Home Remodeling

Not every Home Remodeling needs to be a “major remodeling project” to update or upgrade your home.

Sometimes smaller renovation projects can create a dramatic change that can give you a lot of satisfaction, as well as making your home more beautiful.

Think for instance the replacement of the front door, a small Home Remodeling project that will change and uplift the face of your house.

By replacing that old, drafty door for a new all-weather stripped entry door, you will not only transform one of the most visible parts of your home into a very attractive focal point, but you will also increase the energy efficiency.

Take for instance as an example in the photo above, this simple Home Remodeling project consisted in replacing the original double entry door by a new Oak, Glass insert pre-hung unit with new brass hardware.

At the same time the old door was removed, a new porch was built over the main entry to protect it from falling rain. The new porch was finished with the same Spanish roof tile style to match the house roof.

Another detail is that the downspout of the rain gutter installed along the front edge of the new porch was semi imbedded into the adjacent wall and stuccoed over to make it more discreet.

What you see in the picture is the vinyl gutter and downspout that eventually was up-graded to a copper welded system in order to minimize the bends of the down spout

All new carpentry work was wrapped and covered with stucco, textured and painted to match the house.

The results, as you can see in the first photo above were very nice.  A more protected entrance to the house, with a beautiful double door and a perfect match stucco work... Job well done!

Good luck with your next Home Remodeling project and I hope this information has been helpful to you!

Please contact us for a free in-home consultation...

Be sure to check out our website: http://www.venturabuilders.com/

Change of Season

It is about that time of the year to start thinking about your next home improvement project.

The season is changing and the warm weather will bring bright sunny days, ideal conditions to accomplish all those projects you had in mind during the winter months.

Most of homeowners are deciding to stay put and make those much needed changes and improvements to their homes to bring them back to life and bring the excitement up again of living in a more beautiful and comfortable home.

During the new upcoming season it will be the perfect time to replace those old leaky Windows and Sliding Patio Doors and upgrade them to dual glazed high efficient new units so you can turn your home into a cozier space, saving energy and cutting down on air conditioning and heating bills for many years to come.

Replacing old single glazed aluminum frame Windows and Patio Doors for new beautiful wood frame ones not only will improve the energy efficiency of your home, but will change the feeling of the inside as well.  These new units finished with nice interior trim work can make a dramatic change in any room.

The upcoming season will bring the right opportunity to revisit the idea of installing a new Skylight to bring natural light and better ventilation to that dark area in your house for instance, where the sunlight never reaches well.

Installing a new Skylight in your kitchen or bathroom can create a dramatic change that will surprise you. Integrating a new Skylight installation along with a basic Bathroom or Kitchen Remodeling can really have a great impact in those very important areas of your home.

Most of the time these visual changes in interior spaces are worth more than spending a fortune on  fixtures and accessories when doing a remodeling project or keeping the same layout, ceiling heights, window sizes, etc. A medium size Master Bathroom or Kitchen can look dramatically bigger and brighter if a nice Venting Skylight is installed along with a change in the walls and ceiling colors and installing new flooring for instance.

Also making an existing Patio Door larger or converting an existing window into a Patio Door is a simple project but with a dramatic impact on your interior living space. With this type of improvement you can not only  bring more natural light inside that particular room but you can integrate the outdoors into your living space, connect your Master Bedroom with your backyard or make that transition in between your Kitchen to the BBQ area more expedite and comfortable, specially looking forward to the summer days approaching.

I hope this article can be useful to you in considering your new remodeling project and keep in mind that not always big expenditures can deliver those spectacular results, but with a more conservative budget you can expect one of those one million dollar results in return.

Good luck!

For a free consultation please contact us, you will be glad you did!

Be sure to check out our website: www.VenturaBuilders.com

All About Warranty

What warranty is a contractor required to provide under California Law?

Working with licensed and reputable contractors is very important!

Here is some valuable information you may consider when selecting and hiring a contractor to do some work for you.

There are basically three warranties that are law in California. These warranties are defined in the CALIFORNIA BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODES and in the CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE.

#1) The one-year warranty: New construction & remodels

The standard “one year expressed limited warranty” also known as the “Fit and Finish warranty” is an industry standard and a California law [CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE 900], and is considered an implied warranty. Even though the state has adopted a standard of the warranty, a written warranty is always better.

With a one-year written or implied warranty you are required to file a complaint within the one-year period [CALIFORNIA BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE SECTION 7091-c].

 #2) Four-year warranty: All contractors / all jobs

A licensed contractor is required to give a warranty on items installed under his /her license to be free from defective installation including, but not limited to the local codes and manufacturer’s installation requirements for up to four years after the completion of a job. The claim may be made on any defect, either known or unknown, and discovered within the four-year period [CALIFORNIA BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE SECTION 7091-a]. 

A licensed contractor can be held liable for repairs and damages caused by the defective installation. A licensed contractor who fails to meet the minimum installation requirements can be sued in a court of law and a complaint can be filed with the California State License Board.

