a couple of times since to verify that the system is working properly, including this last visit to work on the dormer. As a result of this visit, they are helping us trouble-shoot a plumbing problem that is unrelated to the crawl space ventilation problem. In summary, they are enthusiastic, idealistic (they really believe in "green" and in doing a project right), competent and a pleasure to deal with.
Description of Work: Repaired margin of dormer where hardiplank shingles descending the side of the dormer were eroding where they met the roof shingles.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$500
John P.
06/2014
5.0
roofing, woodworking
+ 0 more
After a very successful home energy renovation in 2013, we hired Positive Energy Construction again this year to replace the roof on our townhouse. I met with Patrick Michaelyan the day before work began, so we could review and sign the contract. I really appreciate the honesty and transparency in Patrick's pricing. His contract explained exactly what he would do and how much it would cost. Each day of work, Patrick arrived promptly at 7:30 AM and started immediately. He had two helpers for part of the time, but did much of the job himself. Our existing roof was in terrible condition, so it took a while to remove all the shingles and underlayment. He also had to replace two rotted boards of roof decking. Fortunately, Patrick's best feature is that he is absolutely meticulous, both in his work and his use of top quality materials. He took great care removing the existing roof, then installing the Ice and Water Shield, drip edge, underlay, pipe boots, architectural shingles and the ridge vent. In the end, Patrick worked four consecutive 12-hour days to complete the job, and the final product is spectacular. This is the quality of roof you would expect to find on a brand new, multi-million dollar home. I'm very satisfied with how this project turned out, and I'm glad we chose Positive Energy Construction. It was definitely the best value for the money.
Description of Work: Installed a new architectural roof on our townhouse. Here are the specific tasks that were part of the job. Positive Energy Construction used top-quality new materials for every task. - Remove and dispose of existing roof shingles and underlayment - Replace rotted roof decking - Install Grace Ice and Water Shield at the eaves and around roof penetrations - Install black aluminum drip edge along the eaves - Install GAF Deck Armor high-performance synthetic underlayment - Install new pipe boots - Install GAF Timberline HD architectural asphalt shingles - Install GAF Cobra Vent low profile ridge vent
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,500
Ian B.
05/2014
5.0
energy audit, insulation
+ 0 more
Patrick and his team were extremely responsive to our many emails and questions before the work was done. They showed up on time and worked hard until the job was done, leaving no mess behind. They are knowledgeable and full of ideas for ways to address wide-ranging issues I asked about from what to do about a crack in the ceiling to the least costly ways to insulate an addition. I am very happy with them and would use them again.
Description of Work: Analyzed the home for ways to save energy and better insulate, and implemented those recommendations I approved. This involved going into crawl space and attic and sealing off and insulating leaks not blocked by standard insulation. Fabricated custom-fitting attic entrance insulation shroud. Also inspected roof, offered ideas to solve problems, and did repairs on a ridge vent.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500
Sheri B.
05/2014
5.0
doors, energy audit, insulation
+ 1 more
The result was very good. Their work was efficiently and carefully done. Patrick and Paul were prompt in responding to my phone calls and emails My condo was considerably warmer after insulation was completed and my energy bills decreased significantly. They explained all possible options to me. I am also considering insulation the walls of my condo and when I am able to do so, they will do the job. I could not be more pleased with the results of their efforts and their businesslike manner,
Description of Work: Insulated my attic with Eco-friendly batting and sealed all gaps, well as weather stripping two doorways.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,100
Louiza S.
04/2014
1.0
decks, electrician, insulation, lighting, roofing
+ 3 more
On June 6, 2014 in the General District Court of Fairfax, VA, Chief Judge P. Azcarate ruled in my favor and I was released from the balance of my contract with Positive Energy, because they misrepresented themselves on this site as being licensed when -as of that date- they were not.
