Remodeling Your Bathroom?

   The first thing to consider in any bathroom remodel, is what do you do in the bathroom, not just that, but what else? A family with children might have 3 kids charging into the bathroom after breakfast. Adding a double sink and extra storage areas would benefit them. An older couple may really appreciate having a bathtub with easy access and handrails. Another couple may want an extra large bathtub.

  A family with small children that need help with bathing might prefer a shower curtain instead of the glass doors so they can easily reach their kids. If one member of the family likes to read the sports section for extended periods when the rest of family members need to get into the bathroom to get ready for work or school, maybe you need to add a half bath. After you have taken a good look at what you use your bathroom for, you can then plan out what changes you want to make during your remodel.

  Look at what type of flooring you want: ceramic, sheet linoleum or whatever. I suggest you do not put carpet in the bathroom unless it is a removable throw rug. The next thing is to look at your color scheme.

  New Castle Remodeling provides knowledgeable service and the highest quality work. I can help you with your bathroom remodeling needs from planning to the finish.

  Give me a call or text at (818) 613-5632 to get you started - Randy Mate CA Lic 978915

Room Addition vs Room Conversion

  If you are choosing between converting your garage to a Granny Conversion versus adding a room addition, the first thing to determine is to call me or the city to see if the city requires that you have a garage. Most cities require that you have a garage that handles enough cars based on your home’s square footage. If you have a two car garage, and it is required that you have a garage or covered parking, you might have to add a covered parking space or a garage.
   The next thing to determine is if you can add as much square footage as you want because some cities have a limit on how much square footage you can have. There is a setback requirement (how far your addition must be from the property line) and there may be a limit if your addition is adding a second story.
   Converting a room could be cheaper because you already have a slab and walls, but the cost would go up if you need to add a garage.
   You have to ensure the garage is up to where it is suppose to be, meaning you sometimes have to take a few steps back in order to go forward. To bring it up to current code, you may need to strengthen the foundation, pour a thicker slab or modify the tie ins (where walls join to the slab). Strengthening the foundation is also important when adding a second story or converting an attic to a living space with a bath.
   It is probably easier to go with an addition than a remodel, though not necessarily less expensive, because the only unknown can be handled by having the soil tested for how compact the dirt is. There are many unknowns for a conversion. How thick is the concrete slab? Is the framing up to code so it will sustain earthquakes, etc. or do you need to add support framing? Will the city decide that your garage slab is only one inch thick with no foundation around the edges and will they require you tear it down and rebuild it whether you do the conversion or not? Like opening a can of worms.
   In a room addition, you can put all the electric and plumbing right where you want it. Whereas with a room conversion, you have to break into the slab and run plumbing. If your garage has drywall walls, you’d have to break into them to run electrical, and you may need to increase your electrical service by adding a subpanel.
   Once you are past the foundation, framing, electrical and plumbing stage, the finish is very much the same for either an addition or a room conversion.
   All in all, it is pretty much a wash as far as the cost between the two. Whichever you decide to do, call or text me at (818) 613-5632. I can refer an architect or do a bid on your plans. I look forward to doing the job.

- Randy Mate, Ca Lic 978915

Vinyl Replacement Windows

   Get rid of those old, leaking, ugly windows. Combine energy efficiency, value and low maintenance. New windows work better and smoother than aluminum or wooden ones.

   Putting in new vinyl replacement widows to replace old, wood, steel or aluminum windows is the current green trend. Maybe your current windows are painted shut or have just become worn and unattractive. Vinyl windows never needed painting so will not ever get painted shut. The windows work better and smoother than aluminum, wood or steel windows. Some vinyl windows are designed to look like painted wooden windows. These windows come most commonly in white however some vinyl windows come in specialty colors such as almond, bronze and hunter green.

   The windows are custom built to order. This means they can match your existing window sizes so there’s no need to disturb your home’s structural framing. In this way the windows can be installed without disturbing the wall inside or out. Therefore the seal around the window also does not get disturbed.

   The windows can be installed in 1 to 3 days depending on the number of windows so it would be a minimum inconvenience to you.

   Usually the windows and doors installed are “Dual Glazed”, which means they are made up of two pieces of glass that have a vacuum sealed air gap between them so weather can’t get in and the air conditioning or heating can’t get out. This provides more comfort, warmer winters and cooler summers. The windows actually pay for themselves through noticeable energy savings.

   There are “Single Hung” which means only the bottom window moves up and down.

   There are “Double Hung” which means both the top and the bottom window move up and down.

   The “Double Hung” windows are available with a feature called tilt-in which means they have a latch that allows you to tilt the windows in toward you to clean them. This feature is especially nice for windows that are on the second floor or in areas where it is hard to access it from the outside.

   There are “Casement” which means the window is hinged and swings out like a door.

   There are “Bay” windows which mean 3 windows joined at a 45 degree angle.

   There are “Bow” windows which mean 3, 4 or 5 windows joined at 13 degree angles.

   There are “Picture” windows which are non-opening windows.

   There are “Radius” windows which are windows that have one or more round sides.

   Also used to cut down energy costs are vinyl “Sliding Doors” and “Skylights”.

   All of the windows and doors are available with or without grids. This means they have a flat or sculptured grid between the two pieces of glass. This makes the windows look like separate small panes of glass.

   Ready to go? Call or text me at (818)613-5632 - Randy Mate