Category Archives: Bathroom Remodeling

Latest Valley Center, CA Home Remodel

Greyhound General is excited to have just completed a whole house remodel for a couple in Valley Center, CA. The entire project was completed in less than 8 weeks!

The background:

The young couple that owns the home actually resides in Florida, and they had planned on taking 4 months off from their jobs and live in a hotel in CA while a contractor did the renovation. Greyhound assured them they’d move quickly to get the job done fast.

Before the remodel

The house had nothing done to it since it was originally built, so it needed to be completely gutted down to the studs due to a severely leaking roof and plumbing issues.

The details:

This is what Greyhound did:

  1. Removed the roof tile and all the fascia board. Replaced plywood, fascia, installed new felt on the roof, and reinstalled the existing tile
  2. New plumbing fixtures, cabinets, counter tops, interior doors, and new tile flooring throughout
  3. Relocated and installed a new fireplace, lighting, new windows, aluminum trellis, and more

Finishing up the bathroom

During the remodel

The conclusion:

After only 25 days the couple was so impressed with the Greyhound team that they went back to their jobs in Florida, saving them lost wages and hotel room bills that saved them thousands of dollars!

The new kitchen

Here are some of the before and after photos:

If you’re interested in home remodeling work and you’re in the greater San Diego area give Greyhound a call today for a free estimate! You can reach us at  (800) 568.7108 or leave us your information here.

Beautiful Kitchen & Bath Remodel in Scripps Ranch

One of Greyhound’s most recent projects was a kitchen and bathroom remodel in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego.

Here are some of the kitchen remodel highlights:

  • new cabinets go all the way up to the 9’ ceiling line for additional storage
  • very modern, sleek and minimalist kitchen look & feel, which is becoming more popular in San Diego

scripps ranch bathroom remodel

Here are some of the bathroom remodel highlights:

  • concrete shower and floor
  • ¾” thick glass counter tops lit thru the edges with LED strip lighting
  • Ipe wood bench that appears to have no visible means of support underneath (used a stainless steel angle iron bracket which we attached to the studs). Welded to that bracket were 1-1/4” stainless steel all thread that was drilled thru the individual Ipe boards at the spacer blocks. The bench actually goes through the glass shower wall (the glass was notched out for the bench)
  • the vanities also are “floating” and are supported by brackets coming out of the wall (no legs)

scripps ranch kitchen remodel

If you’d like to learn more about updating or upgrading your kitchen or bathroom talk to Greyhound General today. We serve the greater San Diego are, and we’d be happy to come out and give you a free estimate. Just fill out the form here or call 800-568-7108.

Bathroom Remodeling 101

The bathroom is an oft-overlooked area of your home. After all, you don’t invite guests over to see your bathroom; you showcase your new pool or backyard area, or that new kitchen. Still, the bathroom is a place you spend time in every day, so why not give it a makeover?

In a previous article I mention how to turn your bathroom into a spa, and that’s exactly the mentality you should have. You should feel comfortable in your bathroom. I’ve put together some basic tips for examining your bathroom to see if you should remodel. Here are some things to investigate:

  •  Size: you never want to feel cramped or claustrophobic in your own bathroom. While you might think that there’s nothing you can do about the size (” it is what it is”), you’d be mistaken. By knocking down walls, moving appliances and rearranging storage space you can make the bathroom seem bigger. All you need is a little creativity.
  • Age: Take a look at the tile or wallpaper, then look at the appliances. Has this bathroom not been updated in decades? Does it have an unintentional “retro” feel to it? Changing light fixtures and the sink may be an inexpensive way to modernize your bathroom, but if that doesn’t help you’ll want to remodel the entire bathroom.
  • Storage: You need to have sufficient storage space for toiletries, towels and more. Maybe you can elongate your shower and add cabinet space by re-positioning the layout of the bathroom. Or maybe you can re-position the sink and toilet. This is where a savvy contractor can help maximize space.
  • Appliances: Like your kitchen, it’s important to have modern appliances. They can not only save you money by lowering your water bills and electricity bills, they can really enhance the look and feel of your bathroom.
  • Damage: Whether you have water damage on the floor or a mold issue on the ceiling, remodeling your bathroom addresses these issues before they get worse.

