Eichler Network Home Maintenance Directory 2023

Comfort

Stay

Durability

Protect your home with seamless waterproo ng that you can walk on and affordably renew for a lifetime

Efficiency

Reduce your heating and cooling costs with our environmentally friendly system Over 60% of our roofs have paid for themselves in energy savings!

Experience

Superior workmanship, integrity & customer service

Over 40 years of dedication and thousands of customers tell our story

Family owned & operated since 1981

L-R: Jarom, Eli, Isaac, Randy and Adam Feriante Over 100 years of combined family service

Same location since 1981

1185 O’Brien Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

Profile text: Adriene Biondo, Kaiyo Funaki, Dan Smith

Profile photography: Rory Earnshaw, Mike Gordon

Cover photo: Sabrina Huang Photography

Design: Doreen Jorgensen

EICHLER NETWORK

Marty Arbunich: Director 415.668.0954 – marty@eichlernetwork.com

Chris Marcoccio: Marketing Coordinator 415.307.3801 – chris@eichlernetwork.com

The Eichler Network Home Maintenance Directory is published annually by the Eichler Network, P.O. Box 22635, San Francisco, CA 94122. Available by mail at $8 per copy. Information regarding back issues and CA-Modern magazine can be obtained through the ‘Eichler Network Store’ section of Eichler Network Online: eichlernetwork.com. The Eichler Network is not responsible for the quality, scope, pricing, or any other aspect of the services and/or goods obtained from its participating service companies. Although it is believed that these companies are reputable based on current information and their good standing with the Better Business Bureau, we strongly encourage you also to carefully evaluate and screen all service and goods providers. The participating service companies pay a fee to advertise and become part of the Eichler Network referral network. Performance reviews, home improvement concerns, and publication inquiries are always welcome.

Copyright © 2023 Eichler Network

Architectural Design & Consultation

Serving the Entire Peninsula

415-691-7227

info@klopfarchitecture.com www.klopfarchitecture.com

KLOPF ARCHITECTURE

OVER THE LAST 21 YEARS, Klopf Architecture has designed more than 300 mid-century modern home remodel-addition projects and 22 new modernist homes. John Klopf and Geoff Campen, partners in the firm, lead a team of designers who ‘get’ mid-century modern. Together they have developed an arsenal of maneuvers designed to update the functions of mid-century modern homes while keeping changes compatible with the Eichler aesthetic.

The Klopf team believes in blending the indoors with the outdoors. “Seamless transitions and continuous materials were major tenets of Eichler home design,” Klopf says, “and we often push for even more openness in our mid-century home remodels.”

“People should be able to live comfortably in energy efficient houses that stand the test of time in terms of both design and durability,” says Klopf. Klopf Architecture values the importance of maintaining the look and feel of MCM homes while melding them with today’s stricter building standards, resulting in a more comfortable, energy efficient home.

“Eichler homes were designed to use space efficiently…maybe too efficiently,” says Klopf, “so we look for ways to re-arrange, expand, or add spaces, updating them in ways that are compatible with the original design intent.” The firm also covers practical considerations such as cleverly hiding away storage, expanding sightlines, and increasing the sizes

BLAINE ARCHITECTS

MEGAN AND KEITH BLAINE, principal architects at BLAINE Architects, are passionate about maintaining the integrity of mid-century modern homes.

“We believe in honest design, and mid-century modern homes are simple and honest,” says Megan Blaine, half of the husband-and-wife team who, in recent years, have resided in an original 1951 Anshen and Allen-designed Eichler. “We were looking for an Eichler for a really long time before we got one.”

“For us, honesty is an holistic approach to design and construction,” adds Keith, who was 2020 president of the American Institute of Architects, Silicon Valley Chapter. Of the firm’s admiration for Eichlers, he adds, “I feel mid-century modern homes are more honest in what they are...They’re not trying to be something they’re not.”

BLAINE architects opened their doors in 2015, when the couple was working for London-based Foster + Partners on designs for the new Bay Area campus for Apple. Five years after moving back to California, they moved the firm to more spacious quarters in San Jose in 2020.

“We accept other types of projects, but we’re pretty specialized in mid-century modern homes at this point,” admits Megan, who says they have worked on Mackay

and functionality of bathrooms and kitchens.

Interpreting clients’ lifestyle goals serves as a guide for the design direction. “We listen to the base needs of the client and keep an open mind for potential solutions that are not initially apparent,” Campen says.

The firm’s range of client services include full design collaboration, assisting with permits, and creating detailed construction documentation prior to the start of construction for each project. Designing and documenting interiors, materials, fixtures, and finishes helps carry the design clients expect through construction. This level of detail also offers clients a more accurate comparison of bids from potential contractors.

Klopf Architecture also represents most clients during construction, maintaining communications with the contractor throughout every phase of the process. “Homeowners find it comforting to have an expert to advocate on their behalf from the start of the project until the very end,” Klopf says, “answering design or technical questions and checking to see if the work is going along according to plan.”

Most often the firm’s designs are so seamless one can’t tell where the original structure stops and the remodel starts. Klopf and Campen are confident that regardless of continuous changes to codes and standards, their designs will continue to help Eichler homeowners update and improve their homes while respecting the design vision of the original architects.

and Cliff May homes of this style along with over two dozen Eichlers. “With Eichlers, the structure is exposed. I really like that about Eichlers…They start with the structural grid, and then from there everything else sort of falls into place.”

“The honesty really comes down to the materials and the way they’re used, their expression, and the structural components,” concurs Keith. By design, he says, “they’re kind of reducing the amount of mental noise.”

Material vendors favored by the Blaines include several Eichler Network participating service companies, Eichler Siding, Dura-Foam, and Unico System.

Keith says sourcing era-appropriate manufacturers helps establish a permanence of style. “There’s this kind of timelessness to Eichler homes,” he says. The couple recently expanded their staff to 14 with the addition of creative director Katrina Marshall. “We allow the architecture to remain true to the mid-century style, but with some clever upgrades that make the home more functional,” Megan says.

Keith agrees, promising, “We design in a way that pays homage to the homes’ original design intent and materials, allowing the clients to drive function.”

“This allows our designs to feel more like a custom Eichler home, designed around our clients needs,” adds Megan.

Seamless designs. Firm partners John Klopf (left) and Geoff Campen carry out MCM projects with a designer’s eye and a modernist’s soul.

Honest design. BLAINE Architects’ Megan and Keith Blaine believe that “honesty is an holistic approach to design and construction.”

joanne@kocharchitects.com

JOANNE A IS CANDID about how her “lifelong connection to the California landscape and lifestyle” informs her work as an architect.

“It’s a very natural, intuitive sort of lifestyle,” says the third-generation California native, who is the principal and owner of Koch Architects.

At the same time, Koch considers a major strength of her five-person office to be their ability to incorporate each client’s own personality and lifestyle into the designs they purchase.

“In order for the design to truly be shaped by the client’s needs and lifestyle, you really have to know a lot about who they are and how they live,” says Koch, who started her practice in 1998 after ten years working at other firms.

In fact, to get to know her clients, she has them fill out a questionnaire that reveals, among other things, their favorite season and color to learn “the psychology of who the clients are, so we can customize their house for them.”

Koch moved to her current West Berkeley location in 2012, and she is proud of how several resources in the office contribute to the design process. Most of all, she values her staff and the way they collaborate as a team to manage and deliver the work.

“They allow me to do my best work, because they keep the project manager tasks in order,” says

Koch, whose fondness for mid-century modern architecture ext ends to her personal life.

She and husband restored and expanded a 1952 home on Berkeley’s Northside designed by Bay Modern master Roger Lee. “Clients love to see my own home, how I have edited and expanded it, and how I live in it,” she says of the redwood-and-glass dwelling on Oxford Street.

The Koch Architects office has a couple other noteworthy resources that clients will appreciate besides skilled personnel.

“I have a lot of space devoted to our materials library,” Koch says, terming it “kind of the candy store approach, given that we include all the interior finishes, many times including window coverings, furniture, and carpets.

“We strive to have a robust and current sample library in house always gathering new products and materials to keep the designs fresh and innovative.”

Nevertheless, she says, “For me, it’s also about the service we deliver and how the experience of working with an architect leads to a project that responds to the landscape, budget, and our clients’ needs and desires.”

When it comes to merging who a person is with the design th ey deserve, says Koch, “That’s what we’re doing. We’re translators.”

We’re translators. “It’s about the service we deliver and how the experience…leads to a project that responds to…our clients’ needs and desires,” says architect Joanne Koch (above).

