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Long Live the 2″ x 6″

January 19, 2014 By Doug Francis

6th in 2014 Vienna House Project Series

If you haven’t seen the extra photos yet then I recommend you check them out (link below) because the framers have been working fast and using a lot of wood.

Custom Built home construction vienna va

Going Up!

Yes, it’s the exterior walls get the 2″ x 6″ lumber which adds more strength… as well as room for insulation, wiring and. sometimes waste lines.

Also notice that the interior walls are also being laid out and built. These allow for the joists that support the second story and eventually the roof truss system.

Like almost all new construction in Northern Virginia, the roof truss system is designed and built off site in ideal conditions. Not only are they at the exact pitch (like dropping 4 inches every foot – noted as 4/12), they are engineered to carry the load of the future roof spreading out the load for maximum strength.

Engineering for weather extremes

Roof Truss system for new construction in Vienna VA

To be lifted into place

Northern Virginia experiences all four seasons and any new roof needs to be designed for 15 degrees and 100 degrees, and be able to endure the weight of 2 feet of snow, or hurricane force winds. If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, understand that hurricanes like Isabel in 2003 hit the region as a Category 2 hurricane with 105mph winds. Or in 2012 the region was hit by the famed “Derecho” when a calm evening was disrupted within minutes by 75 mile an hour winds that crippled the D.C metro area for days. Read more here.

LVL carries heavy load new construction

Installed LVL

Those may seem like extreme examples to someone who doesn’t live here, but lessons were learned by the construction industry like when after Hurricane Andrew demolished parts of Miami. Essentially, it is important to over-engineer something as simple as a roof truss because extreme weather happens here too.

Something is Missing

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I started this series because my clients were relocating to Vienna from California and were back in LA. Sending them photo updates was fun, and putting together a series and publishing it here was okay with them. Basically, anyone considering custom built homes will enjoy following along and seeing all the extra photos.

interior photo inside house under construction Vienna virginia

Um, some windows are missing!

But when I took this photo I noticed that something important was missing. Like any custom built home, the designs may change slightly and the architect may revise the drawing a little if something is changed… like when windows are added.

Look at that wall at the end of the room, there were actually two windows added to the plan… but that revision wasn’t given to the framer. Luckily, he was still building the upstairs so the crew was able to add the window framing easily.

The two windows will actually be on either side of a gas fireplace, and they will really make the room feel special (wait and see).



I am planning to upload even more photos into the Google+ photo page. Since the framers work fast, it really is impossible to give you every photo in a blog post, and their format allows you to see everything in a high definition. Yes, that’s cool!

Click here to see the Vienna House Construction photos

back of new house vienna vaThis part of the construction comes together quickly and probably will involve the most dramatic change day to day… especially for the neighbors.

Hope you will follow along by signing up above and have some fun.

Have questions? Let me know!

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Filed Under: Blog, House Project 2014 Tagged With: real estate, Vienna Virginia

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In-depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" global ad campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna (#3!). He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

Helping my clients add value to their homes has always been important to me. My step-by-step recommendations are intended to increase market appeal, return more than invested, and help net more when selling.

Beyond just sellers, I have helped many new homeowners make smart design decisions when remodeling. We gutted our house and totally remodeled it, and I pass that experience along because living in a nice house is simply better.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

Filmed in Vienna and McLean

https://youtu.be/ClqEIV1zoQg

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for 2023 right now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

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