Now, once you’ve decided to remodel your bathroom you need to determine your budget (probably something you should at least think about while your determining if you need to remodel). According to Remodeling magazine’s 2005 Cost vs. Value Report, a mid-range bathroom remodel is approximately $10,499, and that number can be higher or lower depending on where you live (and how you define mid-range). Most remodels cost between $10,000 and $20,000, with some minor fixes falling below that range and some major overhauls going above. Any kind of water damage, dry rot, or other common bathroom problems will only raise your total cost.

Once you have a budget in mind then you can start saving, and once you’ve reached your savings goal (or milestone) you need to start researching contractors. It’s important that you select several contractors and review their website, as well as their third party reviews, very carefully. Also, look for actual evidence of their work. This means checking their work out in person, or at least in their online video collection.

Make sure as you narrow down your contractors that you continue to do more research to find the best one for the job. Any concerns, such as materials, appliances, and available space, can be discussed with each of the contractors you’ve narrowed down your search to.

If you’re in the greater San Diego area and you’re considering remodeling your bathroom then give Greyhound General a call at 800-568-7108, or leave us a note here.

Best Time to Remodel

One of the first things people look at when considering when to remodel is the temperature outside. For those on the East Coast or Mid West the Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, and that’s no time to have any of your home exposed to the elements. However, if you’re remodeling your kitchen, a bathroom or a bedroom then you have more options. Here are some other things to consider…

Cost of materials: Buying Winter clothes in June or July will often mean heavy discounts, and the same thing is true of many materials. It’s not necessarily a seasonal thing, like clothing, but it’s more of a matter of supply and demand. It makes sense to purchase materials when they’re cheapest, so planning ahead for remodeling work will allow you to monitor the pricing of the materials you need.

Busyness of Contractors: When contractors are extremely busy they inevitably can devote less attention to your project. It’s similar to going to a restaurant during the dinner rush; you have to wait your turn. It doesn’t necessarily mean the service isn’t “up to snuff,” but it just means that it’s more ideal to be the focal point of your contractor. Also, during the busy season, you’ll have to work more with your contractor on start dates, since they have to juggle multiple projects, whereas in the non-busy season, you can have more of a say when the project starts.

Keep in mind that not all contractors are created equal. The best contractors will help you find the best deals on the highest quality materials. The best contractors will also provide the same excellent service no matter how busy they are. To learn more about what to look for in a general contractor click here.

If you want to talk to an experienced general contractor in San Diego then contact Greyhound General today, or call 800-568-7108.

How to turn your bathroom into a spa

The bathroom is perhaps the most important room in your house for relaxing. However, it is often neglected by home owners who seem to look to upgrade their kitchen, back yard, or other areas before they think to remodel their bathroom. The amenities available in the bathroom today rival those you’ll find in the kitchen. Whirlpool jacuzzi tubs, granite counter tops, and heated towel racks are just a few of the plush features you can add to your bathroom. Of course, there are a few things you can do to spruce up your bathroom before you’re ready to remodel:

  • Improve the scents and colors of the room- throw a fresh coat of paint up, preferably soothing colors, and invest in some scented candles to set the mood right
  • Buy new towels- thick, soft towels feel great and you can match their color to the other colors of the bathroom
  • Heat those new towels- a towel radiator will keep your towels nice and toasty, and you can find one for only a few hundred dollars
  • Add some music- bring in a portable radio to the bathroom

If you really want to transform your bathroom you might want to consider remodeling your entire bathroom. Remodeling your bathroom gives you the flexibility to add or remove walls, play with the dimensions of the room, upgrade the sink and toilet, and much more. This could free up space for that new stone steam shower room you’ve been dreaming about. You might also want to consider upgrading the tub to a jacuzzi-like tub with jets. Replacing tile, the sink and the vanity mirror are also important elements of a bathroom remodel. Of course, if you decide to remodel your bathroom don’t forget to consider the simple tips mentioned above to add a finishing touch to your beautiful new bathroom.

If you are in the San Diego area and you’re considering remodeling your bathroom you should call award winning home remodeler Greyhound General at 800-568-7108. Contact Greyhound General today.