Older home remodeling in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
Remodeling an Older House in Santa Monica
Santa Monica remodeling for older houses, run the same way as nearby Brentwood, Venice and Mar Vista: one written scope that keeps the original details.
Brentwood, Venice, Pacific Palisades, Mar Vista and Marina del Rey all sit close to Santa Monica, and a whole-house job in any of them runs on the same plan we use here. It starts with a walk-through, then lab tests for lead and asbestos, then a room-by-room scope on paper naming each part slated for replacement and each part we keep. Older wiring and pipes come out while the walls are open, and the original windows and trim are protected throughout.
Damp air and older materials
Close to the water, damp air works on an older house in ways an inland lot does not. Steel fasteners and galvanized pipe corrode faster, window hardware seizes, and paint on wood sash fails at the joints first. We specify stainless or hot-dipped fasteners at the exterior, copper or PEX for supply lines, and a sealed primer on every restored sash. Flashing at window heads and sills is replaced with the windows, since that is where water gets behind old siding.
Keeping the original parts working
A kept window has to open, lock and seal, so restoration covers the cords, pulleys, weatherstrip and glazing along with the paint. Original doors are rehung on their own hinges where the frames allow it. Plaster that is sound is repaired, and new walls get a skim coat so the rooms match. Santa Monica's building department reviews the permit and inspects the work, and the written scope marks each inspection point so you can follow the job from rough-in to final.
What we can do for a house in Santa Monica
Whole-house work leads, and every other service is available for the same house.
Planning work on a house in Santa Monica?
Tell us about it. We will walk through the house and send a written scope.