Sunrooms Indoor Patios

Options and Features
Sunrooms come in many different styles and sizes. Like any other home improvement project, it's smart start with a plan. Consider the following key points:

• What kind of activities do you wish to use your sunroom for?
• Will it be a seasonal space or do you want it to be fully functional year around?
• Where will the sunroom be attached to the house?
• Will you use an architect's plan and a builder or purchase a kit? Is it going to be a DIY project?
• Will you use a glass roof, a partial glass roof, or sky lights?
• Will you need ceiling fans and vents?
• Do you want windows that open? What about screens for summer?
• Is security an issue?
• Do you want to use it all year long?
• What kind of budget do you have?

Once you've decided what you want in a sunroom, you may want to consult with a designer, architect or builder to design your sunroom and allow a free flow of access from existing rooms to the new space. A professional can help refine your ideas and ultimately save you money by sourcing the right materials, taking heating and cooling needs into consideration, designing a sunroom to fit your home's style and making other valuable suggestions to make the most of your new home addition.


     
You can add value - as well as space - to your home with a new sunroom. On average, nearly 60% of the cost of a sunroom adds to the resell value of your home. Whether you want a comfortable, relaxing place to enjoy your morning coffee and newspaper, an additional room for entertaining or games, or to bring more natural light into your home, a sunroom can be a terrific choice.

Beautiful - and Energy Efficient
Sunrooms, solariums, garden rooms and conservatories are primarily glass-constructed rooms enclosed with screens and used during nice weather, or depending on where you live, can be all-season spaces. And given today's high-technology, energy-efficient windows, a sunroom can save you money as well as provide an aesthetically pleasing extension of your home. Valencia Santa Clarita Canyon Country Stevenson Ranch Saugus Los Angeles County Agoura Hills Alhambra Arcadia Artesia Avalon Azusa Baldwin Park Bell Bell Gardens Bellflower Beverly Hills Bradbury Burbank Calabasas Carson Cerritos Claremont Commerce Compton Covina Cudahy Culver City Diamond Bar Downey Duarte El Monte El Segundo Gardena Glendale Glendora Hawaiian Gardens Hawthorne Hermosa Beach Hidden Hills Huntington Park Industry Inglewood Irwindale La Canada Flintridge La Habra Heights La Mirada La Puente La Verne Lancaster Lakewood Lawndale Lomita Long Beach Los Angeles Lynwood Malibu Manhattan Beach Maywood Monrovia Montebello Monterey Park Norwalk Palmdale Palos Verdes Estates Paramount Pasadena Pico Rivera Pomona Rancho Palos Verdes Redondo Beach Rolling Hills Rolling Hills Estates Rosemead San Dimas San Fernando San Gabriel San Marino Santa Clarita Santa Fe Springs Santa Monica Sierra Madre Signal Hill South El Monte South Gate South Pasadena Temple City Torrance Vernon Walnut West Covina West Hollywood Westlake Village Whittier Acton Alondra Park Altadena Avocado Heights Charter Oak Citrus Del Aire Desert View Highlands East Compton East La Mirada East Los Angeles East Pasadena East San Gabriel Florence-Graham Hacienda Heights La Crescenta Montrose Ladera Heights Lake Los Angeles Lennox Littlerock Marina del Rey Mayflower Village North El Monte Quartz Hill Rowland Heights South San Gabriel South San Jose Hills South Whittier Val Verde Valinda View Park-Windsor Hills Vincent Walnut Park West Athens West Carson West Compton West Puente Valley West Whittier-Los Nietos Westmont Willowbrook Agoura Agua Dulce, Antelope Acres Athens Bassett Big Pines Castaic City TerraceDel Sur, Firestone Park Florence Gorman Juniper Hills Kinneloa Mesa Lake Hughes Leona Valley Llano, Neenach Pearblossom San Pasqual Topanga Two Harbors Universal City Valyermo Ventura County Camarillo Fillmore Moorpark Ojai Oxnard Santa Paula Simi Valley Thousand Oaks Ventura (San Buenaventura) Port Hueneme Bardsdale Bell Canyon Casa Conejo Casitas Springs Channel Islands Beach El Rio Faria Beach La Conchita Lockwood Valley Meiners Oaks Mira Monte Mission Oaks Newbury Park Oak Park Oak View, Piru Point Mugu Saticoy Simi Valley Somis Westlake Village Orange County

Earthquake Retrofitting

Click here http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

A typical retrofit will include:

• Home Bolt Down
  Steel bolts or special foundation plates are fastened to the house's sill plate (the plate that connects the concrete foundation to the pony wall) to anchor it to the foundation.
• Floor and Understructure Connection
  Steel framing clips are attached to the pony wall along the sill plate to bolt the two together.
• Increasing Shear Strength
  Sheets of half-inch plywood are nailed along the pony wall to increase its shear (horizontal) strength.

