Dylan Badura

2 articles published
design-build remodeling

What Is Design-Build Remodeling and Why Does It Matter in DC?

Key Takeaways
  • Design-build remodeling keeps design, budgeting, and construction accountable to one team rather than leaving the homeowner to coordinate them.
  • The traditional model asks the homeowner to find their own architect or designer, then hire a contractor separately and manage the relationship between them.
  • Research published by the Design-Build Institute of America found design-build projects are delivered 102% faster than comparable design-bid-build projects, with 3.8% less cost growth.
  • Design-build firms carry a project from feasibility through design, permitting, construction, and warranty support.
  • The approach suits Washington, DC, and Maryland especially well, where aging housing stock, historic review, and layered permitting reward local experience.
  • Choosing a design-build firm comes down to a designer who understands your goals, process transparency, verifiable credentials, and a local track record.
Second Story Addition

Second Story Addition: What Homeowners Need to Know Before They Build

Key Takeaways

  • A second-story addition adds full floors of living space without changing your home's footprint, which suits the tight lots common across Chevy Chase, Bethesda, and Northwest DC.
  • Your foundation, walls, and framing must be evaluated by a structural engineer before the design is finalized.
  • Permits, zoning, and historic review shape what you can build, and timelines differ between Montgomery County and the District.
  • Cost tracks with structural scope and finishes, so plan a 20 to 30 percent contingency and consult on cost during the design phase, not before.