General Contracting & Remodeling

Serving the Entire Peninsula

650-965-1256

office@keyconinc.com

www.keyconinc.com

CA license #888337

RON KEY LIKELY HAS UPDATED more Eichlers than any other general contractor in the Bay Area. In business for more than 35 years, his Keycon, Inc. concentrates on Eichler whole-house construction and remodeling, additions, and kitchen and bath remodeling. Key doesn’t just focus on construction. He spends a considerable amount of time working with customers on the design process, which can oftentimes include an architect in the mix as an integral part of the project. But Key’s three-plus decades of experience with Eichler renovation has proven to be invaluable when it comes to his making recommendations for incorporating design elements.

“Most projects are designs first,” Key says. “We can do a bathroom remodel that ranges in price based on the design and selected materials. It all depends on the level of finishes and what the homeowner is trying to achieve.”

Decisions like these, Key says, will impact cost while they increase the functionality of the home.

Keycon projects begin with an on-site or virtual meeting with homeowners to discuss their objectives. While an expert contractor may have a very realistic idea of what things cost, it is natural that homeowners may not.

The value that a contractor like Key, who is fully experienced with the Eichler design, can bring to the table is the ability combine tasks and reduce the number of separate vendors needed to complete the project.

As Key points out, “The value-added aspect my company brings to the process encompasses a design and engineering level, as well as a construction/project management/budgeting level all rolled into one.”

Key also believes that it is important to be practical when approaching home improvement. Today, we are all facing safety and energy efficiency issues that did not exist when Eichler homes were built. He reminds us, “Back then, the environment wasn’t always considered, and it didn’t seem to matter how energy efficient the homes were.”

Now, it’s all about “being pragmatic as well as trying to be true to the core design,” says Key. Key finds working on Eichlers and with Eichler owners to be a unique experience. “Eichler owners have a strong affinity for their homes, more than other types of homeowners,” Key finds.

Call Keycon today for your free consultation for Eichler kitchen, bath, and whole-house remodeling; additions; new construction; repairs; and more.

General Contracting & Remodeling

Serving the Palo Alto Area

408-448-1328

cindy@starburstconstruction.com

www.starburstconstruction.com

CA license #580070

STARBURST CONSTRUCTION

DOI NG QUALITY WORK is the most important part of a contractor’s job. But good communication is a close second. If a builder can’t communicate with their clients and prospective clients, then their top-notch set of skills quickly become moot.

That’s no problem for Starburst Construction, a homeowner-friendly general contracting team that puts communication at the top of its priority list.

“We like to come in and hear what your dream is for your home,” points out Cindy Carey, one of Starburst’s principals. “We can then strategize on how to best help you achieve your goals while keeping in mind your lifestyle.”

To maintain c ommunication through each project, project management software and an app are utilized, allowing clients to log in and get real-time status updates for their specific project.

“This truly helps set clients at ease,” says Carey. “It’s another tool in our tool belt for helping make sure everything with our clients run smoothly.

“If homeowners are going to be traveling, they can check and see who’s scheduled at their home. If there’s an inspection that day, they can see the schedule. If there are materials that need to be selected by a certain day, all those items are listed.”

Starburst’s successful formula has been refined throughout its 40 years in the construction industry,

and its team continues to grow and evolve as Cindy’s son, Brian Smith, and his wife, Marissa, carry on the Starburst legacy.

Through that succession, Starburst’s inherent attention to detail and quality continues. “All projects are given full concentration on the details to make sure that the job is done right,” chimes in Brian Smith, now a Starburst principal.

Working in the Eichler communities, where Starburst has built quite a reputation, has become one of the company’s specialties.

“Whatever the upgrades the Eichler client has in mind whether it be windows, kitchens, full-home remodels, additi ons, or custom homes we can assist with all that the project requires, eager to help accomplish client goals,” Carey points out.

“We bring dream homes to life,” Carey adds as her icing on the cake. “You can ask our clients about that. As one of them told us, ‘I thought that saying was cheesy, but it’s true.”

As another one pointed out, “The ease of working together with Starburst Construction, their understanding of my goals, ability to generate creative solutions within our budget, positivity, outstanding p roposal package, perfect follow up, solid t eam of trades all point to a strong recomm endation.”

Value added. Keycon heads: (L-R) Tiffany Truong (estimator and designer), Ron Key (president), and Oscar Avendano (project manager).

Successful formula. The Starburst Construction team is comprised of Cindy Carey (far left), Brian Smith (center), and Marissa Smith (right).

General

HENRY CALVERT HAS been in the construction business for 30 years. Two decades ago, he bought his first Eichler, in the San Mateo Highlands and then everything changed for him.

For the past several years, Calvert has worked on scores of Eichlers throughout the upper Peninsula. While Calvert is especially fond of drawing projects in his own Highlands backyard, where he is especially well known, his focus also extends to the Eichler communities of San Mateo’s 19th Avenue Park, Burlingame, Foster City, and Redwood City.

Involved in all aspects of Eichler construction, Calvert tends to spend the majority of his efforts on whole house interior remodels of existing structures, kitchens and baths, and select addition projects. He also does window and slidingglass door installation, siding replacement, dry rot repair, and earthquake retrofitting.

What Calvert likes most about living in an Eichler is its “livability and the nice flow of the floorplan.”

Calvert also empathizes with his clients, having undergone a major remodel of his own Eichler home, a Highlands fixer-upper, which he eventually sold. The home is set on a huge lo t, which gave Calvert and his crew plenty of room to spread out while it underwent a transformation. The project was

extensive, and even included the installation of a new radiant heat system.

To get a handle on the quality of Calvert’s work, and to gain an appreciation for his fine finished carpentry, just get inside one of them for a look around. Calvert shows off his handiwork with a splash each time there’s a San Mateo Highlands Eichler Home Tour. Several years ago, his featured Eichler was his own remodeled home. In 2017, his showcase was an eye-popping rebuild, in conjunction with Klopf Architecture, of a an Eichler on Tarrytown Street that was lost to fire.

“I guess the main thing that potential customers need to know about me is that I like to work exclusively on Eichlers,” says Calvert, who continues to live in a Highlands Eichler. “I truly understand the needs of others living the lifestyle.

“Since we have that common understanding, and share an enthusiasm for the same type of home, my customers especially enjoy the fact that I know exactly what I’m doing and exactly what I’m talking about.”

Maintaining the integrity of the original Eichler design aesthetic is a key ingredient in Calvert’s work. “There are ways to remodel your Eichler,” Calvert says, “and still retain much of that original intent that Mr. Eichler set forth.”

9

Exclusively Eichlers. Henry Calvert, Eichler enthusiast and contractor: “I truly understand the needs of others living the lifestyle.”

IN A FORMER LIFE, Craig Smollen may have been an ancient architect, with eyes toward the modern world.

“I think my greatest strength is that I speak the same language as architects,” says Smollen the Builder, the name of Craig’s company and domain name of its stylish website.

“Wexler, Schindler, Lautner, Quincy Jones, Neutra they’re all heroes of mine,” says Smollen, reeling off a ‘Who’s Who’ of mid-century modern architecture on the West Coast.

“When you walk through a modern home, things are coming in and out of view,” he observed of the clean lines and glass walls in such houses. It’s one reason why he tries to minimize any design changes or shortcuts, so as not to take away from the big picture. “I find that less is more.”

An East Coast native who now lives in a midcentury modern home in Marin, Smollen also maintains reverence for good modern design through his communication with clientele.

“I’m often telling my clients, ‘Don’t let your carpenter design your home,’” says the Mill Valley-based, licensed general contractor. “I try to carry the design through to the end. I’m all about the design. ”

Smollen has been woodworking professionally

VIDA BUILDING SYSTEMS

FOR JONATHAN CUNHA, the small stuff matters.

The contractor knows that each tiny aspect on a remodeling project, or in an interaction with a customer, can make the difference between success and failure.

And after 25 years in the Bay Area construction business first as a carpenter, then as the head of a company called Fusion, and now helming Vida Building Systems Cunha knows how to get the details right.

“I don’t let a few dollars here or there be the deciding factor in how we do something,” Cunha says. “It’s really about the long-term relationships we form with clients that allow us to get good references moving forward.”

The most important aspect of his work?

“Happy people,” he says.

For example, Cunha, who studied architecture before getting into construction, recalled a recent project in Mill Valley, where he and his team did a large-scale, high-end remodel on an Eichler. Their goal was to keep the original look while updating it to modern standards of efficiency and comfort.

For that project, after fixing a dozen or so leaks in the radiant system, Cunha said his team made

for three decades, since his teens, and along the way he learned what he was good at and really liked to do.

“I really only do modernist housing these days. I realized that’s all I was really interested in doing,” he says of a work portfolio that includes several Eichlers. “They tend to be remodels that look like they’re built from the ground up.”