Your house is probably your most expensive expenditure and greatest investment. The potential damages to your house in an earthquake if it is not up to code are many times as expensive as the cost of retrofit. Unfortunately, earthquake insurance is not adequate protection against damage received in a severe quake. Insurance deductibles are usually high - 10% of the value of your home. Which means that your deductible on a $300,000 home would be $30,000. Additionally, if your home is damaged or demolished due to an earthquake, you are still responsible to continue paying your mortgage.


Earthquake Retrofitting
If you live in earthquake county and have a home built before 1980, chances are you will need to earthquake retrofit to avoid the risk of sustaining serious damage during an earthquake. An earthquake retrofit reinforces a house to its foundation so that it will be more resistant to earthquakes. An earthquake retrofit brings a home up to current safety codes and significantly reduces the damage it will sustain during an earthquake. At-risk houses have not been adequately bolted to their foundations may shake off their foundations and even collapse in a serious earthquake, often causing irreparable damage. If a house is severely damaged, you may be prevented from entering it even to claim possessions. In fact, it's estimated that 95% of houses that have been shaken from their foundations during an earthquake have to be demolished.

Links and Resources:

• U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program

  

New: Earthquake browser with 3D viewer!       Nuevo: Navegador de Terremotos con Vista 3D!   y Boletines en español

IEB is a new, interactive map that not only shows the latest earthquakes but allows you to display thousands of quakes from an archive of 3.4 million spanning from 1970 to minutes ago. It's the IRIS Earthquake Browser, or just IEB, and one of many features is that you can rotate quakes in 3D! (No Flash or Java used)

Click here http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

Valencia Santa Clarita Canyon Country Stevenson Ranch Saugus Los Angeles County Agoura Hills Alhambra Arcadia Artesia Avalon Azusa Baldwin Park Bell Bell Gardens Bellflower Beverly Hills Bradbury Burbank Calabasas Carson Cerritos Claremont Commerce Compton Covina Cudahy Culver City Diamond Bar Downey Duarte El Monte El Segundo Gardena Glendale Glendora Hawaiian Gardens Hawthorne Hermosa Beach Hidden Hills Huntington Park Industry Inglewood Irwindale La Canada Flintridge La Habra Heights La Mirada La Puente La Verne Lancaster Lakewood Lawndale Lomita Long Beach Los Angeles Lynwood Malibu Manhattan Beach Maywood Monrovia Montebello Monterey Park Norwalk Palmdale Palos Verdes Estates Paramount Pasadena Pico Rivera Pomona Rancho Palos Verdes Redondo Beach Rolling Hills Rolling Hills Estates Rosemead San Dimas San Fernando San Gabriel San Marino Santa Clarita Santa Fe Springs Santa Monica Sierra Madre Signal Hill South El Monte South Gate South Pasadena Temple City Torrance Vernon Walnut West Covina West Hollywood Westlake Village Whittier Acton Alondra Park Altadena Avocado Heights Charter Oak Citrus Del Aire Desert View Highlands East Compton East La Mirada East Los Angeles East Pasadena East San Gabriel Florence-Graham Hacienda Heights La Crescenta Montrose Ladera Heights Lake Los Angeles Lennox Littlerock Marina del Rey Mayflower Village North El Monte Quartz Hill Rowland Heights South San Gabriel South San Jose Hills South Whittier Val Verde Valinda View Park-Windsor Hills Vincent Walnut Park West Athens West Carson West Compton West Puente Valley West Whittier-Los Nietos Westmont Willowbrook Agoura Agua Dulce, Antelope Acres Athens Bassett Big Pines Castaic City TerraceDel Sur, Firestone Park Florence Gorman Juniper Hills Kinneloa Mesa Lake Hughes Leona Valley Llano, Neenach Pearblossom San Pasqual Topanga Two Harbors Universal City Valyermo Ventura County Camarillo Fillmore Moorpark Ojai Oxnard Santa Paula Simi Valley Thousand Oaks Ventura (San Buenaventura) Port Hueneme Bardsdale Bell Canyon Casa Conejo Casitas Springs Channel Islands Beach El Rio Faria Beach La Conchita Lockwood Valley Meiners Oaks Mira Monte Mission Oaks Newbury Park Oak Park Oak View, Piru Point Mugu Saticoy Simi Valley Somis Westlake Village Orange County

Paint Painting

What About Texture Coating?
An alternative to painting your home's interior and exterior every few years is texture coating. In addition to the many interesting patterns and designs that can be created with textured coatings, a wide range of color choices is also possible.

