Remodeling guides
Plain answers from a contractor, to help you plan a project and hire with confidence.
Planning a Kitchen Remodel in Newport Beach? Start With Breakfast
Planning a kitchen remodel in Newport Beach or Corona del Mar? Start with how the room works on an ordinary morning, then layout, scope and budget.
Comparing Remodeling Estimates in Orange County: Read Past the Price
How to compare remodeling estimates in Orange County: give each contractor the same brief, read the scope, and understand allowances and changes.
Technical guides
Kitchen countertop materials compared: quartz, stone, laminate
What each surface asks of you in heat, stains, scratches and care, and how to see it properly before you choose.
Check a California contractor license and read the contract
The license checks and contract terms that matter before you sign: status, bond, classification, payment schedule and your right to cancel.
Walk-in shower or bathtub? Planning your bathroom
Choose by how the room is used, the floor structure, space and long-term access, before the layout is fixed.
Roof flashing, windows, doors and stucco: a pre-rain check
Where water gets into a house, how to look safely, and when exterior maintenance becomes a project.
California flood insurance: what homeowners should know
What standard homeowners policies generally do not cover, the waiting period for flood policies, and questions to ask your agent.
Mold and moisture at home: what the EPA says
Control the moisture, dry quickly, fix the source and know when to call a professional.