Home & Design

The kitchen features a cedar-and-stone palette with a slate floor. © Bob Narod

Working with architect Kendall Wilson, FAIA, GFC overhauled a traditional Virginia home in clean, contemporary style.

An open-plan kitchen and living area spill out to a second-floor deck.

A sleek and airy master bath features a sculptural soaking tub and a roomy, glass-enclosed shower.

A grand custom home designed by Mark Sullenberger and built by GFC is clad in stone and brick.

The residence showcases a handcrafted floating staircase in the foyer.

The home's light-filled, double-height living room features an upper balcony, a coffered ceiling and a carved-limestone fireplace.

GFC built a rustic home inspired by lodges of the American West. Architecture: Sutton Yantis Associates Architects. © Bob Narod

Personal Touch

Great Falls Construction emphasizes client relationships and one-of-a-kind homes

Owner and CEO Roger Blattberg founded Great Falls Construction in 1979 with a focus on building custom homes. Over the years, the company adjusted with the times, developing more than 60 lots in Northern Virginia during the ’80s and ’90s—though its preference for custom construction never wavered. Today, GFC focuses on a wide range of projects, from small-scale, kitchen-and-bath remodels to transformative, whole-house renovations and sprawling custom homes. “We are true custom builders in that each project represents the interests of the client and is unique,” Blattberg says.

Great Falls Construction cultivates a team-player attitude during a process that begins with extensive dialog with the client. “We feel we’re a key member of a collaborative effort,” Blattberg notes. “We don’t do things on the fly; we try to work out all details before the first shovel hits the ground.” The result is an upfront understanding of materials, timeframes and costs, spelled out in a comprehensive contract.

While the company doesn’t employ an architect on staff, Blattberg and his team work regularly with local architecture firms and will often suggest architects they think will best suit a clients’ plan. A typical project is assigned to a dedicated superintendent and project manager, though this may vary depending on a project’s size and scope. In all cases, the team works with experienced, time-tested subcontractors. “We think it’s important to upgrade our capabilities through high-quality subcontractors,” Blattberg explains. “We tap into the best subs—those who are intent on upping their game.”

He and his team also stay current by keeping up with new products and attending industry shows; their projects incorporate state-of-the-art electronics and integrated systems for lighting and appliances. Blattberg advocates a judicious use of engineered building materials. “There’s something about the texture and substance of real stone or stucco,” he says. “It conveys an ageless quality. A home can speak to you through time-honored products.”

Great Falls Construction stays intentionally small, currently employing a staff of 10 that, in a given year, takes on a limited number of custom homes and about 15 renovations. Projects currently underway include a 9,000-square-foot custom home on five acres in Great Falls; a master-suite renovation in Herndon, complete with an elevator; extensive site work on an Oakton property, including in-ground utilities, landscape and hardscape; and a whole-house transformation in Vienna that will triple the home’s size and completely alter its
aesthetic. “We spread our footprint across a broad area,” Blattberg observes.

He adds, “A few things set us apart. We conduct ourselves proficiently as a business and the quality of our work is high, incorporating good design and materials. But our best asset is our ‘people resources.’ Being part of a dynamic project—it never gets old.”

 

Facts & Stats
Great Falls Construction’s affiliate firm, Riverbend Custom Cabinetry & Millwork, handles smaller kitchen-and-bath projects, providing both cabinetry and design services.

Inquiries:
737 Walker Road, Suite 2, Great Falls, Virginia 22066; 703-759-6116  •  greatfallsconstruction.com

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