Many contractors offer 100% acrylic polymer-based protective, long-lasting and decorative textured coating. Texture coating can work as exterior protective and decorative coating over surfaces of concrete, masonry, stucco, wood, metal or acrylic-based textured coatings. It can also be used as an interior protective and decorative coating over prepared drywall, concrete or masonry surfaces. 

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders to any home's exterior and interior. Not only does paint increases your home's beauty, but it also helps to protect your home from the elements.


The type of paint you choose to use depends on what you are painting - exterior siding and trim, or interior walls and woodwork - as well as the type of finish that you want. As a rule of thumb, purchase the highest-quality paint you can afford. High-quality paint is less prone to yellow as it ages, goes on smoother, and won't leave brush marks.

Latex or Oil?
Interior house paints are either latex- or oil/alkyd-based. Each has different characteristics and uses.

• Latex - provides the longest-lasting finish with the best gloss retention. Latex paints are easy to work with, dry quickly and are extremely durable. Additionally, latex paints clean up easily with soap and water.
• Oil /Alkyd - offers good adhesion, excellent durability and stain resistance make Oil/alkyd-based paints are excellent choices for trim in high-traffic rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms. You can clean paint tools with mineral spirits.

When Do You Need A Primer?
A primer will help paint adhere to the surface, providing a more uniform appearance. Use a primer when painting over new wood, bare wood, or repainting over existing bright or dark colors. You will also need to use a primer when the surface you want to paint is porous or the paints are incompatible (such as when you apply latex paint over alkyd). An existing painted surface in good condition and compatible with the finish coat may not need an additional primer.



Levels of Sheen
Sheen is the term used to describe the degree of a paint's light has reflection. Both latex and oil-based paints are available in a variety of different glosses, which determines the luster or shininess of dry paint. The sheen of paint also determines its ability to hide flaws and how easy it is to clean. 

• Eggshell and Satin Finishes
  Use eggshell or satin paint finish in rooms that are used most frequently, such as kitchens, bathrooms, children's bedrooms, hallways and the garage. Eggshell and satin finishes offer subtle sheen on walls, are very durable and clean up easily.
• Semi-gloss Finishes
  Semi-gloss finishes work well on kitchen cabinets, the front door, banisters, railings and windowsills. They also highlight details in trim and decorative molding. Note: the higher the gloss, the more it emphasizes any surface imperfections.

Flat Finishes
Flat paints have very little sheen to no shine and hide surface imperfections." Since stain removal can be difficult, flat paint is usually used in areas that require little or no washing, such as ceilings or in closets, adult bedrooms and formal living rooms and dining rooms.

Purchase test quarts to review your color and finish selections at home. Paint a piece of scrap material such as cardboard, or even a portion of your wall, to study the effects of various light conditions.

Consider Low -Volatility Paints
When selecting an interior finish, consider water-based enamel instead of an oil-based gloss paint. Water-based gloss enamels emit less odor than conventional oil-based paints. Many paint manufacturers also offer low-volatility paints to promote healthier air quality.

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 Costa Mesa, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, Newport Coast, Newport Beach, Northwood, Irvine, Olinda Village,
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Floors

Kitchens
Needs:

• Durable -- high traffic areas mean a lot of wear and tear
• Easy to clean
• Non-slip

Flooring Possibilities:

• Vinyl is often a good, affordable choice for kitchen floors. Vinyl is also resilient, providing a softer surface if you drop a glass or dish.
• Tile, laminate and wood are also alternatives. Rugs and mats can soften harder materials.
• A light floor shows more dirt than a darker one.

Bathrooms
Needs:

• Waterproof for sink, toilet and bathtub overflows
• Easy to clean
• Non-slip

Flooring Possibilities:

• Easy to clean and install, vinyl is a popular choice.
• Ceramic tile and marble are also stylish, long wearing options.
• Newer versions of laminate and wood products can be adapted to high-moisture bathrooms.

Living Rooms/Dining Rooms
Needs:

• Durable -- high traffic areas, pets and children mean a lot of wear and tear
• Functional - needs to accommodate a variety of decors
• Stain-resistant
• Allergy-free

Flooring Possibilities:

• Carpet offers fibers and styles that are long wearing and stain resistant.
• Hardwood and wood laminate also provide an attractive, durable option, especially with the addition of area rugs. A good choice for those with allergies.
• Remember, lighter floors show more soil than darker ones.

