Jul

10

Financing Your Remodel? Head to City Hall!

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We were so suprised when we got the call. A family in South San Francisco wanted us to design and install a new bathroom, then told us their budget. We met, showed them a few of our Bath Pack designs, they chose one, selected finish colors, and off we went.  We sent the estimate the next day, and they submitted it to the City. Within days, their loan was approved, and after a brief trip to the Building Department, we had the Permit (and the city pays for that too!)

How easy is that? Well, the Federal Government has made loans available to people based on (1) the size of the family; and (2) the gross income of the family. Finally, middle to lower income people will be able to get a low interest loan to fix up their homes! In the middle of this financial crisis hitting the entire world, we have work! People are able to get new, safe, clean, custom kitchens and baths, kitchens, laundry room remdels, all financed through a loan from their own home town. Click here for more info.

About the SSF Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program

This Program assists low- and moderate-income homeowners with housing repairs to bring their unit up to current building code. The maximum loan amount is $25,000. Eligible repairs include new roofs, dry-rot repairs, plumbing and electrical repairs, and other types of code violation repairs.

Income Eligibility

Household Size Maximum Yearly Income
One $63,350
Two $72,400
Three $81,450
Four $90,500
Five $97,700
Six $104,950
Seven $112,200
Eight $119,450

 

In your community, go to the town website and search for “Loans.” It should lead you to a page that looks like one you can find on the South San Francisco web site. This Document lists all the cities on the Peninsula and who to contact in your area. In San Mateo County, you can contact their FHA Loan programs at: (650) 366-6597

In San Francisco, you can start here to find out more info about what type of personal, home and business loans are available.

However you do it, getting necessary remodeling done now doesn’t have to be put off – you can get practically interest free loans right from your own town or city! Call them, and call HB Building + Design so we can help you with the plans you need for quick  approval and to get the work done!

Mar

2

Home Maintenance Tip: Check Your Deck!

Filed Under Contractor's Corner, Home Safety Tips | Leave a Comment

One great advantage of living in the Bay Area is our climate, another is that almost anywhere you live, you can find a view – of the hills, the Bay, the Ocean. That makes one of the most popular home additions a beautiful Deck. Those of you with decks more than 10 years old probably have them built from redwood and untreated doug fir. Beautiful to look at, but time consuming to maintain.

The plague of redwood decks is dry rot. Wood that experiences warm summer days and soggy wet winters is put in an ideal condition for dry rot to develop. It is important to learn ways to prevent dry rot from developing because not only will it save your deck, it will also save you time and money.

Dry rot is decay from fungi that causes wood to become brittle and crumble to powder. It develops from a mixture of wetness, heat and air. Dry rot can develop within four to six months and it’s not so easy to detect. Once infected, the wood and deck lose structural integrity. Left undetected it will spread and cause more damage. Detecting and replacing damaged wood is critical as soon as you find it – if you don’t it will eventually eat away at the entire deck, and even attract bugs, like termites, making the problem worse. P2201183

Fast detection is the key. Here is how you can check your own deck for dry rot.

1.  Look for wood discoloration.

2. Insert a screwdriver, awl or icepick and punch into the wood to see if it is still solid.

3. If the wood is soft and spongy, you can also check to feel if there is any dampness.

4. If there is any dampness, you probably have a problem to be fixed.

5. Check for termites. The dry rot begins first in damp parts of the house, and keeps on going once it starts to the other parts of the house.2WijelathDeck+Firewall

Prevent Dry Rot On Your Deck

  • Identify the real source of the problem before replacing anything.
  • Check garden sprinklers, planters, and hoses to ensure they aren’t causing a pervasive drip or wet area on the deck.
  • Check for any areas where the wood is touching the ground. This is a great place for termite infestation to begin.
  • If you suspect dry rot, call HB Building + Design to repair or rebuild your deck! We have years of experience in correcting dry rot problems from the bottom up, saving you time, money and more problems later on!  Decks, decking and deck repair is one of our specialties. Just look at the Before and After of Desmond and Marina!

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