Frequently Asked Questions

Remodeling questions? We've got answers.

Remodeling your home is a big investment in terms of money, time, and emotional energy and we understand that this big of an investment comes with a lot of questions. To help provide you with the information you need to feel confident about your remodel, we have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive from clients and homeowners and provided our answers. If you have a question that’s not answered here, please contact us today.
What is design-build and how are you different from a general contractor?

Design Build remodeling firms provide a one-stop experience, The same firm is responsible for designing a project that meets your budget and design goals. Designers in these firms understand how each line drawn on a plan translates into a cost of construction.

General contractors typically do not offer design services. Instead, you start by hiring a separate architectural firm and bidding your plans out to independent GCs. In this scenario the only one who is going to take ownership of the budget is you!

Learn more about our meticulous process here.

An estimate is a general, educated guess about the cost of a hypothetical project. It is not an exact bid, and it is not a contract price. A design agreement is the first phase of our process that will allow us to put together a design for your project, and, ultimately, a specific cost for your specific project. In short, an estimate is a guess and a Design Agreement leads to a fixed-price construction contract.

We are licensed in both the state of Maryland and Washington D.C. Our license numbers are MHIC License #38985 and DC License #410523000447, respectively.

Absolutely! References are available to you during our process, upon request. We also invite you to read our verified client reviews.

We are proud to offer a 5-year warranty to take care of your project long after it has been completed.

We can also provide handyman services to help keep your investment in superb condition. Learn more about Merrick’s Home Services. 

If you are looking for a design-build company that prioritizes communication and homeowner satisfaction above all, then we may be the right company for you.

We believe it is important to research the companies you are considering working with, ask them good questions, and ultimately, trust your gut.

There’s nothing worse than getting started on a project and realizing you’ve hired the wrong contractor.

How much will my project cost?

This is the question everyone asks and the truth is, we don’t have an answer for you…yet.

To answer this question, we need to enter into a Design Agreement and nail down all the specifics of your remodel. For example, will your addition be a full basement dig out, a crawl space, on piers, or a slab? Just that one question has significant cost implications and there are hundreds more just like it, yes even for a bathroom remodel!

Absolutely! The establishing and tracking of your budget is a key part of our design process, and it starts with input from you. What are you prepared to invest to transform your home?

And please be honest, let us know what your target is and what your ceiling is. We can play good designer/bad designer, showing solutions and products that only fit your target budget, or we can show you exciting possibilities that may be just a bit more but could be worth it to you.

There is a project for every budget. It might be a coat of paint or a small repair in which case our Home Services team is here to help.

We will handle the permitting process and let you know when inspections are scheduled to happen.
You can help us get your project off to a good start by ensuring all personal belongings and pets are safely out of the way of construction. If you work from home, you may want to consider a temporary arrangement elsewhere, especially if you need to be on Zoom calls.

It depends on how big of a project we are doing. For partial home remodels that is not a problem. Your project manager can walk the project area with you to help figure out a good temporary storage location.

For whole home remodels, it would be best to arrange for an alternate place to live during the remodel.

It depends on how big of a project we are doing. For partial home remodels that is not a problem. Your project manager can walk the project area with you to help figure out a good temporary storage location. For whole home remodels it would be best to arrange for climate-controlled storage out of the way of dusty construction.

When possible we separate the construction area from the rest of the home with plastic walls with zipper doors. When building additions, we wait until the last possible moment to break through in your existing home. Minimizing the impact on your family’s lives.

For all projects, we run a Heppa Air scrubber, during demolition, drywall, and floor sanding. However, even with all our protections in place dust still happens. To learn more about what to expect during a remodel read this blog post.

We think so! Project management is a full-time job. Unless you have the skills and the time to do all the heavy lifting yourself, hiring a professional is a great investment for peace of mind.

Read what happened to one Homeowner who learned this lesson the hard way.