Smollen’s ‘less is more’ philosophy does not apply to his attention to detail, however. He stresses he’s a “mud-on-the-boots contractor,” adding, “I’m on the job, I’m actually there a lot, I’m involved.”

“That’s why people like working with me,” Smollen says, noting that he generally uses a small core of about four reliable subcontractors on his work.

He recalled bidding recently on a Quincy Jonesdesigned home in Kentfield, exulting, “It’s beautiful, it’s all glass.”

“My goal is to look back in 15 years and see three to five architecturally significant houses [like this Jones one],” he says of his next phase of project experiences. “Then I’ll feel happy with my life.”

It certainly can’t hurt when design staffs peruse Smollen’s website and see the company motto proudly displayed as a reassuring headline: “An Architect’s Best Friend.”

custom fittings that allowed the new FSC-certified wood flooring to fit in conjunction with the original doors. “We wound up putting custom grooves in so that the flooring would fit, since it was a little higher than the original cork flooring.”

That kind of problem solving defines Cunha’s relationship with Eichlers, which he said he became enamored with over his decades of building in the Bay Area.

“It’s about understanding how the pieces work together,” he says. “It’s not like a ‘normal’ house where you cut wherever you want, and then go into the crawlspace and reset it.”

Eichlers, Cunha points out, with their slab foundations and ceilings without attics, are far less forgiving than most homes. “It’s certainly a challenge, but I really thrive on that kind of work. It’s always exciting.”

But success is not just about understanding houses, Cunha says. It’s very much about understanding the people who live in them.

“Our philosophy is basically to do whatever we can within reason to keep our clients happy,” Cunha says . “We just do the work to the best of our ability, and then stand behind it if there’s a problem.”

Happy people. “It’s really about the long-term relationships we form  with clients,” says Vida Building Systems’ Jonathan Cunha (above).

Less is more. “I’m all about the design,” says general contractor Craig Smollen. In fact, he bills his company as “An Architect’s Best Friend.”

michael@thebuildingcompany.org

www.thebuildingcompany.org

CA

BUILDING COMPANY

AT THE BUI LDING COMPANY, relationships are key. That includes the relationship between the father-son team at the head of the operation, their relationship with employees, subcontractors, and suppliers, and most importantly, their relationship with the customer.

The Building Company president Michael Spehar says lots of communication and a straightforward, honest approach are the ways of keeping the client relationship healthy.

“Communication is key in this business, especially here in Silicon Valley, where everyone’s connected and informed,” Spehar says.

Since so much of remodeling construction involves various trades, custom materials, and uncovering hidden damage, for Spehar a constant flow of information helps mitigate surprises. “We always keep the customer informed on what the next steps are,” he points out.

Spehar also says it’s important to him and his crew to remember they’re working where someone lives, so “our big thing, I can’t stress this enough, is being clean. This is our customer’s home!

“We put a lot of emphasis on dust control, protecting floors, and keeping our customer healthy and safe. We pride ourselves on doing things correctly, providing a high level of quality, and without cutting corners.”

Then there a re The Building Company’s ongoing

relationships with suppliers. Companies like Eichler Siding, from whom The Building Company obtains their exterior siding, as well as providers of special Eichler beams and ceiling boards.

Those vital original-looking house parts include moulding and trim. When it is not readily available from suppliers, The Building Company replicates their own in-house, with great attention to detail. “Each area of design is just a little different,” Spehar says. “Some of the paneling, for instance, has a detail on the edge, where the two panels meet. We can actually duplicate that on the job site.”

Eichlers have been known to present numerous challenges to contractors over the years. That’s why, when it’s time to renovate, it’s of utmost importance to turn to a contractor with extensive Eichler experience to manage the project.

“It’s our Eichler experience that allows us to provide that high level of quality,” says Spehar.

“We’ve learned so much over the years about Eichlers. We’ve also learned that it’s an art to bring modern conveniences to these homes without compromising the original look and feel, and maintain the integrity of the Eichler design.”

The Building Company’s projects focus on project management, whole house renovations, kitchen and bath remodels, additions, exterior siding installation, doors, beam replacement, and dry rot repairs.

Relationships are key. Building Company’s Michael Spehar: “We pride ourselves on doing things correctly, the right way, and not cutting corners.”

Double Pane Windows & Doors

Serving the Entire Peninsula

650-494-7000

kim@paloaltoglass.com

www.paloaltoglass.com

CA license #676029

HARDLY A DAY GOES BY for Palo Alto Glass in which they’re not working on an Eichler home. So it feels that way for Kim Denton, estimator of the company’s residential division and head of its Eichler branch.

That they have a dedicated department just for Eichlers is a pretty good indication of just how experienced Denton and technical specialist Jeff Gusman are in simultaneously preserving and updating these homes.

“We get a lot of people asking us why don’t we do more ‘before and after’ photos, and it’s because our goal is to have the home look almost identical when we’re done as to the original design,” Denton says.

The replacements are indistinguishable visually, as the glass fits into slim, aluminum frames that maintain the Eichler aesthetic. However, it’s the savings that really stand out. The insulation from Palo Alto Glass’ double-paned glass helps to keep houses warm in winter, while its low-e coating provides sun control during summer.

It doesn’t matter how potentially tricky an installation might seem, too, as the company’s extensive training with mid-century modern homes has prepared them for every situation even for the oversized, fixed glass panels, a staple of an Eichler. Those panels can weigh up to 400 pounds, but Palo Alto Glass has the knowledge and tools to handle projects of any size with ease.

“It’s a rare combination that we have glaziers who

are capable of installing those huge, frameless glass panels and also install sliding doors and windows,” Denton says. “And in an Eichler, there’s never any window that is exactly the same as another, so everything is always custom ordered.”

This versatility allows Palo Alto Glass to take care of any Eichler needs involving glass, whether it’s windows, doors, mirrors, shower enclosures, or skylights.

The company ensures that every panel of glass removed from a home is replaced the same day, and that most work is performed from the outside of the house. This minimally invasive process allows residents to remain in the comfort of their home as the crew completes the installation.

Palo Alto Glass also educates themselves on an ongoing basis on the various regional city building codes so that the process remains as stress-free as possible.

Though Dave Stellman, Denton’s father and founder of Palo Alto Glass, recently retired from the company, Denton guarantees that she and her staff will continue to operate in the fine tradition of the original company, which has been in operation since 1984.

“Palo Alto Glass is going to remain the same company that we have been for the past 38 years,” says Denton, “and homeowners can still expect the same level of customer service.”

• Showroom located at 4085 Transport Street, Palo Alto

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CHARLES WINDOW & DOOR COMPANY

HAVE YOU EVER HAD SUCH A GREAT experience with a business or vendor that you wished you owned the company? That’s how much Niko Frithiof believed in the San Rafael-based Charles Window & Door Company (CW&D).

In 2000, the company worked on Frithiof’s home. He was so impressed with the service, technical expertise, and quality of installation he received that, in 2004, he and a business partner acquired the company. Frithiof is still an essential part of the CW&D team and instills the same fundamentals that initially impressed him.

The Charles Window & Door history is just the beginning of the company’s story. Unlike other ‘in home’ window and door companies, CW&D is not a high-pressure, ‘sign-or-else’ sales experience. Instead, they emphasize collaboration and advice to help clients make a decision they will be proud of and comfortable with, and offer the best project solution from their wide range of top-quality brands.

CW&D’s goal is to help clients navigate replacement window and door choices for a customized, long-term, value-oriented solution for their home. CW&D’s history with Eichler homes is extensive. “We’ve done work on a lot of Eichlers,” says Frithiof. When comparing them to more conventional homes, “they have different and unique details to address,” he explains, noting issues raised by Eichler custom door

sizes as well as their absence of exterior trim, all presenting a very unique set of circumstances.

“Having worked on Eichlers for years, we completely understand that each Eichler project is different and requires a distinctive approach.”

Charles Window & Door distinguishes itself by being a ‘Preferred Installing Retailer’ for premium brands of windows and doors. “We are proud to introduce our exclusive partnership with Infinity by Marvin to our marketplace,” says Frithiof. Other brands that they are honored to represent are Simonton, Milgard, Marvin, and All Weather.

As a locally owned company Charles Window & Door Company is strongly community-oriented, serving customers in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, San Francisco, and the near East Bay.

The company is involved with local charity organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Big Skills Tiny Homes, and Girls Garage. “Giving back, along with being environmentally responsible, are core values that we believe in,” says Frithiof.

Make an appointment today to visit the CW&D window and door showroom in San Rafael and experience their excellent customer service and quality windows and doors.

• Showroom located at 1505 Francisco Blvd. East, San Rafael

Tradition since 1984. Palo Alto Glass’ Kim Denton and Jeff Gusman offer new windows and sliding-glass doors with excellent insulating value that maintain the original look and feel of Eichler homes.

