An Honest Contractor in Central Ohio Who Shows Up and Gets the Job Done Right
Remember how excited I was to finally find someone who could fix our gutters and do it right? (Still thankful for Vex Gutters!) Well, I’ve got another name for your list—Gerald from Stratton Construction and Renovations, an honest contractor here in Central Ohio who takes pride in doing things the right way. If your old house is like ours—with a list of quirks and repairs a mile long—you’ll want to keep reading. Gerald’s the kind of contractor you hold onto.
**This is not a paid post - I do not work as an influencer for businesses for money. I enjoy sharing businesses who I have personally worked with in my area who are doing things right and who are honest. If you are in the local area, give Gerald a call, you won't be disappointed.**
The Truth? Good Help Is Hard to Find
Reliable home repair professionals are becoming harder and harder to come by. And the ones who are honest, skilled, and actually show up and do what they say they will? They’re practically unicorns.
I try not to let the bad experiences take up too much space here. This blog is my happy place, and I want it to be yours too. But let’s be real—if we never talk about the good and the bad, how will any of us know who to trust?
So today, I want to introduce you to Gerald from Stratton Construction and Renovations, someone who’s doing things the right way in a world where too many others are cutting corners.
When a Roofer Fails, a Contractor Steps In
After our experience with a certain roofer from Pickerington (which I’ve mentioned before), I wasn’t feeling too confident about hiring anyone new. But then John from Vex Gutters gave me Gerald’s name, and I’m so glad he did.
From the moment Gerald showed up, I could tell—this guy cares about his work. I’ve asked him a million questions (surprise, surprise), and he’s answered every one with patience and knowledge. He knows what he’s doing, he communicates well, and he actually shows up. That right there puts him ahead of 90% of the people I’ve worked with.
Gutter Brackets That Weren’t Really Doing Anything
Our gutter was damaged when the new roof was installed. Technically, the roofer “installed” them... if you count leaving them hang on one side of the gutter and calling it a day.
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| The brackets were never installed when they repaired the gutter that was damaged |
Gerald noticed the problem immediately when he removed the gutter to make repairs. The brackets were only attached on one side—totally useless. From the ground, everything looked okay (that’s where I’ve been observing), but they would’ve never held up in heavy rain—or worse, an Ohio ice storm.
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| This is the proper way a gutter bracket is to be installed |
Why Gutter Support Brackets Matter
Poorly installed (or not installed) brackets lead to sagging, overflow, and eventually a total gutter collapse. Gutters must be properly secured to handle rain, snow, and debris—especially in colder climates like ours.
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| It takes time, but all of the brackets are now installed properly |
Gerald didn’t just fix the issue. He walked me through it, explained the why, showed me the how, and then installed every single bracket the right way.
That’s the kind of care you don’t find often anymore.
A Resourceful Fix for Our Siding
If you recall, our siding had a slit cut into it for "kick-out flashing", thanks to—you guessed it—that same roofer. I worried about moisture, and my neighbor who is an architect said I should worry about insects too. Regardless, it needed repaired. I will honestly say, I wasn't especially excited about siding that would not match the rest.
Now, I’ve dealt with the upsell before: order more materials than needed, return the “extras,” and pocket the refund.
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| Remember this? |
But Gerald didn’t play that game.
He asked if we had any spare siding on hand, and can you believe I found some tucked away in our garage ceiling inside a box? He used exactly what we had - total surprise, I had exactly the amount we needed? It was a wonderful day in my world. No waste, no fuss, no “we’ll need to order more.”
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| All of the siding was removed and replaced here |
It matches perfectly because it is what they originally used after all, and he didn’t try to make the job any bigger than it had to be. He just did the work, and did it well. He also pointed out to me that we will need to watch the valleys in our roof since he caught another no, no.
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| Gerald tested the wood, it looks terrible, but it is still sturdy and was covered with the siding, see above |
The ice shield membrane is supposed to go up each side of the valley 5-7 inches, do you see what we have here? What a 1/2 inch, maybe an inch? He said there is a good possibility we could have leaks in the future. Isn't that what we just paid to have repaired?
Bonus Work: A Long-Awaited Outdoor Socket
While Gerald was here, I asked if he could install an outdoor socket on our garage. We’ve needed one forever, but an electrician who was supposed to give us a quote never followed up. Sound familiar?