This will depend on your project size, how long it will take to secure permits and obtain materials, and ultimately how far we are booked out, which changes from month to month. Get in touch with us to get a better idea of your potential project timeline.

Often, we can provide better pricing than most homeowners on building materials. We are dealers for several fixture lines including, Candlelight Cabinetry and get specialty pricing at vendors from Home Depot to Ferguson. However, if you have an antique light fixture you’d like to use or just scored a suite of appliances on sale we can easily work those into your remodel. Just let us know what you plan on providing so we can budget accordingly.

Our mission is to provide a serene remodel. The more you take on yourself the harder it is for us to deliver on that. Especially for trade partners that are part of the critical path of construction, such as the electrician or plumber. If you have a preference for a tradesman you would like to work on your project, please talk to us. Ultimately, we would like to be in charge of any and all subcontractors, but we are willing to consider your preferences.

Having homeowners do their own demos makes us more than a little nervous. Remodeling requires the precise removal of fixtures, materials, and walls. When you don’t have the necessary experience or skills to do this, there is a potential for causing bigger problems for the remodeling craftsmen to solve. It is easier to allow homeowners to do work on their project if they are doing their finishing work after we have completely finished our scope of work on the project. We are willing to talk to you about this on a project-by-project basis. Please let us know if you are considering doing some of the work yourself.
Anytime! Interior remodeling can be done any time of the year. If you are planning an addition, we will want to be strategic about foundation work and getting the exterior weatherproofed, but this usually isn’t a problem here in the D.C. area with our great seasons.
Occasionally, unforeseen circumstances will appear on a job. This can range from water damage to structural repairs to needing to bring electrical services to code. It is rare, but it does happen. We recommend setting aside 5-10% of your overall budget for these incidentals. If you are concerned about unforeseen circumstances on your job, talk to us about it. We would love to put your mind at ease.
Lead-based paint was officially removed from the market in 1977. If your home was built in 1978 or later, you have absolutely no reason for concern. If your home is older, there is a potential for the presence of lead-based paint. The older your home, the higher the potential. As a lead-paint certified company, we test for lead-based paint on all homes built prior to 1978, in accordance with the Maryland Department of Environment regulations. Whether lead is present or not our crews encapsulate during demolition. It’s a neater process that minimizes all types of dust.
What will my kitchen remodel cost?

It is nearly impossible for us to tell you what your specific kitchen remodel will cost, without a design in place. There are so many different sizes and styles of kitchens, as well as a plethora of fixtures, finishes, materials, and other little details.

For more information on cost drivers of a kitchen remodel read this blog post, Why does a kitchen remodel cost so much?

If you factor in the design time and permitting time, a kitchen remodel can take 4 to 6 months from initial concept drafting to final inspections. With 6-10 weeks spent in construction. This does vary by kitchen and project size, the municipality jurisdiction providing permits and inspections, and the availability of materials.

Your start date will be set backward from the delivery date of your cabinets and appliances. All other fixtures will be specified, ordered, and received prior to the start of construction in order to minimize delays once we begin.

Our office is in Kensington, MD we have a large selection of Candlelight Cabinetry door style and all their color chips to help you select the perfect cabinets for your space. Once you have settled on a particular combination, we will order a sample door so that you can be 100% confident in your choice.

In addition to cabinet samples, we also maintain a large collection of countertop, cabinet hardware, and metal finish samples in our design lab.

If you want to see even more possibilities, we can help you arrange to tour any of the local vendor showrooms in our area.

It can be very stressful trying to maintain a normal home life while your home is being remodeled. One of the best things you can do for yourself is set aside part of your budget for having meals out or meals delivered.

If meals out are not an option for you, we can talk about temporarily moving your fridge to a different area of your home. We would recommend purchasing a portable electric burner that you can plug into a receptacle in another room, as well as temporarily setting up a microwave where you can access it during construction. Many of our clients have also relied heavily on their outdoor grills during a kitchen remodel, so that may be another option to consider.