#3) Ten-year warranty: Structural defects

A licensed contractor and/or the engineer on record is required to provide a warranty on certain engineered components that they are to be free form engineering defects, miscalculation or omissions. Such defects could be site stability, the integrity of the foundation, site retaining walls, roof framing, etc… These defects may be considered Latent defects. Latent defects are defects which lay dormant and are undiscoverable without certain expertise or disaster. Such latent defects may include foundation settling, excessive sagging of beams or other framing which may be undersized, unusual site movement, etc…

CALIFORNIA BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE

SECTION 7091-in part 7091.

(a) A complaint against a licensee alleging commission of any

patent acts or omissions that may be grounds for legal action shall

be filed in writing with the registrar within four years after the

act or omission alleged as the ground for the disciplinary action…

(b) A complaint against a licensee alleging commission of any

latent acts or omissions that may be grounds for legal action

pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 7109 regarding structural

defects, as defined by regulation, shall be filed in writing with the

registrar within 10 years after the act or omission alleged as the

ground for the disciplinary action…

Where can I file a complaint?

First you are required to notify the contractor in writing and allow him to inspect, evaluate and make an offer to repair or settle the claim [CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE 917]. If the contractor refuses to respond to your claim or does not offer a reasonable settlement or repair within a reasonable time frame, you may then consider legal action [CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE 915].

Legal action may include Small Claims court if the amount is under the limit of ($5,000 to $7,500 depending on the claim) or you may wish to contact a construction defect attorney to pursue civil damages.

Another option is contacting the Contractors State License Board, which is the state consumer protection agency that licenses and regulates construction contractors. If you file a complaint against a licensed contractor within the legal deadline, CSLB has authority to investigate the complaint. If you use an unlicensed contractor, CSLB may not be able to help you resolve your complaint. Your only remedy may be in civil court, and you may be liable for damages arising out of any injuries to the unlicensed contractor or the unlicensed contractor's employees.

For Information about filing a complaint to the Contractors State License Board:

Visit CSLB's web site at: www.cslb.ca.gov

Call CSLB at 800-321-CSLB (2752)

Write CSLB at P.O. Box 26000, Sacramento, CA 95826

Or if you would like to look up California Law regarding your rights go to: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/index.html

What if a contractor fails to repair the defect or pay the settlement once I get a judgment or order?

If a licensed contractor fails to pay a civil penalty, or to comply with an order of correction or an order to pay a specified sum either by court order or by CLSB action, a suspension of his license per the CALIFORNIA BUSINESS A

What is a “Contractor’s License Bond?”

A contractor’s bond guarantees both job completion and payment of all labor and material. All contractors are required to have a minimum $10,000 bond. Some bonds are designed to protect you from substandard work that does not comply with local building codes. Check with the CSLB if you wish to file a complaint against a licensed contractor and pursue a contractor’s bond for reimbursement of a judgment. ND PROFESSIONS CODE SECTION 7090.1 may occur. Also, an attorney may be able to help collect on a judgment.

I hope this information will be helpful to you, good luck!

Be sure to check out our website: www.VenturaBuilders.com

What is the difference between New Construction & Retrofit Window?

By Ivan Stipicevic

OK, let’s get this straight! Construction terms can sometimes be confusing.  I hope the following information will help you in making the right decision when purchasing and installing your new windows and patio doors.

When it comes to window and door installation the most common terms used in the construction lingo to differentiate the two concepts are:

A)    New construction = Full replacement = Nail-on

B)     Retrofit = Replacement

1. Flush fin

Option A: New Construction

With option (A) you are removing the entire window or patio door. That is, removal of sashes and frame in the case of a window and removal of door panels and frame in the case of a patio door to install a complete new unit.

This process consists of the removal of the outside trim or demo of approximately 3” wide of stucco around the existing unit so it can be completely replaced by the new one.

What to expect

When the “full replacement” of windows or patio doors is complete they will look as if they were part of the original construction, matching the architectural style of your house and maintaining the original glazing (glass) area to allow maximum natural light inside your house.

Option B: Retrofit

With option (B) you only remove the interior panels leaving the frame in place. In the case of windows you remove the sashes and in the case of patio doors you remove the door panels only.



Retrofit Window Frame



One of the most common replacement types is retrofitting a vinyl window or door into an existing aluminum frame where the new vinyl window or patio door will fit inside the existing frame.  This frame will end up being covered outside by the so called “flush fin” (B1) of the new unit. 

A retrofit window will take away up to 3” of glass around the entire perimeter of your window/door and if you do the math that equals up to approximately 4.5 sq. feet less of glass in a 4’ x 5’ window only, ouch!

This is one of the major setbacks homeowners come to realize when installing “retrofit windows/doors” in their homes and unfortunately this happens after the work is done and it is already too late.

Very Important!

Another major issue when installing retrofit windows is that by reducing the window opening you may end up attempting against one of the most important conditions that windows must comply with and that is the “FIRE EGRESS”.

-According to the International Building Code, Basements and sleeping rooms below the fourth story shall have at least one exterior emergency escape and rescue opening: It must have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft. Net clear opening refers to the actual free and clear space that exists when the window is open. Is not the rough opening size or the glass panel size or any other size, but the actual opening a person can crawl through.

