Look, if you've ever tried to get construction done in DC, you know it's different here. Not bad different, just—different. From our spot at 3418 13th St NW (right there in Columbia Heights where the Giant used to be), BBCDC Construction & General Contractors has been figuring out this city's quirks for years now.

You're probably dealing with something tricky. Maybe it's a rowhouse in Georgetown where every nail you pull reveals another surprise from 1890. Could be you're trying to squeeze a modern office into one of those converted warehouses near Union Market—you know, where the columns are never quite where the architect hoped they'd be. Or maybe you're in Shaw. Ah, Shaw. Where the neighbors definitely have opinions and the ANC meetings run till midnight.

Here's what matters: We're certified. CBE, DBE—the whole alphabet soup that opens doors in DC. Our EPA Lead Paint cert? NAT-F254732-1. (Trust me, you'll need that number when you're dealing with anything built before Reagan.) But certifications are just paper. What you really need is someone who knows that the DCRA inspector on Tuesdays is different from the one on Thursdays, and yes, that actually matters.

Comprehensive General Contracting Services for the DC Metropolitan Area

General contracting in DC... where to even start? It's like playing three-dimensional chess while riding the Red Line during rush hour. You've got federal requirements mixing with local codes, historic preservation boards who care about your doorknobs, and soil that—well, let's just say Potomac clay has its own personality.

Think about it. A restaurant in Union Market needs different everything compared to some K Street law firm renovation. And neither of those is anything like underpinning a basement in Petworth where you're basically fighting a swamp that's been paved over since the 1920s. You following me?

We've learned (sometimes the hard way) that DC construction means embracing the chaos. Motorcades happen. Protests close streets. In August? Half your subcontractors are in Bethany Beach. That's not poor planning—that's DC. You work around it. You build in buffer time. You keep alternate routes to every jobsite because Constitution Avenue will definitely be closed exactly when your concrete truck shows up.

Our suppliers? All local. Well, local-ish. The good lumber comes from that place in Hyattsville. Steel from the yard in Southeast that's been there forever. You know why this matters? Because when you need something yesterday—and you always do—having a guy who knows your name beats any national chain's "guaranteed delivery times."

Our General Contracting Services Throughout Washington DC

Commercial Construction Management

Your business deserves better than cookie-cutter construction. Period. Whether you're building out space for some hot-shot K Street firm (marble everything, yesterday) or creating the next trendy spot on 14th Street, we get it. We've done the restaurant build-outs in Adams Morgan where the kitchen equipment barely fits through the door. NoMa warehouses where "character" means exposed everything and concrete that fights you every step of the way.

Federal work? That's its own beast. Security clearances, Buy American provisions, and documentation requirements that make your head spin. Plus deadlines that absolutely, positively cannot slip because some Assistant Secretary needs to cut a ribbon. We handle it. Have been for years. Our project managers know exactly which forms go where and—more importantly—which person to call when things get sticky.

Residential Construction & Renovation

DC houses... every single one tells a story. Usually several. You're pulling up floorboards in a Capitol Hill rowhouse and surprise—there's another floor underneath. And probably another under that. In Georgetown, we've worked on Federal-style homes where you can't touch the facade but somehow need to fit a modern kitchen and, oh yeah, central air. (Spoiler: It involves a lot of creative ductwork.)

But it's not all historic stuff. Navy Yard's got those new condos where everything's glass and steel and views of the Anacostia. Bloomingdale's exploding with gut renovations—you know, keeping the charm while adding the second bathroom everyone desperately needs. Each neighborhood's different. Takoma's got that small-town feel where neighbors bring you cookies... and also very strong opinions about your dumpster placement.

Specialty Construction Services

Some projects, they need more than hammers and nails. Take historic preservation—and in DC, everything's historic to somebody. You can't just slap up some drywall and call it a day. We're talking matching 150-year-old plaster techniques, finding brick that's the right shade of "old," dealing with windows that haven't been manufactured since Teddy Roosevelt was president.

Green building's huge now. LEED this, solar that. Makes sense—have you seen summer electric bills in DC? We'll figure out what actually works for your project versus what just sounds good in a brochure. Sometimes it's high-tech systems. Sometimes it's just really good insulation and windows that actually seal. Depends on your building, your budget, your goals.

And basements. Oh, DC basements. Let me tell you about underpinning in a city built on a swamp. You think you're just digging down a few feet? Think again. Water tables, clay that expands and contracts like it's breathing, foundations from decades ago that were basically just stacked rocks. We've seen it all. Fixed most of it, too.

Project Planning & Design Support

Here's the thing about plans: They're great until they meet reality. Your architect draws these beautiful straight lines, but your 1925 rowhouse? It hasn't seen a straight line since the Senators left town. (The first time.) We sit down with you and your design team early. Really early. Before anyone falls in love with an idea that'll cost twice the budget to actually build.