Return on investment (ROI) will depend on your specific home, location, and project details. You can get a general idea of ROI for the greater D.C. area by checking out Remodeling.com’s yearly Cost vs. Value report.

However, we want you to ask yourself this question first. How long do you plan to live in your home after this remodel? If it is longer than 10 years you are doing this for your enjoyment and not someone else’s.

What will my bathroom remodel cost?

It is nearly impossible for us to tell you what your specific bathroom remodel will cost, without a design in place. There are so many different sizes and styles of bathrooms, as well as a plethora of fixtures, finishes, materials, and other little details. There are also varying degrees of remodeling. Are you looking for a facelift or a full gut job? Do you need to change the layout or footprint of your bathroom?

Contact us today to discuss what can be done to transform your bathroom for the budget you have in mind.

If you factor in the design time and permitting time, a bathroom remodel can take 4-6 months from initial concept drafting to final inspections, with 5-8 weeks spent in construction. This does vary by bathroom and project size, the municipality jurisdiction providing permits and inspections, and the availability of materials.

Your start date will be set backward from the delivery date of your special-order materials. All other fixtures will be specified, ordered, and received prior to the start of construction in order to minimize delays once we begin.

Our office is in Kensington, MD we have a large selection of Candlelight cabinet door style and all their color chips to help you select the perfect cabinets from your space. Once you have settled on a particular combination, we will order a sample door so that you can be 100% confident in your choice.

In addition to cabinet samples, we also maintain a large collection of countertop, cabinet hardware, and metal finish samples in our design lab.

If you want to see even more possibilities, we can help you arrange to tour any of the local vendor showrooms in our area.

Return on investment (ROI) will depend on your specific home, location, and project details. You can get a general idea of ROI for the greater D.C. area by checking out Remodeling.com’s yearly Cost vs. Value report.

However, we want you to ask yourself this question first. How long do you plan to live in your home after this remodel? If it is longer than 10 years you are doing this for your enjoyment and not someone else’s.

In the DC metro area one of the leading cost drivers to any remodel is labor. Reglazing a tub correctly takes a few hours, at a cost of a few hundred dollars. At best the finish may last a year or so before needing to be re-done. A brand-new alcove tub can cost as little as a few hundred dollars. In our opinion, this is a money-saving hack that never really pans out.
What will my home remodel cost?

This is the question everyone asks and the truth is, we don’t have an answer for you…yet.

To provide an answer to this question, we need to enter into a Design Agreement and nail down all the specifics of your remodel. For example will your remodel include new floors or flooring refinishing? Will we be painting the entirety of your home or just a few rooms? Just those two questions have significant cost implications and there are hundreds more just like it. You can fill out our Remodeling Checklist to get a jump start on these questions.

Ultimately this is up to you. Our design process is pressure free if you need to see multiple designs and take months to make your selections to feel comfortable proceeding with your remodel, we are ok with that. The fastest we can speed through the process from conception to final inspections is 6-12 months. This varies by the size of the home, the municipality jurisdiction providing permits and inspections, and the availability of materials.
It is more efficient to remodel several rooms or areas of your home at one time. And because it is more efficient, the total overall investment is often less than doing one project at a time. However, we understand this is a bigger upfront cost and over the years we have worked with several clients to remodel their homes in phases. If this is something you are interested in please let us know. When pursuing this plan, we recommend designing the full remodel from the very start so that we don’t build anything in earlier stages that may need to get undone later on.

At Merrick, we do not offer in-house financing, but we have a couple of trusted lenders that we recommend. Learn more about our preferred lenders, here. 

Yes and no. The more that you change about your existing home, the more it will cost and there is a tipping point when it will become more cost-effective to just start from scratch. Our designers can help you discover what’s possible with your existing home and if we can’t find the right solutions for your family’s needs with a remodel we know a great new home builder we can recommend.
What will my addition cost?

This is the question everyone asks and the truth is, we don’t have an answer for you…yet.

