CBC Blog

For owners of historic homes in Loudoun County and across Northern Virginia, the desire to add space is completely understandable. A farmhouse built in 1880 was not designed for a family of five with two home offices, a mudroom, and the expectation of a primary suite. But the thought of adding on raises concerns that do not exist for a typical suburban home: Will an addition damage the historic ... Continue Reading

Purcellville-based Loudoun Stairs enters an exciting new chapter after being purchased by a group of local business owners with deep roots in Loudoun County. Scott Carpenter, Charles Beach, Paul Ferrari and Benjamin Carpenter purchased Loudoun Stairs, with the sale officially closing on April 30. Scott Carpenter and Charles Beach, lifelong Loudoun County residents, own Carpenter Beach ... Continue Reading

Budget anxiety is the single most common reason homeowners delay a historic renovation they genuinely want to do. And it is understandable. Unlike building new construction or remodeling a predictable postwar ranch, renovating a historic home carries a layer of financial uncertainty that no spreadsheet can fully eliminate. Walls hide surprises. Systems fail inspection. Materials take time to ... Continue Reading

Renovating a century-old home is one of the most rewarding projects a homeowner can undertake, and one of the most complex. Unlike a straightforward remodel of a newer house, a whole-house renovation on an older property involves layers of unknowns that don't reveal themselves until work begins. The bones may be magnificent, the character irreplaceable, but the systems behind the walls are almost ... Continue Reading

You've poured yourself into your historic home, the wide-plank floors, the hand-hewn beams, the six-over-six windows that have looked out over the same Virginia countryside for a century or more. Now you're facing a significant restoration project, and someone mentioned that you might be able to get a tax credit for the work. But you're not sure where to start, whether you qualify, or how much ... Continue Reading

Is it better to restore original wood windows or replace them? If you own an older home and you’re staring at drafty sashes, peeling paint, or foggy glass, you’ve probably asked yourself this exact question. Should I restore the original wood windows or replace them? In many homes across Northern Virginia, especially in established neighborhoods with historic character, this decision isn’t ... Continue Reading