Bedrooms
Needs:

• Minimal traffic areas.
• Adaptable to frequent décor changes.

Flooring Possibilities:

• Carpet is a traditional, long-wearing choice. Consider neutral colors to accommodate design changes over the years.
• Hardwood or laminate floors are also attractive alternatives and a good choice for those with allergies.

Whether you're deciding on flooring for a brand-new house or looking to replace flooring in specific rooms, your choices today are more varied than ever before. One of the first things to consider is what is the cost of the new floor, and how long will it last? Installation for lower-grade carpeting costs just the same as the installation for higher-grade carpet. Can your old hardwood floors be refinished rather than replaced?

Here are some additional points to consider what best meets your needs for each room in your house.

Earth Friendly Flooring Options
Environmentally conscious homeowners can select sustainable wood flooring in popular species such as white and red oak, cherry, maple, red birch, hickory, even exotics like teak, rosewood, and cumaru. Costs average about $5 a square foot, the same as standard cherry flooring. Additionally, bamboo is a favorite of many eco-conscious homeowners, as well as the bark of the cork oak.

How to Buy
Before buying flooring, take detailed measurements of the room and take these with you when you go shopping. Your flooring specialist will use this information to help you decide which flooring solution works best for each room in your house.


DIY?
If you're handy, installing new flooring can range from the relatively simple vinyl tile installation to the complex hardwood floor refinishing. Before you attempt to do it yourself, can recognize and repair inadequate subflooring and underlayment? Are you able to remove and dispose of old flooring materials? Some old floors contain asbestos and will require removal by a professional.


Find a Local Flooring Specialist
Click here to contact a local and reliable flooring specialist in your area.

Orange County, Anaheim Hills, Anaheim, Atwood, Placentia, Balboa, Newport Beach, Balboa Island, Newport Beach, Capistrano Beach,  Dana Point, Carlton, Yorba Linda, Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, Dove Canyon, Rancho Santa Margarita, East Lake, Yorba Linda,  El Modena, Orange, Floral Park, Santa Ana, French Park, Santa Ana,  Foothill Ranch, Lake Forest, Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, Lido Isle, Newport Beach, Mesa Verde,
 Costa Mesa, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, Newport Coast, Newport Beach, Northwood, Irvine, Olinda Village,
 Brea, Olive, Orange, Portola Hills, Lake Forest, Quail Hill, Irvine, San Joaquin Hills, Newport Beach, San Juan Hills,  San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana Heights, Newport Beach, Santiago Hills, Orange, South Laguna, Laguna Beach,  Sunny Hills, Fullerton, Surfside, Seal Beach, Talega, San Clemente, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Tustin Legacy, Tustin,  Tustin Ranch, Tustin, West Garden Grove, Garden Grove, Woodbridge, Irvine, Coto de Caza, Cowan Heights,  El Modena, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Lemon Heights, Midway City, Modjeska Canyon, Orange Park Acres,  Rancho Mission Viejo, Red Hill, Rossmoor, Silverado Canyon, Sunset Beach, Trabuco Canyon, Tustin Foothills,  Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton,
Garden Grove,, Huntington Beach,, Irvine,, La Habra,, La Palma,, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills,, Laguna Niguel,

Outdoor Living

As a homeowner, how much have you thought about landscaping? A beautiful lawn and backyard has many benefits? Landscaping can increase the value of your home by 15% or more, and home improvement experts estimate that 100% to 200% of your landscaping costs can be recovered when you sell your home.

    

In the same way a frame enhances a picture, beautiful landscaping brings attention to your house. Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire an experienced landscape designer, the first step is to start with a plan. Remember, when creating your landscaping plan make sure to include both the front and the back of your house.

Take a few moments to think about what you want to accomplish with your landscaping.

• What areas of your property are you interested in landscaping?
• What problems or concerns do you have with your existing landscaping?
• How do you plan to use your property?
• Are there favorite plants that you'd like to see incorporated in your landscape?
• What budget have you created for the work?

Landscaping ideas can come from anywhere - magazines, books or other people's beautiful outdoor living spaces. Cutting out pictures is a terrific way to determine your style, as well as give your landscape designer a better idea of the styles, plants and colors that you like.

