Frequently Asked Questions

Two or three is common, and it is a good way to learn what the job involves. Compare what each bid includes line by line, not only the total, because a low number often leaves out permits, demolition or repairs the others priced in. Ask each contractor for their license number and check it on the CSLB website. For Earthquake Brace + Bolt retrofits over $10,000, the program itself requires two bids from directory contractors.

Ours lists the scope room by room, the materials or allowances, who handles permits, what is excluded and the price. Conditions we can see at the visit, like an undersized panel or a soft subfloor, are already in it. If something is uncertain until a wall is opened, the estimate says so. You should be able to compare it with another bid line for line.

As a general building contractor, we coordinate the trades a project needs under one contract, and our own crew does much of the work. Where a specialty trade is involved, we schedule and supervise it, and it is inspected under the same permit. Either way, you have one contract, one schedule and one person to call.

Yes. Many clients come to us with plans from an architect or designer, and we build from them. We review the drawings before pricing, point out anything that may cause trouble at plan check or in the field, and coordinate with your designer if changes come up during construction.

Usually because they are not pricing the same job. One may include permits, debris hauling, subfloor repair and a panel upgrade while another leaves them out to look cheaper. Material allowances also vary a lot. Lay the estimates side by side and ask each contractor what is not included.

An allowance is a budget placeholder for something you have not picked yet, such as tile or light fixtures. If your final choice costs more than the allowance, the difference is added; if it costs less, it comes off. We set allowances at realistic levels so they do not turn into surprise charges later.

Often, yes. Some homeowners do the kitchen one year and the bathrooms the next, or do the rough plumbing and electrical for a future project while the walls are open. Phasing can cost a little more overall because of repeated setup, but it can make a big project manageable. We can price it both ways.

A change order is priced like any other work: in writing, before it is done, and only after you agree to it. Changes you request, like a different tile, are priced at that point. Hidden conditions we find, like rot behind a wall, are shown to you with a written price before we proceed.

Cosmetic work such as painting, new flooring over a sound subfloor, and replacing cabinets or counters without moving plumbing or electrical usually does not. Rules vary by city, though, and some jurisdictions draw the line differently. Anything that changes structure, plumbing, gas, electrical or ventilation generally needs one. We check with your city or the county before we start.

It depends on the office, the type of project and how busy plan check is. Simple permits can be issued quickly, while additions and structural work go through plan review and may come back with comments. Coastal Development Permits and design review add more time. We give you our best estimate for your jurisdiction at the start and keep you updated.

An inspector from the city or county checks the work at set stages, typically foundation or framing, rough plumbing and electrical before walls close, insulation, and a final. They compare the work with the approved plans and the code. We schedule the inspections and meet the inspector on site.

It can matter when you sell, because California sellers disclose known work done without permits, and buyers' inspectors look for it. It can also matter for insurance after a claim. If you are remodeling, the permit process may bring older unpermitted work to light. We can look at it and talk through options for legalizing it.

Interior work can happen year round in Ventura County. Exterior work like stucco, concrete and roofing is easier to schedule outside the winter rains, and many people want outdoor projects done before summer. Booking a few months ahead gives time for design, selections and permits, which usually take longer than the construction itself.

Most clients stay home. A kitchen remodel means setting up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house, and a bathroom remodel is easier if you have a second bathroom. Whole-house remodels and large additions sometimes make moving out for part of the job worth considering. We tell you which rooms will be out of use and for how long before you sign.

We put up plastic dust barriers where the work area meets the rest of the house, cover floors along the path we use, and clean up at the end of every day. Demolition and drywall sanding make the most dust, so we tell you when those are scheduled. Reviewers often mention how clean we leave the site.

Our office hours are Monday to Friday 7 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM. Work hours on site also follow your city's construction noise rules, which vary by jurisdiction. If you have a schedule constraint, like a baby's nap time or a home office, tell us and we will plan noisy work around it where we can.

We often find small electrical panels, galvanized water lines, cast iron drains, old leaks under sinks and toilets, and, in raised-foundation houses, cripple walls with few or no anchor bolts. Many homes from that era also have materials like popcorn ceilings that should be tested before they are disturbed. Knowing about these up front keeps the estimate honest.

If it is a wood-framed house built before 1980 on a raised foundation with a crawlspace, it may be. The retrofit braces the short cripple walls and bolts the house to the foundation. Houses on a concrete slab do not need that type of retrofit. We can look under your house and tell you what applies.

If it is in a designated Fire Hazard Severity Zone, new construction, additions and some exterior work have to meet California's wildland-urban interface standards, often called Chapter 7A. That affects vents, siding, decks, eaves and windows. Many foothill homes around Ojai, Santa Paula, Somis and Camarillo fall into these zones. We check your parcel before design starts.

Testing is done by a certified lab or consultant, not by the contractor doing the remodel. In older homes, we recommend testing materials like popcorn ceilings, old flooring and some drywall compounds before they are disturbed. If testing finds asbestos, a licensed abatement contractor removes it before our work continues.

Yes. Se habla español. Consultations, estimates and day-to-day communication can all be in Spanish or English, whichever you prefer. Many of our clients use both. See our Spanish page for more.

Yes, in nearby Santa Barbara and Los Angeles county communities. Our service area extends about 45 road miles from our Santa Paula office, covering most of Ventura County plus Carpinteria and Santa Barbara to the north and Santa Clarita and Woodland Hills to the east. The farther cities take longer to reach, so we let you know how that affects scheduling.

Yes. We do commercial expansions, tenant updates, structural repairs and new commercial construction, with the same license and permit handling as our residential work. Commercial projects often involve accessibility requirements and landlord approvals, which we plan for from the start.

Call (805) 921-0405 or send the estimate form with a short description and a few photos if you have them. We will ask a few questions and set a time to come look. The visit and the written estimate are free.