Description of Work: Contract was for removal of old insulation, attic floor sealing, Owens Corning attic eave baffle installation, installation of two bathroom exhaust vents, installation of Owens Corning L77 insulation at a level of R49 (17" throughout the entire attic), damming off of attic hatch and insulation of attic cover. My house is 1,470 square feet. Patrick presented himself to me very professionally, as a licensed and insured contractor (all his emails are signed "Licensed Home Improvement Contractor) nd I was pleased with his estimate to do the full job. Given his numerous A reviews on Angie's list I was confident the job would be performed to my satisfaction. 4/9 - Contract presented by Patrick 4/10 - Contract accepted by me. Contract stated deposit of $1,150 and I called Patrick with my credit card number. 4/11 - Credit card showed a processed charge of $1,190 with $40 of "finance and processing" fees. I contacted Patrick and told him I never agreed to those changes and he agreed to reverse them. He never reserved them. 4/15 - Patrick arrived promptly at 7:30 a.m. in a U-Haul truck and a crew of two men began working to remove the old attic insulation. I was present in the home that day. A delivery truck came and delivered several bags of L77 plus some bags of some other type of insulation (cellulose). The crew (Jon and Carlos) loaded the bags on my front porch. I asked them to remove the bags of the other type of cellulose from my front porch as this was not going to go in my house. I had ordered L77 and I wanted all to be L77. So they removed the cellulose bags and put them in their truck. I took a quick count of the L77 bags. There appeared to be 4 stacks of 5 bags each, so about 20 bags. While working, Jon broke one of the steps leading to my front porch and told me not to worry, he will fix it. That never happened. 4/16 - I left the door open for the crew and went to work. When I returned I found out that several lights were not working. An electrical line had been damaged. Also, several of my -very expensive- Juno LED warm dim recessed lights had been thrown out of their sockets and were dangling. (Patrick later claimed the were not installed properly, but the City of Fairfax has inspected the job when those lights were installed and the inspection had passed just fine.) Also, the ceiling had been damaged in two different areas: The kitchen and the living room. 4/17 - I left the door open for the crew and went to work. Received email from Patrick that he was unable to repair the lights and would bring a licensed electrician the next day. 4/18 - Licensed electrician arrived in the afternoon and repaired the issue. Patrick stated all cosmetic issues would be repaired to my satisfaction. 4/19 - Jon and Carlos came to the house and blew the insulation in the attic. Before leaving they told me they were done with the attic insulation and would be back to finish the cosmetic issues on Monday. 4/20 - We inspected the attic. Insulation was not complete. Many areas were bare to the wood. There was definitely not 17" of insulation spread evenly everywhere. In the bathroom insulation was coming down from the fan. We pulled the cover and the gaps around the fan were not foam sealed. Our contract included $580 and proper foam sealing of the attic. Emailed Patrick with my concerns and pictures. 4/21 Patrick replied that the job would require a "change of order" (more money!) if I wanted more insulation in the attic, because according to his calculations I have the appropriate "weight". I explained that our contract stated R49 (17") and I did not have that. 4/22 Contacted the City of Fairfax and explained the situation; advised not to pay balance until I get what our contract was for: R49 (17" of insulation). Also contacted an independent Owens Corning contractor. He came over that evening and inspected the attic. He said the job was unprofessional with spots that were bare, others that had 3" and others 17" of insulation. The baffles were not the correct size, the hatch well was a "do-it-yourself- unprofessional job, and the attic cover not properly insulated. He estimated that the average was R30 in the attic and gave me an estimate of $1,800 to complete the job properly. I emailed the above information to Patrick and given the magnitude of the errors and breach of contract, I asked him to provide me with proof of his license and insurance. 4/23 - Patrick ignored my request for license and insurance and stated that he would bring 10 more bags of insulation. I told him that I hired a licensed and insured company and I want to see proof. I told him that once he provides proof of licensing we can proceed with installing the rest of the insulation. Later that day, I contacted the DPOR and was advised the company's license was expired, no payment was made by them, and the address they have on file is not a valid address. 4/24 -Given the fact that the company appears unlicensed I contacted the city again to inquire about the exhaust vents and whether or not I needed to have them inspected to ensure they were done correctly. I was told to pull a mechanical permit because poking holes on people's roof requires a permit and if the job is not done right, I will have leaks in the roof. 4/24 Kevin (Patrick's brother) emailed and said they were licensed and insured and would I like to have 10 bags delivered on Saturday. I replied that we can proceed with completion of the job when I see proof of licensing. 