Is Your Home Ready for a Large Earthquake?

Earthquakes are not predictable. Southern California (recent minor shaker), Chile (recent 6.2) and Japan (recent 6.1) were recently struck by major seismic activity. Southern California is prone to such disasters and scientists say we are overdue for another big one. Is your home ready for it?

Give us a call today for your free evaluation on how your home would stand up during a major earthquake. Get your free initial estimate and consultation on what it will take to fix it up and ready. (818) 548-8760

Visit my web site at www.newcastleremodeling.com

Do The Addition (No, We’re Not Talking Math)

An addition to any home is something that lasts for many years. A well-thought out and planned addition enhances any home, adds to the equity and gives you needed space, comfort and livability. 

 Some of the many reasons for adding living space to your home are:  1) A growing family needs an additional bedroom or bathroom. 2) You’re staring a business and need a home office. 3) Surprise your spouse with a new kitchen. 4) Or go and add a new gym or recreation room (some people are even adding basketball courts and in-door shooting ranges!)

 In planning out your new addition project, keep in mind that the construction of this new found space is not only safe, but also meets all building codes, and is also estimated to fit your budget. 

 There are two ways to go with an addition – horizontal additions and vertical additions. Having the space and required clearances on your property, a horizontal addition to your home will greatly increase its overall comfort level and usability. 

 A vertical addition is somewhat more tricky, but works well when you have limited space on your property to go outward. Usually these additions require new footings and foundations to support the new space. Having a small piece of land, you may be limited to adding an upstairs guestroom, bedroom or bathroom. 

 Another option on a vertical addition is to go downward. Building a basement that could encompass anything from a bed/bath combination to a new recreation room or even something much more extensive – an in-home theatre, indoor putting green or whatever you might have in mind is always an option that can be looked at and estimated.

 Should your budget not allow for an expensive addition, you may want to look at adding an enclosed porch or sunroom to your home. This works well as they are good all year round and require little in terms of extended air conditioning and heating (often a substantial increase in many addition projects).

 Give my office a call today and we’ll schedule you for a free estimate to build a new addition or do any other major remodeling work on your home. 

Call (818) 548-8760 for your free estimate.

What is Involed in Doing a Remodel

What does it cost to do an addition or remodel? 

This is a question I get asked a lot.  It is not as easy one to answer as it may seem. 

If you are doing an addition that is on flat land, is to be on the first story, is on a concrete slab, can be accessed from an existing hallway and has no plumbing but is just an added room with no closet or walls inside, then you have something that costs the least to build.

EXTRAS

NOT ON FLAT LAND

The addition is on a property that has any slope to it, even a small slope.

The addition is on a property that has more slope to it.

The addition is on a property that is on a hillside that requires piles.

The addition is on a property that is on a hillside that requires us to go deeper with the support piles.

NOT ON THE FIRST STORY

Is a second story addition.

Is a third story addition.

The first story and foundation are not designed to support a second story

Does the city allow you to build a second story.

NOT ON A CONCRETE SLAB

How much dirt do we have to remove to be able to put the addition on a wood structure.

What is the water table and how does that effect the wood structure.

What sort of access is required to under the addition.

NOT ACCESSIBLE FROM AN EXISTING HALLWAY

Do we have to remodel some other room so we can access the addition without going through some other room.

Does the addition include remodeling ½ of the house in order for the flow of people to work.

NOT JUST A BEDROOM OR OFFICE

Is it a bathroom with marble and granite walls and flooring and shower and glass showers.

Is it a kitchen with tiled countertops and backslashes and stoves and ovens and bread garages.

Is it a wine cellar.

Does it have a wet bar.

Do you want a sunken tub.

NOT JUST A SQUARE ROOM BUT HAS CLOSET

Does it have angled walls

Is there closets and hutches and built in cabinets

OTHER ITEMS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Is an electrical upgrade needed.

Is a plumbing upgrade needed.

Are you going to do an Economy, Standard or Deluxe type addition.

Are we having to move existing support walls or add new ones.

The list can go on and on but the thing to realize is there is no real answer to the “How Much” question without first having all of this information.  I can tell you that it can range from $100 to $400 or more a square foot to do an addition.  BUT, the only way you are going to get an exact price to do a remodel is to have an exact design and to figure out how to make the design become a reality by having an architect and engineer work do up plans and get those plans into the city dept of building and safety to be approved.  At that point we can look over the project and work up a price.

The sequence is

DESIGN - have an exact design

ARCHITECTURAL - figure out how to make the design become a reality

ENGINEERING - figure out how to make the design become a reality

PLANS THROUGH CITY BUILDING PLAN CHECK - to be approved

PULL PERMITS - to get these based on the approved plans

BUILD - to be a good idea now that all the other work has been done

  Got Plans? Call me at (818) 548-8760 for that free estimate