With mixed emotions we are selling this extraordinary home which has served us well for over ten years. The purpose of our move is to be closer to aging parents with health problems in another state. We bought “2625” in 1993, having moved from a smaller home in this convenient South Arlington neighborhood.
According to Arlington County (a sewer connection record dated November 10th), this house was nearing completion toward the end of 1953. Although the original owners, Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Jefferson, may have moved in before hand, the first year of occupancy and full tax year is actually listed as 1954.
Original Owners
From what we have been able to learn, the Jeffersons had their choice of lots on this street and had an appreciation for quality. One of the hidden, but appealing aspects of it is the all masonry construction supported by 12-inch wide foundation walls. This is obviously more expensive to build and superior to 8-inch wide blocks commonly found in older homes. It is also well sited on the property with good drainage and generous exposure to sunlight. Together, these features have ensured a sound structure in a region of the country known to have occasional unstable soils. Since one of us has a construction background, we value these characteristics more than most and believe this home has the potential to serve its owners for many long years to come.
Mr. Jefferson reportedly died in 1967. Mrs. Jefferson raised four children and continued living here until she passed away in the Spring of 1993. Since we purchased "2625" from her estate, not much is known about the home's maintenance and repair history. Highlights of renovations completed during our tenure are described below. For a detailed list of property features, be sure to see the Feature List.
Electrical Upgrades
Most of the home’s major systems have been updated. The electrical system, for example, was heavied-up to 200 amps at the main panel in the Fall of 1993 along with extensive receptacle updates and new point of service installations. The garage is equipped with a sub panel, bright fluorescent lighting, and a 220 volt receptacle for a compressor and similar heavy duty tools. The shed has underground power, and is where the low voltage garden lights and pond pump circuits are controlled. There is a circuit going to the attic for future expansion and a number of ground fault interrupt receptacles have been added for safety. Following a power outage during hurricane Isabel, we acquired a backup generator and have installed a pad for it behind the garage. At 5500 watts, the generator is sufficient to power a refrigerator, microwave, and boiler pump along with several house lights.
Energy Conservation
In 1994 all of the windows were replaced with double pane insulated sashes for optimum energy conservation. Additional benefits include lower maintenance on the exterior and much lower sound transmission from nearby air traffic. The same year, the original oil fired boiler was replaced with a state of the art gas unit. Noteworthy is that it can provide both baseboard heating and domestic hot water simultaneously. Moreover, it heats water upon demand, thus providing a virtually unlimited (continuous) supply of hot water. When the boiler was installed, additional gas lines were run to the recreation room fireplace for a gas log and utility room (stub) for possible future appliance conversions in the kitchen or laundry.
Finished Basement
The basement was intended to be lived in from the beginning as there is a huge recreation room with fireplace and a generous ceiling height. During 1998, this level was modernized to include a well equipped exercise room, separate laundry room, and a large cedar closet. The exercise room was originally intended to be used as an office, therefore, it has several receptacles and phone jacks. A sports injury requiring at-home rehabilitation resulted in its current configuration--one which can save hundreds of dollars per year in gym fees. To cap this off there is now a full plus bathroom which features both a shower and whirlpool tub, ceramic tile, oak vanity, and built in linen shelves. The same year, our two second floor bathrooms were updated to include new vanities, exhaust fans, and elongated commodes. The master shower also received a glass enclosure along with new ceramic tile.
Quality Roofing
In 2000, the house and garage roofs were replaced with GAF Timberline Ultra architectural shingles. The contractor included a non-prorated warranty for the first ten years and a prorated warranty which extends from the 11th to 40th years. Following this, the gutters and down spouts were replaced with oversized aluminum ones. The gutters not only have hidden fasteners at 16 inch intervals for maximum stability, but they are screened to minimize the need for cleaning. Finally, the fascia and rake boards were capped with aluminum and new dentil trim installed across the front of the house.
Kitchen & Laundry Updates
The kitchen was renovated in 2001 to include new dishwasher, refrigerator, flooring, countertops, and cabinet resurfacing. In addition, a breakfast nook was installed complete with matching countertop and connections for telephone, television, and ethernet media. Each floor has at least one prewired location for category 5 cable with routing to an ethernet hub located in the cedar closet. The laundry appliances were replaced the same year and now feature modern Maytag Atlantis series washer and dryer.
Environment Friendly Air Conditioning
In 2002, the air conditioning system was replaced with two top of the line Carrier components. The condenser capacity is three tons and has a seasonal energy efficiency rating of 15. This unit is expected to be a third less costly to operate than builder grade new construction equipment which normally comes with the minimum SEER rating of ten. The second part is a low noise variable speed air handler installed in the attic. Together these systems circulate Puron, an environmentally sound refrigerant which has been approved by the EPA to replace Freon. Under the Clean Air Act of 1990, Freon-22 will eventually be phased out, thus “2625” is already ozone friendly. Finally, the system is regulated by an advanced controller known as a Thermidistat which not only controls the temperature, but will adjust the air handler to run longer during periods of high humidity for optimum occupant comfort.
Freshly Painted
After doubling the amount of installed crown moulding in 2003, we had most of the interior recoated with premium Benjamin Moore paint using warm colonial era colors. If not already completed by the time you see it, our final project is intended to be a repainting of all of the home’s exterior doors and trim. We have a contractor selected and scheduling is dependent upon mother nature.
The English Garden
We understand the original owners loved gardening. The serpentine line of bricks at the rear yard along with meandering heights and types of plants is often associated with an English garden. In order to preserve this look we constructed the Carriage House style shed at one end of the yard opening onto the open grass. A pond at the extreme rear was filled in and two new ones featuring a waterfall located closer to the patio. A long time interest in growing roses led us to construct the tiered garden along the South side of the property. It has an underground drain system to minimize disease and a nearby hose bibb installed for watering convenience. Roses generally bloom from April to November and several (see Photo Gallery) have earned awards in local competition. For more information about growing and maintaining roses, suggest visiting www.arlingtonrose.org.
Other Conditions
The home is not without some imperfections. There are a couple of hardwood floor "character" squeaks, cracks in the concrete driveway, and not all prewires are active. If desired, additional information about the property's condition can be found during a professional home inspection. All in all, it would be difficult to find a pre-owned home today with more features and up front information or a new home with better materials and workmanship.
Continue The Legacy
As you can see, “2625” started out as a quality home and it has continued to receive meticulous care. We feel blessed to have lived here and, were it not for a change in family health conditions, we would have been comfortable living here indefinitely. We sincerely hope that, if you become the next owners, during this its Golden Jubilee Year, you will continue the legacy associated with this exceptional home.
Xxx & Xxx Xxxxx
March 2004