UIP QUALITY HOMES
Quality That's Not Just "Skin-Deep"

Urban Investment Partners (UIP) is one of the leading forces in the 24/7 revival of key Washington, D.C. urban neighborhoods. Our stylish homes not only offer choice and convenience with easy access to Metrorail and other neighborhood amenities, but they also offer a superior level of quality construction that is rarely encountered in comparable offerings. Not all of our quality construction methods and materials are visible to the eye once the home is ready for sale. But buyers will come to know the UIP difference in the comfort and lasting value that their homes provide.

When your are looking for a home in an older urban building that's being renovated, you need to look beyond restored Victorian facades and glitzy options like granite countertops. Has your developer replaced or upgraded outdated electrical, heating, cooling and plumbing systems? Are the windows new and energy-efficient? Will you be surrounded by century-old plaster walls that have no insulation? How much noise will you have to endure from nearby neighbors, creaky floorboards, or the street? 

Sound Proofing

Here are just a few examples of how UIP goes the extra mile to provide enduring quality with top-of-the-line construction:

UIP knows that the quiet enjoyment of your home requires solid construction and attention to sound attenuation. We believe in exceeding the building code and government requirements, because the government is not living in your home! We use HomasoteTM, a dense material manufactured from recycled and treated newspaper, over the subflooring to absorb sound and make your living space quieter. We also use Dura-SonTM or WhisperStepTM as an additional soundproofing layer under the finished floor. Instead of gluing or nailing finished flooring to the subfloor, we use a "floating" floor system that prevents the flooring from cracking, buckling, and squeaking under foot traffic.

Walls

With interior wall construction, we are concerned with heat transfer, moisture, and sound attenuation. Most pre-war buildings in Washington were constructed with un-insulated plaster walls that do not meet today's requirements. We rebuild the home's interior walls with the highest quality drywall products, insulated to provide thermal comfort and prevent moisture transfer. Under bathroom tiles, where many builders use inexpensive "greenboard", we use concrete-like DurockTM to ensure that moisture from the bath does not damage the walls.

Lighting and Technology

UIP gives buyers options for state-of-the-art technology and control. Lutron lighting controls, for example, allow homeowners to maximize use of natural daylight and even include automatically operated window treatments. The SoundSourceTM combines a CD player, AM/FM tuner, volume control, 35 watt high power stereo amplifier and preamplifier into one compact, flush-mount unit. UIP also offers Pass and Seymour products, including video systems, telecom systems and computer networks.