Sterling record. ‘Superb customer service’ is the motto of Charles Window & Door. Above: The team that delivers it all.

SHERRY SCOTT DESIGN

INTEGRATING CABINETRY AND APPLIANCES are all a part of Sherry Scott’s typical day at her showroom helping clients convert ideas into reality.

“I’ve been working in this line of business since 1985, and under this name and location since 2017,” says Scott, owner of Sherry Scott Design.

Her company offers indoor as well as outdoor cabinetry, and she welcomes homeowners to check out her company’s showroom in Los Altos.

“Clients like to visit our showroom,” says Scott. “They get to see textures and colors and the visual explanation alone is worth the trip.”

Scott’s approach to designing a space for new cabinetry is to not be trendy “not to do a grayand-white rendition of anything today,” she says. Her approach “considers people’s favorite colors, preferences…and the environment, and the building envelope they’re working with. A good kitchen remodel should look great for 25 years.”

For indoor cabinetry lines, Sherry Scott Design offers Nova, Cucina, and Puntotre, three high-end Italian brands that understand the mid-century modern aesthetic.

For patios and outdoor projects, the company features Danver as well as Brown-Jordan, a modern line of outdoor cabinets with clean, crisp lines, and no handles “all of the nice modern elements that go well in an Eichler,” Scott says.

When planning a cabinetry renewal project, Scott advises factoring in appliances as well. “When you’re planning and designing, and you want the best end result, it’s best not to just throw in random appliances, to prevent gapping and other issues.”

For appliances, Scott works with Lynx Professional, a manufacturer of cooking appliances, grills, pizza ovens; and True Refrigeration, a company that makes icemakers, beverage makers, wine refrigerators, etc. “True has a great warranty, and keeps the chill factor even in hot climates,” Scott says.

Cabinetry and countertop materials are another important element to be considered. “Today’s materials are thermo-structured, it’s a heat process,” says Scott.

“You could look at a kitchen with this material on it and not know it isn’t wood. It has a wood feel, a three-dimensional texture, and a more robust surface that is harder than wood, doesn’t absorb or scratch like wood, is easier to maintain, and costs less.”

What Scott recommends to all clients whether in an Eichler or another style home “is to be open-minded about what the possibilities are, particularly if you’re working with a design professional, even if they may be recommending something new that you’re not familiar with.”

At Sherry Scott Design, this path oftentimes leads to exciting and successful results.

• Showroom located at 169 Main Street, Los Altos

Success awaits. Sherry Scott (above) recommends clients “to be open-minded about the possibilities” with your cabinetry project.

Polyurethane Foam Roofing

Serving Palo Alto to San Jose

650-327-3200

info@dura-foam.com

www.dura-foam.com

CA license #435836

DURA-FOAM ROOFING & SOLAR CENTER CEO Adam Feriante has good reason to believe in his company’s work.

“Our customers have found our roofs to be ideal for Eichlers,” he says. “Foam roofing certainly has some attractive properties.” And, as he also readily points out, “So does our company.”

“First, sprayed foam is thick, close-celled, waterproof, and is not hurt by walking on its hard surface.

“Secondly, it is lightweight, and reduces structural stress. Thirdly, it is the very best insulator, topped with reflective coating, and it can be built up to displace the areas of very heavy standing water.”

What’s more, Feriante says, the Dura-Foam product is the only kind of roofing material that is ‘renewable.’ “We haven’t needed to replace any of the cared-for roofs we originally installed,” he says with pride, “and we’ve been doing this for over 40 years.”

Dura-Foam roofs recoated at the five-year mark get five years added to their Leak Proof Guarantee. “It’s a great value when you recoat early,” says Feriante. “We are typically dealing with the homeowner who purchased the roof, and don’t expect to recoat again for another 15 to 25 years.”

Feriante recommends recoating before putting your home on the market. “It is a smart idea to recoat right before a house is sold,” he says, “so the buyer has a guarantee, and the transaction has the benefit

of a clean roof inspection.”

Dura- Foam offers roof-mounted PV solar systems in addition to foam roofing. Feriante points out that a long-lasting foam roof is a perfect match for PV solar installations. “Pairing a Dura-Foam roof with a PV solar system designed to last longer than systems installed just a few years ago, works great,” he says. “These newer module and inverter designs are resulting in superior performance and longevity.”

“Since solar and the roof always come into play with each other on residential solar systems, it’s no wonder why Eichler owners are more careful these days about roofing choices,” Feriante says. “It is an expensive mistake to install a PV solar system on top of a roof that will last only 12 to 15 years.”

Feriante’s focus on decades of quality roofs has earned Dura-Foam Roofing & Solar Center an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. “A huge pool of satisfied customers makes us who we are,” he adds.

Having lived in two Palo Alto Eichlers, Feriante especially enjoys and appreciates working with Eichler owners. “People that have Eichlers love their homes, and they’re among the nicest group of homeowners anywhere. I love working with them,” he says.

ABRIL ROOFING COMPANY

SOME PAIRS OF INVENTIONS are just made for each other. Ask the Smucker’s jam company or Reese’s chocolates how they feel about peanut butter.

To Rick Abril, Eichler homes are one such invention, and their ‘peanut butter’ is a product initially used just for insulating conventional roofs. In fact, one of the most popular mistaken beliefs homeowners have harbored over the years had to do with sprayed-on polyurethane foam as a roofing material.

“A common misconception about foam roofing is that it’s soft and spongy,” says Abril, co-owner with David Kumar of Abril Roofing Company, noting that the foam fully hardens in 30 seconds after being applied to the roof.

Polyurethane Foam Roofing

Serving Marin, San Francisco, East Bay & San Mateo 866-630-7663

info@abrilroofing.com

www.abrilroofing.com

CA license #841849

With 20-plus years in the roofing business and close to 2,000 Eichlers roofed Abril and Kumar are used to the learning curve for customers regarding foam roofs.

“We specialize in spray foam, and that’s such a perfect fit,” Abril says of why Eichlers are such a large part of their business. He cited the Abril EcoFoam’s capacity for insulating a home while resisting ponding or leaks on flat roofs, adding, “They were made for each other.”

After spraying on 1.5 inches of seamless foam, the roof is topped with a flexible elastomeric coating. The two combine for a lightweight, virtually leak-proof enclosure. Whenever Abril’s sta ff finds maintenance issues

tha t stand in the way of readily applying their EcoFoam, the company has what it takes in house to handle the repair, especially for Eichlers.

“Any dry rot we find, we have the materials to fix it,” says Abril, explaining that the company stocks the necessary tongue-and-groove decking board, and exterior siding too, in its East Bay warehouse. They also replace skylights because, he says, “Reroofing is a perfect time to replace skylights, and Eichlers always seem to need them.”

Another problem that can affect Eichler roofs starts in the foundation specifically, the domestic water pipes. “When those go out, they have to reroute piping over the roof,” Abril says. “We also have all that plumbing expertise nearby.

“We’re like a one-stop shop. Whatever it takes to repair your roof, we get it done.”

Customers usually work with Abril initially, and then Kumar, who dispatches and manages the work crews. It’s a successful roofing partnership that dates back two decades even before the two men launched Abril Roofing with Rick’s father, Richard, who’s now retired.

Abril and Kumar are truly best of friends they’ve been known to vacation together and are even neighbors in the East Bay. “We’re stuck with each other,” Abril says with a laugh. It’s also a pairing you can trust, he points out not unlike that classic one-two combo of peanut butter and jam.

All in the family. Dura-Foam Solar Center’s management and sales team, with company CEO Adam Feriante (far right).

One-stop shop. Abril owners Rick Abril (right) and David Kumar are best friends in a roofing partnership that spans two decades.

IT’S BEEN YEARS since there was a Shelton at Shelton Roofing, which is named for its early 1940s founder. All the same, consistency is the hallmark of this Mountain View-based operation.

“The most important thing when dealing with the public is communication,” says Shelton president Paul Lawson, who joined the company decades ago, as did much of his staff. To accomplish that communication, he adds, “We do it a little different than most companies.”

“Most companies, when you have a salesperson, that’s all they are,” he explained of Shelton’s client-relations methodology. “We like to follow homeowners the whole job with the same person.”

In addition to being both a sales rep and estimator for the job, Lawson says, at Shelton “they’re also kind of a project manager as it goes through the process.”

After 75-plus years in business on the Peninsula, Shelton not only has a fleet of 30 service vehicles staffed with roofers, but also a crew of four estimator/managers, including Lawson himself.

“Customers like that because then they have continuity with who they’re talking to,” the president said of the company’s single-contact style of project management. Just as that style of personal service is

based on decades of tradition, so too is the company’s allegiance to time-trusted materials.

