Design-Build Contractor in Chevy Chase, MD
Chevy Chase's Six Permit Jurisdictions — The Most Complex Permit Landscape in Montgomery County
No other community in the DMV region presents a more complex permit landscape than Chevy Chase. Understanding which jurisdiction governs your property is the first thing DMV-GC Group does for every Chevy Chase project — before any design work begins:
| Jurisdiction | Type | Notable Neighborhoods / Streets | How We Confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village of Chevy Chase | Incorporated village — own permit office | Chevy Chase Circle area, Manor Road, Grafton Street, East/West of Connecticut Ave north of the DC line | ✓ Parcel address lookup at consultation |
| Chevy Chase Section 3 | Incorporated village — own permit office | Drummond Avenue, Leland Street, Willard Avenue corridors | ✓ Parcel address lookup at consultation |
| Chevy Chase Section 5 | Incorporated village — own permit office | McKinley Street, Oliver Street, Patterson Street area | ✓ Parcel address lookup at consultation |
| Village of Somerset | Incorporated village — own permit office | Somerset area along Wisconsin Avenue corridor north of DC | ✓ Parcel address lookup at consultation |
| Village of Friendship Heights | Incorporated village — own permit office | Friendship Heights area near Wisconsin Ave / Western Ave | ✓ Parcel address lookup at consultation |
| Unincorporated MoCo | MoCo DPS — 2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton | Chevy Chase addresses outside all five village limits | ✓ Parcel address lookup at consultation |
Chevy Chase's Historic Homes — What Design-Build Must Preserve and What It Modernizes
🏠 The Chevy Chase estate renovation philosophy: Chevy Chase's 1920s–1950s colonials, tudors, and cape cods contain original details that are genuinely irreplaceable — old-growth heart pine and Douglas fir hardwood floors denser and more stable than anything available today; hand-crafted door and window millwork profiles that mass production cannot replicate; plaster walls with a finish quality that modern drywall does not match. The renovation philosophy that DMV-GC Group brings to Chevy Chase projects starts with identification and preservation of these details, then layers in the modern function — open kitchen-to-family-room connection, primary bath expansion, HVAC modernization, electrical upgrade — that the home's bones can support. Additions designed to complement the original architecture. Interiors that honor the home's character while delivering what a 2020s family needs. Chevy Chase homeowners invest significantly in these homes; their design-build projects deserve architects who understand what makes the investment worth protecting.
Our In-House Design-Build Team for Chevy Chase Projects
Design-Build Services We Offer in Chevy Chase, MD
Home Additions
Rear additions, side additions, and second-story additions for Chevy Chase's historic colonials, tudors, and cape cods — at the estate scale these homes and lots support. Chevy Chase's typical lot sizes (8,000–20,000+ sq ft) provide substantial addition potential within the applicable village or county zoning setback and lot coverage requirements. Our architects design additions that are indistinguishable in character from the original home — matched roofline profiles, period-appropriate windows and cladding, exterior materials that read as part of the original construction. Every addition project begins with the correct village permit office confirmed and the structural engineering assessment completed before concept design is presented.
Kitchen Remodeling
Full design-build kitchen renovations for Chevy Chase's historic homes — at a quality level the homes deserve. Original galley kitchens in 1930s colonials redesigned into open kitchen-family room connections; butler's pantry spaces incorporated into expanded kitchen footprints; custom cabinetry, quartzite or marble countertops, and professional-grade appliances specified by our architects and installed by our in-house trades. Knob-and-tube wiring and galvanized supply assessed at consultation and addressed in scope — not discovered mid-construction. All trades in-house. Village or MoCo permit as confirmed by parcel.
Bathroom Renovation
Primary suite bathroom expansions, guest bath renovations, and powder room redesigns for Chevy Chase's estate homes — at the finish level these homes merit. Chevy Chase primary baths in 1930s–1950s colonials are frequently under-scaled relative to the home's overall size — our architects identify expansion into adjacent dressing rooms, closet space, or hallway areas, designing primary bathroom suites that match the scale and character of Chevy Chase's finest homes. Heated tile floors, freestanding soaking tubs, frameless glass, custom vanity millwork. All plumbing in-house; galvanized supply replaced when walls are open.
Open-Concept Conversion
Load-bearing wall removal and open floor plan creation for Chevy Chase's formal colonial layouts — done with the structural engineering and historic sensitivity these homes require. Chevy Chase's 1920s–1940s colonials were designed with formal room separation that does not suit modern family life — but removing walls in homes with 100-year-old structural conditions requires engineering that confirms load-bearing status, specifies the correct beam for the span, and designs the structural solution to minimize ceiling disruption in rooms with original plaster and period millwork. Our structural engineers walk Chevy Chase homes and assess every condition before any design is finalized. Permits filed with the correct village office.
