Kitchen Transformation

Watch this kitchen go from drab to fab. Remodel done by Los Angeles Remodeling Licensed Contractor and Engineer, Joe Grimberg, with State Wide Construction and Remodeling.

Top 4 Countertops For High Traffic Kitchens

One thing’s for sure, if you're remodeling your kitchen, choosing the right countertop material can be a daunting prospect. Aside from choosing the right color scheme, you also have an abundace of options to choose from when it comes to the different type of materials available. So for those of you who like the look of natural stone, yet are unsure of which is right for you, we’ve pulled together a list of the 4 top stone countertop surfaces for kitchen countertops and explained there differences, to help you make the right choice.

1. Granite
   This 100 % natural stone produces colorful hues via its mottled appearance and is incredibly durable; knife nicks and heat are no issue to granite. It is removed from the ground as one large chunk of stone, then smoothed and cut to shape. Since it is a natural stone, there may be variations in color and pattern.Granite does have to be sealed periodically to prevent staining and dulling of its shine. It is also extremely heavy, so will require strong, durable cabinetry beneath it.
   
2. Quartz (Engineered Stone)
   Quartz countertops, also known as engineered quartz is made of about 90% natural quartz crystals, crushed and mixed with anywhere from 5-10% polymer resins (clear liquid plastic product) which is where the name "engineered quartz" came about. Because it is mixed and shaped in a factory, it can be easily made into any shape and color imaginable, as well as, offering many choices for edging, allowing it to conform to all styles of a home.
   Engineered quartz is becoming extremely popular due to its similarity to natural stone, extreme durability, and unlimited color choices, making it a perfect choice for all styles of high traffic kitchens. It is also non porous which keeps this countertop 99.9% bacteria free, easy to clean, and maintenance free. It never needs to be sealed, or polished and will look shiny and new, for many years, as it did the day it was installed. One downside of quartz to be aware of, is they may change color when exposed to light. So if you have sunlight from a window beaming on part of the quartz for long periods of time, be aware that it may change color over time, in comparison to the part that isn't exposed to direct light.
3. Marble
   A very traditional choice; this stone exudes style and elegance and whose radiance cannot be matched by any other surface. Marble is also the least expensive of the solid natural hard surface materials such as granite or courts. Marble has no problem with heat where a lot of baking is done. But marble, however, does need to be sealed. Even when sealed properly, marble can stain, if acidic foods such as red wine or tomato sauce is spilled and left on for a period of time, even if it has been sealed properly.
   
4. SlateA nonporous, natural stone that is echo friendly and all natural. You may be used to seeing slate used in flooring, or roofing and other exterior areas. But, this stone has a lot of great qualities, allowing to be used in the Kitchen. Slate actually does not soak up stains as marble does, nor does it chip or crack easily, is heat resistant and needs very little maintenance. So it's great to use in the kitchen. There aren't as many color choices as granite or quartzite though. Usually, the shades of slate are black, gray, blue or brown. Also know that there aren't many choices for edging, as there are with Quartz (Quartzite). Due to the rough edges of slate, there aren't many options for edging for countertops. Mostly they are shaped in a standard square edge, with the edges being softened up. Also, be sure to check a sample of the particular slate you may purchase, and test it with foods, chemicals, and wear and tear before choosing to purchase, as not all slate sones are the same.

Now that you have this information, go out and look at some samples of the stones of your choice, or better yet, have your remodeling contractor suggest some places they recommend. Each stone is unique, and has there own pros and cons. Our personal favorite at State Wide Construction and RemodelingState Wide Construction and Remodeling in Los Angeles, for high traffic kitchens is the engineered quartz stone, due to its durability, and ease of cleaning with no sealing or polishing needed.

The Overlooked Room In Your Home

You found a house that suits you well. It has the spacious yard to enjoy, the neighborhood you like, and its close to your work, family and friends!

Yet, you need it to have another room. Maybe you’d make it a room for the kids, or an at home office for yourself, or maybe use this extra room for a pool table. The options of what you’d use this room for are endless.