If you decide to work with a landscape designer, you should expect the process to include:

• Site Analysis
  The layout for a landscape is similar to that of your home or office - with rooms for specific uses or activities. Connecting these "rooms" or areas to create traffic flow and interest is the primary challenge of a landscape designer. This is why it's important to determine the function of each outdoor area before laying out the landscape and to analyze how these areas relate to each other. As part of the site analysis, the landscape designer will make recommendations for drainage, locate walls, site a driveway, pool or tennis court, and determine final grades.
• Conceptual Planning
  At this step, the landscape designer will present you with an idea that includes various cost options. He or she will review your property, analyze the way you use the spaces and create a landscape design that will work specifically to your needs.
• The Solution
  Once you approve the initial concept, the landscape designer will create your final master plan that shows landscape areas, plant suggestions, hardscapes, materials and accessories. Your landscape designer can price this plan and upon your approval commence construction, or you can use it to obtain bids from your own contractors.

    




Today, decks and patios have become more than just convenient structures, they're an outdoor extension of the hone. Many homeowners want to take advantage of their extra outdoor living space by adding or improving their deck or patio.

Whether you want to use your deck and patio to entertain, barbecue, or simply relax, they are practical and valuable additions, typically recouping most of the original construction.

Planning Your Outdoor Entertainment Space
Like any home improvement project, before you begin it's important to plan carefully. Why are you adding a deck or patio to your home? For entertainment? For relaxation? For both? Do you want an elaborate outdoor kitchen or a simple place to barbeque steaks in the summer? Will a small deck work for your needs or will you need a large deck to accommodate a large crowd? Builders recommend planning a deck that will cover 20 square feet per person for a comfortable space.
      Other important considerations are: When will your deck or patio be used? In the spring and summer or year-round? Is there adequate lighting? Who will be using it? If you have young children or elderly people in your home, you will want to carefully consider safety and accessibility in your planning.

Considering Styles and Materials
A deck or patio transitions to the indoors to the outdoors Which is why it's key to keep in mind the architectural style of your home when selecting the shape, style and materials for your outdoor space. Materials range from pressure-treated lumber to synthetics and composites for decks, and from plain concrete to textured cement, bricks and stones for patios. Given the wide variety of materials, your choice of styles - Tuscan retreat, Victorian garden, Japanese meditation garden or thoroughly modern - is only limited by your imagination and budget.

     

Building and landscape experts suggest keeping your selection of building materials to no more than two. This gives you more construction flexibility and in the final finishing stage. If you need a bit of color and privacy, you can add to your yard with outdoor structures, pergolas, pathways, outdoor furniture, potted plants and raised plant beds.

Finally, to make the most of your investment, ask several experienced real estate professionals what potential homebuyers are looking for in a deck and patio.

     





Curb appeal is more than just a stylish paint color and spectacular landscaping. A large part of your home's curb appeal is your driveway and walkway. Certainly your home is more desirable - and valuable - if the driveway is smooth, free of cracks and weeds, and distinctive. In fact, treating your driveway as part of the landscaping is one of the hottest new design trends.

But just because walkways and driveways are practical doesn't mean they can't also be good-looking. Begin your designing process by determining the natural paths people take to doors and any high-use areas. You want to avoid building a walk that will be bypassed in favor of walking on the lawn.

Today, an increasingly popular driveway design choice -- concrete pavers - combines this beauty with practicality. Pavers are easier to maintain than concrete and asphalt, and last longer without needing to be repaired.

Pavers also provide a safe, slip-resistant surface in beautiful beige, coral, variegated or darker blended colors, as well as blends to harmonize with a home's exterior colors.

Driveway Considerations
Here are some things to consider when redesigning your driveway:

• Change the materials. There are a number of interesting paving options available. You can stain concrete or asphalt almost any hue. You can also choose pavers in a range of colors and in rectangles, hexagons or scallops. You can even edge the driveway with a contrasting element like bricks.
• Build a screen. Low fencing or plants can hide areas where you park your cars.
• Add plants. To soften the rigid lines, create a flowing path of flowerbeds along the driveway. You can plant annuals to add spots of color and use small shrubs or trees to vary the height.
• Repeat materials. Carry the materials you used in the driveway into a sidewalk or patio to create a consistent look.

Don't Forget the Landscaping
You don't want your driveway and walkways to stand out in your front yard like a sore thumb. You want the whole look of the front of your house to seamlessly blend together. Your walkway and driveway offer ample opportunities to be creative with the landscaping. It is all about your personal taste. Think variety - differing but complementary plant colors and shapes, heights, textures - to break up what could be a monotonous view. arouse visual interest both horizontally and vertically. Make sure that the various forms, materials and open spaces of your landscape are in scale with one another - and with your house.

With proper planning, a walkway and driveway will help add excitement to your home. The design is limited only by your imagination. There're is really no right or wrong, it's just a matter of personal preference, as well as determining what works best for your property.