“A lot of people moved away from tar and gravel we’re one of the ones that stuck with it,” Lawson said of the materials that comprised Joe Eichler’s original choice for a roofing system. The company also does modified bitumen and single-ply sheet roofing systems, but Lawson says many of the sales and distribution professionals he deals with think the superior product is, what he calls, good old “T&G.”

“Our little niche with Eichlers is tar and gravel,” said Lawson, whose brother-in-law’s father purchased the business in 1942. Lawson was hired in 1973 and notes, “We’ve been doing Eichlers ever since they were built, and we’re still doing them regularly today.”

Shelton’s chosen material suppliers are Malarkey, Certainteed, and GAF, Lawson said, adding, “We’ll do other things if people want, but those are our main ‘go-to’ materials.”

Lawson said about 70 percent of Shelton’s roofing projects are residential, and he seems content assessing the family business accordingly: “We’re not as big as some, but we’re pretty big as far as residential roofers go.”

And they’ve been there for South Bay and Peninsula homeowners, consistently for threequarters of a century.

• Quiet and more energy-efficient than traditional HVAC

• Cools and heats one room— or multiple zones in your

• Easy to install—in that inconspicuous out-of-the-way place

Making a difference. “We do it a little different than most companies,” says Paul Lawson (center) pictured here with the Shelton Roofing staff.

CAL-PAC ROOFING

BASED ON 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE atop roofs of Eichler homes, Cal-Pac Roofing strongly believes that the best, most versatile roofing system can be found in Duro-Last, a single-ply membrane that is lightweight and completely waterproof.

Operating in San Mateo since 1989, Cal-Pac is a full-service roofing company specializing in new installations and reroofing. Cal-Pac has found that working on flat or low-sloped roofs is not without its challenges, describing typical Eichler roofs as difficult designs to begin with, especially those with no slope built in.

However, Cal-Pac feels comfortable and confident on any kind of roof, Eichlers included, and as a company spokesman emphatically points out, “we stand behind our work. It is just that simple.”

But what are the advantages of single-ply roofing, and the Duro-Last product in particular, on an Eichler? For one thing, you can put any amount of water on top of this system, and it will not leak. It’s ultra-lightweight and completely approved by all state and local building codes. It’s been used nationally for the past 30 years has proven to be a long-lasting, maintenance-free system.

“ We’ve tried every type of flat roofing material available a nd found Duro-Last to be the system that solves many potential problems,” Cal-Pac says.

Comprised of a pliable yet incredibly strong and durable thermo-plastic formulated sheet, the membranes are pre-assembled at the Duro-Last factory to each roof’s specifications, and then installed on site as a custom prefabricated roofing system with minimal seams. And since the DuroLast material is highly reflective (up to 86 percent), it also reduces heat gain to help keep the house cooler on hot summer days.

As an option, rigid insulation may be applied under the membrane to increase the total insulation value. The addition of skylights, solar panels, or other changes at a later date is easy to do because the system is extremely flexible to enter and reseal for a qualified installer.

Cal-Pac has noticed a change in recent years, with heightened consumer awareness from Eichler homeowners and the desire to use the best products available to enhance the quality and value of their homes.

WEDGE ROOFING

IF YOU ARE LOOKIN G to replace, repair, or resurface the roof of an Eichler or comparable mid-century modern house in Marin County, there’s no company that has the credentials of Wedge Roofing. It’s not even close.

Many companies can boast roofing experience, but very few have over four decades as an Eichler roofing specialist that owner Ralph Wedge has amassed since starting his company in 1976.

“We first began re-roofing Eichler houses in the ‘70s,” says the company president, who counts the number of Eichlers roofed by his Petaluma-based company in the hundreds. “We devised a technique to improve the watertight performance and energy-efficiency of these beloved homes.”

Another desirable quality in a roofer is thorough training, which Wedge found sorely lacking in the industry in the 1980s. Consequently, in 1986 Wedge and a handful of other contractors founded and developed an apprentice training organization.

‘The Independent Roofing Contractors of California.’

After completing a 44-month curriculum, each apprentice receives a State of California-approved journeyman’s roofer certification.

“Our training is administered by Chabot College in Hayward and issues college credits as well,” Wedge

says. “There’s a four-month class that’s just on single-ply.”

Single-Ply roofing is composed of manufactured sheets of either thermoplastic membrane (TPO) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), both of which have proven ideal for Eichler flat roofs. Wedge recommends and installs Carlisle PVC and TPO Roofing Systems.

“Any type of heat-welded sheet provides the best value for your dollar,” Wedge says confidently. He notes that, in addition to a solid warranty, the key advantage of single-ply is that all the details of the finished roof are visible, and therefore easily inspected and monitored.”

“Carlisle’s been around since 1917, and they back their product,” he says of their preferred supplier based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Over the past four decades Wedge has assembled a database of drawings and dimensions of every model of Eichler roof pattern in Marin. It’s another way he prepared his company for working on Eichler roofs.

“We know and understand,” he points out, “that while improving the energy-efficiency and watertight capabilities of Eichler homes during re-roofing, we also have to maintain the original look of the Eichler. It’s important.”

Credentials. Wedge Roofing’s owner Ralph Wedge (above): “We understand the importance of maintaining the original look of the Eichler.”

Full-service company. Owner John ‘Sonny’ Rossi (left) and project estimator Tony Fredericks with Cal-Pac’s wall of awards.

JEFF AND AN NETTE NICHOLS operate a specialty family business that’s special to Eichler owners. Without Eichler Siding and the Nichols’ three patterns of exterior replacement siding, the Eichler neighborhoods would be looking a little shabbier these days.

Thanks to Eichler owners throughout California, Eichler Siding’s business has experienced steady growth in each of its more than 30 years in business. The Nichols’ siding is produced in three basic Eichler-friendly patterns: the thin line; the wide line; and another called PlankTex, featuring a swirl pattern. Each of these patterns is made to Jeff’s specifica-tions and designed to match your Eichler’s original exterior siding.

In addition, Eichler Siding has the capability of producing other, lesser-known Eichler groove patterns as well as special custom designs.

Do Eichler owners need to replace their siding? And why is it important to maintain the original look?

First of all, your original siding is your Eichler’s barrier between life inside and the weather conditions outside. The sun’s rays, rain, heat, and cold work together to break down its integrity. As a natural product, wood is subje ct to rotting when exposed to

water. And when given enough time, says Jeff Nichols, “the weather will eventually win.”

Secondly, consider your home’s potential resale value. Having siding that matches the original is important because it ensures consistency, which is highly prized by potential buyers. “Consistency is a good thing in an Eichler,” says Nichols.

“And inconsistency can be a night-mare for real estate agents when they’re representing an Eichler whose siding has mismatched patterns, or features some other pattern altogether. This makes them harder to sell. And homes that have original-style siding carry higher prices than those that don’t.”

Eichler Siding recently expanded its product line by offering cedar fencing featuring the familiar vertical Eichler-groove pattern and a unique interior combed-plywood panel called ‘Weldtex.’

Nichols likes working with his Eichler customers because of the pride they take in their homes. “They value the historicity of the Eichler world,” Nichols points out. “Eichler owners like to think of their homes as if they are classic cars. And they like to keep things original.”

17

Grooving. As Eichler Siding for the past three decades, Jeff (above) and Annette Nichols produce three patterns of replacement exterior siding.

Radiant Heat Maintenance

Serving the Entire Peninsula

408-986-8189

mlachance@att.net

www.lachancesradiantheating.com

CA license #874787

LACHANCE’S RADIANT HEATING

RADIANT HEATING is one of those things that makes Eichlers special and enjoyable. So the phone number of a good radiant heat specialist, such as LaChance’s Radiant Heating, should find its way into every Eichler owner’s contact list.

“We care about getting Eichler owners their heat,” says owner Mike LaChance, about the mission of his company. He and his team specialize in maintaining, replacing, and installing boilers; repairing leaks; and installing replacement radiant systems.

It’s a full-service operation run by a family of radiant heat specialists. LaChance and brother Dale make a family tradition out of, as he says, “getting the job done right.”

After his firm’s 20-plus years in business, Lachance gets a lot of calls from return customers who have become “more like family” themselves, he says. “People like that we keep things light and familiar, while taking our work as seriously as possible.”

LaChance prides himself on his company’s quick response time and a willingness to tackle any job, big or small. “We don’t mind getting dirty,” he says. Jobs that other companies have estimated as next to impossible, he and his team have undertaken with patience and persistence, and have met with success. LaChance also has developed techniques to make

his upgrades and repairs blend seamlessly with the Eichler aesthetic. Even when a radiant heat system expires, as many steel systems have been known to do over time, LaChance can restore an Eichler owner’s joy of radiant heat by installing a new in-slab system.

