The La Habra Heights Experience

The Good. The hills of La Habra Heights are dotted with 1,887 homes (last count). These hills afford us a rural lifestyle without concrete sidewalks, curbs, nor night-spoiling street lamps. We have space for horses and other interesting 4-legged creatures; our properties are criss-crossed by horse paths, hiking trails, strolling deer, even our very own local bobcat. We appreciate giving wide–berth as we nudge our vehicles around those athletic visitors who have made our hills a challenging bike touring and racing route. Our views from our hills are often spectacular and dramatic: views of the sometimes snow-covered San Gabriel Mountains to the north and a panoramic view encompassing Mount Santiago to the far-south out to Catalina Island and up-coast to Rancho Palos Verdes and Santa Monica.

The Challenging. Hillside communities have their own set of challenges and problems that affect our homes. Hills are more demanding building sites than those on flat, level, stable land. If you've paid attention you will know that our hills are always "on the move!" If you have ever installed a retaining wall, planter wall, or a fence up here  – (block, wood, or chain link)  — more than 10 years ago — and you clearly remember that you installed it "level & plumb," you are now a bit chagrinned to see that it is likely leaning to the down–slope. "Now how did that happen?"

Living In The Hills. I once overheard a fitness instructor telling the mostly middle–aged women in her aerobics class "GRAVITY" is not a woman's friend — let's tone those muscles girls... Gravity is like Death and Taxes: gravity is relentless — gravity is patient — gravity is always victorious! Gravity and its close–cousin "Water," cause the top layer of soil up here in the hills to continually march downhill. Much of our topsoil was mechanically moved about decades ago to create avocado and fruit groves. Bedrock is often exposed or within a few feet of the surface. Add water to gravity (from overwatering, rainfall, or poorly thought–out drainage) and the earth is even more on the move — putting extreme pressures on our fences, our walls — our homes too! Many a homeowner in the Heights can open a bathroom door without problem during the summer — but the door is literally "stuck" in the door frame following a few days of rain. What's up with that? "Surely, that cannot  be all that good for our property — can it?"

Comes with the Territory. The Heights has high–content clay soil which is termed: expansive soil. When rain water or landscape water touches this type of soil it becomes a powerful foe. Wet, expansive soil close to the perimeter of your home can exert extreme, relentless hydraulic pressures that are so great that your concrete footings are moved up, down, left, and right. This evidences itself in stuck doors, sloped floors, cracked floors, cracks in the drywall, plaster, stucco, shower tile  — even dramatic cracks and breaks in reinforced concrete foundations. When the soil dries–out and contracts, the sheer weight of the home will push back. This push and pull works at damaging the foundation to the point where it can affect the value of your home.

These issues oftentimes are brought to light at the worst possible time — during the sale of a home. Every year the now–standard home inspection becomes more and more stringent and thorouh. These more–stringent inspections are the result of numerous lawsuits brought against home inspectors for overlooked, obvious home defects in prior years. What was, simply an overlooked cracked floor in a home sold in the 1980's — will end up a serious "Legal-Deal-Breaker" in today's transaction. The problem is further exacerbated by home inspectors and engineers who then sometimes over-document all these problems. We have some "Hands-On" experience with defects found during the Sale, Escrow and Transfer of Southern California homes – – – we are a company that performed 100's of home inspections from 2000–2008 from San Diego to Malibu. Our recommendation? Better to fix these issues before they become part of the home's "Paper Trail."

What we do. We are a General Contractor with a Twist...

We've been involved in building and improving properties so long that we have what some would call "SUBS" (Sub-Contractors) "In-House..."

We do our own electrical — from the Pole to the Pool: new services, sub-panels, underground service feeders — no electrical sub-contractor called–in which would add to your costs.

We do our own steel, concrete, framing, drywall, plumbing, tile, floors, welding (Real Wrought Iron), paint, stucco, Venetian plaster, faux finishes.

We partner in a cabinet shop in down the hill in Santa Fe Springs so that we can eliminate the overhead and profit that a Sub–Contracted Cabinet Shop would add to your project...  AND, you get exactly what you want  — at the price–point of those depressing Off–The–Shelf Home Depot ⁄ Lowes cabinets.