4/25 Kevin sent me an email stating that "it appears that the best way forward for both parties is end our relationship" and would like me to pay him another $1,305. (His bill has a credit of $365 for the balance of the insulation that was not installed (R-19). He wants payment by May 2. I emailed back and explained that I will not be able to find anyone to add R19 in my attic for $365. My contract with Positive Energy is for R49. And I never agreed to a partial completion of the job for partial pay. If his company cannot provide proof of licensing then I will need to hire another company to finish the job properly. I cannot allow unlicensed contractors in my house. Is it too much to ask for what I agreed in our contract?? The completion of the FULL job for $2,900 by a licensed and insured professional? I offered to Kevin and Patrick two options: a) Provide proof of licensing and complete the job so that I can pay you the balance of $1,710 I owe you. or b) Release me from the contract with no further payments so that I can hire this other company who wants $1,800 to blow another R19 in my attic, change the baffles to the correct size and fix the attic hatch and well. I am still open to negotiating this contract and I hope Angie's list can assist. I do not want an unlicensed contractor in my house. I want full completion of the job (performance and completion to be determined by independent inspection of the City of Fairfax) and I want to pay for such completion the balance of the amount I agreed in the contract: $1,710. Work has not been completed.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
5.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
5.0
$2,900
Response from Positive Energy Construction Co.
The following response is limited to claims we were able to gather complete and accurate information. We are unable to provide a complete response because our request for a 1-day extension to allow for information necessary to provide a complete response was denied. (Member name removed) representation of the events can best be described as incomplete, inaccurate, and inconsistent with our record. Further, our attempts to resolve the issues were thwarted by a hostile environment created by her unproductive actions and misunderstandings. The following is a list of 7 examples of the preceding: 1. She asked for our help because our approach and professionalism was superior to the other contractors whom provided bids. She later refused to accept any of our explanations and decided that our approach was inadequate because a different contractor/inspector had a different opinion. One of those opinions was simply inaccurate and led to the inaccurate claim that we did not install the attic baffles as agreed to in the contract. 2. She was not pleased with our original bid due to the price. Wanting to help her afford the work, we provided a $425 discount in addition to the $175 Angies List member discount. Later, when atypical and unforeseen issues arose we were forced to require a change order. 3. We did forget to notify her of our standard credit card convenience charge likely due to the less than 1% of our clients that use credit cards to pay. We agreed to refund the charge via reduction in the next payment, which was to be made within a few days. 4. Her complaint regarding the non-specific job materials (10 bags of insulation) placed in the provided work area omits that it was raining that day. Further, this practice of having non-job specific materials included in delivery to a specific job lowers the cost of the contract and thus allowing us to lower the price. 5. Her claim that our standard work practices alone resulted in the damage is simple inaccurate and omits the fact that the condition of the damaged areas was in need of repair prior to our work. The contract included attic clean-up (i.e. removing the ineffective and unclean insulation and other debris such as vermin waste), which is not uncommon for us to find and thus recommend so that clients can have a healthier and a better performing house. It is uncommon that the performance of an attic cleanup results in damage. Further, this degree of damage has never occurred. Even more, we had our licensed electrical contractor fix the electrical damage. His assessment of electrical system was that it would require substantial work and thus cost to get it to the standard he practices. Not complete but the last issue we will address is that the broken step is clearly the result of a condition reflective of in need of repair. Finally, if our insurance provider agrees that we are liable, in whole or in part, for the damages, then they will pay for the cost to repair them. 6. Her claim that the insulation level was less than R-49 omits the facts that were aware of the less than R-49 level and have attempted to provide the proper level but have been forbidden from returning and completing the work promptly because our license renewal issue has not been resolved. We expect our license renewal issue to be resolved by the end of the month. 7. Her description of the events that led us to determine that it appeared best to end our relationship and bill her for the work performed (not an additional bill as claimed) omits that she demanded additional conditions not included in the contract and which demonstrated a focus other than completing the work and an inability/unwillingness to make the payments as agreed to in the contract. Further, it omits our continued attempts to complete job without asking for additional payment.
