Reston Kitchen Remodel Disaster Prevented
The Situation:
A couple in Reston, Virginia was feeling cramped in their townhome's galley kitchen. In addition, the kitchen felt separate from the rest of the home and they wanted a more "open" feel to their home so it would fit their lifestyle.
To open up the space, our design included removing part of a wall between the kitchen and living areas. Our construction expert determined the wall to be "load bearing" as it supported weight from the ceiling joists, drywall, and insulation. So we created a plan to accurately handle the weight of the load bearing wall while still providing the homeowners the open look and feel they wanted.
It was simple to us, but trouble was lurking around the corner.
Here's what happened: To handle the load bearing wall, before the contractor was selected, we had our Structural Engineer size the proper beam to support the weight originally carried by the wall. However, during construction a reputable General Contractor made the decision to use a smaller, insufficient beam. As is sometimes the case, the contractor used years of experience over mathematical calculations to size the beams. Surprisingly, while on-site, the county inspector even approved the change! This was a disaster waiting to happen for the homeowner.
The Solution:
Because we understood the weight of this decision (no pun intended), we were able to act as the homeowners' advocate by contacting the General Contractor, explaining the concern, and proving the math behind the sizing of the originally specified beam. The General Contractor agreed and at their expense removed the new drywall and replaced the beam with the correct size and material.
The Outcome:
"I am so glad I called Synergy D&C for help. They stayed in touch with the job as it was being built and indeed caught a problem that we were not aware of, ensuring that it got corrected in a timely manner. We wholeheartedly recommend Synergy's services to anyone needing help with a design project."
Our attention to detail and homeowner advocacy resulted in not only a beautiful design, but correct construction as well. Now the homeowners can get on with many years of cooking and entertaining that fits their lifestyle! This is the kind of detail work and industry knowledge that led us to grow from a design and consulting firm to an award-winning design and construction firm.