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| Outside of garage, no bells and whistles here |
Gerald said, “No problem,” and that was that.
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| Two happy home owners because of this |
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| Do you know how many more DIY projects can be completed now? |
He installed the outlet, matched the trim to our siding, and added a proper weatherproof cover—even though it’s under a covered porch. It’s those small touches (that also happen to be code!) that tell you everything you need to know about how he works.
A Storm Door Saved
I was so impressed with Gerald’s work, I called him back to take a look at our storm door. This thing is no big box special—it’s a heavy-duty security door with a real brass handle and a dual-lock system. The person who looked at it last told me to replace it entirely because the handle was loose and jiggly.
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| You never notice things until you begin photographing and sharing, peeling paint Cara? I always tell you, real life here, and this is an example I just never noticed it. |
But you know me… I’d rather live with a wobbly handle than toss out something vintage that still has life in it. Gerald didn’t just fix it—he took the whole thing apart, figured it out, and then showed me how to fix it myself if it happens again. That’s the kind of person he is.
He even recommended lithium grease (garage-door kind!) to loosen the sticky lock. It’s little things like that—practical, helpful, thoughtful—that make me wish I’d found him sooner.
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| Here we are, all fixed up! You know, it really is the small things in life, like a working door handle |
Looking Ahead: Floor Joists and More
Next on our list? Scabbing the floor joists in our basement. They were cut decades ago during the A/C install for duct work. Someone must have misjudged since the duct work was not actually installed in that particular place, and the floor has a noticeable slope. Gerald indicated he could make these structural repairs and they would come first—before anything cosmetic—and that’s the kind of thinking I appreciate.
Then, we're off to the races to see what we can dream up, and he can make happen around here. I have to say, I am looking forward to the dreaming part myself and then seeing it come to life. So, stay tuned for the next Gerald project, because you know I will be sharing what we are working on here.
He Gets It—Vintage Homes Matter
Gerald appreciates the value of old materials. He doesn’t just rip things out to start over. He’s worked with salvaged wood, original trim, plaster, and all the quirky things that come with older homes. That right there is a valuable skill set.
Too many contractors want to gut everything because they don’t know how to work with what’s already there. But Gerald? He knows how, is willing—and more importantly, he knows why it’s worth preserving.
If you're like me and you'd take plaster walls over drywall or vintage cabinets over particleboard—you want someone like Gerald on your team.
Spotlight: Gerald from Stratton Construction and Renovations
Gerald recently struck out on his own after years of working for custom home builders. He is currently working solo, communicates clearly, and takes pride in what he does. If you need someone who respects your home—especially if it's older—he’s your guy.
Here’s just a snapshot of what he can do:
Interior Work:
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Light electrical (outlets, fixtures - just ask him, he will let you know if it's not something he is comfortable with)
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Plumbing relocation (you know I asked)
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Trim installation & repair
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Cabinet installation & modification
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Insulation (if you haven't done this to your home, I highly suggest it, we saved $100 on our electric bill the following month once we insulated our attic)
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Drywalling & plaster/drywall repair
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Subfloor replacement & patching
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Wall framing
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Scabbing floor joists (I cannot wait for this to happen)
Exterior Work:
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Siding installation/replacement & repair
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Porch repairs (yep, he fixed us all up)
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Exterior trim & molding
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Window & door installation (he worked for a well known window company in our area)
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Storm door installation
What he doesn’t do:
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Roofing
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Concrete work
🛠 Who to Call for Honest Home Repairs in Central Ohio
If you’re tired of no-shows, quick fixes, or contractors who talk in circles, Gerald is the kind of guy you want on your side. He’s reliable, skilled, and treats your home like it’s his own. Whether you're working with plaster walls, salvaged trim, or just want someone who won’t try to upsell you on things you don’t need—Gerald gets it.
So yes, I’m sharing his name the same way I shared Vex Gutters—because good neighbors don’t gatekeep.
📍 Stratton Construction and Renovations – Serving Central Ohio
📞 Call Gerald: 740-652-5460
📧 Email: strattonconstruction19@gmail.com
👉 Save this number. Pin this post. Tell your friends. Because finding an honest contractor in Central Ohio shouldn’t feel like winning the lottery—but it kind of does.
