Sunroom Addition in a Historic Bethesda, Maryland Neighborhood

In the Carderock Springs neighborhood of Bethesda, Maryland is a home with a recently completed sun room expansion. While this may not seem extraordinary at first, consider how residential planner Edmund Bennett's execution of this 1960's-era community earned it an official spot  on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places.

Consequently, homeowners looking to modify their houses here are forced to abide by strict standards enforced by various covenants and an Architectural Review Committee (ARC). These regulatory bodies are legally required to maintain Carderock's architectural aesthetic, making contracting more of a challenge.

Your Contractor, The International Residential Code (IRC), and You

The world around us is evolving, from the technology we use to the clothes we wear to the fads we follow. It makes sense, then, that the construction industry around us is changing as well. Ten years ago, the “correct” ways to build a house, deck, or screened-in porch were completely different from the approved methods of today.

So how does a contractor keep up-to-date with constantly changing building standards, rules, and techniques? To do so, a reputable and trustworthy contractor must be intimately familiar with every page in the latest edition of the IRC.

If you live in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, you know the weather isn’t always kind to us. During the winter, cold rain can blanket the ground in frost. During the spring, storms stir up debris. On summer days, the hot sun beats down onto our sidewalks, and come nightfall, insects emerge in droves.

So how can you enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors while staying safe from harsh elements and pesky pests? One solution is to build a screened porch. The cost of your total project will be significantly affected by the type of decking material you choose. In this post, we’ll delve a little deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of two popular types of decking material — hardwood vs. Zuri decking.

Choosing the Right Deck Boards for Your Hot Tub Deck Project This Year

When winter descends on the District, many homeowners stack up their deck chairs and retreat into the warmth of their house. Many decks in Maryland and Virginia are neglected as a result during cold spells.

This is not the case for hot tub owners because hey, the best part of being cold is getting warm again! Between fire pits and Infratech outdoor heaters, decks in Maryland and Virginia are capable of being winter-friendly. However, unlike these porch add-ons, standard and recessed hot tubs require special decking accommodations.

        A crumbling pool deck made out of concrete; a decrepit swimming pool unused by her, her husband, or their grown family; a five-year-old screened porch too small to serve any function, tacked onto her house as more of an afterthought during an otherwise stellar kitchen renovation. One Bethesda homeowner decided her backyard was in need of a rejuvenation, and we were more than happy to help.