Design Builders Inc.

10/16/2026

When a deck sits in a shaded, low corner of the yard, what's holding it up matters more than usual. This Bethesda rebuild is underway. The old rear deck is being replaced with a new one on helical piers and Owens Corning fiberglass framing, finished in Trex Transcend.

Out front, the porch is getting rebuilt stairs and fresh PVC trim on all 13 columns. We'll share more as it comes together. What would you want to see in the next update?

10/15/2026

Moving to a new house means starting over on a lot of things: the doctor, the dry cleaner, the contractor. This Falls Church family skipped that last one. Two homes, two screened decks, both built by Design Builders. When someone could have hired anyone the second time around and came back to us, that's the review that means the most. Have you ever hired the same contractor twice? What brought you back?

10/14/2026

https://hubs.ly/Q04zR69h0
Nobody puts a trash can on their outdoor kitchen wish list. They should. A freestanding bin on the patio draws animals and tips over the first time the dog bumps it, which is why a trash pull built right into the cabinetry is one of four must-haves in our guide to outdoor kitchen design for Montgomery County and Fairfax County homes. Planning a kitchen for next spring? We'd love to sketch a layout with you. The full guide is in the first comment.

10/13/2026

Look closely at the boards on this Rockville deck. The pattern isn't uniform, and that's on purpose. The homeowners started with a simple plan: replace the old deck. They ended up with a curved, multi-level design instead, finished in Zuri Brazilia boards laid in a deliberately irregular pattern so the surface reads like natural wood grain.

Room to grill, room to read, room for everyone when the house fills up. Would you have gone curved, or kept it classic? Tell us in the comments.

10/12/2026

Most screened porches start winding down in October. This one in Vienna is just getting started. The homeowners didn't want a bigger house. They wanted the backyard they already had to work for them twelve months a year.

So we built a 16 x 22 four-season porch: Sunspace WeatherMaster windows to close it in when the cold comes, Infratech infrared heaters overhead, a bronze ScreenEZE system for the warm months, and Trex Transcend underfoot. All of it sits on helical piers. Same view of the yard.

A lot more months to enjoy it. How many months a year does your porch actually get used? Tell us below, or DM us if you'd like to talk about stretching yours.

10/09/2026

Living a few steps from the pool shouldn't mean living with mosquitoes. This Potomac family traded their old screen room for a new bug-free retreat with SCREENEZE screens, a white shed-roof ceiling, two fans and low-maintenance Zuri decking with stainless cable rails.
Ready to plan yours? Call 301-875-2781, email [email protected], or book a consultation at https://hubs.ly/Q04z5sWw0.

10/08/2026

What do you do with a flagstone patio you love but can't use when it rains? In Bethesda, we're building right over it. An elevated deck goes on top, and underneath becomes a finished, dry outdoor room with a shiplap ceiling, recessed lights, fans and built-in infrared heaters. Up top, it's the family's first outdoor kitchen.
Here's a look at what's taking shape. New photos coming soon! What would you put under a deck like this?

10/07/2026

s there a better way to christen a new porch than with a Maryland crab feast? This Bethesda family didn't think so. Their review made our week:

"The porch looks great! We christened it this weekend with a crab feast! Our daughters barely recognized it from the old porch!"

What's the first thing you'd host on a new porch?

10/06/2026

https://hubs.ly/Q04z5r5D0
One floodlight by the back door makes the yard either a cave or a runway, with nothing in between. The fix is layers: soft light on the steps, focused light where you cook and eat, and a little glow on the trees. Then a few simple scenes you'll actually use, like "dinner" and "late night."
Want to talk through what your deck or porch would need? We're happy to help. Link in the comments.

Design Builders creates layered smart outdoor lighting for decks, screened porches, and kitchens in Montgomery County, MD and Fairfax County, VA.

10/05/2026

Why build one flat deck when the yard is asking for two levels? This Vienna backyard has a pavilion-style screened porch up top, with a curving staircase sweeping down to its own hot tub deck below, all designed to sit right next to the existing pool.

The decking is AZEK PVC, chosen because pool and hot tub chemicals won't wear it down. Add skylights, fans, infrared heaters and sconce lighting on those white columns, and it works on a July afternoon and a November night.
Pool people, porch people: which level are you claiming first?