Resources
Remodeling Guides for DMV Homeowners
What a project really involves, what it costs, and the decisions worth making before demolition.
Remodeling Guide
Will I get a fixed price for a remodel?
Which parts of a remodel a contractor can price firmly, which have to stay an allowance until selections are made, and the questions that turn a vague quote into a real number.
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How long does a remodel take?
Where remodels actually lose time, which parts of the schedule the contractor controls and which he does not, and the two decisions on your side that shorten a job most.
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What flooring should I choose for my room?
Five common floors compared room by room on moisture, wear and what it takes to fix one damaged plank. Where each one belongs and where it does not.
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Can you build an in-law suite in my basement?
Egress windows, ceiling height, whether a second kitchen is allowed and whether your jurisdiction recognizes a separate dwelling unit at all. What decides if the plan is legal.
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Do I need to move out during a remodel?
Usually you can, but not always. What makes a project liveable, which ones genuinely are not, and how to set the house up in the week before demolition.
Read More →Basement Ideas
11 Basement Ideas That Make a Dupont Circle Row House Pay You Back
The cheapest square footage in Dupont Circle is under your feet. 11 basement ideas that turn a row house basement into income, a guest suite or the best room you own.
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9 Low Basement Ceiling Ideas for Capitol Hill Row Houses
Old Capitol Hill row house basements run low. 9 ceiling ideas that make the room feel taller, hide the pipes or keep every inch, from black paint to beadboard.
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Most DC Basement Moisture Problems Start in These 5 Places
Most DC row house basement moisture starts in 5 places, and the areaway drain is first. Find yours before you finish the basement, with a 2-day plastic sheet test.
Read More →Kitchen Ideas
8 Kitchen Design Mistakes That Make an Alexandria Kitchen Feel Unconsidered
8 kitchen design mistakes that make a new Alexandria kitchen feel unconsidered, from a lone ceiling light to aisles too tight for two cooks. Catch them before you order.
Read More →Bathroom Ideas
The 7 Worst Bathroom Remodel Mistakes in DC Row Houses
In a DC row house the bathroom sits over the kitchen, so a bathroom mistake shows up in the ceiling below. 7 remodel mistakes to avoid, from waterproofing to vents.
Read More →Basement Ideas
12 Brilliant Basement Office Ideas for Waldorf Homes
12 basement office ideas for Waldorf and St. Charles homes, from a quiet corner desk to a full finished office, for people working from home in Charles County.
Read More →Home Value
Selling in DC? 7 Remodeling Projects Worth Doing and 5 to Skip
Selling in DC? 7 remodeling projects that help a house sell and 5 to skip, plus the historic district rule that changes what you can do to the outside.
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12 Outdated Finishes Buyers Spot First in Waldorf Homes
12 outdated finishes buyers spot first in Waldorf and St. Charles homes, from brass fixtures to popcorn ceilings, and the quick updates that fix them before listing.
Read More →Cost Guide
What does a remodel cost? The five things that move the price
Why two quotes for the same kitchen or bathroom can be far apart, the five things that decide a remodel's price, and which two of them you control.
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Siding repair or replacement: which one do you need?
When a siding repair is enough, when full replacement is the better money, and why the wall behind the siding decides it more often than the siding does.
Read More →Maintenance
Exterior wood maintenance: a yearly checklist for trim, paint and decks
A short yearly walk around the house that catches soft trim, failed caulk and deck problems while they are still small repairs instead of replacements.
Read More →Common Problems
Why does my door stick or my window draft?
The common reasons an exterior door sticks, drags or lets in daylight, and a window drafts or fogs, and which ones are a quick fix instead of a replacement.
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What does a kitchen remodel cost? What moves the price
Why two kitchen quotes can be far apart: the layout, the cabinets, the counters, what is behind the walls and the permit. What you control, and how to get a real number.
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What does a bathroom remodel cost? What moves the price
What decides a bathroom remodel price: whether the fixtures move, tub or shower, how much tile, waterproofing, what is under the floor and the permit. How to get a real number.
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What does it cost to finish a basement? What moves the price
What decides the price of finishing a basement: moisture, ceiling height, egress, a bathroom, a separate rental unit and the permit. What you control and how to get a real number.
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Cabinet refacing or replacement: which does your kitchen need?
Refacing keeps the cabinet boxes and replaces the doors, fronts and finish. Replacement starts over. Which one fits depends on the boxes, the layout and the storage you want.
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Tub-to-shower conversion or full bathroom remodel?
A conversion swaps the tub for a walk-in shower and leaves the rest. A full remodel redoes the room. Which fits depends on the floor, the rest of the room, who uses it and resale.
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Vinyl or fiber cement siding: which one for your house?
Vinyl is cheaper to install and never needs paint. Fiber cement holds paint, takes a hit and does not melt. Which fits depends on the house, the budget and how long you plan to stay.
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