The California Ranch home style often referred to as a "rambler" was designed for people who wanted to celebrate the outdoors and wanted to relax at home.

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For the past few weeks we have been discussing home styles in our column. Last we talked about the challenges and solutions in remodeling the Cape Cod-style house. This week we are focusing on another favorite house style from the opposite coast: the California Ranch.

This home style often referred to as a "rambler" evolved in California in the 1920s and '30s with roots in Spanish colonial architecture. It is a truly domestic style that originated in the United States. One of the pioneers was Cliff May, who designed for people who wanted to celebrate the fabulous climate of southern California and who wanted to relax when at home. Minimizing the distinction between indoors and out is the basis for much of this style.

The California Ranch is a one-story house typically rectangular or L-shaped. Because the style originated in the wide-open spaces of the West, land was cheap and plentiful so the house could spread out over the lot. The massing (shape) is long and low to the ground. The exterior is typically asymmetrical with a strong horizontal element. It typically features lots of glass, including floor-to-ceiling, strip, or ribbon windows which serve to connect almost every room to the outside. Other features include a low but visible chimney, a very visible garage, a recessed entry door with flanking sidelight, and a low-pitched roof with projecting eaves.

Inside, you'll find an open, free-flowing floor plan. The rambler interior typically includes a simple room arrangement, minimal trim and floor-to-ceiling views of the backyard.

It also commonly has partially enclosed courtyards and patios serving as an extension of the living space.

A term you may hear referring to these ranch or rambler homes is mid-century modern, and they are now all the rage. If you have one of these American originals in need of remodeling, we recommend capitalizing on its simple features and clean design. While the essential details are typically not ornamental, they do not need to be boring, either. Today, we have a variety of materials to choose from, such as metals or engineered woods, to add flair not decoration to the exterior of your rambler. New membrane roofing material is a positive upgrade to these low-sloped roofs as a replacement for the original tar and gravel roofing. The original single-pane windows are another replacement target to improve the energy efficiency of these homes. New windows should be chosen carefully to reflect the more modern style of a ranch home.

We also recommend embracing the indoor/outdoor elements unique to this design. We live in an area famed for its amazing outdoor views and activities, and this home style allows you to connect to them every day.

Originally posted here:
Remodeling the California Ranch

Real Estate Remember Building Permit When Remodeling

If there's one part of the home remodeling process that homeowners especially dislike, it's getting a building permit. But permits are more than mere pieces of paper. Homeowners who skirt around them face risks.

One protection afforded by a permit is usually an inspection by the municipality, says Jim Bateman, owner of Bateman Custom Construction, a home remodeling company in Fairfax, Va. Inspections can expose shoddy workmanship, building code violations and safety hazards that otherwise might not be discovered until a problem occurs.

Bateman offers this hypothetical example: "If I did electrical work on somebody's house and I wasn't a licensed electrician, I may have done it to code, but if, for some reason, I violated the code and the house burned down, the (homeowners) insurance (company) possibly won't pay for it."

Still, a municipal inspection isn't a guarantee.

"There's no way an inspector can inspect 100 percent of what was done," Bateman says. "It's not a foolproof system, but it's better than not having an inspection."

Obtaining, or in builder-speak, "pulling," a permit generally is a dual responsibility of the contractor and homeowner, says Mike Paclik, principal at Watermark and Co., a home remodeling company in Austin, Texas.

Ultimately, though, Paclik adds, the homeowner owns the work and pays the price if required permits were overlooked. One risk is that a future buyer could object to unpermitted work.

"Whoever buys the house will want to know if a permit was pulled to build that swimming pool or structure or whatever, and if it wasn't, the liability goes back to the homeowner," Paclik says.

For that reason, homeowners are well-advised to question closely any contractor who proposes remodeling without a permit. One way to be sure is to contact the building department.

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Pull the necessary permits when remodeling

Darnestown Home Remodeling
Whole home renovation : exterior insulation and home seal,siding, new porch,flooring,interior redesign,new kitchen,dining room,family room,stairs.

