West Chevy Chase
We don’t often work on brick, post-Depression houses, but this one was different. The owners were committed to keeping the front of the house congruent with the other houses on their street, while making the remainder of the house special. The design called for a large three-story addition and complete interior remodeling.
The Detail
The plans called for significant changes to the original roofline. Specifically, a new gable was to be built perpendicular to the original roof. The original slate roof was supported by 2×6 rafters. Framing materials from the 1930s were harvested from mature forests and were significantly stronger than today’s lumber. The plans called for 2×10 framing on the new roof structure. The challenge was joining the old 2×6 framing with the new 2×10 framing at the valley beam so that the inside and outside integrated seamlessly.
“Moving back into our finished home, I noticed a subtle detail. All of the screws securing every doorknob and hinge were perfectly aligned. This is the level of detail David brings to every project.”