Robert S.
03/2014
2.0
energy audit
+ -1 more
We had the assessment done and Positive Energy Construction gave us a proposal (in October of 2013) for work to improve our energy efficiency. We accepted a portion of the proposal in November (about $7000 worth of work) and set up a meeting to discuss further. Positve Energy had to rescheduled the first meeting. We then scheduled a second meeting in December and they simply did not show up and we have heard nothing further. We are now pursuing Angie's List complaint resolution process in an attempt to resolve this situation and recoup the value of the Big Deal we purchased which stated that a credit towards future work in the amount of the Big Deal cost would be applied if further work was needed.
Description of Work: I purchased a Big Deal for $300 for a Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$300
Mouna K.
03/2014
5.0
energy audit, remodeling, insulation, lighting
+ 2 more
From the very first contact through Angie's List messages, Paul and Patrick were extremely responsive and courteous. They quickly set up a diagnostic meeting, explained the process and gathered every bit of information needed. Patrick showed up on time, listened, examined the damage area and took the time to explain all options, costs, and complexities of the project. He answered all of my questions and understood my concerns. Because we were dealing with unknown factors, he recommended using a camera into the ceiling to assess the damages. I felt more confident taking the repairs in stages rather than bringing down the ceiling as a first recourse. Once the situation was assessed, we agreed on the best and most efficient way to address the damage. Patrick is very considerate to the homeowner's needs and concerns. He promised to make it as easy on me as possible, a promise he kept in spite of the messy nature of the job. Patrick was also flexible and understanding when plans changed overnight to add on more repairs or tackle them in a different way. He still showed up on time, even on a snow day, with all the needed material and proceeded to do the repairs as agreed. Also, we very much appreciated his advice on related issues, such as lighting and plumbing. Ultimately, Patrick and Paul function very well as a team. We certainly recommend them to any home owner, especially condo ones, when it comes to sealing and insulation issues.
Description of Work: 1. Sealing & Insulation, 2. Remodeling - General, and 3. Lighting
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,000
John P.
03/2014
5.0
ceiling fans, drywall, electrician, energy audit, remodeling, insulation, interior painters, roofing, replacement windows
+ 7 more
My wife and I purchased a "flip" town home in Annandale in early 2012. After sweltering through our first summer and freezing through our first winter (with sky-high energy bills, to boot), it was time for an energy assessment. We found Positive Energy Construction on Angie's List in Feb 2013. The excellent reviews and the online deal were attractive. I called the Michaelyan brothers (Patrick and Kevin) to get on the schedule. On assessment day, Patrick and Kevin showed up right on time and got to work. They also brought an HVAC specialist (Ron Galant) to check out our heat pump. We were involved us in every aspect of the assessment; it was comprehensive and professional. Patrick did a blower door test and used an infrared camera to find energy leaks. He also inspected the attic insulation and ventilation. We learned so much about our home that day -- its strengths, weaknesses and how we could make things better. In addition to being highly skilled and very professional, Patrick and Kevin are really fun guys. It was a good experience all around. A few days later, Patrick emailed us a detailed report (including infrared pictures) and an action plan with recommendations. We selected specific items and signed a contract with a statement of work. Patrick gave us a credit for the cost of the assessment. Work commenced about a week after signing the contract. Here is a list of the projects Patrick performed over the following few weeks. He was juggling several projects at once. But, at the end of each day, he left things in a manner that we could carry on our normal lives. - Install a ridge vent to improve attic ventilation - Install high-performance exhaust fans in the bathrooms - Install Class 1 Cellulose insulation in the attic - Install Energy-Star rated Ceiling Fans in the upstairs bedrooms to improve air circulation - Perform Attic Air Sealing - Perform Rim Joist Air Sealing in the basement - Perform Window Trim Air Sealing - Perform Exterior Vent Air Sealing Patrick was absolutely meticulous. He used top-quality materials and was extremely detailed. He is a true-blue perfectionist. I really appreciated that he cared for our home as if it was his own. His customer service was also excellent. He always had time to happily answer every one of our questions thoroughly. In the end, every single item on the contract was completed to our satisfaction for the agreed-to price. Although Positive Energy is not the cheapest construction company around, you get a lot for your investment and 100% honest and transparent pricing. It's well worth it. These improvements will last for generations and I knew exactly how much each task would cost before signing the contract. It has been nearly a year since the energy improvements were finished. I'm very happy to report this project has been a resounding success! We are cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter and our energy bills are down. We made a great choice investing in these improvements, and an even better choice selecting Positive Energy Construction. I highly recommend the Michaelyan brothers and their company, Positive Energy Construction.