Permits. Sweet mercy, the permits. DCRA basic business license, building permits, public space permits if you need a dumpster, historic review if someone important once sneezed near your building... it never ends. But here's the secret: It's not about the forms. It's about knowing that Jennifer at DCRA prefers applications stapled, not paper-clipped. That historic review moves faster if you include photos from three angles, not just two. These little things? They save weeks.

Why BBCDC Stands Apart as Your DC General Contractor

Look, anyone can hang a license on the wall. Ours is #410521000429, if you're checking. The CBE certification? #LSD34313092025. DBE too. But what's that actually mean for your project?

It means doors open. It means when you're bidding on that DC government project, we help you hit those inclusion goals. It means we've been vetted, bonded, insured—all the boring stuff that becomes really important when something goes sideways. Which, let's be honest, it sometimes does. This is construction.

We're building science nerds. Sorry, but it's true. DC weather's insane—freezing in January, swamp-like in July, and your building needs to handle both without turning into either an icebox or a terrarium. Moisture management, air sealing, thermal bridging... sounds boring till your energy bills come in 40% lower than expected. Then it's pretty interesting, right?

The EPA RRP cert (NAT-F254732-1) isn't just bureaucracy. You know how much lead paint is in DC buildings? Basically all of them built before 1978. That's most of the city. We handle it right, keep everyone safe, no shortcuts.

The BBCDC Construction Process in Washington DC

Initial Consultation & Planning

First meeting's always at your site. Photos don't show that weird angle where the addition meets the original structure. They don't capture the neighbor's tree that's definitely going to be a problem. Or the fact that your "alley access" is theoretical at best because someone's been parking there since forever.

We listen. You talk about your vision, your timeline, your budget—and then we have an honest conversation. Because sometimes what you want hits a brick wall called DC zoning. Or historic preservation. Or physics. But usually? Usually there's a way. Might not be exactly what you pictured, but we'll find something that works. That's what we do.

Pre-Construction Phase

This is where projects actually succeed or fail. Not during construction—before. When we're scheduling around Cherry Blossom tourists and figuring out where to put a port-a-potty in a neighborhood where every square inch is spoken for. We price everything out using real DC numbers. Not national averages. DC numbers. There's a difference. (About 30% higher, usually.)

ANC meetings? We prep for those like it's the bar exam. Because showing up unprepared to an ANC meeting is... well, don't do it. Trust us. We bring renderings, answer every question, address every concern. "What about parking?" Always the first question. "What about noise?" Second. We've got answers that actually work because we've done this before. Many times.

Construction Management

6:45 AM our super's on site. Not 7. Not 7:15. Because at 7 AM sharp we're making noise, legally, and not one minute before. Your neighbors might not love construction, but they really hate construction that breaks the rules.

Every day's documented. Photos, progress notes, weather (because DC weather affects everything). Problems come up—that's construction. The difference is how fast you solve them. Our subs have been with us for years. The electrician knows DC's quirky wiring. The plumber's seen every lead pipe configuration possible. When something weird happens, and something weird always happens, we don't panic. We've probably seen it before.

Project Completion

The punch list phase is where good becomes great. Or doesn't. We're obsessive about this part. Every outlet gets tested. Every door checked for proper swing. That little gap where the molding meets? Fixed. Because here's the thing—you'll see these details every single day. They matter.

Certificate of Occupancy isn't the end. It's more like... halftime? We hand over all the documentation. Warranties, maintenance schedules, that manual for the fancy HVAC system nobody ever reads until something breaks. And when you call six months later because you can't remember which circuit breaker controls the basement outlets? We answer. Because in a city this small, reputation's everything.

Serving All Washington DC Neighborhoods

Columbia Heights is home base, but we're all over. Northwest? Know it like the back of our hand—from Spring Valley mansions to U Street condos. Northeast's got everything from Brookland's quiet streets to the craziness around Union Market. Southeast runs from Capitol Hill (the real Capitol Hill, not just "near the Capitol") down to the Nationals stadium where everything's shiny and new.

And yeah, we cross the river. Arlington's basically DC with better parking. Old Town Alexandria's got its own historic thing going on. Bethesda's downtown is booming. Silver Spring’s always interesting. Each jurisdiction's got different rules, different inspectors, different everything. We keep it all straight so you don't have to.

Ready to Start Your DC Construction Project?

Here's the deal. Your project—commercial space, home renovation, whatever you're planning—it's a big deal. To you. To the neighborhood. To the city. You need somebody who gets that. Who shows up every day ready to solve problems, not create them.

Give us a call. (202) 350-0344. Come by the office—3418 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20010. Right by the Metro, easy to find. Or check out bbcbuildsdc.com first if you want. Whatever works.

Let's build something DC can be proud of. Something that works with the city, not against it. Something that'll still look good when the next generation's complaining about their contractors. Because that's what good construction does—it lasts.