Homeowner questions, answered

Most mid-range Kitchen Remodels in the Los Angeles area run about $40,000 to $100,000. A cosmetic refresh with new Counters, Paint and Fixtures can cost less, and moving walls, Plumbing or Gas Lines or choosing custom Cabinets pushes it higher. Cabinets and labor are usually the largest costs. We give a written, itemized estimate after seeing the space.

A typical Bathroom Remodel in Los Angeles costs about $20,000 to $50,000. A small hall Bathroom with a tub-to-shower conversion is at the low end; a primary Bathroom with a new layout, custom Tile and a curbless shower is at the high end. Waterproofing behind the Tile is the part you should never cut, because it is what prevents leaks later.

In Los Angeles, a Garage Conversion usually costs about $80,000 to $180,000, and a new detached ADU about $150,000 to $400,000 depending on size, site work and Finishes. Utility connections, Permits and fees are a real part of the budget, so we include them in the estimate.

Painting the exterior of a typical single-family home in Los Angeles costs about $6,000 to $15,000. Size, height, Stucco or Wood Repairs and how much prep the surface needs drive the price. Good prep, including crack repair and primer, is what makes a Paint job last.

California law limits the down payment on a home improvement contract to 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. After that, payments should follow the work actually completed. Be wary of anyone asking for a large deposit before work starts.

Estimates differ because they often cover different work. Compare the scope line by line: Permits, Demolition, Waterproofing, materials, allowances, cleanup and who fixes damage found behind walls. A low bid that leaves these out usually costs more through change orders.

Usually yes. In Los Angeles and nearby cities, you need a building permit when you change Plumbing, Electrical, Gas, walls or Windows. Cosmetic work such as Painting, new cabinet Doors or replacing a faucet in the same place generally does not. As your licensed contractor, we pull the Permits and schedule the inspections.

California requires a licensed contractor for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and for any job that needs a building permit. Unlicensed work can void insurance claims and cause problems when you sell the house.

Search the license number or business name on the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website, cslb.ca.gov. It shows whether the license is active, its classification, its bond and its workers' compensation status. ESR's license is CSLB #1079489, Class B General Building Contractor.

Yes, in most cases. In California you can cancel a home improvement contract signed at your home within three business days, or five business days if you are 65 or older. The cancellation notice must be included in the contract.

Usually yes. Most homeowner associations require architectural approval before you change exterior colors, Windows, Roofing or add structures. We prepare the drawings, color samples and product information your HOA board asks for.

Once Permits and materials are ready, a Bathroom Remodel usually takes about 3 to 6 weeks and a Kitchen Remodel about 6 to 12 weeks. Permits, custom Cabinets and special-order Tile can add time before work starts, so we order long-lead items early.

Plan on roughly 6 to 12 months from design to move-in for a new ADU. California law requires cities to act on a complete ADU permit application within 60 days, and construction usually takes 4 to 8 months. A Garage Conversion is often faster.

Yes, in most cases. Families usually stay home during a Bathroom or Kitchen Remodel; we can set up a temporary Kitchen area and seal off the work zone to control dust. A whole-home remodel or major structural work may make it more practical to stay elsewhere for part of the job.

Common signs are stains or bubbling Paint on Ceilings and walls, a musty smell, warped Flooring, loose tiles, mold at baseboards and a water bill that rises for no reason. The source is often far from the stain, so finding it before repairing Drywall saves money.

Hairline cracks are common in Southern California Stucco and are mostly cosmetic. Cracks wider than about 1/8 inch, cracks that keep growing, or cracks with stains or bulging nearby can let water in or point to movement, and should be inspected before you Paint.

Stucco homes usually need repainting every 7 to 10 years, and Wood Siding and Trim every 5 to 7 years. Strong sun, coastal air and sprinklers that hit the walls shorten that. Fading, chalky Paint and peeling Trim are signs it is time.

Possibly. Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based Paint. Federal rules require contractors to use lead-safe practices when disturbing painted surfaces in those homes, with containment and careful cleanup, especially where children live.

For most Los Angeles homes, sealing air leaks and adding attic Insulation give the most savings per dollar. After that come efficient Windows, a right-sized Heat Pump or air conditioner, and Solar. Doing them in that order lets the new equipment be sized smaller.

If your Roof has less than about 10 years of life left, replace it first. Removing and reinstalling Solar Panels to Re-Roof later adds significant cost. We can plan the Roof and Solar work as one project.

Often, yes. Utilities such as Southern California Edison and SoCalGas and state programs offer rebates for Heat Pumps, Insulation and other upgrades, but the programs change often. We help you check what is available before you choose equipment.

