Existing conditions
We study the house, survey, access, grades and concealed-risk areas before treating a design as ready to build.
Built work and how it moves
Residential construction, from first opening to final detail.
Dena House takes on substantial residential work where design, structure, systems and site conditions have to be resolved together. That includes additions to established homes, major interior reconfiguration and ground-up construction.
The finished room is only one part of the result. We focus equally on the load path behind an opening, the water management below a terrace, the service access around equipment and the sequence that allows each trade to do careful work.
Selected completed work
Garden connections, tailored work space and lower-level amenities—planned as connected parts of the same building.
What the work requires
Responsibility across the whole building.
Major residential construction succeeds when early decisions remain coordinated through the field. These four responsibilities shape how we plan and execute the work.
Structure and enclosure
Foundations, framing, roof transitions, windows, waterproofing and drainage are coordinated as one weather-tight assembly.
Building systems
Electrical capacity, plumbing routes, HVAC distribution, ventilation and required inspections are planned around the architecture.
Finish and closeout
Millwork, tile, flooring, fixtures and paint follow verified dimensions, approved selections and a clear completion process.
Range of work
The scope changes. The discipline does not.
Whether the work expands an existing footprint or rebuilds the house from the inside out, the same questions guide the plan: what carries the load, where water goes, how systems are serviced and what has to happen next.
Additions
New foundations, roof and wall connections, exterior matching, utility extensions and a transition that makes the added space belong to the original house.
Home addition expertise →Major renovations
Structural openings, circulation changes, kitchens, bathrooms and building-system upgrades coordinated through a single construction sequence.
Whole-home renovation →Custom homes
Site work, structure, enclosure, mechanical systems and detailed interiors carried from preconstruction through final approvals and closeout.
Custom-home construction →Construction record
Show the work behind the finish.
Construction photographs are most useful when they explain how a project came together: excavation and foundations, structural connections, rough systems, waterproofing, inspection milestones and the details that disappear after walls close.
Our project record pairs finished photography with the construction questions behind it. That context helps homeowners evaluate more than appearances and understand the planning, coordination and field discipline that support the result.
How the work moves
A construction process built around decisions.
The exact path changes with the project. These five stages keep responsibilities, information and next steps visible from the first conversation through closeout.
01
About 45–60 minutes
Free consultation
We talk through the house, goals, budget range, timing and what has already been designed. For a good fit, the next step is a site visit. You should share any survey, drawings, inspection report and known property history. We will be direct if the scope and budget appear misaligned.
02
Several weeks to several months
Design and estimate
The team documents existing conditions, develops the plan and coordinates architecture, structure and building systems. Estimates become more detailed as drawings and selections improve. You review assumptions, allowances, exclusions and the decisions that most affect cost before signing a construction agreement.
03
Often 1–4+ months
Permits and approvals
Dena House coordinates the permit package for our scope and tracks required reviews. Depending on the address, that can include Montgomery County building and trade permits, WSSC, zoning, municipality, historic, drainage, well/septic or association review. You may need to sign owner authorizations or association submissions.
04
Project-specific
Construction
Before mobilization, we confirm access, protection, communication and the current schedule. Work proceeds through demolition or site work, structure, enclosure, rough systems, inspections and finishes. You receive one point of contact, documented decisions and written changes when the approved scope needs to move.
05
Closeout plus one-year workmanship coverage
Walkthrough and warranty
We build a completion list, test systems, coordinate finals and review the finished project with you. Dena House provides a one-year limited workmanship warranty beginning at substantial completion for defects in our contracted workmanship. Product and manufacturer warranties remain subject to their own terms, and the signed construction agreement defines coverage, maintenance responsibilities, exclusions and the process for requesting service.
Before we meet
Bring the information you already have.
A survey, floor plans, inspection report, permit history, inspiration images and a written list of priorities all help. Share a realistic investment range and timing constraints so feasibility can be discussed early.
If there is no design yet, that is fine. The first task is to define what the project must accomplish and identify the investigations or consultants needed to make responsible decisions.
Selected project records
See finished construction and the planning behind it.
Explore a completed custom residence and an addition feasibility study. These records show how Dena House connects owner goals, site conditions, technical decisions, budget and field execution.
Planning substantial work?
Start with the house, the site and the decisions that carry the project.
Tell us what you want to change, what has already been designed and where the property is located. We will help identify the practical next step.
Discuss your project