D&D Contracting in Baltimore: Residential Remodeling and Repairs for Homeowners in Canton and Federal Hill
D&D Contracting is a licensed general contractor operating in Baltimore since the early 2000s, handling interior and exterior residential work ranging from kitchen and bathroom remodels to roofing, siding, and structural repairs. The company works primarily in established neighborhoods like Canton, Federal Hill, and Fells Point, where older rowhouses and Victorian homes dominate the market and require skilled trades familiar with load-bearing walls, plaster repair, and period-appropriate materials.
What D&D Contracting Actually Is
D&D is a single-owner operation that takes on projects from initial estimate through final inspection, rather than acting as a general contractor who outsources all work to subcontractors. The owner holds a Maryland Home Improvement License and carries liability insurance. The company does not specialize in new construction or large-scale commercial work; it focuses on the kind of residential interior and exterior work that Baltimore homeowners encounter when renovating or maintaining 1890s-1950s housing stock.
Services and Pricing Structure
D&D handles kitchen and bathroom remodels, roof replacement and repair, siding installation, window replacement, deck building, basement finishing, and general structural repairs. The company also completes smaller jobs: drywall repair, painting, tile work, and plumbing and electrical coordination with licensed trades.
Pricing varies sharply by scope. A bathroom remodel in Baltimore typically ranges from $12,000 to $35,000 depending on fixture quality, tile choices, and whether plumbing lines need relocation. A kitchen remodel runs $25,000 to $65,000 for a modest-to-mid-range project. Roof replacement (asphalt shingles) costs roughly $8,000 to $14,000 for a 2,000-square-foot rowhouse, depending on pitch, existing damage, and whether decking replacement is necessary. Vinyl or fiber-cement siding for a 1,500-square-foot facade runs $6,000 to $12,000.
D&D charges an upfront estimate fee (typically $150 to $300, credited toward the project if hired) and requests a 50% deposit before work begins, with the balance due upon completion and final inspection. Homeowners should confirm current pricing and deposit terms directly, as material costs have fluctuated.
How D&D Compares to Other Baltimore Contractors
Baltimore's general contracting market splits between large firms with showrooms and designer partnerships (like Cornerstone Contracting in Canton or Sage Kitchen and Bath in Harbor East), one-person operations offering lower overhead and faster scheduling, and mid-size crews that balance quality with availability.
Cornerstone Contracting and similar design-integrated firms offer 3D renderings, in-house design consultation, and premium finishes; they charge 15 to 25% more than D&D but handle the aesthetic component entirely. Choose these if you want a designer's eye and don't want to hire separately.
Smaller, one-person contractors often undercut D&D's pricing by 10 to 15% but may lack insurance or licensing verification and typically work alone, extending timelines on larger jobs.
D&D sits in the middle: licensed, insured, experienced with Baltimore's specific housing challenges (old framing, settling foundations, outdated utilities), and willing to take on projects that require both carpentry skill and coordination with trades. The trade-off is that single-owner operations have less scheduling flexibility and longer waiting lists during peak seasons (April through September).
Who D&D Suits and Who It Does Not
D&D works well for homeowners in older Baltimore neighborhoods who need a contractor that understands pre-war construction, can navigate permit requirements, and won't disappear mid-project. It suits homeowners comfortable with a single point of contact and willing to wait 2 to 4 weeks for an estimate and longer during busy months.
D&D is not ideal if you need rapid turnaround (under 3 weeks) or want a contractor with a dedicated design team and showroom. It also may not be the right fit for very large new additions or commercial projects; the company's strength is residential repair and remodeling of existing homes, not new construction.
What the First Visit Involves
Call or email to request an estimate. The owner typically visits the property within 1 to 2 weeks (longer during peak season), assesses the scope in person, and sends a written estimate. This process covers existing conditions, scope of work, materials, labor, timeline, and total cost. Estimates are detailed enough to serve as a basis for permit applications if needed.
Once you accept the estimate, you'll sign a contract specifying the work, timeline (usually 3 to 8 weeks depending on complexity), payment schedule, and what happens if delays occur. Work typically begins within 2 to 4 weeks of contract signing.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
D&D operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with occasional Saturday work by arrangement. The owner can be reached by phone or email to schedule estimates and discuss ongoing projects. Most work happens at the client's home, so parking and site access are the homeowner's responsibility; in dense neighborhoods like Canton, this may mean arranging street permits or confirming alley access before work begins.
Baltimore permits are required for roof work, electrical, plumbing, siding, and structural changes. D&D handles permit applications for most jobs, though you should verify this before signing a contract. Permit approval typically adds 2 to 3 weeks to the timeline.
D&D Contracting fills a gap in Baltimore's contractor landscape by combining licensing and insurance with hands-on expertise in the city's aging housing stock and a willingness to manage the full project lifecycle rather than farm out all trades.