Projects like this are commonly done with PEX polyethylene tubing. To install it, separate shallow layers of gypsum and concrete are added atop the foundation slab, then new grooves for the tubing are cut into it. LaChance says the project usually takes about ten working days.

“PEX is a lot easier to utilize because it’s more flexible,” he says. “Sometimes with these grooving jobs, if the boiler isn’t too old, you can still use it.”

As technology changes, building and energy codes change with it, and LaChance naturally keeps up on the latest products and how they can reduce heating costs. Replacing an old boiler with a new high-efficiency one is a great place to start. “Homeowners can look at saving a half to two thirds on their gas bills,” he says.

Mike frequently recruits his son, Quinton, extending the LaChance tradition of a family business making customers feel welcome. “We want to make sure we treat people fairly, and be honest, and still keep things comfortable,” LaChance says.

BAY AREA PLUMBING & HEATING

BAY AREA PLUMBING & HEATING’S services cover the spectrum of Eichler heating and cooling needs radiant heat maintenance and repairs, high-efficiency boiler installations, zone control systems, indoor air quality, and other heating and cooling options.

With extensive experience working on Eichlers, Bay Area Plumbing & Heating owner Lance Eastman finds that today’s Eichler owners have options for heating and cooling their homes and domestic hot water that did not exist in the past.

“New advances in boiler technology allow a single unit to be used for radiant heat, domestic hot water, and even forced-air heating,” explains Eastman. “These energy-efficient units save space by eliminating the need for a water heater. Many of them also qualify for energy rebates.”

Radiant Heat Maintenance

Serving the Entire Peninsula

650-323-6006

baph@baph.com

www.baph.com

CA license #584345

Other combination units can heat and cool one or more rooms while taking advantage of solar energy. “The latest mini-split systems are very efficient due to new inverter technology, fit well aesthetically into the Eichler design, and work great with a photovoltaic solar system,” says Eastman.

Fully integrated mini-splits go one step further by combining radiant heating/cooling, domestic hot water, and a built-in thermal solar component that allows the system to qualify for hefty federal tax credits while they last.

Some Eichler owners find that they need to replace

defunct radiant-heating systems, yet still want the comfort of warm floors. In these cases, Eastman recommends upgrading to an energy-efficiency boiler and then adding a radiant track system that fits underneath a new floor. “A radiant track system eliminates the need to tear out or build up the existing concrete slab while still providing that ‘warm floor feeling’ indicative of Eichler homes,” Eastman says.

Another Eichler-compatible solution that Eastman likes are European-styled radiant panels. These contemporary radiators provide an energy efficient way to get the radiant heat feel without having to dig up existing flooring or penetrate the slab. “Unlike old cast iron radiators, radiant panels are sleek and modern-looking, and we can install them along the base of a wall or vertically on a wall,” says Eastman.

One of the most important but often overlooked home-maintenance practices, says Eastman, is regular tune-ups to heating and cooling systems. “Manufacturer-recommended tune-ups extend the life of the equipment and improve energy efficiency.”

“The energy savings from annual maintenance far outweighs the cost of the service. Regular tune-ups also ensure your equipment works when you need it, eliminating unwanted surprises when there are cold or hot spells. Eichler owners also have access to our ongoing ‘Free Consultation Program’ for new installations.”

Like family. Mike LaChance and his staff carry on the tradition of “getting the job done right.” L-R: Dale, Blanca, Mike, Cristian, Holman.

Advanced technologies. Celebrating over 30 years of servicing the Bay Area, Lance Eastman is a third generation craftsman who carries on his family tradition today with advanced radiant heat systems.

JIM LE HMANN not only has some of the deepest local roots of any home improvement service provider in Marin County, but he has the right approach for homeowners who want multiple options for improving their heating systems.

“I’m more of a fix-it guy than a ‘tear it out and sell you something you don’t need,’” Lehmann says of two options for a radiant heat system diminished by leaking pipes.

These days Lehmann Radiant Heating is based in Lehmann’s Terra Linda home-office, three-quarters of a century after being founded locally by his grandfather in 1945 as Lehmann Plumbing.

“My dad took over for my grandfather…and I took over for him, so yeah, third generation,” Lehmann relates of the company’s history in Marin. Born and raised here, Lehmann himself has worked on hundreds of Eichler homes since graduating from San Rafael High School.

“He was ahead of his time, Joseph Eichler,” the plumber says with admiration. “The radiant heat is a great heating system. When it works, it’s hard to beat.” Of course, some have aged worse than others, which is where Lehmann comes in. Generally, radiant systems fail either because of in-slab leaks or a failed boiler. When it’s the former, repairs depend on the type of tubing and number of leaks.

“It’s pretty rare that I find more than a couple [leaks], but if it’s more than two or three, I’ll recommend changing systems,” says Lehmann of leaky copper-tubed systems. Steel tubing is more difficult to repair, so in those cases “you have to switch to alternative heating, like baseboards.”

Replacing the entire radiant system with a new in-slab system is “doable but expensive,” he explains, adding, “but it’s great when it’s done.”

For a replacement system, “You can zone it, so you have better control,” he said in contrast to the original radiant systems, which were designed to heat the entire house at one time. In essence, “The [original] Eichler home is a full-zone system.”

If and when the boiler is the problem, once again Lehmann offers options in the form of two preferred replacement models.

“The Allied boiler would be a good base model, and the IBC would be a high-efficiency, high-end option,” Lehmann explains. “With the high-efficiency [boiler], you can really save on your gas bill.”

Lehmann strives to offer practical maintenance options for Eichler owners. “Around here, I’m known for keeping the old systems going,” he says. “I can make systems run as well as they’ve been running for years.”

Words to warm an Eichler owner’s soul not to mention the soles of their feet.

Deep roots. “I’m more of a fix-it guy than...sell you something you don’t need,” say Jim Lehmann (above) of his company’s service.

Radiant Heat Maintenance

Serving the East Bay

855-686-6060

customercare@yourbigblue.com

www.yourbigblue.com

CA license #951263

BIG BLUE HYDRONICS’ owner Paul Gerrard possesses a unique combination of training and background, compared to most radiant heat technicians.

The Brit, who trained as a hydronic-heating engineer at the London Institute, says it wasn’t until he came to the Western United States that he found the structures that truly spoke to him: mid-century modern homes. It all began with a Frank Lloyd Wright residence in Phoenix on which he worked.

“That was probably my first introduction to the mid-century modern style. Learning about Wright, I started thinking ‘wow, this is so cool,’” Gerrard says.

“I also really like these communities of Eichlers. When you drive in, it’s like going back in time to a different era full of promise for the future.”

Those homes often contain decades-old radiant heat systems, a challenge for which Gerrard and Big Blue Hydronics are particularly well suited. “Having cut our teeth on old systems,” Gerrard says, “we’re really good at keeping them going to the best of our ability, and for as long as possible.”

That can mean a range of operations, from finding and repairing leaks to doing maintenance that lengthens a radiant heat system’s life. “In the last few years,” Gerrard says, “there have been great improvements in chemicals we can add to radiant floor systems that can increase longevity,” such as a system flush and a corrosion inhibiter.

Gerrard is especially excited about his company’s in-house training program. “We train every day,” he points out. “Training can range from heating theory to installation practices. We also have a couple of boilers in our training room, where we teach and practice how to service boilers and make repairs. Sometimes even factory trainers from the manufacturers come to share their insight.

“Training our apprentices is something we all enjoy doing. And sharing our knowledge and planning for the future energizes our veteran plumbers.”

Another dimension of Big Blue’s expertise is knowing when it makes sense to abandon an in-floor system, and when to replace it with something else, such as modern, slim-line radiators attached to the existing boiler.

As for Big Blue’s company work habits, Gerrard says he appreciates cleanliness and order above all else, a proclivity he picked up from watching careful mechanics working at a Mercedes dealership. His team members are in full support.

“That idea of impeccable order and care for the client and the client’s product,” he points out.” When we’re in somebody’s home, we’ve got blankets from the door to the kitchen. The cleanup afterward is always an important part of what we do.”

The end result: a bold guarantee. “If you’re not 100 percent satisfied, we at Big Blue will refund all your money,” Gerrard says.

HYDROTECH RADIANT HEATING

RADIANT HEATING has always seemed like a role Denis Roman was born to do. Though he founded Hydrotech Radiant Heating in recent years, this point belies his robust experience and knowledge of his field.

Roman got his start as an electrical engineer in Nicaragua but soon took an interest in radiant heating once he arrived in the United States. The industry provided a seamless transition for him, as he was quickly drawn to the electrical components of hydronic and boiler systems.