So, the first thing that many homeowners think of when wanting to have more space, is having a room addition built not the  homes exterior. But, if the home’s lot size isn’t as big enough, then adding a room, would take space from the yard. So, its not a practical option. So what do you do? Well, the majority of homes in los angeles county, have attics. In fact, most of the times, these attics are very spacious. This unused area in your home, may be turned into a full functioning, comfortable and very useful space in your home, complete with electricity, plumbing, and havoc; Yet, is over looked by many homeowners.

Although people know the attic to be a dark, and dungeon like place, this all changes with a complete attic conversion. By adding a window, recess lighting,  you take a dark space and make it bright and airy. You have plumbing run through the house, in the walls for a bathroom, HVAC, proper insulation and drywall to keep the room at a comfortable temperature all year long. When an attic remodel is done by an experienced and licensed remodeling contractor such as Joe Grimberg with Los Angeles based remodeling company, State Wide Construction and Remodeling, the results are stunning! An the uses are limitless.

Interested in finding out how we can turn your old attic into the extra room for your home, call CSLB Licensee, Joe Grimberg directly. 818-633-5462, for a FREE in home Estimate

How Often, Does Exterior Wood, Need To Be Painted

Paint is often the first line of defense against damage to exterior wood. The exterior of your home or business, is exposed, at all times; to a wide-range of weather! Without that layer of exterior paint on exterior wood, it will easily become damaged. Exterior paint is a vital component to your building’s longevity, in addition to adding necessary aesthetics.

For optimal performance and look, it’s recommended that home’s undergo exterior paint jobs every 6-8 years depending on the quality of paint used. Many individuals, however, wait considerably longer until the exterior paint is clearly, chipping and in disarray. It should be noted, that because exterior paint works to protect your building’s siding and is involved in weatherizing, waiting long periods of time can cause significant damage to a homes siding and building integrity.

One of the many advantages of working with a professional remodeling contractor such as Joe Grimberg with  State Wide Construction in Los Angeles, is that he will inspect the property in its entirety and look for things that have worn down, and needs to be corrected, before the painting . This is a fundamental component to weatherizing your home. It would be imprudent to have your home or office exterior painted without a proper inspection. To have your homes exterior inspected for proper weatherizing, contact us today at 1-800-840-5377 or Los Angeles Remodeling Contractor Joe Grimberg directly at 818-633-5462

FREE inspections-and price quotes.

DIY or Hire a Contractor?

Los Angeles is home to almost four million people. Many of these residents prefer to renovate their existing home rather than move to an already remodeled house or build a new one. These homeowners may feel that by doing some of the renovations themselves, they will save money. But, as you may be aware, choosing the DIY route can get tricky, leading to costly repairs. Many people feel that after watching numerous do-it-yourself videos or a certain number of home improvement episodes that renovating should be easy. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case, and homeowners may not realize this until a lot of time and money has been spent.

With the rising costs of materials that are needed for renovations, finding a reputable and experienced remodeling contractor can actually save you money. Contractors not only have materials available, but also have contacts to help you find the least expensive materials for your home renovation. Plus, a licensed contractor is familiar with all of the city permits and safety codes, which allows the job to be done correctly the first time, avoiding any costly mistakes. When you hire an experienced contractor, you won’t need to worry about finding different workers necessary when doing a complete remodel, such as quality electricians, plumbers, kitchen designers, flooring installers, etc. Instead, the licensed contractor has the correct professionals to do the work, and supervises the project, manages the stages of work, and guarantees their work.

So, when you want to update and remodel your home, take all the factors into consideration, when deciding to either hire a contractor to oversee the process for you, or to go about the project on your own, by Doing It Yourself (DIY)

As discussed earlier, some things that require more detailed work such as a kitchen or bathroom remodel, or if you are planning on adding more space to your home with a room addition or want  to bring the outdoors in with patio enclosure , or decide to have your homes electric and/or plumbing upgraded, make life easier on yourself and hire a professional. If you  you would like to hire a contractor but don’t know how to find the right contractor, we suggest  you start by looking online. Not only will you get a list of available contractors, but you can also see reviews, as well as, before and after pictures.  Be sure that the contractor is in fact licensed with the proper licensing, and licensing state. For California, you want to be sure the contractor is licensed with California State License Board (CSLB).  The licensed remodeling contractor should be able to come to your home, see the work entailed and give you an exact price quote.