ADU Construction
Detached ADUs, carriage house conversions, and lower-level ADU units for Chevy Chase's larger lots — designed with the architectural sensitivity Chevy Chase's historic character demands. ADUs in Chevy Chase require design that complements the primary home's period vocabulary — carriage-house scaled structures with compatible materials, rooflines, and window proportions that belong in a Chevy Chase historic neighborhood. Our architects design Chevy Chase ADUs to look like they were planned alongside the original home. Village permit coordination for exterior scope on incorporated village properties.
Historic Hardwood Preservation
Assessment, repair, and refinishing of Chevy Chase's original old-growth heart pine, Douglas fir, and white oak hardwood floors — species that are no longer available in the widths and densities present in pre-1950 Chevy Chase homes. Our hardwood specialists assess remaining floor depth (sanding cycles available), board stability, and finish condition before any recommendation is made. Refinishing to natural or period-appropriate stain is always the preferred option where the floor can support it — replacement is a last resort, and when replacement is necessary, we source period-compatible species and profiles to maintain visual continuity with preserved original sections.
Whole-Home Renovation
Complete interior transformations of Chevy Chase's 1920s–1950s historic colonials and tudors — preserving original details while systematically modernizing what the home's systems require. Coordinating architectural redesign, structural modifications, full electrical rewiring where knob-and-tube is present, galvanized supply replacement, HVAC modernization, kitchen and bathroom renovation, hardwood refinishing or selective replacement, and all finishes under one contract. The design-build model is most valuable in Chevy Chase whole-home renovations where a single project manager coordinating all in-house trades — rather than a homeowner managing separate architect, GC, electrician, plumber, and hardwood contractor — is the difference between a renovation that honors the home and one that fragments it.
Electrical & Systems Modernization
Chevy Chase's pre-1940 homes frequently have original knob-and-tube wiring and 60–100-amp service that cannot support modern kitchens, HVAC systems, EV chargers, or home technology installations without full electrical upgrade. Our in-house licensed electricians assess the existing system at the consultation, include the full upgrade scope in the project contract, and execute panel replacement to 200-amp service and complete rewiring when walls are open during renovation — not as a separately priced, separately scheduled engagement that requires reopening completed walls.
Design-Build Process for Chevy Chase Historic Homes
Free Consultation — Jurisdiction Confirmed, Historic Conditions Assessed
We visit your Chevy Chase home with our architect and project manager. First: confirm permit jurisdiction by parcel address — which of the five villages, or unincorporated MoCo. Second: walk the home with full historic sensitivity — noting original hardwood species and condition, original millwork profiles worth preserving, plaster wall condition, knob-and-tube wiring presence, galvanized plumbing where visible, load-bearing walls in planned conversion areas. For addition projects, walk the exterior and assess the lot's zoning parameters under the applicable jurisdiction. No cost, no obligation — and no assumption about jurisdiction.
Concept Design — Historic Character Central, Not An Afterthought
Our architects develop concept designs with Chevy Chase's historic architectural vocabulary integrated from the first sketch. For additions: period-appropriate rooflines, window proportions, and exterior materials specified in the concept — not applied as a correction after the homeowner rejects a generic design. For interior renovations: original detail preservation plan established before design direction is set — which original floors are refinished, which millwork profiles are replicated in new work, which plaster walls are preserved. Budget-accurate from day one — old-home conditions assessed at consultation are priced into the concept, not discovered at bid.
Design Development & Estate-Level Material Selection
Detailed drawings, 3D renderings, and material selections calibrated to Chevy Chase's quality expectations. Quartzite or marble countertops. Custom painted inset cabinetry. Unlacquered brass or oil-rubbed bronze hardware. Wide-plank white oak or period-compatible hardwood where new flooring is specified. Natural stone tile in primary bathrooms. Specifications that match the home's character — not builder-grade finishes dressed up with a premium price.
Permit Filing — Correct Village, First Time
Complete permit packages filed with the confirmed correct jurisdiction — the specific Chevy Chase village permit office or MoCo DPS at 2425 Reedie Drive, as determined by parcel lookup at the consultation. Structural drawings, energy documentation, and all required supporting materials included in the initial submission. Village permit review processes managed in-house — homeowners never contact any village permit office during their project. Review responses, supplemental requests, and inspection scheduling all managed by DMV-GC Group from filing through permit close.