He embarked on this new journey in 2005, honing his craft with Reid Heating & Energy in Marin County. Now, Roman is the sole proprietor of his own company that has just become a corporation. Installations, replacements, troubleshooting, retrofitting, electric heat pumps, wireless thermostats Hydrotech Radiant Heating can do it all.

“I know by heart how to deal with all the systems,” he says.

Roman believes that radiant heating is the superior approach for residential heating, as it is “quite healthy and very efficient.”

It’s the hydronic aspect, though, that really takes it to the next level.

“With the high-efficiency boiler these days, the boiler modulates the water temperature depending on how cold it is outside, so it definitely makes the system very efficient, and it uses less gas to adjust the water

temperature,” Roman says.

To date Roman has worked on over 200 Eichler homes, and through this experience, he’s seen clients save anywhere from 40 to 50 percent on utility bills by upgrading their original, 50-plus-year-old boilers to the modern, high-efficiency ones.

Roman carries brands such as Lochinvar and Navien, but he takes a particular liking to IBC, which he’s found to be the most trustworthy line of highefficiency boilers on the market.

Roman’s intimate understanding of hydronic systems and Eichler homes also helps him overcome any potential challenge that arises with retrofitting new radiant systems for homes.

“We can retrofit radiant heat without disturbing the hardwood flooring by going under the subfloor with heat transfer plates. We can also if there’s a remodel and they’re going to lift up the floor staple down the tubing on the top of the subfloor and basically pour gypcrete over it,” Roman says.

He also knows just how important it is for Eichler homeowners to preserve the original look, since no one “wants to see a bunch of pipes going across a system or going across a roof or wall,” he says.

While it sometimes takes a bit of creative thinking and maneuvering to place the pipes discretely, Roman and Hydrotech Radiant Heat are just the team to call in situations like these.

Bold guarantee. “If you’re not 100 percent satisfied, we will refund all your money,” says Big Blue Hydronics’ owner Paul Gerrard (above).

Troubleshooter. Hydrotech’s Denis Roman has worked on more than 200 Eichlers: “I know by heart how to deal with all the systems,” he says.

AMERICAN LEAK DETECTION employs some of today’s most fascinating technology to find the ‘unfindable.’

As recently as the 1960s and ‘70s, when Eichler was still building thousands of homes with radiantheating systems, a plumber’s primary means of locating leaks in these systems were their ears and fingers. They would listen for a leak and then ‘feel around’ for signs of wetness. That was the dark ages.

But in today’s high-tech world, American Leak Detection is the unrivaled world leader in the accurate detection of hidden water, sewer, and gas leaks.

Proprietary methods and state-of-the-art technology have revolutionized the exploration and discovery of leaks. With advanced methodologies and equipment, American Leak Detection is capable of determining the exact location of hidden leaks.

From radiant heating and swimming pools to underground plumbing systems and sewer lines, American Leak Detection’s sensitive electronic tools can identify the leak.

Each American Leak Detection technician has completed the industry’s most-extensive training program and is skilled in accurately locating the most difficult leaks, without destruction to property. Even the smallest leak can be located accurately.

American Leak Detection can also determine the depth of leaking pipes. In most cases, only a single floor tile must be removed and replaced. This causes less disruption and saves thousands of dollars in costly search-and-destroy methods that do not guarantee a leak location.

A small pipe leak that is only 1/8-inch in diameter loses 970 gallons every 24 hours, under a normal pressure of 40 pounds. This amounts to almost 30,000 gallons each month, or 360,000 gallons per year. With utility bills and water rates constantly rising, this type of leak is both wasteful and costly.

An unrepaired water leak can also cause massive structural damage by undermining a swimming pool or causing a slab house foundation to crack and buckle. Insurance claims have shown the cost of water damage often exceeds the costs associated with fire damage restoration.

If you are constantly refilling your pool or have a high water bill, you may have a hidden plumbing leak. American Leak Detection can help you locate the leak and provide an estimate for the cost of repairs upfront. Most repairs can be completed in just one day.

Contact American Leak Detection today to save time and money and avoid unnecessary property damage.

State of the art. Christian (left) and Sean Macaulay of American Leak Detection, ‘world leader of state-of-the-art leak detection.’

Electrical Upgrades & Maintenance

Serving the San Mateo Area

415-505-2932

needhamelectric@gmail.com

www.needhamelectric.net

CA license #549434

NEEDHAM ELECTRIC & CONSTRUCTION

WITH THEIR SLAB FOUNDATIONS and flat roofs, Eichler homes are notoriously hard on electricians and plumbers, which is why it takes an experienced tradesman to master them.

Enter Tom Needham, who’s been licensed as an electrician since 1986 and has worked on Eichlers for most of his career. Today, he specializes in electrical for remodeling and new construction, troubleshooting and repairs, service and panel upgrades, and lighting needs.

Needham moved to the Bay Area from his native Ireland in 1983, after working from childhood with his father, a general contractor. “In those days, there, you did the electric, and the heating, and all that stuff as one contractor,” Needham says. So when he came to the United States, he already had a good working knowledge of building systems.

Since then, as an electrician, Needham has been contracted to work on homes including Eichlers and other mid-century moderns all over the Bay Area. More than fifteen years ago, he settled in the Highlands of San Mateo, “where it’s about 80 percent Eichlers.” Now, Needham not only works on Eichlers, he works on his neighbors’ Eichlers.

The key to doing electrical work on an Eichler, Needham says, is to think ahead and measure very carefully.

SMITH ELECTRIC

AS EICHLER EXPERTS GO, electrical contractor Sean Smith is about as manor-born as one can get. The son of an electrical contractor who serviced and built original Eichler homes, Smith has more than 25 years of experience, having worked weekends and summers in his father’s shop from the age of 12.

The product of a proud family business, Smith now runs his own family business, Sean Smith Electric, with his wife Cheryl. And Eichlers, as well as the families living in them, continue to be a focus for the Smiths.

“You have to be careful working around children and toddlers. We have a good reputation with them. We strive to be courteous and work around sleep times,” Sean Smith says.

That kind of attention to detail is one of the key principles of Smith Electric. From strict adherence of appointment times to finicky cleanliness on the job site to well-organized wiring, the Smiths and their crew make a point of eliminating loose ends.

“We have had inspectors say about our work, ‘I’ve never seen anything so clean,’” says Cheryl Smith, the company’s chief financial officer. “I love that. I go home with a smile on my face.”

The original Eichlers had conduit embedded in the concrete slab, which ran up into the walls. But in many houses that original conduit is in the midst of corrosion, eventually rendering it unusable.

“So let’s say your circuit for your kitchen fails,” Needham says, “there’s no way to rewire it with the same conduit, because you can’t pull the wires through because it’s corroded.

“You fix it by going from the panel up onto the roof, then you figure out where the wall space is, and you have to drill down into that wall space so you can fish a pipe down and fit an electrical box.”

Definitely not for the do-it-yourselfer. And, Needham adds, “it has to be done appropriately with waterproof fitting, machine bends, and all that stuff. It’s critical that you have your measurements correct.”

Because rewiring Eichlers is so difficult, Needham recommends that Eichler owners think ahead, by installing new conduit when it’s time to replace their roof. He recalled one client, a Highlands neighbor, who hired him for such a project in conjunction with their planned remodel.

“They were so happy at my making that recommendation,” Needham says, “and glad I could help them see what was going to happen down the road. Now they feel like they’re ahead of the game.”

While ser vice is a key part of the Smiths’ business philosophy, doing expert work remains their foundation. Sean Smith’s experience with a variety of electrical systems, including commercial and industrial jobs as well as Eichlers, makes him a versatile tradesman.

During the middle of his career, Smith did a stint with Midland Electric. There, he learned how to create futuristic ‘smart homes,’ in which all functions of the home, from thermostat control to window openings, can be done remotely from a computer.

On the more nuts-and-bolts side, Smith says just being around Eichlers for so long has made him comfortable with their unique challenges, including the lack of crawl space and attic.

“Basically, we do everything from install lights to troubleshooting problems, panel changes, kitchen remodels to additions, and wiring houses from the ground up,” Smith says.

The company’s main coverage area is the entire peninsula. With two trucks, one car, and a five-person team, the small company is poised to grow like the family at its center.

Family pride. Sean Smith is a second-generation electrician carrying on Eichler ties. He’s poised to grow like the family at its center.

Electric expertise. Needham Electric’s Tom Needham (above) puts a strong emphasis on thinking ahead and measuring very carefully.

800-396-6949

solar@earthwiseenergysolutions.com

earthwiseenergysolutions.com

CA license #1028255

JASON HAMI LTON FIRST DISCOVERED his passion for renewable energy in the early 1990s and founded Earthwise Energy Solutions in 2010 as his one-stop shop for all residential solar power needs.

