by Steven Hershberger | Mar 27, 2013
Recently, we wrote a blog post about what permits were needed to renovate a bathroom in Montgomery County: https://fourbrothers.wpengine.com/what-permits-are-neewhat-permits-are-needed-for-montgomery-county-bathroom-remodeling-projects/. Several of our readers asked us to do the same for a Washington DC Remodel. Much like kitchens, even simple projects for DC bathroom contractors require a permit. As a general rule, if you are updating
by Steven Hershberger | Mar 23, 2013
One of the most common requests we get for Washington DC bathroom remodeling projects are converting a tub to a walk-in shower. Homeowners considering this renovation typically have two questions: 1. Is it possible to convert my bathtub into a walk-in shower? 2. In so doing, will the resale value of my home decrease? The
by Steven Hershberger | Feb 2, 2013
A Change Order as loosely defined by Wikipedia is: A component of the change management process whereby changes in the scope of work agreed to by the Owner, Contractor and Architect are implemented. When executed appropriately, a change order can be a valuable (and necessary) tool. Frequently however, contractors use change orders to exploit their
by Steven Hershberger | Mar 8, 2013
Knowing which permits and inspections you will need when renovating a bathroom in the Washington DC area can be confusing. Each state and county has a different process. This post will focus on the rules and regulations in Montgomery County. The first question many people ask us, is “Do I even need a
by Steven Hershberger | Mar 6, 2013
Bathrooms can be challenging spaces to design and remodel, often due to constraints posed by the existing bathroom layout and surrounding rooms. In the Washington, DC area, existing bathrooms will generally fall into one of four categories: Bathrooms in older homes which are original in both footprint and design to the era when the
by Steven Hershberger | Mar 5, 2013
There are two basic kinds of bathroom remodeling projects: a pull and replace renovation, and a comprehensive bathroom remodel. Since no two bathrooms are identical, there will always be variations, but the work scopes involved for bathrooms that fall within the same category are usually pretty standard. These are two very different approaches however,
by Steven Hershberger | Feb 27, 2013
No two bathrooms are exactly alike. Particularly when working in older homes common in the Washington, DC area there are many unique spaces. Often areas that were not initially intended to be bathrooms have been converted to bathrooms, creating interesting and challenging spaces. That being said, most bathrooms involve a combination of the same basic
by Steven Hershberger | Feb 12, 2013
Change Orders: The C-Word, Part 2 Because many homeowners have become hip to the change-order hustle that many contractors run (see Change Orders: The C-Word, Part 1), there is often no better way to alienate a client than to start throwing the C-Word around during the course of a renovation. The truth is
by Steven Hershberger | Jan 26, 2013
In the remodeling industry, building a stable of trusted trade partners is essential. Every renovation we do in Washington, DC – be it a small kitchen project, or a full-scale addition – will involve some electrical, plumbing, HVAC or other specialty task(s). Furthermore, trade specific permits are often required, which a licensed professional must obtain.
by Steven Hershberger | Jan 22, 2013
Contributed by Christopher LaMora, Designer/CAD Specialist at Four Brothers What is an Architect? We are an interesting lot. We all come from a similar schooling and background; but each one of us possess a unique perspective that is individually our own. We are outside the box thinkers, designers, technical drafters, coordinators of all things