Description of Work: Performed a comprehensive energy assessment, including blower door and infrared testing. Promptly delivered a detailed written report (with pictures) and an action plan. As a result, we selected Positive Energy Construction to do an extensive project to improve energy efficiency and make our home more comfortable.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,750
William H.
03/2014
5.0
energy audit, insulation
+ 0 more
Everything was done well; they covered the floor and were neat in the installation. The only oddity was the front door latch was broken during their time doing the attic work, which necessitated me getting someone to order the parts and repair the door latch.
Description of Work: Blower Door Test, Covered attic open can lights, sealed the attic perimeter, removed attic insulation, re-installed attic insulation and replaced soiled attic insulation
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,500
Janet H.
02/2014
5.0
energy audit, insulation
+ 0 more
Positive Energy Construction Co. took the time to tailor an insulation solution specific to my space and budget and then installed the insulation in a timely and professional manner. I compared 4-5 various vendors which offered spray foam, roll/batts, and blow in options. These vendors took a few minutes take some measurements and priced out the cost of the project based completely on the size of the space. Patrick took the time to evaluate my space and came up with a plan that utilized a combination of spray foam, rigid foam board, and batt insulation. His multiple faceted solution has proved to be highly effective and less costly than most of the other options. His team was polite, punctual, and easy to work with. Most importantly I felt very comfortable having them in my home. I highly recommend Positive Energy Construction and Patrick Michaelyan.
Description of Work: Attic Insulation
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000
MICHAEL T.
02/2014
5.0
energy audit, insulation
+ 0 more
I found Positive Energy and Patrick Michaelyan on Angies List after meeting with and getting estimates from several other insulation contractors. I selected Positive Energy for this job because Patrick has BPI certification, he gave me several alternative approaches and reasonable prices for each of them, and because of Patrick himself. We discussed the attic portion of this job extensively, primarily the pros and cons of sealing and insulating the attic floor vs. the interior of the roof. Patrick was patient and candid throughout the process, and never pushed higher-priced options. He has a strong knowledge of building performance issues, particularly regarding energy use and efficiency. I have to emphasize that this was a difficult and unpleasant job. The attic of our house is very low - barely enough height to move around on hands and knees, and ductwork around the perimeter makes getting into the eaves extremely difficult. Cleaning out the old insulation was required because (as we learned only after we moved in) the attic had been occupied in the past (fortunately, not currently) by raccoons, whose mess had to be removed. Bottom line is that Patrick spent the better part of two weeks on his hands, knees, and belly, wearing a respirator, to clean out, seal, and re-insulate this attic. The only access to our attic is through a closet in the master bedroom, so he had to set up equipment every morning, and take it down and clean up every afternoon. I can only conclude that he loves his work, because this was a nasty, dirty job, and he was pleasant, patient, punctual, and professional every day. He did the work for a fair price, never tried to up-sell or add anything unnecessary, and did a first-rate job. Though we have done other work done that also contributes to the reduction, our energy bills this winter have been 25-30% lower than the previous year, even though this winter has been significantly colder. I strongly recommend Positive Energy.
Description of Work: Cleaned out old loose fill insulation from attic, air sealed all openings between attic and living space, re-insulated with spray foam and cellulose fill. Also air sealed and insulated two other small areas of the house.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,900
Lizette M.
01/2014
1.0
energy audit
+ -1 more
Terrible communication and lack of professionalism. He loves to talk only.
Description of Work: He didn't do anything except run his mouth with false promises. It seems that he is overwhelmed. He was supposed to call and never did. He doesn't answer his voice mails.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0
$2,500
ROB H.
