Mariah Kurpel - 434-826-8279

Mariah Kurpel (434-826-8279) of Peace of Mind Property Services (434-361-1804) has provided exceptional plumbing service at our home on the mountain since 2021. She has replaced plumbing fixtures, installed a whole-house water filtration system, and insulated pipes. She responds to texts promptly and she keeps her appointments. I highly recommend her. Submitted by Trevor Campbell. February 2024

We tried Peace of Mind Property Services' plumber Muriah Kurpel (434-361-2804) to install a new kitchen faucet with a soap dispenser. I called on a Monday and got a call back immediately, and once it was determined that it was not an emergency, an appointment was set up for Thursday. Kurper and her assistant arrived on time, moved quickly with good humor, and did a good job working in an awkward space, even filling up the new soap dispenser before leaving. The bill came a few days later and was very reasonable. (I also had an awkward and heavy piece of gear I needed help with to move from the garage to upstairs. I asked if I could hire them for five minutes; they jumped on it for free like good neighbors.) Submitted by Charles Batchelor. October 2024

plumber, plumbers,

Youngs Plumbing - 434-566-5822 or 434-831-1006

We highly recommend Young's Plumbing LLC out of Schuyler, Va. Owner Mike Young and team have fixed a leaky washing machine and kitchen faucet for us at reasonable prices. Cell: 434-566-5822; office 434-831-1006. Submitted by Michele and Chuck Riedel. September 2024

We highly recommend Young’s Plumbing (434-566-5822). We messaged them on Facebook and they quickly responded. These are great people doing great work! Small or large jobs, these plumbers are fast and reliable with meticulous attention to detail. Submitted by Doug and Maryalice Gaskell. November 2022

Youngs Plumbing did a great job for us figuring out our washing machine hook-up issue. They responded quickly to our call, were on time, and within 30  minutes had identified the problem and fixed it. We highly recommend this Schuyler-based company. Their number is 434-831-1006.  May 2023

I just had four faucets installed by Young’s Plumbing (434-566-5822). Mike Young responded quickly to all my calls and showed up right on time, and then proceeded to do an excellent job. Also very reasonable price-wise and very clean. Submitted by Pat Rose. February 2024

Plumbers, plumber,

Lucio Valencia - 434-327-0094

I highly recommend Lucio Valencia-Flores and his team of painters. They did a great job painting the exterior trim of our house. They were timely and efficient and went the extra mile cleaning, scraping, and sanding where needed before painting. They are an extremely hard-working crew. Lucio is friendly and easy to work with, and his prices are fair. He can be reached by email at valencialucio16@gmail.com or call 434-327-0094. Submitted by John Lauler. October 2024

After tolerating the poor exterior paint job on the Wintergreen house I purchased in 2017, I finally broke down and had the house repainted in August 2023. Based on reviews I’d read on WBB, I contacted Lucio Valencia-Flores of DLP Company.  Lucio came to look at the house and provided a bid promptly. He also took photos of trim whose condition was deteriorating, so that I was able to specify what areas I wanted replaced. In addition to obtaining the paint in the color I had selected (after approval by the WPOA Architectural Board, of course!), Lucio arranged to have the rotting trim replaced. We were very pleased with DLP Company’s work – so much so that I recommended Lucio to fellow Wintergreen part-timers, who were equally pleased with the work he did on the interior of their house. Lucio is pleasant and reliable – and he does great work. I highly recommend DLP Company (434-327-0094). Submitted by Ann Anderson. February 2024

We recently used Lucio Valencia (434-327-0094; DLP Painting Company) to paint our home in Stoney Creek and can give them high praise. The team arrived on time and was extraordinarily diligent, courteous, and professional. During the cost estimate process, we asked Lucio if he thought the trim needed to be painted. Though he could have made some extra money, he gave us an honest opinion and said, “No.” They power-washed the house and our storage shed and retrieved a paint sample from the chimney for color matching to paint our home. Our beautiful home now looks years younger. We highly recommend them. Submitted by Noah and Francesca Flood. May 2023