Construction — Historic Sensitivity Maintained Throughout
Demolition executed with historic details protected — original hardwood floors covered and protected from construction traffic; original millwork removed and stored where it will be reinstalled; plaster walls preserved where not in scope. Structural framing, electrical (full rewiring and panel upgrade where scoped), plumbing (galvanized supply replacement, rough-in reconfiguration), HVAC modernization, drywall or plaster repair, tile, custom cabinetry, flooring (original hardwood refinished; new installation in period-compatible species where required), and all finishes. One project manager. Weekly updates.
Village Inspections, Punch List & Permit Close
All required inspections scheduled and managed through the correct village or county permit authority. Detailed punch list review upon completion — at Chevy Chase's finish level, the punch list review is thorough. Permit closed with the correct jurisdiction. Written warranty documentation. Your Chevy Chase historic home is fully renovated, fully permitted, and maintained in the character that makes it worth the investment.
Design-Build Project Costs in Chevy Chase, MD
| Project Type | Typical Design-Build Cost in Chevy Chase | Design & Permits Included |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Remodel (estate quality) | $55,000 – $175,000+ | Layout, renderings, custom spec, village permit |
| Primary Bathroom Expansion | $45,000 – $130,000+ | Layout expansion, custom vanity spec, village permit |
| Open-Concept Conversion (load-bearing) | $25,000 – $70,000+ | Structural engineering, beam spec, village permit |
| Rear or Second-Story Addition | $200,000 – $700,000+ | Historic-sensitive arch. drawings, structural eng., village permit |
| ADU / Carriage House | $100,000 – $350,000+ | Period-compatible design, zoning review, village permit |
| Electrical Modernization (within scope) | $10,000 – $35,000+ | Panel upgrade to 200A+, full rewiring where walls open |
| Historic Hardwood Refinishing | $4,000 – $18,000+ | Depth assessment, species-compatible stain, period finish |
| Whole-Home Renovation | $250,000 – $900,000+ | Comprehensive design, all old-home conditions, village permit |
What Chevy Chase Homeowners Say About DMV-GC Group
"We added a rear addition to our 1938 Chevy Chase tudor — new primary suite, expanded mudroom, and breakfast room off the kitchen. DMV-GC Group confirmed our address was Village of Chevy Chase — not MoCo DPS — and filed the permit with the Village. The architect designed the addition to match our original slate roof, stone foundation, and casement windows exactly. Every neighbor has said the addition looks like it was original to the house. It is the best money we have ever spent on this property."
"Our 1929 Chevy Chase Section 3 colonial had the original knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized supply pipes, and a 60-amp fused panel that was a fire hazard. DMV-GC Group did our full kitchen renovation and absorbed the complete electrical upgrade — new 200-amp panel, full rewiring of the first floor, new circuits for the kitchen appliances — into the kitchen scope, executed while the walls were already open. The electrical upgrade alone would have cost $25,000 as a standalone project requiring its own wall openings. As part of the kitchen, it added $11,000 to our contract."
"We did a whole-home renovation of our 1935 Somerset colonial — kitchen, three bathrooms, open-concept conversion on the main floor, and finished basement. DMV-GC Group filed with the Village of Somerset permit office. Their hardwood specialist refinished our original Douglas fir floors rather than replacing them — the floors are now the best feature in the house. Three other contractors we interviewed had recommended replacement. Every original detail that could be preserved was."
"We built a detached carriage house ADU behind our 1941 Chevy Chase colonial. DMV-GC Group designed the unit to look like a 1940s outbuilding — board-and-batten wood siding, divided-light windows, copper gutters matching the main house. Our Section 5 village permit was filed correctly on first submission. We rent the ADU for $2,400/month. The design quality is what makes it rent at that level — it reads as a premium accessory structure on a premium Chevy Chase property."
⭐ 4.9-star rated with 97+ verified reviews. Chevy Chase homeowners trust DMV-GC Group for design-build projects that confirm the correct permit jurisdiction across all six Chevy Chase authorities, design additions and renovations with the historic sensitivity these homes require, preserve original old-growth hardwood and historic millwork where possible, and deliver estate-quality results worthy of Montgomery County's most architecturally significant residential community.
Serving All Chevy Chase, MD Villages and Neighborhoods
Also serving Bethesda, MD — immediately west of Chevy Chase
Bethesda's estate-level homes share Chevy Chase's architectural vintage and quality expectations. DMV-GC Group brings the same historic-home design-build expertise and estate-level finish standards west along Bradley Boulevard, Millwood Road, and the full Bethesda residential corridor. View our full design-build service page →