12/2013
5.0
energy audit, remodeling, insulation, roofing
+ 2 more
Patrick Michaelyan is a great American. He's a hard-working, optimistic entrepreneur who is totally committed to doing the job right for his clients. It is incredibly difficult to find people like this in any line of work. The fact is our country and the construction industry would be a better place with more people like Patrick and more companies like Positive Energy. To be honest, I hesitate to give Patrick and Positive Energy straight A's because that would lump them in with other companies rated on Angie's List that also received A's, and I doubt that's a fair comparison. Perhaps a group of distinguished world leaders would convene a panel to consider adding a letter to the alphabet before A, and that would be a proper reflection of the grade that I'd assign to Patrick and Positive Energy. When we began our search for a contractor, we encountered a number of hurdles: 1) Not receiving a returned call; 2) Refusing a site visit to evaluate the problem; 3) Offering a one-size-fits all proposal. Patrick returned our calls, visited our house and put together a custom proposal that solved our problem and did so in a way that used a process and materials that reflected our personal preferences. As work began, Patrick and his team encountered issues like blocked up soffits, holes in the sheathing and hard-to-get-to spots. He kept us informed throughout and rolled with every punch. He worked work hard and fast and made meaningful progress every day. Perhaps most remarkably, when Patrick ran into a problem with acquiring the specified insulation from the usual channels, he spent his Saturday driving to New York to get the right materials. That's dedication. And that's just one example. The result is an incredible looking and feeling space, especially for an "unfinished" attic. Gone are the odors, the dust and the wild fluctuations in temperature and comfort. In their place is a clean attic space, with rigid foam properly installed to encourage ventilation, eco-friendly insulation that delivers the right R value, and an air tight seal that creates an effective radiant barrier for both summer and winter. Did we spend a not insigifiant sum on an "unfinished" attic? Yes. Was the job done right? Yes. Will it pay for itself with reduced energy bills over time? Yes. Do we wish we had found Positive Energy years ago? Yes. No other contractor -- general, energy, insulation or otherwise -- could have or would have delivered the solution we wanted, needed and got. Patrick and Positive Energy are true gems. How about that 27th letter in the alphabet?
Description of Work: Developed tailored strategy for sealing, insulating, ventilating and integrating our original attic and the one above a newer addition. This included removal of a 50-year mishmash of insulation, clearing out the soffit vents, installing a ridge vent in old attic, installing rigid foam between rafters and against the walls and sealing with foam, and installing eco-friendly glass wool batts throughout. Our attics were a major, complex problem that we had tried to address incrementally over several years. This was the solution that knocked it out the right way and gave us the peace of mind we wanted and needed.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,000
Mark R.
12/2013
5.0
energy audit, insulation
+ 0 more
Both were extremely professional and provided me, a DIY person, a number of recommendations to improve the overall energy efficiency of my house. Additionally, they provided how-to advice and, sold materials at a very reasonable cost compared to the "big box" stores and made sure I did the installation correctly. Finally, when the time came to blow insulation into the attic and Patrick was unable to get the machine needed on the day we agreed to do the work together, he followed up by proposing to do the work himself at a discount when I couldn't be available that day to assist. All around excellent work and excellent customer service. They would be the only ones I would call for similar work and assistance.
Description of Work: Kevin and Patrick did an energy audit and then assisted me in doing a complete reinsulation of my attic.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$400
Phillip I.
11/2013
5.0
energy audit, insulation
+ 0 more
I found Patrick and his brother on Angie's List, and engaged them for the energy audit. We found them to be prompt, courteous and professional, and very nice guys, to boot. Their business is still young, but they are growing rapidly, and no wonder. They are easy to work with, and reasonable in pricing. More importantly, they are thorough in their work, and do a quality job. Our house is now much tighter in terms of air movement, and seems more comfortable than it did before when air seemed almost to blow through our home. The attic insulation really helped this summer, as our third floor bedroom was much cooler than it had been before this work. Now, with the window frame insulation, the basement and main floor of our home seems much warmer, even as the temperatures have dropped outside. We were quite happy with Patrick and his team, and would recommend them to anyone looking for greater energy efficiency in the home.
