Located in Fairfax County, Centreville is suburb of Washington DC, which is about 20 miles away to the east. It is a census-designated place with a population of 71,135 as of 2010 and a total area a little over 12 square miles.

The name of Centreville is descriptive. It literally lies in the hub of roads that lead to Alexandria, Georgetown, Middleburg, Dumfries, Colchester, Leesburg, and Warrenton. Established in 1728 as Centerville, it was part of Loudoun County until a boundary shift in 1798 landed it in Fairfax County. For some reason the forces that be decided it would be spelled Centreville at some point in tis history.

Because it was in the middle of everything Centreville was a place of significance for both sides of the Civil War. It was the site of the first railroad for the exclusive use of the military (Centreville Military Railroad) and served as a supply depot for both the Union and Confederate armies.
Today, Centreville is also the hub of many cultures. Slight less than half of the population (47.5%) is white, and almost a third (29%) is of Asian descent. Hispanics (12.7%) and African Americans (6.5%) make up most of the remaining population. Centreville residents tend to be better off than the rest of the state, with a median household income of $102,361 (2013), relative to the state median at $62,666.

Centreville natives and residents include both famous and infamous people. There are notable sports figures such as NFL players Scott Secules and Will Montgomery, football players Mike Glennon, Sean Glennon, Richard Taylor, and Eddie Royal and figure skater Sebra Yen. You also have Cho Sheng-Hui, the South Korean expatriate that took to killing 32 people at Virginia Tech in 2007, and New York Times former journalist Jayson Blair, who was accused of plagiarizing and fabricating news stories.

Things to Do Around Centreville

Centreville is inevitably the site of some historical events, given its location and the role it played in the Civil War. Among the places that history buffs should visit is the Mount Gilead House, one of three sites in Centreville in the National Historic Sites Registry. It was built in the 1700s and was a tavern for several decades until 1789, when it became the headquarters the Northern Virginia Confederate army under the command of General Joseph, E. Johnston.

You should also make a point of going to the Manassas National Battlefield Park, site of the pivotal Battle of First Manassas. Right before that historic clash is the encounter at Blackburns Ford, which is where the Union and Confederate armies engaged in a minor skirmish. If you are feeling the need for a little refreshment, The Winery at Bull’s Run is in an adjoining estate. Set in the 1860s, the experience will leave you feeling a little nostalgic.

Of course, being an upscale neighborhood with a rich cultural mix means you have many shopping and dining choices. You can get some good Italian food at Ciao Osteria or take a load off at Sweetwater Tavern. There is also no dearth of shopping malls in Centreville, such as Newgate Plaza and Centreville Square.

A meeting of minds

The client was someone we have worked with many times before. He was one of the top contractors in Virginia, and had often called us in to do the stone installations for many of his projects. He had recently retired, and had turned his professional attention to his own home. He had a nice three-level two-bedroom townhouse with one full bath and two half-baths. He had already kitchen remodel and bathroom remodels, and wanted us to do his countertops and vanity tops. He was thinking of having granite put in, and we were glad to oblige an old friend.

Consultation

As we expected, he did a very good job with the remodel. What was amazing is that he had done everything himself. He commented on the irony of life: he retired from contractor work and promptly dived back in! At his request, we brought along samples of light-colored granite we had in our remnant stock for the bathroom vanities, and samples of dark granite for his kitchen counters. He was a knowing one; he knew he could get the lowest prices with remnant stock, and he only needed small pieces for the bathroom design. By bringing along samples, it was also easier for him to visualize how it would look in the rooms. He made his choice and we gave him a quote. Of course, he tried to bargain us down, but he knew our quote was actually as low as it would go. We shook on it and we promised to send over the fabricator the next day.

Installation

The fabricator came in the next day as promised with the work crew to make the support structures of the new countertops and sinks. The fabricator made the templates and left the workers to carry on with the work. They were done by that afternoon.
Since the remnants and slab the client selected were in stock, the fabricator was able to get right on cutting as soon as he got back to the workshop. He was also ready to deliver by that afternoon, but postponed it for the next day for the installer.

The installation itself went very quickly. It was a straightforward job, and the counters and vanities were curing by lunchtime.

Post Installation

The great thing about working with a contractor on his own property is we didn’t have to cross the Ts and dot the Is for him. He knew how it worked, and did not have any unrealistic expectations when it came to delivery times. We were able to give him the stones he needed within a very short time, however. He was pleasantly surprised when we were able to finish the job in two days. He was also very pleased on the quality of the work, although it was what he was expecting from us from past experience. We were very happy to be of service to a colleague.

We work fast

Working with another trade professional is easier for us because we don’t have to explain everything, and makes the work go faster. However, even if we work with clients that do not have a clue, we make a point of working as fast as possible without sacrificing the quality of the work. Contact us to get your remodeling project done in no time.