painter, painter, painting, paint, wash,

We would like to recommend a new painting company that is reasonable, efficient, and reliable. DLP Company, located in Charlottesville, recently power washed, re-caulked, and painted our house in Stoney Creek. We were extremely pleased both with the price and with the quality of the job. Contact Lucio Valencia at 434-327-0094. Submitted by Ann and Ray Ashton. September 2022

painter, painters, paint, power-washing,

Ted Campbell- Commonwealth Property Solutions - 540-476-1946

Ted Campbell (Commonwealth Property Solutions, 540-476-1946, teddycampbell@hotmail.com) is who I called to haul away some furniture. He was courteous and responded promptly to my request, working out the details to have two sets of bunk beds removed.  He disassembled and took both sets of bunk beds from my condo on the mountain to a donation center in Fishersville. He was very careful; no walls got banged up when he was carrying parts out and kept all the pieces and parts, nuts and bolts organized. I plan to call on his services again. It is my understanding Teddy also does junk clean-outs including appliance removal, post-construction clean-ups, debris and brush removal from yards, and can bring in mulch and gravel. He will help with furniture moving and assembly as well. Submitted by Fran Albro. January 2024

I'm very happy to recommend Ted Campbell (540-476-1946, teddycampbell@hotmail.com) of Commonwealth Property Solutions. . We live in Henrico and purchased a condo at Wintergreen in September. He assembled a huge bunk bed by himself as well as other pieces of furniture (nightstands, dressers, etc.). We later replaced the tile in the bathroom which left behind quite a bit of heavy debris. Ted came to our rescue and hauled the debris away. He is easy to communicate with and has fair prices. I would not hesitate to recommend Ted to anyone at Wintergreen. Submitted by James Barrett. January 2024

Ted Campbell (540-476-1946, teddycampbell@hotmail.com, Commonwealth Property Solutions) helped us out with debris removal. He was friendly and helpful. He not only took the debris we asked him to come up for he also took a bed frame to be donated to a local charity. He hauled some items from the back of the house up our hill. His good-sized truck and trailer had no problems taking all our items. We highly recommend Ted and would be happy to have him here again if we need his services. Submitted by Yvonne Wheaton. January 2024

Zen Tree Service - 434-260-0959, 434-260-3865

Vince and his team at Zen Tree Services (434-260-3865, vince@zentreeservices.com) are amazing, responsive, reasonably priced, timely, and left all the sites in a better condition than they were before. They removed three trees that were dying and posed a risk to nearby structures, pruned three others next to our house, and chipped everything for mulch. One tree removal was particularly complex, requiring rigging to take down the tree section by section to prevent damage to the shed and nearby trees. We would absolutely use him again. Submitted by Daniel Warner. March 2026

We have just had Zen Tree Service perform significant tree pruning of our 100+-year-old white and red oak trees in Stoney Creek. Vince and the team were prompt and professional. They don't use bucket trucks but rather climb the trees to do the trimming, protecting the roots and adjacent areas. Zen was affordable and the expertise was evident from the first conversation. We highly recommend their services. Zen Tree Services: 434-260-0959 or vince@zentreeservices.com. Submitted by Rob and Tiffany Keaton. December 2023

Silas Home Services - 434-277-9029

I want to give my highest recommendation for Jose Silas of Silas Home Services (434-277-9029). We just engaged him to paint our home and deck, and we are overjoyed by the results! From the beginning of the process to the end, his communication was detailed and timely. They didn't drag out the process, the team worked 10-hour-days, and did the painting by hand. He and his team were meticulous, taking care that every area was absolutely perfect. In today's environment, people don't always do what they say they're going to do, but Jose Silas over-delivered. It is no surprise that he is pretty busy, but he is totally worth waiting for. Submitted by Sara Moore. October 2023

painter, painting,

Albemarle Heating and Air - 434-443-2274

Albemarle Heating and Air (434-443-2274) installed  “mini-splits” on our home which allows us to control the temperatures in individual rooms. Their price was reasonable, the work was done on time, and the units work well.