If you know a friend or family member who has had renovations done to their home and liked the results, find out who they used. References are the most important part of home remodeling and construction business. This is how we at State Wide Construction and Remodeling in Los Angeles, proudly get much of our work from. The best compliment we can get is referrals from existing clients.

Should you want to get a FREE in home, exact price quote for any remodel you may be considering, call our toll free number at 1-800-840-5377 OR call CSLB licensed contractor and engineer, Joe Grimberg,  directly on his mobile at 1-818-633-5462

What to do after you notice Water Damage

Statewide construction offers comprehensive Water and Fire Damage Restoration Services for residential and commercial properties throughout the Greater Los Angeles.

Most of the time, water damage goes unnoticed due to not being seen, which is why many are noticed leading to more costly issues.  Luckily, Everything is covered under your home owners insurance. You pay nothing from start to finish!!  We at State Wide Construction in Los Angeles take care of ALL types of Water and Fire damage restoration services at NO COST TO YOU. We contain and clear the water/Fire damaged area and takes care of all the remodeling and renovation to your home.

Water damage can originate from different sources such as: plumbing leaks, broken pipes, leaking roof, dishwasher leakage, washing machine overflow, clogged toilet, and bad weather (snow, rain, floods). Flooded indoor areas are unsafe and prolonged flooding will cause serious structural damage.

We provide prompt and professional attention to the project from start to finish.

If you notice that your home is flooded by water or had damage from a fire in your home, please give us a call as soon as possible. We will come to your home for FREE and will take care of all the paperwork for you.  We will work to get YOU the most money from your home owners insurance so you will be able to get your home back, clean, safe and remodeled.  We represent You the home owner, NOT the insurance companies.

Call us today at 1800-840-5377 OR Call Joe Grimberg Directly at 818-633-5462

Custom Cabinets VS Ready Made Cabinets

There are many choices to be made when remodeling your kitchen. From color choices to materials such as the type of counter top, flooring and cabinets. Once you have decided to invest in your kitchen and have it remodeled, the first thing to choose and decide is whether you want to purchase ready made cabinets or have cabinets for your kitchen remodel custom built to suit your taste. To make an informed decision, its important to know the differences between the two.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN READY MADE CABINETS AND CUSTOM MADE CABINETS.

Ready made cabinets also known as “stock cabinets” are usually made ahead of time and stocked by a distributer ready for sale. These cabinets come in specified pre made sizes ranging from 9” to 48” in width, usually in 3” increments. Because ready made cabinets have specified sizes, they limit the options for cabinet height or width, which can make fitting in appliances difficult, and limits the space available in irregular shaped kitchens. Also, ready made cabinets are most likely made of thinner materials and lesser quality components such as hinges. Custom made cabinetry allows you to utilize the space of the kitchen to the fullest extent. By having your cabinets custom made by Los Angeles based remodeling company State Wide Construction and Remodeling in Sherman Oaks, California, you get to choose the depth, height, width, type of wood and any color that suits your needs and taste buds. This allows you to maximize the space available to you because it is designed and built however you choose, giving you the features you desire such as soft closing drawers and cabinet doors, pull out trash bins, dividers, and much more, all while staying in your budget. The higher quality construction and features means your kitchen will be enjoyed for much longer and will make your cooking, storage and overall use of your kitchen more enjoyable! State Wide Construction and Remodeling, in Los Angeles, Ca is a full service design, build and remodeling company serving the greater Los Angeles, on time and on budget for over 20 years. We offer a free in home exact price estimate and consultation to residents of the greater Los Angeles areas. Please visit our website to see our work and why we were chosen best contractor of Houzz 2013 and 2014