     

Driveway and Walkway Contractor


Once you have a general plan, visit your building department to find out about the zoning regulations and building codes governing your project. Codes typically dictate the dimensions and type of concrete you must use for footings and slabs. They tell you how much and what type of metal reinforcement to use and if you need a sand or gravel base under the material. Building codes also spell out setbacks-how close to your property line you may build. Once your plans are approved, you can get a building permit. Plan the work schedule so you will be ready for each inspection. 

Orange County, Anaheim Hills, Anaheim, Atwood, Placentia, Balboa, Newport Beach, Balboa Island, Newport Beach, Capistrano Beach,  Dana Point, Carlton, Yorba Linda, Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, Dove Canyon, Rancho Santa Margarita, East Lake, Yorba Linda,  El Modena, Orange, Floral Park, Santa Ana, French Park, Santa Ana,  Foothill Ranch, Lake Forest, Las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, Lido Isle, Newport Beach, Mesa Verde,
 Costa Mesa, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, Newport Coast, Newport Beach, Northwood, Irvine, Olinda Village,
 Brea, Olive, Orange, Portola Hills, Lake Forest, Quail Hill, Irvine, San Joaquin Hills, Newport Beach, San Juan Hills,  San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana Heights, Newport Beach, Santiago Hills, Orange, South Laguna, Laguna Beach,  Sunny Hills, Fullerton, Surfside, Seal Beach, Talega, San Clemente, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Tustin Legacy, Tustin,  Tustin Ranch, Tustin, West Garden Grove, Garden Grove, Woodbridge, Irvine, Coto de Caza, Cowan Heights,  El Modena, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Lemon Heights, Midway City, Modjeska Canyon, Orange Park Acres,  Rancho Mission Viejo, Red Hill, Rossmoor, Silverado Canyon, Sunset Beach, Trabuco Canyon, Tustin Foothills,  Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton,
Garden Grove,, Huntington Beach,, Irvine,, La Habra,, La Palma,, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills,, Laguna Niguel,

www.plumbingmanager.com

www.remodelinglocal.com

www.repipe.org

http://www.santaclaritarealestatescv.com

Windows Doors

Understanding Glass
In addition to the frame and sash materials, in choosing a window, you will want to consider the type of glass.

• Low-emissivity (or low-e) glass - Low-e glazing has a film applied to one of the glass surfaces or suspended between the panes. A low-e coating can help keep your home cool on a hot day, and warm on cold day by preventing interior heat from escaping through the glass. Low-e coatings also block ultraviolet rays, and reduce the fading of carpets and upholstery.
• Tinted glass - Tinted glass reduces glare and limits the amount of light and heat from the sun that enters in your home.
• Safety glass - Safety glass is always a good choice if there's any risk of a person walking through a large picture window or sliding glass door.

Doors
Most of us take doors for granted - we open them, close them, walk through them and lock them every day. They can range from ornately carved, decorative entry doors and beautiful French doors or to protective storm doors and simple, functional interior doors.

You'll need to specify a left or right-hand swing as well as an outswing or inswing door. To determine which version to order, picture yourself standing inside the doorway with the door opening toward you. In that position, a left-hand door would have the knob on your left and a right-hand door would have the knob on your right. Here's what to consider before you buy.

Glass Accents
Entry doors don't have to be imposing. You can include glass accents to add style, provide security and light to the front of your house. Here are some of the most common glass accents:

• Glass - All types of entry doors can be enhanced with beveled, silk-screened or stained glass.
• Sidelites - Sidelites are available for all types of doors, usually with one on each side of the door.
• Transoms - Transoms come in distinct shapes: arch, ellipse and box.

How to Buy
Choosing the right window doesn't have to be a headache. Many window contractors have spacious showrooms where you can compare materials and styles and try the windows out for yourself.



Windows protect you from the elements, affect the light, ventilation and temperature of your house, and add to your home's architectural style and curb value. In 2007, Remodeling Online estimated that the average wood window replacement project returned approximately 81% resale value, with vinyl window replacements returning 79% of investment.

Since windows come in many shapes, sizes and types and are made from a variety of materials, your options are endless. How do you select the windows that are right for your home?

First, consider your budget, your home's style and the window's function. Will you be opening it to let the cool spring air in or is it merely decorative? Don't forget to think about security and ease of maintenance.

Here are the pros and cons of a range of windows. Generally, windows that offer better weather protection cost more, but they pay off in low maintenance and energy savings.

