Jan 10 2010
I am looking at a home to buy which has a large addition that was built without permits. The Realtor said the addition was definitely built to code and should not be an issue for us should we buy the home. We asked if the seller is willing to obtain the permits as a condition [...]
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Tags: 91006, 91007, 91016, 91030, 91101, 91104, 91105, addition, altadena, Architect, arroyo, building code, building department, built, buy, city, condition of sale, Curt, Curt Schultz, Curt V. Schultz, Dickson Podley, home, homes, illegal addition, Kirk, Monrovia, non conforming, non permitted, Pasadena, permits, pony, president, real estate agent, Realtor, Realtors, schulz, shultz
Dec 30 2009
Our home is nearly 80 years old and still has the original windows. One window just will not stay open, if we want to open the window we must put a stick in the window to keep top half open. Do I have to replace the window and if so how do I get a [...]
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Tags: 91001, 91011, 91101, 91105, 91107, 91108, altadena, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, balance, buy, cabinet doors, Cabinets, character home, counter weight, Curt, Curt Schultz, General Contractor, historic, home, homes, Monrovia, new, old, open, Pasadena, Real estate, Realtor, Realtors, repair, repaired, replace, sale home, schulz, sell, shultz, Sierra Madre, south pasadena, stick, sticking, vintage, window, windows
We plan on listing our home for sale soon and it is in great condition except for the kitchen. The countertops are a 3”x 3” tile with ¼” grout spacing. The appliances are from the mid 80’s. We feel if we upgrade these areas the home will be perfect and should fetch top dollar. What [...]
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Tags: 91001, 91011, 91016, 91030, 91101, 91105, 91106, 91107, altadena, appliance, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, buy, cabinet doors, Cabinets, character home, countertop, Curt, Curt Schultz, General Contractor, grout, historic, home, homes, Kirk, Monrovia, Pasadena, Real estate, Realtor, repair, sale home, scholtz, schulz, sell, shultz, Sierra Madre, south pasadena, spacing, tile, upgrade, vintage
I saw an ad for carpeting that comes in 18”, 24” and 36” squares. They can create great patterns and I think I can install it myself and save some money. Is there a down side to carpet squares?
Thanks,
Eric S.
Response
Dear Eric S.
Carpet tiles today are intended mostly for commercial applications. They have minimal padding and [...]
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Tags: 91001, 91011, 91016, 91024, 91101, 91104, 91105, 91106, 91107, 91108, altadena, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, buy, cabinet doors, Cabinets, carpet, carpet tile, character home, Curt, Curt Schultz, Curt V. Schultz, Dickson Podley, flooring, General Contractor, historic, home, homes, Kirk, la canada, Monrovia, Pasadena, pony, president, Real estate, Realtor, Realtors, repair, sale home, scholtz, schulz, sell, shultz, Sierra Madre, south pasadena, squares, vintage
Jun 30 2009
My house must have 3 or 4 different wall textures, one looks like an orange and another is clearly the original plaster with the “popcorn ceiling”. Can you explain this, why the different textures?
Tony B, Pasadena
Response
Dear Tony B,
I am guessing your home is an older home with lath and plaster interior finish and has been [...]
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Tags: 91001, 91007, 91016, 91024, 91101, 91104, 91105, 91108, accoustic ceilings, altadena, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, baseball, buy, Cabinets, ceiings, ceiling, character home, Curt, Curt Schultz, General Contractor, historic, home, homes, Kirk, Monrovia, orange, Pasadena, plaster, pony, popcorn, president, Real estate, Realtor, Realtors, repair, sale home, scholtz, schulz, sell, shultz, south pasadena, textures, vintage
Jun 12 2009
How does the hole in the ceiling over the range work. I am looking at buying an old house and it seems a strange way to vent cooking smells and smoke.
AL
Response
Dear AL,
This was the typical manner of venting over a kitchen range in an average home before sometime in the early 1950’s. It is surprisingly [...]
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Tags: 91001, 91011, 91016, 91101, 91104, 91105, 91106, 91107, 91108, altadena, Arcadia, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, buy, cabinet doors, Cabinets, character home, Curt, Curt Schultz, Curt V. Schultz, Dickson Podley, Exhaust vent, General Contractor, historic, home, homes, Hood, Kirk, Kitchen, kitchen vent, la canada, Monrovia, Old House, Pasadena, Real estate, real estate agent, Realtor, Realtors, repair, sale home, scholtz, Schultz, schulz, sell, shultz, Sierra Madre, south pasadena, Vent fan, vintage