By: Zarko R

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Darnestown Home Remodeling - Video

OCTAVIO MARTINEZ #39;S REMODELING - Bathroom Remodel
OCTAVIO MARTINEZ REMODELING

By: Stephen Halll

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OCTAVIO MARTINEZ'S REMODELING - Bathroom Remodel - Video

Stephen Lohr - Master Craftsman at LohrRemodelingandMore.com
Video produced by http://www.vidsigs.com Lohr Remodeling and More features the work of Stephen Lohr, Craftsman and Home Improvement Specialist. Stephen has been developing his skills for over 2 decades. His specialty areas include, but are not limited to, interior and exterior painting, window and door installations, custom carpentry, custom bookcases, bathroom remodeling and general handyman services. http://www.lohrremodelingandmore.com

By: VidSigs

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Stephen Lohr - Master Craftsman at LohrRemodelingandMore.com - Video

New NBC4 Home Remodeling Series - Helping Hands #5 REVISED
Helping Hands is a new TV show featuring inspirational stories of community service. You can catch Helping Hands on Saturdays at 10am on WRC-NBC4 in the Washington DC area!

By: michaelandsonsvcs

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New NBC4 Home Remodeling Series - Helping Hands #5 REVISED - Video

Homeowners who tap their equity to remodel will be limited to the lenders' maximum loan-to-value, or LTV, ratio. Most lenders won't allow a homeowner to borrow more than 80 percent of the value, says Stephen LaDue, senior loan officer at Prime Lending, a mortgage company in Brookfield, Wis.

"If you have a $250,000 house, 80 percent is $200,000. If you want to do a $50,000 remodel and you owe $175,000, you only have $25,000 to work with," LaDue says.

Shopping around might turn up a local lender or credit union that will step up to 90 percent, LaDue adds.

"Be a smart shopper and ask upfront: 'What are your loan-to-value limitations? Can I go up to 80? Can I go up to 90 with a second mortgage?'" he says.

A second mortgage might be especially difficult to get because second-mortgage lenders were among those who "took it on the chin the worst in the housing crisis," LaDue explains.

Still, some homeowners can pull out enough cash for a modest remodeling project that makes a house they'd planned to sell more comfortable for a longer stay, says Rob McAllister, a mortgage broker at West Seattle Mortgage in Seattle.

"People are refinancing, taking the low rate and pulling out $20,000 or $30,000 to get the house to where it needs to be for them to stay there longer than they'd anticipated," McAllister says.

An informal NARI website poll in April 2012 found quite a few homeowners planned to keep their home longer than they'd originally intended. Twenty-eight percent planned to stay an additional one to five years, 23 percent intended to remain another six to 10 years, 10 percent added 11 to 15 years, and 26 percent planned to stay 16 to 20 years longer.

Only 13 percent said they hadn't extended the time they expected to live in their home. The survey isn't scientific because those polled were self-selected and searching for information about remodeling, yet it offers a sliver-sized snapshot of homeowner behavior.

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Savings or Loan? Paying for a Remodeling Project

Remodeling a bathroom is one room remodel that will increase the value of your home; this is not a place to cut the budget, but how can you get great quality and a great price? Let us tell you how and the steps to take in the remodeling project.

(PRWEB) February 27, 2013

In considering rooms to remodel and update that will increase the value of a home, take a serious look at the kitchen and the bathrooms.

The renovation of a bathroom is not a good place to cut budgets. But there are ways to keep the quality and save a lot of money.

The professionals for DirectBuy of Indianapolis, Holly Deniham who is a professional in cabinetry and preferred vendor Jon Knight of Emmons & Associates, who specializes in remodeling projects gave the steps in remodeling a bathroom.

The first suggestion is to dream and gather. Dream about the changes in the current bathrooms and what to keep in the bathrooms, make a list.

Gather pictures of bathrooms; magazines, websites, pinterest, visit home shows and open houses and then divide the pictures into two sets; must have and would like to have. This will be important to know when it comes to working on the budget.

Next, meet with the contractor, DirectBuy can give a referral list, have them come to the home to discuss the extent of the project. Points to discuss:

Do walls need to be moved or eliminated?

Do electrical outlets need to be changed or switches relocated?

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Bathroom Remodeling? Where to Start and How to Save a Lot of Money by Purchasing Directly from the Manufacturers ...

