Renovations and additions
Keeping what is good about a house and changing the rest is harder than building new. It needs a careful survey first and a clear sequence afterward.
Kinds of work
Whole-house renovation
New layout, structure where it is needed, new systems and finishes throughout.
Additions
A wing, a story, a great room, a garage with rooms above, tied properly into the existing structure and roof.
Kitchens and baths
The most worked rooms in the house, and the ones where plumbing, ventilation and millwork have to be exact.
Lower levels
Theaters, bars, gyms and guest suites below grade, with the waterproofing and egress that make them real rooms.
Older and historic houses
Work that respects the original fabric. Some districts add a review step, such as the Old Georgetown Board in Georgetown or historic preservation review in Chevy Chase Village.
Questions about renovating
Can we live in the house during the work?
Sometimes. It depends on how much of the house is opened at once and whether the kitchen and services stay in use. We set that out in preconstruction, before you have to decide.
Will you find surprises once walls are open?
In older houses, often. The survey reduces them and a stated allowance covers the rest, so a discovery is a conversation and not a dispute.
Talk to us about a renovation or addition
Tell us where the site is, what you want to build and when you hope to start.