It was kind of like NBC’s "To Catch a Predator" this week in Van Nuys. But instead of suspected pedophiles showing up to meet underage victims, there were alleged unlicensed contractors showing up to bid on remodeling work. And instead of being tackled by cops in front of TV cameras, they were cited on misdemeanor…
. . . consider the article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle: Couple awarded $7 million in asbestos lawsuit. The case involves Joan Mahoney, 69, who lives in South Lake Tahoe. Joan had an acting and singing career in Los Angeles for many years and toured with the USO. Later, she and her husband moved north…
The question I get most often from readers is: Can you recommend a contractor? Sadly, I cannot. But you can. Have you used a licensed Southern California general contractor that did good work for you and that you would recommend to others? If so, please post below. Here’s a template you could use: City or…
I’ve called this trivia, but it’s not trivial. Here’s the question: What is the most a California contractor can collect up front for home improvement work? A. The down payment cannot be more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. B. The down payment cannot be more than $5,000 or 10%…
Several new laws came into effect Jan. 1 that pertain to licensed contractors and their clients, according to the California State Contractors License Board. They include (underline added for emphasis): Business & Professions Code §125.6 – In addition to facing disciplinary action if a licensed contractor refuses services based upon race, color, sex, religion, ancestry,…
A reader sent in this question regarding contractor markups on a kitchen remodel: "A contractor submitted a bid for cabinetry (at full cost) plus electric, plumbing, etc., plus charges for supervision, overhead, and profit. The last three categories added up to 35 percent. With the cabinetry at full cost, the contractor must have expected a…
About a week ago, a remodeling crew set a strand of cypress trees ablaze in the San Diego area. It seems a worker’s propane torch got too close to the highly flammable trees. That got me thinking that remodeling can bring with it fire dangers. A DIY-er might do well to explore these situations that…
Has anyone tried Angie’s List to find workers and contractors for home improvement? Did you get your money’s worth? Would you recommend it to others? The website of the Los Angeles chapter shows 21,462 members and 20,690 companies listed.
. . . maybe not such a good thing to promote on your blog. That was the viewpoint of astute reader Martin G., who wrote in response to my blog on the benefits of 24-inch framing vs. 16-inch framing. I was so jazzed about finding a photo with 2-by-6 framing lumber (which goes along with…
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…