Description of Work: Earlier this summer, following an energy audit, Patrick and his team insulated our attic, and provided guidance for other work that should be done in the home. In October, his team pulled the frames off of windows in our basement and main floor and sprayed in foam insulation. His team also applied foam insulation and installed sheet rock in a small utility room off our garage.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,000
Meme M.
09/2013
5.0
insulation
+ -1 more
Patrick is super responsive, informative, peppy and a pleasure to work with. He really seems to know his stuff, wants to do a great job and inform/educate his clients.
Description of Work: spray foam insulation in crawl space.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,500
Mary F.
08/2013
5.0
energy audit
+ -1 more
They have been great and have put together a master list of what my home needs. They have been tremendously helpful.
Description of Work: They have done an energy audit.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$250
Anthony J.
07/2013
5.0
energy audit, insulation
+ 0 more
The work was very good! They were excellent and provided great customer service. They were also friendly and trustworthy.
Description of Work: They redid the insulation in my house among other things.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Catherine T.
07/2013
5.0
ceiling fans, chimney repair, electrician, energy audit, heating & air conditioning/hvac, insulation, lighting, masonry, pest control
+ 7 more
Patrick was very professional and didn't try and oversell. The overall job took quite a long time to do, partly because of the awful nature of the mess in the attic, and partly because he seemed to have a lot of other jobs. He was very interested to make sure I had all the work done that I requested and open to letting me inspect and helping with sealing a hole in the brick near a chimney, as we wanted to make sure there was no way for additional birds to get in. he was helpful in explaining what types of insulation were available and what he recommended, again not pushing the highest cost choice as it didn't add that much to the rating. my only complaint was that his workers did not clean up after themselves, and let the old insulation blow around the yard, but once Patrick was told, he cleaned it all up and apologized.
Description of Work: Checked out insulation throughout the building. Sealed and put in insulation in the attic crawl space and cleaned out all the dead animals/birds (long neglected house that the developers didn't manage well). Replaced a nearly new but minimally functional exhaust fan in the bathroom, so that the insulation seal would not be broken in the future. Fixed (reseated) a light fixture that fell in due to clean up from the bats in the attic. Put in insulation under the sun porch, put in extra insulation in basement around pipes. Provided an estimate for furnace work that I chose not to do.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,550
Mark N.
06/2013
5.0
energy audit, insulation
+ 0 more
Wonderful experience. Patrick came out and did a very thorough audit, and found many things that could be improved. He provided a very clear .pdf of possible improvement opportunities, and allowed me to pick and prioritize. My home was built in 1999, but was woefully under-insulated. He and his partner came at 7am, and worked for 12 hours and completed the entire project. He showed me exactly what was done, and even took off several hundred dollars from the estimate because he didn't use as much insulation as he anticipated. Since the job was completed, I instantly noticed a marked improvement in the cooling of my upstairs, with the heat pump having to run much less, and the temperature able to reach much lower. Great experience, would definitely recommend this company without reservation.
Description of Work: Home energy audit, insulation of attic
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Service Categories
Energy Efficiency Auditing,
Insulation,
General Remodeling,
Lighting,
Electrical,
Ceiling Fans,
Roofing,
Windows,
Drywall,
Doors,
Interior Painting,
Kitchen and Bath Remodeling
FAQ
Positive Energy Construction Co. is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5.
Positive Energy Construction Co. accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Financing Available,MasterCard,PayPal,Visa
No, Positive Energy Construction Co. does not offer free project estimates.
Yes, Positive Energy Construction Co. offers eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Positive Energy Construction Co. does not offer a senior discount.
No, Positive Energy Construction Co. does not offer emergency services.
Yes, Positive Energy Construction Co. offers warranties.
Positive Energy Construction Co. offers the following services: Comprehensive building envelope upgrades (i.e. new roofs, siding, doors & windows); lighting upgrades; heating & cooling system consulting & upgrades; air leakage sealing; cellulose & spray foam insulation; high-performance ventilation. General remodeling.