Mike Voight - 434-277-5214

Mike Voight (434-277-5214) built a cover for part of our deck and did an excellent job. Joao and Vivian Ascensao. October 2023

Henry Heller - 434-996-0823

We recently had our entry raised and handrails installed by Henry Heller (434-996-0823). Henry also took out a window and replaced it with a wall. It was perfect. Henry is a meticulous craftsman with very good ideas. We love the result of his work. Henry shows up on time, cleans up, and his rates are reasonable. Submitted by Ginger Fries. October 2023

Billy VandeVisser - 540-292-4224

Billy VandeVisser (540-292-4224) is a knowledgeable and skilled carpenter who built two sheds and two decks for us. One of the decks was very complicated with varying levels, odd angles, and several staircases. It was serious carpentry. We are engineers and designed the deck. Often, contractors do not like working with engineers because they can be particular. However, Billy worked patiently with us when questions and challenges came up, offering suggestions to resolve issues that we had not considered. Billy is a pleasure with whom to work because he listens and he is reliable and trustworthy. (This is an update to our 2019 and 2021 recommendations.) Submitted by Susan and William Porter. November 2023

patio, deck, woodworking, decking,

Ferro Felling - 434-941-1437

I highly recommend Ferro Felling (434-941-1437) for major tree removal and trimming. His crew did an outstanding job on my property. Not only were they prompt and efficient, but they also cleaned up the job site and asked me to inspect it before they left. I have not dealt with a more courteous and polite crew. The price was reasonable given all the work that had to be done. Submitted by Bruce Baldwin. August 2021

I would like to recommend Ferro Felling for tree service. I have used them on two occasions, most recently to take down a large dead oak that was located between two houses as well as a few other dead trees. They are extremely professional, friendly, and responsive. It is a family business and they all take great pride in their work. Call 434-941-1437, ferrofellingtreeservice.com. Submitted by Stuart Meyerson. July 2021.

Fero Feeling (434-941-1437) provided a quality cord of firewood that made for some good fires. He put us on to Arboristry. Joao and Vivian Ascensao. October 2023

arborist, forest, landscaping

Never Dark Whole House Generators - 434-975-3275

If you're looking for someone to install a whole-house generator, we can recommend Never Dark Whole House Generators (434-975-3275) out of Charlottesville. We placed the order in mid-July and they finished the installation of a Briggs & Stratton last week. This was an upgrade from our rusting 2004 Generac, requiring the placement of new lines and coordination with CVEC and Nelson County. Never Dark took care of everything and brought enough crew to knock out the work quickly. Highly recommended. Submitted by Doreen Stapleton. September 2023

Valley Garage Doors - 540-292-3667

The motor on my garage door died recently. I called Valley Garage Doors (540-292-3667) in Staunton on a Saturday. On the following Wednesday a repair man showed up promptly, replaced the motor, and had the door running up and down like a charm. He did it in about an hour. The bill was $525. I was very satisfied. Submitted by Charles Murphy. September 2023

C and G Paving - 434-531-1205

I recommend C&G Paving for driveway resealing. Good pricing, excellent work, and showed up when promised. Very happy with this driveway sealing. Contact, by text, Jeff Gray at 434-531-1205. (They do not work on the mountain.) Submitted by John Tani. September 2023

coating, driveway, asphalt

Franklin Viar - 434-981-3017

We would like to recommend Franklin Viar (434-981-3017) who painted the entire interior of our home, as well as stained our deck. He did an excellent job. He does all the work himself. He was always on time and cleaned up each day. He was a pleasure to work with. Submitted by Susan and Ray Clark. August 2023.

painter, painting, paint, staining,

Tom Hughes - 540-949-8667

We recently had Tom's Yardscape (tomsyardscape.net, 540-949-TOMS) of Stuarts Draft complete an upgrade to our driveway and yard/house perimeter to remediate drainage issues that caused a soggy corner and add curb appeal to the property. Old mulch under our front and back decks was replaced with gravel; a loose gravel driveway was widened and coated with compact crushed gravel; a pathway was created encircling the house to stop encroaching weed and small plant growth; and a large stone drainage swag was built along the back slope to divert rainwater from the foundation. The new driveway looks almost like asphalt yet will accommodate future tree root growth with ease. Our lot looks prettier while still retaining the greenery characteristics of our mountain environs. Tom Hughes was quick to respond to my inquiry, walked the lot with me to share his ideas. He returned his estimate within days. His son TJ managed the work and has great artistic vision. In fact, he made suggestions as we worked through the job that I accepted immediately due to his thorough description. Their service was quick and professional. I highly recommend this firm to anyone seeking landscaping, stonework, pavers, drainage solutions, or yard design. Submitted by Valerie Passwaiter. July 2023