To provide an answer to this question, we need to enter into a Design Agreement and nail down all the specifics of your remodel. For example, will your addition be a full basement dig out, a crawl space, on piers, or a slab? Just that one question has significant cost implications and there are hundreds more just like it.

You can fill out our Remodeling Checklist to get a jump start on these questions.

Ultimately this is up to you. Our design process is pressure free if you need to see multiple designs and take months to make your selections to feel comfortable proceeding with your addition, we are ok with that. The fastest we can speed through the process from conception to final inspections is 6-12 months. This varies by the size of the home, the municipality jurisdiction providing permits and inspections, and the availability of materials.

There is not one type of addition that is better than the others, but there is probably an addition that is best for you and your home. Talk to us about your needs so we can help craft a solution.

Return on investment (ROI) will depend on your specific home, location, and project details. You can get a general idea of ROI for the greater D.C. area by checking out Remodeling.com’s yearly Cost vs. Value report.

However, we want you to ask yourself this question first. How long do you plan to live in your home after this addition is built? If it is longer than 10 years you are doing this for your enjoyment and not someone else’s.

This depends on the structural integrity of your existing structure, but typically it’s more cost-effective to go up because you do not need the added element of excavation and masonry. However, you do need to add stairs and demo your existing roof, which is not a negligible cost. So, if going out with your addition makes the most sense for your family then that’s the type of addition you should pursue.

When adding on there are cost drivers many don’t think about. A big one is HVAC. Is your existing unit large enough for the new square footage? How will you zone the spaces? Most likely you will need a new furnace and air handler to properly heat and cool your remodeled home. Most additions add significant electrical load and can require the additional cost of a Heavy up. If your addition covers more than 400 new square feet of yard space, you will need a water drainage plan. Our design team can help point out the hidden cost drivers of your remodel and advise you on the right solutions for your project.

Is re-facing a good solution when your budget is tight?
Refacing may sound like the more economical solution to a kitchen remodel, but with the cost of labor in the DC metro area and the time it takes to do this job right the savings are minimal and the finished quality is significantly less than a new kitchen cabinets. As Candlelight dealers we can provide pricing to rival the big box stores for true quality cabinets. New cabinets are one of the biggest chunks of your remodeling budget, but we believe the value of heavy-duty, well-made cabinets is absolutely worth the cost.
We’ll let you in on an insider secret: it doesn’t make much of a difference. Particle board and plywood are both engineered wood products and they both wick water. Plywood has continuous laminated sheets, making it easier for water to be absorbed. Basically, if your cabinets end up in standing water for very long no matter what they are built from they are going to be in rough shape. In our opinion, this upgrade is something you’ll never see and not worth the added cost.

Yes! We are proud to offer Candlelight Cabinetry, not just for its excellent quality, but for its environmentally friendly practices as well. Candlelight’s motto is, “First do no harm.”

They are a leader in paint and varnish capture. They source American-made materials, and woods, where they know forest preservation practices are followed. Candlelight Cabinetry started the first tree-planting program in the cabinet industry. As a purchaser of Candlelight Cabinetry, you will have a choice between receiving a complimentary tree for your yard or ten trees for one of our national forests.

Yes, absolutely! Anything less than dovetail is not up to our standards. Candlelight Cabinetry’s drawers are made of:

  • ¼” thick multi-ply plywood bottom, rabbeted in place
  • ⅝” thick domestic Basswood drawer sides, back, and front
  • Fully finished dovetailed drawer joints
  • Finished with 100 lbs. rated BLUMOTION® guides.
  • Full extension

Candlelight Cabinetry allows us to provide you with a plethora of organizational options for your cabinetry. Any Rev-A-Shelf accessory can be built in in the factory. Talk with your designer for more details or visit the Candlelight Cabinetry website.

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Merrick Design and Build
10605 Concord St. Suite 301
Kensington, MD 20895

MHIC License # 6250186
DC License # 410523000447

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