Ground floor windows need 5 sq. ft. of net clear opening.

The opening height must be at least 24” and the opening width must be at least 20”.

The bottom of the clear opening must be within 44” of the floor-

Do the math

At first glance, you might assume that a 20-in. by 24-in. window (A) would be acceptable for egress. Those dimensions would yield a net clear opening of only 3.3 sq. ft.

To achieve the required net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft., a 20-in. wide window (B) would have to be 42 in. high.

Likewise, a 24-in. high window (C) would have to be 35 in. wide.

The installation of “retrofit windows” many times reduces the minimum requirements indicated in the Building Code because they encroach the clear opening of an existing window in a bedroom.

Be aware because installers of “retrofit windows” will tell you that the installation of your windows will not require a Building Permit, so there will be no inspections to verify that the installation was done as per code putting the safety of you and your family at risk.

What to expect

One of the most common dislikes of installing a retrofit window or door in a residential home is, first of all, the unmistakable “plastic look” of the vinyl.  An alternative is to use fiberglass units which will increase the cost of the new units by about 40-50%

Another setback is the exterior appearance of retrofit windows and patio doors. When you look at a house where retrofit windows and doors have been installed you will notice there is an approx. 3” wide plastic trim around every unit, that is the “flush fin”.  This is a projection of the unit frame and this “fin” is the part of the new unit that covers the original window or patio door frame. Behind this “fin” the installer must apply a good quality sealant to keep water from coming into your house as well as air, dust and noise.

 Also when retrofits are installed in stucco exterior homes, the bumpiness of the stucco, especially in houses with heavy stucco textures, will provide a pretty uneven surface for this “fin” to closely sit against the exterior wall, so the installer will have to use more sealant to fill in the gaps.  This condition can result in a very unpleasant site of your new windows and patio doors, especially after a few months when that extra sealant will become saturated with dirt.

Retrofitting a vinyl window or door into an existing aluminum frame is probably one the most affordable ways to get rid of an old, air leaking, single glazed window or patio door; but when it comes to considering an improvement to your own house, it may be worth it to take into consideration some of the issues discussed above. 

I hope this information can be useful to you when it comes to making the final selection of your new windows and patio doors, good luck!

Please contact us for a free in home consultation...

Be sure to check out our website: http://www.venturabuilders.com/

Window Installation: Window Retrofit vs. Full Replacement

By  Ivan Stipicevic

The window replacement business has been one of the fastest growing sectors of the remodeling business in the last few years and that probably explains the overwhelming amount of window brands and installers that are trying to take a piece of the  pie.  Fearless competition over low prices and fast installation seems to be the lure most commonly used.

Be aware!  Not all installers are experienced enough to perform a thorough installation and not all installations are the  same.  "Retrofitting" a window is the quick way around replacing an old aluminum window, cheap and fast.  There are installers that can do this work fine, but when it comes to "Full Replacement", there are many other aspects of the installation to take into consideration.



FLASHING: CRITICAL STEP TO A WINDOW REPLACEMENT

 One of the most common problems in a Full Replacement installation is the failure of the flashing system around the new window to keep moisture and water from penetrating into the framing and the interior of your house. A faulty flashing system can create serious and expensive damage, including the interior trim of the window, the paint work, drywall, carpet, framing, etc. Not to mention the potential development of mold that can seriously affect your health and your family. Unfortunately this is a problem that may take a long time before it becomes noticeable, sometimes two, three  or more rainy winters.  By that time the damage is already done and the contractor gone...









The exterior finish by excellence used in California is Stucco, a mix of sand and cement, sounds pretty basic and simple right? Well how many times have you  seen that noticeable and awful  "bump" around a newly replaced window that you can see from almost a block away, it's not pretty.  Doing a proper stucco patch to match a hand texture done by someone else is not an easy task, it requires good skill and expertise. Every stucco work is different and the last thing you expect after investing your money is that obvious "scar" around every one of your new windows.

INSIDE WINDOW TRIM

Wood trim is also very important, it is the finishing touch. It is that nice accent you add to the interior of your new window, the trim that you will paint or stain for a beautiful complete installation. This is the type of work that can only be done by a qualified craftsman carpenter, with the appropriate tools and equipment for a flawless result.  The cosmetics is one of the most important part of any project. It makes the difference between a great job and a disappointment.

You deserve the best service and quality work done in your home, so when it comes to selecting the company that will do the installation of your new windows be aware that there is a difference, a very important difference between window installation specialty contractors.

Take your time to find a reputable company that can do the right Full Replacement of the new windows for you.  Good reliable, experienced and full insured specialist are  often associated to high quality window manufactures through certification programs.  This contractors will be your best option because they know the product better, they will follow installation protocols suggested by the manufacturer and they are committed to comply with the quality standards and performance demanded by the window manufacturing company.

Good luck with your project and I hope this information has been helpful to you!

Please contact us or a free in home consultation...

Be sure to check out our website: http://www.venturabuilders.com/