Do you have your carbon monoxide detector yet?

We just received notice that, as of July 1st, all homeowners should install carbon monoxide detectors. A good idea for safety! Give us a ring if you have questions about this, and in the meantime, feel free to click on the press release below from the SF Department of Building Inspection for more details.

Love Thy Neighbor, San Francisco Style!

Photo credit: Michael Macor/The Chronicle.

When Kristin Hansen and her husband, Eric, were ready to start a family, they made plans for a 700-square-foot addition to their Noe Valley house. They expected they'd have to carefully follow planning codes, get architectural drawings, and speak to the neighbors.

What they didn't expect was a 2 1/2-year, $150,000 nightmare.

The Hansens fell into the city's residential rabbit hole - a process called "discretionary review."

 ...and so begins another battle before the City Planning Commission. The weapon of choice? Discretionary review, or "DR" for those in the know. Read on:

In simplest terms, discretionary review means that neighbors can object to changes in their neighborhood if a project is deemed to be "exceptional and extraordinary" and get a hearing before the City Planning Commission - even if city planners have approved the project.

John Rahaim, the city's planning director, says this is the only large city in the United States to grant residents such wide-ranging power.

C.W. Nevius brings us the rest of this DR drama in his article on SFGate. We at Wallace Remodeling are no strangers to this process, luckily for our clients!

Rooms Down: Kevin's Expertise Profiled in Cole Hardware Newsletter

Click here to see a bigger version of the article!

If you're looking for a good emergency locksmith, appliance repairperson or irrigation system installer, local hardware-and-more retailers Cole Hardware is a great resource. Their Re-COLE-mend Repair Referral Service can point you in the right direction. 

Naturally, Kevin Wallace is their go-to expert on "rooms down". Not sure what that is? Read below for the text of their September newsletter. Or click the image above for a bigger version.

 

BURIED TREASURE

Discover Yours with Kevin, the Rooms Down Expert

There are so many advantages to living in San Francisco that homeowners are usually willing to endure one of the main drawbacks - the lack of space. The ubiquitous 100 x 25 foot lot size, quirky architecture of your purchased home and the desire to maximize any existing open space are all good reasons to look down when considering adding habitable room to your home. “Official” term for this expansion (per San Francisco Building Department) is Rooms Down.

The benefits of Rooms Down are virtually limitless: 

· Has your child decided to take up the trumpet? Encourage practice time downstairs in your new music studio!
· Are you a budding painter, sculptor or photographer? Allow your talent to flourish in your new art space!
· Bored with the same old gym scene? Get fit in your private exercise room, or relax in your new spa!
· Want to do more telecommuting? Manage your career from the home office downstairs!

Expanding downward gives you the advantage of more living space and increases the value of your home without increasing the building’s footprint. 

Kevin has just completed a Family Room Down with bath for client Mary McLaughlin. Her active family includes 3 teenagers. Mary reports: “Now the kids can have friends over and hang out downstairs while I enjoy the rest of the house in peace and quiet!”

Another client, H. R., is thrilled that Kevin was able to transform her dark and dingy basement into an urban retreat with a garden view: “(…) the most beautiful room in the house – a little oasis in the city”. 

H.R.’s basement before...

...and after.

There are many considerations for obtaining a building permit for a Rooms Down project – primarily, ceiling height and a means of emergency exit. Kevin is very familiar with building codes and procedures (he is a member of the San Francisco’s Code Advisory Committee), and he can provide you with a variety of structural solutions to any pre-existing cramped conditions. Once your plans have been completed, he can often obtain a building permit within a day. There is no need for you to endure the tedious neighbor notification process – he can take care of that for you too! 

If a Room Down idea sounds intriguing to you, turn to Kevin for all the answers! He has over 35 years of experience as one of San Francisco’s most respected remodelers, employs an in-house architect and offers a full spectrum of design/build services. He also has the expertise to advise you about creative options for obtaining financing for your home improvements.

 Thanks, Cole Hardware!