Sterling Works offers $50 off all remodeling services in celebration of the debut of their new website describing their unique qualifications.

Decatur, GA (PRWEB) February 26, 2013

Sterling Works happy and satisfied customers can attest to that fact, as seen from testimonials on their new website http://www.atldesignbuild.com/. They are a Decatur, GA based design-build company well-known for listening carefully to their clients vision, lifestyle, needs, and budget as well as their willingness to be flexible. They keep lines of communication open at all times regarding progress schedules and design adjustments, stick to the budget, and do what they say they are going to do. They also stays abreast of developing building trends and brings their ever-growing knowledge base to every job.

We are keenly aware that homeowners are allowing a group of strangers into their home, says Philip Trapkin, owner of Sterling Works. We are very respectful and conscientious of peoples privacy. Remodeling can create a lot of dust and disturbance so we make every effort to keep the area of construction confined to minimize the effect on the rest of the home and make the process as smooth as possible. In addition, we use the same reliable, talented, and experienced subcontractors that weve been using for the past decade and can trust.

To celebrate the launching of their new website, they are offering a $50 discount on all their remodeling services. The website describes their various services including:

Custom Kitchen Remodels

With 20 years of experience in the restaurant business and as an accomplished cook, Philip can help homeowners tailor a kitchen to best fit their lifestyle, needs, and budget. For example, one of their clients had rheumatoid arthritis and the company designed a kitchen that worked with her limitations. We are very thorough with our interviews and have a 10-page questionnaire we use to determine a clients needs, Philip explains. For example, we ask how many will be in the kitchen cooking at the same time, if the primary cook is left- or right- handed, what type of cooking do the homeowners enjoy, etc.

Bathroom Remodels

By carefully listening to a homeowners needs and wants, offering ideas if needed, and using high quality products, Sterling Works tailors the scope and design of a bathroom remodel to meet and exceed homeowners expectations. Whether the project is large or small, we approach each project with the sense that we are leaving our mark on this world and it matters how much our customers enjoy the changes to their homes, Philip says.

Additions

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Decatur Remodeling Company Launches New Website

Atlantic Remodeling extends role as Presenting Sponsor for the Maryland SPCAs "March for the Animals"

Baltimore, Maryland (PRWEB) February 28, 2013

This will be the fourth year The Atlantic Remodeling Corporation has served as our Presenting Sponsor for the March for the Animals, said Tami Gosheff, MD SPCA Special Events and Outreach Coordinator. We are very appreciative of all of the support they have given us over the years and look forward to working with them for the next three years as we aim to make this the most successful March yet.

Were very happy to sign a three-year commitment and be the presenting sponsor of the Maryland SPCAs March for the Animals, a fun-filled event that raises critical funding for an organization who does such important work that improves the lives of pets and people in our community, says Brendan Stackpole, Founder/COO of The Atlantic Remodeling Corporation. This is an event and organization our employees strongly and very proudly support.

In addition to the March for Animals, Atlantic Remodeling supports the SPCA in many other ways, to include an annual golf tournament, volunteerism and other efforts to advance the SPCAs very important mission.

To learn more about the March for the Animals, visit http://www.marchfortheanimals.org.

About the Maryland SPCA

The Maryland SPCA is an independent nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of pets and people in Maryland. The MD SPCA receives no operating support from the government or other animal welfare groups including the ASPCA. The MD SPCAs adoption center adopts out more than 3,000 needy and unwanted pets each year, and provides approximately 9,000 spaying/neutering procedures yearly to reduce pet overpopulation and suffering. The MD SPCA also offers pet behavior counseling and training courses to help keep pets in their homes. For more information about the Maryland SPCA, visit http://www.mdspca.org or call 4102358826.

About Atlantic Remodeling

Founded in 2000, Atlantic Remodeling is a Maryland-based residential remodeling firm, specializing in energy efficient windows, siding and roofing solutions. Atlantic Remodeling's mission is to deliver a professional remodeling experience well above what a client would expect from a "contractor," from start to finish. And, Atlantics RED CENT GUARANTEE means that regardless of contract size, customers do not have to pay a red cent until the entire project is completed to their satisfaction.

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Maryland SPCA and Atlantic Remodeling Announce Three-Year Partnership