A potential client called to say these words which inspired me to write an article about it. Who doesn’t want a sanctuary in their home? I said realizing that creating them is what we have been doing for a decade and a half. I had never considered it in that light. A...
How many times have we used this to razz the new guy? The concept is not a new one. I recall being a new boy scout in Troop 6 Berkeley, camping with the guys running to each patrol chasing down the "Left-Handed Smoke Shifter". Eventually, someone made one and that...
An ADU is an Accessory Dwelling Unit. The term is a legal way to describe a second dwelling on the same lot. Who Would Need One of These You Ask? First, I should say that my dad was building these in the Bay Area since the early '60's they are for all sorts of things....
While remodeling and creating a residential addition to a 100-year-old home, a dilemma arose around how to tie in the old roofline to the new line correctly. One way is to tie in the roof with new trusses in the addition, the other way is to hand stack rafters as they...
As every contractor knows, pre-construction documentation is king. Getting imagery of existing conditions allows us to document where it hurts, it sets us up for post-construction documentation and how what the place looked like before we did our work. Pre-Photos...
Although shear is something that every builder is aware of. Plan checkers are asking for a shear plan prior to permitting. Boise and the surrounding jurisdictions require a shear inspection for shear when necessary prior to covering the project in house wrap....
Whole House RemodelThe Challenge Our client bought the 1014 SF original 1979 ranch-style home next to her son. Her goal was to update and modernize the home to how we live today.The Idea To completely remodel and update the home with a new floorplan.The Solution Levco...
Wake Boat- RV Bay AdditionThe Challenge The Owner had a 3 car garage but the 3rd car bay was too small for his new wake boat. There was room to make it larger.The Idea Expand the garage to the setback to add 10′ and make it taller and much deeper. Sacrificing a window...
Large RV Garage From ScratchThe Challenge The Owner had drawings of a large RV garage to be added to a 2 car garage where a shed was. The new project was woven into an existing garage roofline to make it appear that it had always been there.The Idea Eliminate the shed...
Classy Garage ModificationThe Challenge The Owner had a 2 door garage with a central post in between doors that was obstructive. He had to move his car out to allow the golf cart in and out.The Idea Use a large header to replace the two previous ones and get a large...
