The order of work on a kitchen remodel, from the first walk-through to the final inspection: design and selections, the permit, demolition and what it uncovers, rough-in and inspections, drywall and flooring, cabinets, countertop templating, finishes and the punch list, with the common causes of delay and how to live at home through it.
How to Check a Contractor’s License on CSLB: Reading the Record Before You Sign
A field-by-field walk through the CSLB license lookup for California homeowners: license status, classifications such as B and the C specialties, the contractor’s bond, workers’ compensation or an exemption, personnel and the qualifier, complaint and discipline disclosure, Home Improvement Salesperson registration, how to match the license to the contract and the person, and the red flags to watch for.
Owner-Builder vs Licensed General Contractor in California: What the Law Allows and What You Sign in SLO County
What it means to be an owner-builder in California and how it compares with hiring a licensed general contractor: the section 7044 exemption and its sale rules, the Owner-Builder Declaration and Acknowledgment you sign for a County of San Luis Obispo permit, workers’ compensation and employer duties, paying trades and preventing liens, and a checklist before you decide.
Fixed Price vs Cost-Plus Contracts for a Custom Home: Questions to Ask Before You Sign
How fixed-price, cost-plus and guaranteed-maximum contracts work on a larger custom home on the Central Coast, and the questions to ask about each: the documents behind the price, allowances, exclusions, change orders, site conditions, contingency, open books, payments and mechanics lien protection, plus what California law requires in a new-home contract.
ADU Rules in Santa Barbara County (2026): Two Permit Paths, Size Limits, Coastal and Montecito Rules, and Where State Law Wins
How accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs work on unincorporated Santa Barbara County lots in 2026: the two paths in LUDC Section 35.42.015, size and height limits, Montecito and coastal zone permits, water, septic and fire sign-offs, pre-approved County plans, and the places where state law overrides the County text. Cities set their own rules.
ADU Rules in Monterey County (2026): Inland vs Coastal Zone, Size Limits, Water and the Permit Path
How accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs work in unincorporated Monterey County: inland vs coastal zone rules, size caps by area, height and setbacks, Cal Am water permits, wells and septic, guesthouses, pre-designed County plans and the permit path. Cities set their own rules.
Title 24 Energy Code for a New Home in California: Heat Pumps, Solar and All-Electric Choices on the Central Coast
What the 2025 California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) means for a new custom home on the Central Coast: heat pump baseline, gas or all-electric, electric-ready circuits, solar sizing, battery-ready panels, climate zones, inspections and County rules.
Adding a Second Story in San Luis Obispo County: Feasibility, Permits and What to Expect
Adding a second story in San Luis Obispo County: County height limits and community rules, structural checks, fire sprinkler triggers, the 2025 Energy Code, septic and bedroom counts, coastal permits and a planning checklist.
Expansive Clay Soils in Paso Robles and Templeton: What They Mean for Foundations
Expansive clay in Paso Robles and Templeton: City Safety Element and County geologic rules, what shrink-swell does to slabs and footings, and the checklist we use before foundation design.
Garage Conversion vs Detached ADU: Which Makes More Sense in San Luis Obispo County?
Garage conversion vs detached ADU in San Luis Obispo County: how state law and County Ordinance 3536 treat setbacks, parking, size, utility connections, the 2025 Energy Code and fire sprinklers for each, what it takes to make a garage livable, and a checklist to decide.
