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 permit”? The answer is yes in almost all cases. Whether re-configuri...

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 house was built. Such bathrooms are ...

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, and as is outli...

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 elements: a commo...

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 that outside of often being unethical, change orders are simply bad business. If adequate time an...

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 clients as is illust...

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. Most DC con...

In the world of home remodeling, no two jobs are exactly alike. Even in projects such as kitchen renovations that seemingly involve all the same basic elements (cabinets, appliances, countertops and backsplash), subtle, and sometimes not so subtle differences present themselves and have to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. That being said, we have worked to system...

On many occasions we’ve heard the following or similar sentiments expressed by a homeowner after consulting on a bathroom renovation in an older home in the Washington, DC area: “But my bathroom is only eight feet by five feet. How in the world can such a small space possibly cost thirty thousand dollars to remodel? That’s crazy!” And yes, it is crazy but it’s also tr...

Introductions and an Overview of the Existing Space Bathroom walk-through, together with you. We would like you to tell us what you like and dislike about the space. Walk through basement and other relevant areas of the house to assess existing infrastructure including the water heater, electrical panel and heating/cooling system(s). Measurements and quick sketch: We ...