Kevin Batton - 434-282-4801

Kevin and Tammy Batton (434-282-4801) removed heavy mildew from siding of house, stained front of house, touched up some lower boards, removed and replaced rotten boards on back deck and stained all three decks. As usual, they did beautiful work at a reasonable price. And Tammy also does house cleaning. I have never had anyone clean our house of 35 years but will have her do it when we are down there over Memorial Day week. They are a great team and a pleasure to work with. Submitted by Charles Murphy. May 2025

Kevin Batton (434-282-4801) keeps my cedar wood home well-stained. He was the one who recommended Jeff Walker (540-377-2285) and his assistant Bob to install three new windows in my mountain home. Submitted by Charles Murphy. June 2023

painting, painters

Doug Brooks, Sr. - 540-448-1493

We hired Doug Brooks (540-448-1493) to extend our existing deck to accommodate and support a new hot tub. He was professional, helpful, reliable, and did an amazing job. We highly recommend him. Submitted by David Rogers. April 2025

Doug Brooks (540-448-1493) had several recommendations in previous WBB newsletters, so I called him to remove a built-in bathtub, rebuild the resulting enclosure, and do related tile and plumbing work. Excellent job, and I will call him again when I need any carpentry, plumbing, or tile work. He is very reliable, honest, and competent. Submitted by Jim Mummery. May 2024

I was in a crisis. I ordered a new refrigerator and it didn’t fit. The granite countertop needed to be trimmed. I called Doug Brooks, Sr. (540-448-1493). He was immediately responsive and came the next week to the mountain to fix it. He was clean and neat and very efficient. I would strongly recommend Doug for work. I know he does decks, kitchen renovations, and other furniture projects. He is honest and trustworthy. Submitted by Beth Musick. October 2023

For any work needed around the house I highly recommend Doug Brooks, Sr. (540-448-1493). He and his team recently replaced our back deck and front porch which included adding new sections to each and building steps from the third-story deck to the ground. He is also replacing a sink and installing a new wall cabinet in our laundry room. Doug is very conscientious of doing great work for a fair price. We will be calling him when it's time to remodel our bathroom and upgrade our kitchen. Submitted by Gary Davenport. October 2023

I recommend Doug Brooks, Sr. (540-448-1493; Jesus4me365@gmail.com) who upgraded our bathroom tub and shower. Doug is a very reliable, conscientious, and trustworthy contractor. He definitely goes the extra yard to keep his clients happy. He does more than just bathrooms, he is expert with woodwork as well. Submitted by Loretta Oustrich. July 2023

bath, furniture, decks, kitchen,

Jeff Walker - 540-377-2285

Jeff Walker (540-377-2285) and his assistant Bob installed three new windows in my mountain home. They were courteous, competent, and very reasonable. They did a beautiful job, finishing it in just two days.

Jeff was recommended to me by Kevin Batton (434-282-4801), who keeps my cedar wood home well-stained. The windows were purchased from the Cardinal Home Center in Crozet; Ron McManamay (434-823-1387) handled the order and made all the critical measurements. Submitted by Charles Murphy. June 2023

Central Virginia Residential Services - 540-874-2877

Central Virginia Residential Services (540-874-2877) just renovated the outdated yellow bathroom in our condo. First, Charles Grandstaff reviewed pictures and discussed possibilities over the phone. I was impressed with his professionalism and detailed recommendations, so we arranged a meeting in person. He took his time discussing ideas, then promptly returned a detailed estimate and contract via email. He listened to my ideas, offered adaptations, and offered ideas that I hadn’t thought of, and finally incorporated all of this into the final project. I appreciated his patience and flexibility and how he returned, in the end, to be sure every detail was complete. We trusted him enough to do the renovation while we were away for two weeks. We plan to have him do our master bath as well. Our custom glass doors came from Glass Innovations in Fishersville (540-949-0396). Submitted by Patricia Morris.  June 2023