Five One Eight Contracting, LLC has officially been named a 2026 IABE National Excellence Award winner — one of the highest honors the International Association for Business Excellence gives out, and a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of businesses evaluated nationally each year.
This isn’t a local or regional honor. The National Excellence Award is reserved for businesses whose standard of operation holds up against companies across the entire country, not just their home market. To qualify, an applicant has to clear performance benchmarks — across Digital Presence, Customer Reputation, Operational Standing, Industry Tenure, and Professional Integrity — that place them ahead of more than 97% of the businesses IABE evaluates nationwide. Five One Eight Contracting cleared every one of those benchmarks.
You can view their full, independently verifiable recognition page here: Five One Eight Contracting — 2026 IABE Excellence Award Winner.
Who Is Five One Eight Contracting?
Based in Cockeysville, Maryland, with a second office in Tysons Corner, Virginia, Five One Eight Contracting has spent years building its name across the Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington D.C., and Virginia region — not through the biggest ad budget, but through the kind of word-of-mouth reputation that only comes from actually finishing the job right.
The company is led by owner Matthew Solel, and the philosophy driving the business is simple: total client satisfaction, real transparency, and craftsmanship that holds up. Whether it’s a small remodel, a full basement renovation, or a ground-up home addition, the team approaches every job the same way — with enough planning up front that surprises don’t derail the project halfway through.
What Five One Eight Contracting Does
Five One Eight isn’t a one-trick contractor. Their service list covers a lot of ground:
- Kitchen Remodeling — full kitchen transformations, from layout and cabinetry to lighting and appliances
- Custom Bathroom Renovation
- Custom Saunas — full custom home sauna design and installation
- Trim Carpentry & Custom Built-Ins
- Additions & Remodels
- Decks & Patios
- EV Charging Installation
- Residential & Commercial Windows & Doors — including work as a Pella Platinum Elite Certified Contractor, a title held by fewer than 1% of contractors in the entire country
- General Contracting
They also offer project financing through Synchrony, removing one of the biggest barriers that keeps homeowners from starting a renovation they actually need.
Why Clients Keep Coming Back
Five One Eight’s client feedback shows a consistent pattern: responsiveness from the very first phone call, clear communication on project timelines, and pricing that matched exactly what was promised — no surprise costs showing up halfway through. Multiple clients specifically mention hiring the team again for a second or third project, or referring them directly to family and friends.
That reputation is backed up by recognition beyond IABE as well: a HomeAdvisor Screened & Approved contractor, six consecutive years as a Best of Houzz award winner (2016 through 2022), and a full 5 out of 5 stars on Houzz, where they also carry a “Recommended” badge.
Five One Eight Contracting Locations
Main Office & Showroom 10744 York Rd., Cockeysville, MD 21030 443-595-6695
Washington D.C. & Virginia Office 8609 Westwood Center Dr., Suite 110, Tysons Corner, VA 22182 703-340-1418
Licensed MHIC# 109150, MHBR #8319, DE#2020101569 — serving Maryland, Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington D.C., and Virginia.
Connect With Five One Eight Contracting
- Visit their website: Five One Eight Contracting
- Contact them directly: Contact Five One Eight Contracting
- Follow them on Facebook: Five One Eight Contracting on Facebook
About the IABE National Excellence Award
The National Excellence Award is one of four recognition levels offered by the International Association for Business Excellence, alongside City, Regional, and International — and among the most difficult to earn. Every level applies the same published five-pillar standard across every industry: Digital Presence, Customer Reputation, Operational Standing, Industry Tenure, and Professional Integrity.
Applications are accepted year-round, there is no cost to apply, and qualified applicants receive a same-day determination. There is no minimum company size requirement — IABE evaluates organizations ranging from independent operators and small businesses to established regional and national companies.
- Learn more about IABE: internationalbusinessexcellence.com
- Apply for IABE recognition: internationalbusinessexcellence.com/apply