If your project has no need for our in–house Framer, our Stucco Guys, or our Kitchen Designer — they simply never show up! ZERO COST.

But if their talents are needed, they are there for you under our immediate supervision — at truly affordable cost (i.e. no SUBS)

PRIVACY - We are fiercy–private about you, your goals, your project. Small, close communities can be like small mid–western towns. We will not share your prospective plans for your home with anyone – anywhere – ever.  If you allow us to share some photos of your transformed space – we'd love that! But if not – we respect that! Period.

When & Who call upon us? When homeowners are unhappy with their home. When something is broken and can no longer be overlooked. When arriving at that place where —finally— the time is right; the money is pulled together: our clients can begin making their Heights-House a Home — a Dream Home... When thinking of selling but there are some issues that must be addressed. Who — It turns out we have no "ordinary client" nor oft–requested service.  Let us share with you the most common services we are asked to address:

SPECIALIZING IN HILLSIDE PROBLEMS

  • Foundation Problems
  • Leaning Structures
  • Uneven Floors
  • Crooked Doors That Don't Close
  • Windows That Won't Budge
  • Walls That Are Out Of Level
  • Failing Retaining Walls
  • Lacking Parking, Turn-arounds
  • Hillside Walks and Stairs to Unaccessible Property
  • Troubled Septic Systems
  • Poor Drainage

SPECIALIZING IN HILLSIDE OPPORTUNITIES

  • DIG IN — DIG DOWN! Expand Your Home Downward!
    No set–back issues; No maximum height codes to challenge; No view restrictions; No impervious soil battles to wage
    Often the dug–in space has a MAGNIFICENT VIEW — not like a "basement"
  • Spiral Staircases
  • Residential Elevators
  • Secret Doors, Safe Rooms, Panic Rooms, Hidden Walk–In Home Vaults
  • Observation Decks (Attached, Free–Standing, Elevated)
  • Wrought Iron Railings, Fences, Automated Gates
  • Doors and Windows to Take Advantage of Views!
  • Outdoor Fireplaces

CURB APPEAL

The home just doesn't "cut it."

There is absolutely no doubt THAT IF the Curb Appeal is addressed there is a direct correlation to a significantly–greater future Sales Price

Generally speaking, Curb Appeal is some combination of:

  • Exterior walls — wood, stucco, doors and windows
  • Entrances (especially in the Heights! — Sometimes our driveways send guests to the wrong entry doors!)
  • Roof — What a difference the correct roof can make
  • Hardscape (Concrete, Pavers, Walks & Paths)
  • Landscape

KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

Outdated  — (Note: WE DO EXCELLENT KITCHEN! — many georgous examples in La Habra Heights!)

DOORS AND WINDOWS

  • Creaky, leaky
  • Too–small windows (not taking full-advantage of views)
  • Changing 1970's Sliding Glass Doors— to Insulated Sliding or French Doors
  • Enlarging existing windows to French Doors
  •   — Adding a new deck where none was

BEDROOMS

  • Creating new spaces where we spend half of our life
  • Raising ceilings to take advantage of unused attic space — this alone brings our living space into the 21st century
  • Adding glamorous, functional, walk–in closets
  • Adding a to–die–for Master Baths
  • Expanding the "look & feel" of the bedroom by adding a private deck (on grade or elevated in the trees)

EXTREME HOME MAKEOVERS

From custom cabinetry to complete home renovation, our team has an extensive history of successful projects and satisfied clients. Incredible locations often make it unnecessary to relocate  — remodeling makes anything possible. Through subtle or dramatic changes, you can obtain more space and update amenities, and enhance the appearance and value of your home. We are completing our 3rd Extreme Home Makeover right here in these hills. These are amazing, satisfying projects — for you, the owner — and for us too! We love the transformation magic. You will too.

Click Here to visit our CURRENT PROJECTS section where you will find some detailed Start-to-Finish photo journals of some past Heights projects and Extreme Home Makeovers.