Veteran-owned design-build for out-and-up additions and renovations near The Avenue. Request your complimentary proposal.
Valor Builder is a veteran-owned design-build firm helping Del Ray homeowners expand and renovate without losing the character that defines this neighborhood. Just off Mount Vernon Avenue ‘The Avenue’ we modernize early-1900s bungalows, Cape Cods, and brick Colonials while preserving the front porches and streetscape that make Del Ray feel like a small town inside the city. From a single open chef’s kitchen to a full second-story addition, we deliver design and construction under one accountable contract
Del Ray residents have long preferred to grow their homes rather than tear them down — expanding up and to the rear while keeping the original front profile intact. It is the approach that has kept the neighborhood’s character remarkably whole, and it is exactly the work we specialize in. We design second-story and rear additions that add a primary suite, a true family kitchen, and modern systems, all while the home that greets the street still looks unmistakably like Del Ray.
Each project starts with a feasibility and structural review your FAR, setbacks, and the existing foundation’s capacity so you know what’s possible before design begins. Our in-house team then develops the architecture and interiors, and our builders execute under one fixed-scope contract. You keep one accountable partner from first sketch to final porch board, and your home stays livable and respected throughout.
We are veteran-owned and operated, and we work with genuine respect for Del Ray’s tight-knit, character-protective community. We specialize in out-and-up expansion and bungalow preservation, we are fluent in Alexandria’s FAR and permitting, and we deliver design and construction under one roof. We earn trust through craftsmanship and stewardship of your home’s character never through price.
We specialize in maintaining the unique craftsman character of Del Ray homes while updating them for modern living.
Our additions look like they were always part of your original home, matching architectural details perfectly.
Deep understanding of Arlington County zoning and historic district requirements.
Professional and reliable services tailored to meet the needs of homeowners in Del Ray.
The signature Del Ray project expanding bungalows up and to the rear while keeping the front profile. Highest-intent local search.
Rear and side bump-outs to enlarge kitchens and family space within Alexandria's FAR and setback limits.
Compact bungalow kitchens are the most common remodel entry point; chef's-kitchen upgrades are highly searched on The Avenue.
Full character-preserving renovations of older bungalows and Colonials a strong conversion segment for newer owners
Early-1900s homes lack modern primary suites; adding one (often within a second-story addition) is a recurring high-value job.
Restored and new front porches and screened rear porches fit Del Ray's porch-culture lifestyle and add usable living space.
The signature Del Ray project expanding bungalows up and to the rear while keeping the front profile. Highest-intent local search.
Rear and side bump-outs to enlarge kitchens and family space within Alexandria's FAR and setback limits.
Compact bungalow kitchens are the most common remodel entry point; chef's-kitchen upgrades are highly searched on The Avenue.
Full character-preserving renovations of older bungalows and Colonials a strong conversion segment for newer owners
Early-1900s homes lack modern primary suites; adding one (often within a second-story addition) is a recurring high-value job.
Restored and new front porches and screened rear porches fit Del Ray's porch-culture lifestyle and add usable living space.
“Valor Builder understood exactly what we wanted: a modern kitchen that didn’t ruin the historic feel of our 1930s bungalow. The result is stunning.”
“Their attention to detail on our home addition was incredible. They matched the original trim and siding perfectly.”
In most cases, yes. 'Out-and-up' additions are the signature Del Ray project adding a second story and rear extension while keeping the original front porch and street profile. Feasibility depends on Alexandria's Floor Area Ratio, setbacks, and the existing foundation's capacity, all of which we assess before design.
Del Ray's character is its value, and residents strongly favor preserving the streetscape over demolition. Expanding a bungalow up and out keeps the home's soul, respects neighbours, and often delivers a better-loved result than a teardown which is exactly the approach we specialize in here.
Del Ray falls within the Town of Potomac National Register district. Unlike Old Town's local districts, it is not regulated by Alexandria's Board of Architectural Review, so there's no Certificate-of-Appropriateness hearing for exterior work. Zoning, setbacks, and FAR still apply, and neighborhood character expectations remain strong.
FAR caps the total finished floor area relative to your lot size, which directly limits how much you can add. On Del Ray's modest lots this is usually the governing number for an out-and-up project. We calculate your available FAR first so the design maximizes space within what's legally buildable
Costs vary widely with scope a kitchen-and-bump-out is a very different budget from a full second-story addition with a new primary suite. Given Del Ray's finish expectations and older structures, we provide a fixed-scope Complimentary Proposal for your specific home rather than a per-foot estimate.
Yes that's the point of how we work in Del Ray. We retain and restore signature elements (porch columns, trim profiles, the front elevation) while modernizing the interior and systems, so the home reads as an authentic, well-loved bungalow that simply works for modern life.
Yes. Several Del Ray homes began as early-20th-century kit houses, and they renovate well. They do sometimes hide quirks in framing and original materials, so we start with a thorough structural assessment to plan the expansion and modernization correctly
A second-story addition with interior reconfiguration typically runs several months to roughly a year depending on scope and weather, since the home is opened to the structure during the build. We provide a realistic, milestone-based timeline at proposal and manage permitting throughout.
Yes and it's one of the most requested Del Ray upgrades. A new primary suite is usually created within a second-story addition, giving you a private bedroom, walk-in closet, and spa bath without sacrificing the main-level living space.
Yes. Alongside classic bungalows we renovate Potomac Yard town homes and newer infill homes open-concept conversions, primary-bath upgrades, and finish modernization so we serve the full range of Del Ray housing.