Yes. Energy Star Remodeling Inc. holds California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license #1079489, Class B General Building Contractor. You can verify it on the CSLB website.

We have offices in Canoga Park and Porter Ranch, and we serve every city within about 30 miles of Canoga Park, plus the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys and Ventura County. That covers the San Fernando Valley, Calabasas, Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Valley, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura, Santa Clarita and Valencia, Palmdale and Lancaster, the Westside from Malibu to Marina del Rey, and central Los Angeles out to Glendale and Pasadena.

Yes. We work for homeowners, HOAs and condominium associations, apartment owners, property managers and commercial property owners.

Waterproofing and Leak Detection, Exterior Painting and Stucco Repair, HOA and multi-unit services, home renovation and Remodeling (Kitchens, Bathrooms, Complete Remodels, Additions, ADUs, Roofing, Solar, HVAC, Windows and Doors, Landscape and Hardscape), Energy-Efficient Home Renovations, Decks, Concrete and Planters, Lead-Safe Paint Removal, Interior Restoration, and Seismic Retrofitting.

Call (818) 399-2945 or send the contact form with your address and a short description. Photos help a lot; you can attach them to the form.

No. ESR (Energy Star Remodeling Inc.) is a private, licensed contractor and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR program.

ESR is owned and run by Udi Hen, founder, CEO and Responsible Managing Officer, who has more than 20 years of construction experience and also founded US International Design in 2005 and Dream Home Solar in 2016. He personally oversees every project. The ESR team of professionals who work with the company includes a structural engineer, a superintendent, operations, administration, marketing, accounting and technology.

In California, a corporation's contractor license is qualified by a Responsible Managing Officer (RMO). Under Business and Professions Code section 7068.1, the RMO must directly supervise and control the company's construction work and is responsible for it under the license. The RMO does not have to be the owner: many companies qualify their license through a hired RMO, so the person who sells or owns the company may not be the person answerable for the work, and if that RMO leaves, the company has 90 days to replace them. At ESR the founder, CEO and RMO are the same person, Udi Hen. You deal directly with the licensed contractor who is accountable for your job: no salespeople and no middlemen.

Yes. ESR, at ESRbuild.com, is the short name of Energy Star Remodeling Inc., a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #1079489). EnergyStarRemodeling.com is its residential renovation website.

We inspect the area above and around the stain, take moisture readings, and run controlled water tests on likely sources one at a time, such as a Balcony, Planter or window. Testing one source at a time shows which one is actually leaking before any Demolition starts.

Yes. Built-in Planters hold wet soil against walls and slabs year-round. When the membrane fails or the drains clog, water moves into the structure. We rebuilt Planter Drainage and Waterproofing on a Westwood property for exactly this reason.

As a general guide, plan on repainting Stucco every 7 to 10 years, and sooner on sun-exposed walls or near the coast. Chalky residue on your hand, fading, or cracks opening in the Stucco are signs it is time.

Yes. Repairing cracks and damaged Stucco first is part of every exterior job we do. Painting over unrepaired Stucco lets water in behind the new Paint.

Yes. Most of our multi-unit work comes through managers and boards. We provide written proposals, resident notices, schedules and photo documentation, and we can present to the board if needed.

Yes. A structural engineer on the ESR team works with us on assessment and repair plans whenever a problem is structural.

Yes. ESR builds accessory dwelling units (ADUs), Garage Conversions and Room Additions, and coordinates the plans and Permits they require.

Yes. As the licensed general contractor we coordinate the Permits a project requires with the local building department, and schedule the inspections.

For a single Bathroom or Kitchen, usually yes. For a complete renovation it is usually faster and safer to move out. We will tell you honestly which applies to your project.

Wet soil sits against the Planter walls all year. Without an intact membrane and a working drain, that moisture moves into the slab or the wall of the building next to it.

If your home was built before 1978 and the work will disturb painted surfaces, assume lead Paint may be present unless testing shows otherwise. Lead-safe practices are then required.

Usually Air Sealing and Insulation, then Windows, then HVAC, then Solar. Reducing how much heat gets in first lets you buy a smaller air conditioner and a smaller Solar system.

No. ESR (Energy Star Remodeling Inc.) is a private, licensed contractor and is not affiliated with the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR program. We can install ENERGY STAR certified Windows and products on request.

If it is a wood-frame apartment or condo building with parking or open space under the units, your city may require one, and the city usually notifies the owner. For houses, raised Foundations with cripple walls and no anchor bolts are the most common weak spot. Call us and we will look at the building with an engineer.

A licensed engineer prepares the plans and calculations. The structural engineer on the ESR team works with us on the design and inspects the work, and Udi oversees the job as the licensed contractor.