Porch steps and front walks
Takoma lots often rise from the street, with a walk and then porch steps to climb. Rails on both sides of each run and light along the walk come first.
Wheelchair ramp installation in Takoma, DCIn Takoma, the side of Eastern Avenue matters
Takoma straddles the DC line. A house on one side of Eastern Avenue is in the District, and the house across the street is in Takoma Park, Maryland.
The houses look alike, with deep porches, rising front walks and upstairs bedrooms. The rules behind them do not. Permit offices and senior programs both change at the line, so the plan starts with which side you live on.
How it works in Takoma, DC
- We walk the Takoma, DC house. We look at porch houses on a street shared with Maryland first, then go through every room.
- The price comes in writing. It is fixed before work starts and says whether the DC Department of Buildings (DOB) needs to issue a permit.
- Then we work down the list, which here usually starts with porch steps and front walks.
What we fix in Takoma homes
The upstairs bath in an old house
An older bath can stay as it is and still get grab bars into solid framing, a seat and a handheld shower.
Grab bar installation and bath safety in Takoma, DCStairs with a turn
If your stairs turn at a landing, that points to a curved lift built for them. The assessment measures the stair before you shop.
Stair Lifts in Takoma, DCA bedroom off the front porch
A front parlor or den can become a bedroom when the stairs get to be too much, with a bathroom added nearby.
First-Floor Living in Takoma, DCNeighborhoods we serve around Takoma
- Takoma Park, Maryland
- Shepherd Park
- Manor Park
- Brightwood
- Lamond-Riggs
Permits and programs in Takoma
On the DC side, Takoma work is permitted by the DC Department of Buildings (DOB).
DC residents in Takoma can look at DC Safe at Home, run by the DC Department of Aging and Community Living with income limits. Across the line, Maryland programs apply instead, so check current terms with the one that fits your address.
For Takoma, DC, see DC Department of Aging and Community Living, Safe at Home and Permitting in the District.
Takoma at the DC line
Takoma sits at the top of Northwest DC around the Takoma Metro station on the Red Line. Eastern Avenue marks the Maryland line, Blair Road Northwest and Piney Branch Road Northwest run through it, and the old Walter Reed campus on Georgia Avenue Northwest is a short trip west, with Fort Stevens a little beyond.
Takoma questions
Do you cover Takoma on both sides of the line?
Yes. The DC side sits about 6.2 miles from the US Capitol, and we also work in Takoma Park, Maryland, under Montgomery County rules.
How do I know which side my house is on?
Your property tax bill says District of Columbia or Montgomery County. The assessment confirms it before the scope names a permit office.
Will a stair lift fit stairs with a landing?
Often, with a curved lift made for your stairs. Measurements come first, and the price follows them.
Services for Takoma, DC homes
- Assessments in Takoma, DC
- Bathroom Safety in Takoma, DC
- Ramps and Access in Takoma, DC
- Stair Lifts in Takoma, DC
- First-Floor Living in Takoma, DC
- Kitchen in Takoma, DC
- Flooring in Takoma, DC
- Lighting in Takoma, DC
- Smart Home Safety in Takoma, DC
- Maintenance Plans in Takoma, DC
- Hospital Discharge in Takoma, DC
- Veterans and Disability in Takoma, DC
Near Takoma, DC
Takoma, DC lies north of the US Capitol.
- Shepherd Park, DC 0.6 mi northwest
- Takoma Park, MD 0.8 mi east
- Silver Spring, MD 1.4 mi north
- Petworth, DC 2.3 mi south
- Chevy Chase, DC 2.4 mi west
- Chevy Chase, MD 3.0 mi west
- Upper Northwest, DC 3.7 mi southwest
- Friendship Heights, MD 3.8 mi west
- Brookland, DC 3.8 mi southeast
- Hyattsville, MD 4.8 mi east