• Vinyl -- Vinyl windows are made from rigid, impact-resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with hollow spaces inside to make them resistant to heat loss and condensation.
• Wood -- Wood will shrink and swell in response to heat and cold, so over time it will warp and rot unless it is protected. Wood windows typically come unfinished. Save extra work by purchasing wood windows already primed on the exterior and interior surfaces of the frame and sash. Certain manufacturers may also offer pre-painted windows.
• Clad-wood - Many windows are wood inside and clad on the outside with extruded aluminum or vinyl. The cladding keeps windows maintenance-free for years. Aluminum cladding, while more durable, will scratch; with vinyl, the color permeates the material, so scratches don't show. Neither type of cladding will rust or rot.
• Aluminum - These windows are more durable, thinner, lighter and easier to handle than bare wood. Because they are insulated, they reduce heat loss and condensation.

Skylights
A sure way to brighten up any room is with a skylight. Skylights provide up to 30% more natural light than traditional vertical windows, and can make a room feel bigger. Skylights are available for any ceiling or roof style.

There are many brands and several styles to choose from. They include:

• Ventilating skylights work well in the bath or kitchen. In addition to providing extra light, the overhead ventilation creates an updraft. Ventilated skylights can be operated by:
  • Controlled by temperature sensor
  • Remote control
  • Electric on/off wall switch
  • Manual or motorized hand crank
• Fixed skylights only provide additional light to a room. They work well in attics, bonus rooms or anywhere you want extra illumination or to enjoy the view. Styles and sizes range from domes to rectangles.
• Tubular skylights are small 10-inch or 14-inch diameter lights that can be used in spaces where full-sized skylights cannot. Hallways, bathrooms, even closets can accommodate a tubular skylight. Despite their small size, tubular skylights provide a significant amount of light.

Additionally, following are some extras you might consider when choosing a skylight:

• Insulated thermal glass - to prevent loss of heat in the winter and help cool the house in the summer.
• Tinting - to filters out ultra violet rays and additional heat.
• Shades or blinds - to screen out the rays of the full sun.
• Screens - to keep insects outdoors where they belong.

Skylight Installation Before you - or a professional - installs the skylight, you need to be familiar with your home's roof and ceiling.

Roof Skylights are available in sizes that fit standard 16- or 24-inch framing. Adding a large skylight means that the installer will cut one or more rafters. If the roof is conventionally framed with doubled up rafters on the sides of the rough opening and headers at the top and bottom of the opening, this should be an easy task. However a truss roof presents a challenge since trusses are carefully engineered to carry roof loads, and modifying them in the field is a bad idea. If your home has trusses, ensure you use skylights made to fit between roof members, or gangs several smaller skylights together to create a larger window.

Additionally, your roof's thickness will determine the type of mounting and flashing required. Thinner roofs such as asphalt or fiberglass use self-flashing or curb mount. Thicker, higher-profile roofs such as wood shakes, slate or clay tile require built-up curb and flashing.

Ceiling
The type of ceiling you have will determine whether or not you need a shaft to direct light into the room.

• A cathedral ceiling skylight will mount directly in the roof.
• A regular ceiling needs either a straight or flared shaft.

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 Costa Mesa, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, Newport Coast, Newport Beach, Northwood, Irvine, Olinda Village,
 Brea, Olive, Orange, Portola Hills, Lake Forest, Quail Hill, Irvine, San Joaquin Hills, Newport Beach, San Juan Hills,  San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana Heights, Newport Beach, Santiago Hills, Orange, South Laguna, Laguna Beach,  Sunny Hills, Fullerton, Surfside, Seal Beach, Talega, San Clemente, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Tustin Legacy, Tustin,  Tustin Ranch, Tustin, West Garden Grove, Garden Grove, Woodbridge, Irvine, Coto de Caza, Cowan Heights,  El Modena, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Lemon Heights, Midway City, Modjeska Canyon, Orange Park Acres,  Rancho Mission Viejo, Red Hill, Rossmoor, Silverado Canyon, Sunset Beach, Trabuco Canyon, Tustin Foothills,  Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton,
Garden Grove,, Huntington Beach,, Irvine,, La Habra,, La Palma,, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills,, Laguna Niguel,

 

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Roofs

What is a Roofing System?
For the best durability and beauty, a complete roofing system includes hip and ridge shingles, ventilation products, shingles and a water-resistant underlayment.

All roof systems have five basic components:

• Structure: this includes the rafters and trusses that support the sheathing.
• Deck/sheathing: these are the boards or sheet material that are fastened to the roof rafters to cover a house.
• Underlayment: a sheet of asphalt-saturated material that is used as a secondary layer of protection for the roof deck.
• Roof covering: these are the shingles or tiles that protect the sheathing from weather.
• Drainage: the features of the roof system's design that allow it to shed water.
• Flashing: this is the sheet metal or other material that prevents water seepage.

