Feb 08 2010
I inherited a home when should I have estate sale vs. sell home
My parent’s home was left to me and I am a bit lost as to when the best time to have an estate sell and when should I sell the home. There are 3 of us and everyone wants to do something different.
P [...]
Filed In: Ask The Architect ?
Tags: 91011, 91101, 91106, Architect, Curt Schultz, Curt V. Schultz, Dickson Podley, escrow, historic, homes, inhierit, inhierited, la canada, Monrovia, pony, president, Real estate, Realtor, Realtors, scholtz, schulz, sell, south pasadena, vintage
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 [...]
Filed In: Ask The Architect ?
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
Jan 09 2010
I need a new roof and my roofer says I need plywood put down first.
I hired a roofing company to replace my asphalt roofing. They are telling me I need to apply a plywood (OSB?) base over my roof framing first. Why can’t tell just roof over the old framing? Why can’t they install the [...]
Filed In: Ask The Architect ?
Tags: 90017, 91001, 91007, 91016, 91030, 91101, 91106, 91108, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, character home, company, Curt V. Schultz, framing, General Contractor, historic, home, homes, Kirk, Monrovia, old roof, osb, Pasadena, plywood, pony, Real estate, real estate agent, Realtor, Realtors, reroof, roof, roofing, sell, shultz, vintage home
Jan 08 2010
My Ceilings are a mess!
I have a home built in the late 40’s and the inside is plastered. I keep getting cracks in my ceilings, which I patch and a few weeks later they come back. My neighbor told me I should tape the cracks which I tested out in few places but I can [...]
Filed In: Ask The Architect ?
Tags: 91007, 91011, 91016, 91030, 91104, 91107, 91108, altadena, Arcadia, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, ceilings, character home, cracks, Curt, Curt Schultz, drywall, enamel, General Contractor, historic, home, Monrovia, paint, Pasadena, plaster, plastered, pony, president, Real estate, Realtor, Realtors, repair, scholtz, schulz, sell, shultz, vintage
Dec 31 2009
We bought a home 2 years ago that has granite countertops and our neighbor said we need to be sealing them. Is this correct and how often? With what?
KP
Response
Dear KP,
Granite, like concrete is a porous material and will absorb water. They should be sealed to keep from holding in water and to prevent stains. Unsealed [...]
Filed In: Ask The Architect ?
Tags: 91001, 91006, 91007, 91016, 91030, 91101, 91105, altadena, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, cabinet doors, Cabinets, character home, countertop, countertops, Curt, Curt Schultz, Curt V. Schultz, Dickson Podley, General Contractor, granite, historic, homes, Kirk, Monrovia, Pasadena, pony, president, Real estate, Realtor, Realtors, repair, sale home, schulz, sealer, sealing, sell, shultz, south pasadena, vintage
Dec 30 2009
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 [...]
Filed In: Ask The Architect ?
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 [...]
Filed In: Ask The Architect ?
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
May 10 2009
I have an electrical outlet that has a green wire ran from it to a bracket attached to the washing machine water supply pipe. The house was built in 1920 and the electrical service panel appears to be no more than 5 years old. I have never seen a wire from an outlet to a [...]
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Tags: 91001, 91011, 91016, 91101, 91104, 91105, altadena, Arcadia, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, character home, Curt, Curt Schultz, Dickson Podley, electrical, General Contractor, historic, home, homes, Kirk, knob and tubing, la canada, Monrovia, old electrical wiring, old wiring, Pasadena, pony, president, Real estate, Realtor, Realtors, repair, sale home, schulz, sell, service panel, shultz, vintage, wiring
Apr 04 2009
Our shower is made of granite and the color of the stone is spotty and changed. Clearly, it is wet under the surface and I am afraid there may be standing underneath, especially under the seat if the granite is not sealed correctly. We have not used it for several weeks and it appears to [...]
Filed In: Ask The Architect ?
Tags: 91001, 91016, 91024, 91101, 91104, 91105, altadena, Arcadia, Architect, Ask the Architect Contractor Realtor, character home, Curt, Curt Schultz, General Contractor, historic, home, homes, Kirk, la canada, leaking, Monrovia, Pasadena, pony, president, Real estate, real estate agent, Realtor, Realtors, repair, sale home, scholtz, schulz, seal, sealing, sell, shower, shultz, vintage