This is my own dilemma: Question: I love the look of vine-covered houses, which look to me like storybook houses. But my husband hates it. We do have invasive ivy growing on our house, and it’s awful. It pushes its way under the roof rafters and into the house. And it gets full of dust…
Question: Am I required to install a ventilation fan in my bathroom? My husband and I are concerned with what might be involved. Can you make any recommendations? — Barbara Answer: An exhaust fan in a bathroom is not a requirement according to building codes if you have the proper ventilation through what we call…
Question: We recently removed “popcorn” textured ceilings in the house we’re remodeling. Now we need to do something with the bare ceilings, starting with the vaulted ceiling in the living room. One contractor says we can just paint over the ceiling (it’s been sanded since the popcorn was removed). Another says we need to plaster…
Question: I’d love to hire an architect to give me some ideas for my remodel. I’m not sure I want to hire the architect to oversee the whole project, or even draw up any specific plans. I just want the benefit of an architect’s creative ability to come up with visions for what my house…
You may have heard of “advanced” framing in which 2-by-6 studs are placed 24 inches apart when building a house, as opposed conventional framing, which is 2-by-4 studs 16 inches apart. In green building circles, 24-inch framing is widely seen as being a good choice for many reasons. But the consensus is not unanimous (as…
A reader sent in this question and I’m glad because I’m having the same quandary. The question: I’ll be purchasing lighting for above a bathroom mirror. Which is better? Mounting the fixture so the lights point down or point up? Currently there is a bar fixture so I have no experience with this lighting issue.…
Today’s query comes from Michael H. in the Beachwood Canyon area of Los Angeles: I’d like to enlist an architect to help me with some design work for a remodel, including load calculations (I need to take down some walls). My end goal is to have plans in hand that I can shop to contractors.…
Property inspector Barry Stone takes on the asbestos question in the L.A. Times Real Estate Section: Question: I have not had a good night’s sleep since reading about asbestos. We’ve lived in our home for 30 years and have popcorn ceilings. After all these years, is it too late to have them removed, or are…
Question: My wife and I are getting ready to remodel our master bath. However it's small and our options are limited. We can get a better look and use out of a huge walk-in shower, but I'm fearful a bath/shower combo may be better for resale. Any expert thoughts out there would be appreciated. Answer:…
Question: What are the minimum dimensions for a half-bath that the city of Los Angeles will permit? In other words, how small a room can I convert to make a powder room and still get a permit? — Kris in Highland Park Answer: From licensed general contractor Alon Toker of Mega Builders: The minimal dimensions…