Synthetic roof products simulate various types of traditional roof coverings, such as slate and wood shingles and shakes. A point to consider: Although synthetic roof products may simulate the appearance of traditional roof coverings, they do not necessarily have the same properties.

Types of Shingles
Today, there are many types and styles of shingles to choose from. The choices range from asphalt shingles to wood shakes and clay tiles, from steel panels to rubber lookalike slate. There is an increasing trend towards engineered roofing materials since building codes mandate using fireproof construction materials. 

• Asphalt
  Probably the most common roofing material is the three-tab asphalt shingle. As a cost-effective roofing options, asphalt shingles are available in a dozen or so different colors both solid and blended. These asphalt shingles are guaranteed for 20 to 30 years, which makes them an excellent value.
• Fiberglass Shingles
  These are comprised of a fiberglass mat, top-and-bottom layers of asphalt and mineral granules. They are available in architectural grades and a variety of colors that offer a textured appearance.
• Wood Shingles and Shakes
  These shingles are generally made from cedar, redwood, and southern pine. Shingles are machine-sawn; shakes are hand-hewn and rougher looking. Their natural look is popular but brush fire concerns limit their use.
• Ceramic Tile
  In sunny climates, you'll find ceramic tile roofs everywhere. Barrel tiles resemble half cylinders about 16 inches long. Remember that tile roofs are heavy, so your roof's framing must be strong enough to support the load. The process of installing a tile roof is labor-intensive, which makes an authentic tile roof more expensive than a three-tab asphalt shingle installation. In addition to ceramic barrel tiles, there are clay roof tiles options.
• Slate
  Slate shingles are typically used in the Northeast and true slate can be very heavy and expensive. An engineered slate lookalike fabricated from recycled rubber and plastic is only about one-third the weight and cost of slate, and can be installed using standard tools and techniques.
• Synthetic Roof Products
  These simulate a wide range of roof coverings, such as slate and wood shingles and shakes. And while they may look like the traditional materials, synthetic roof products do not necessarily have the same properties, such as color, texture and durability.

Selecting Materials
Selecting the right roofing materials is the first decision you need to make when you decide to reroofing. You'll want to consider style and color, performance requirements and warranty protection. You'll want the roofing materials' style and color to complement your home's exterior brick, paint or siding. For example, if you have a Spanish-style stucco home, you'll want to choose a tile roof; if you have Cape Cod traditional, a composite shingle would be the best bet.

Take a look at other homes in your neighborhood to compare colors and roofing styles. Do the other roofs fit into your neighborhood? Roofing contractors will also help you choose the right color and style for your house.


Roof Skylights are available in sizes that fit standard 16- or 24-inch framing. Adding a large skylight means that the installer will cut one or more rafters. If the roof is conventionally framed with doubled up rafters on the sides of the rough opening and headers at the top and bottom of the opening, this should be an easy task. However a truss roof presents a challenge since trusses are carefully engineered to carry roof loads, and modifying them in the field is a bad idea. If your home has trusses, ensure you use skylights made to fit between roof members, or gangs several smaller skylights together to create a larger window.

Additionally, your roof's thickness will determine the type of mounting and flashing required. Thinner roofs such as asphalt or fiberglass use self-flashing or curb mount. Thicker, higher-profile roofs such as wood shakes, slate or clay tile require built-up curb and flashing.

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 Costa Mesa, Monarch Beach, Dana Point, Newport Coast, Newport Beach, Northwood, Irvine, Olinda Village,
 Brea, Olive, Orange, Portola Hills, Lake Forest, Quail Hill, Irvine, San Joaquin Hills, Newport Beach, San Juan Hills,  San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana Heights, Newport Beach, Santiago Hills, Orange, South Laguna, Laguna Beach,  Sunny Hills, Fullerton, Surfside, Seal Beach, Talega, San Clemente, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Tustin Legacy, Tustin,  Tustin Ranch, Tustin, West Garden Grove, Garden Grove, Woodbridge, Irvine, Coto de Caza, Cowan Heights,  El Modena, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Lemon Heights, Midway City, Modjeska Canyon, Orange Park Acres,  Rancho Mission Viejo, Red Hill, Rossmoor, Silverado Canyon, Sunset Beach, Trabuco Canyon, Tustin Foothills,  Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton,
Garden Grove,, Huntington Beach,, Irvine,, La Habra,, La Palma,, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills,, Laguna Niguel,

 

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