Earthwise brings a unique, data-driven approach to the industry that helps potential clients visualize the impact a changeover to solar could provide.

From just a single PG&E bill, Earthwise can more often than not analyze the annual electrical usage of a household and figure out “how much solar we need to put on the roof in order to offset the optimal amount of electricity,” Hamilton says.

While Hamilton’s company undoubtedly does its job in helping ease the consumer’s burden on the environment, Earthwise Energy Solutions’ impact is twofold.

“The money that you’re not going to pay PG&E will pay this solar asset off in six-and-a-half years on average,” Hamilton says. “Since the thing’s guaranteed for 25 years, now you’ve got 18-and-a-half years guaranteed free electricity after the system’s paid for.”

To ensure customers get the best value, Hamilton places his trust in LG brand solar panels and batteries and SolarEdge inverters, as these two companies find themselves ranked in Tier 1 by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. They are excellent products backed by industry-leading warranties and

financially bankable manufacturers.

Therefore, clients can rest easy knowing that the equipment used by Earthwise can always be replaced or fixed should something ever happen to it.

Though Earthwise operates with a small workforce, Hamilton believes that the size of his operation allows for a level of personable rapport, simplicity, and transparency that larger companies cannot match.

“Our clients have one point of contact for the first half of the project, a residential sales manager. And then they have one point of contact for the rest, and that’s a project manager,” Hamilton says.

“We have a process that provides that visibility through every step of the way, from site inspection to design and engineering, to permitting, to installation, and to interconnection.”

And while Hamilton does have experience working on Eichler homes, he continues to educate himself on its nuances to provide the best possible service in the future.

“We’ve managed to find a really strong group of associates that also work on Eichlers roofing companies and other contractors that have really been able to give us some insights and help us flatten the learning curve for some of the unique aspects of Eichlers.”

Power up. Earthwise’s operation, says owner Jason Hamilton (above), has an unmatched level of personal rapport, simplicity, and transparency.

Solar & Energy Storage Systems

Serving the Entire Peninsula

650-327-3200

info@dura-foam.com

www.dura-foam.com

CA license #488066

DURA-FOAM ROOFING & SOLAR CENTER has been installing hi-tech insulated roofs on Eichler homes since 1981. This span of years built the company a solid reputation long before rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar became an affordable option for Eichler owners.

Adam Feriante, CEO of Dura-Foam, claims that this early start in spray-foam roofing, over 40 years ago, has helped his company move its Solar Center division quickly to the head of the field in PV rooftop solar for mid-century modern homes.

“There aren’t any other companies that have our depth of experience in foam roofing and PV solar installations on flat and low-slope roofs,” says Feriante confidently. “It’s a huge benefit to our customers, since our Dura-Foam roofs are the perfect choice under solar arrays, as nobody wants to remove their solar system to install a new roof every ten to 15 years.

“Our roofs are tough-skinned, durable, and waterproof, which is a big help when sealing in the dozens of roof penetrations that support the solar racks,” says Feriante. “During our decades of experience sealing supports for electric and hot-water solar, we have discovered critical steps that prevent future roof problems.”

Dura-Foam’s customers are often relieved knowing they have a single company and not two or more

BOYENGA TEAM

WHEN IT COMES TO TEAMWORK, it’s rare to find a partnership like Eric and Janelle Boyenga, founding partners of Compass, the innovative and exciting national real estate platform.

As the Silicon Valley-based Boyenga Team, this husband-and-wife duo have earned their reputation for being data-driven real estate agents whose secret to success is always putting the client’s best interests first.

With specialized knowledge in mid-century modern and restorative construction, the Boyenga Team delivers expert pre-listing and project management to help clients unlock all of the equity in their mid-century modern homes.

Also, through extensive experience with family trusts and transitions, they understand the nuances and requirements of working with trustees and help families navigate complex transactions through emotional challenges and geographic distances.

Branded by Zillow as ‘next generation’ agents, and known throughout the industry and at Compass with high regard as ‘Property Nerds,’ the Boyenga Team sets the modern standard for mid-century modern marketing, utilizing digital technology and social media strategies to help achieve their clients’ goals.

“Like a classic car, vintage watch, or fine wine, one of the things that is so wonderful about Eichlers is their

responsible for their solar system and underlying roofing. “The largest solar company in the U.S. quit installing solar on flat and foam roofs after realizing that they were not up to the task of integrating such systems reliably,” Feriante points out.

“Removing solar equipment to get to a roof issue can be an expensive problem, plus it’s hard to determine who is responsible for the leak repair and the solar reinstallation expense.”

Dura-Foam resolves these industry-wide pain points with its niche specialty in flat-roof solar and all-inclusive guarantees.

Talent development and hands-on experience have been core to the family-owned-and-operated DuraFoam since its founding. “My brother started the company in 1981, and I joined him in 1982,” says Adam, brother of Dura-Foam founder Randy Feriante. Adam’s son Isaac runs the office while son Eli works in sales.

“Staying on the cutting edge is important to our sustainability-minded Silicon Valley customers,” Feriante says. “In fact, we installed one of the Bay Area’s first Tesla Powerwall energy-storage systems.”

Decades of experience have definitely helped Dura-Foam Roofing & Solar Center get out in the lead when it comes to installing solar arrays to the utmost level of power, production, and aesthetics for Eichler homeowners.

24

timeless architecture,” Eric says. “Janelle and I feel fortunate to represent clients who understand there is much more to these post-and-beam gems than what meets the eye.”

“When purchasing an Eichler,” he adds, “you are not just buying a home you are acquiring a lifestyle that only a select group appreciate and understand. It is a true testament to Joe Eichler’s forward thinking that these homes are so highly sought after today and that their demand continues to outstrip their supply.”

So what’s the secret of the Boyenga Team’s success?

First of all, always doing “what is best for our clients,” Eric points out. For over two decades the Boyenga Team has guided and represented their clients to insure they make informed and sound financial decisions.

Secondly, the Boyengas’ success also stems from their passion and enthusiasm for Eichlers and their understanding of mid-century modern architecture and the unique breed of people drawn to these homes.

“The Eichler clientele shares our same devotion for these architectural gems,” Eric points out. “Working from this common ground, we have a natural connection, and share similar visions and values that enable our clients to have an exciting and successful experience.”

Contact Eric and Janelle today for a no-obligation consultation.

Solid reputation. Multiple generations of the Feriante family manage Dura-Foam’s solar division: (L-R) Adam, Randy, Eli, and Isaac Feriante.

Teamwork. Eric and Janelle Boyenga, a team for two decades, insist that always doing what is best for their clients is the secret to their success.

Serving

408-201-3849

650-223-5383

Brokerage:

kevin@atriare.com

www.atriare.com

ERDAL SWARTZ TEAM

AS A

SECOND-GENERATION

Eichler specialist, the Erdal Swartz Team from Atria Real Estate has been part of the local Silicon Valley Eichler community for over three decades.

The company was founded by Bay Area natives and award-winning agents Kevin Swartz and Pelin Erdal, who understand the unique needs of Eichler homes and their homeowners.

With more than $1 billion in sales to date and helping more than 400 Eichler owners buy or sell their homes, the team is ranked as the number one Eichler home expert in Silicon Valley, and in the top one percent of Santa Clara County agents.

“We care deeply about our work, and that’s so important in this business,” says Kevin. “It’s difficult to have longevity in the real estate industry if you don’t have high integrity and you’re not truly invested in your clients’ success.”

It seems fitting that the Erdal Swartz Team’s motto reads ‘it’s your move, let us make it remarkable,’ because that’s precisely what they aim for, taking care of the entire process so their clients only have to focus on starting their new life after the move.

“Our philosophy is simple,” adds Pelin. “As parents and business owners, we know firsthand how busy life can be. So we uniquely streamline every client

experience, with each step of the buying and selling process designed to make clients feel taken care of.”

Their overwhelming positive online reviews are further proof of the Team’s ability to deliver results. “With a business that is largely referral based, we rely heavily on word of mouth, repeat clients, and our reputation in the community,” says Kevin.

But where clients truly find value is in the Team’s unparalleled knowledge of the Eichler homes’ atypical features such as their post-andbeam construction, radiant heating, and roofing system, just to name a few.

“A thorough understanding of the ins and outs of Eichlers is critical when working with homeowners on pricing and selling strategy, and also when answering questions from new buyers and their agents about Eichler maintenance, repairs, remodeling options, and costs,” says Kevin.

The Atria team strongly believes in giving back to their community. “With the help of our clients, we’ve been able to support local causes, like Sunnyvale schools and college scholarships to graduating high school seniors and school walk-a-thons,” says Kevin.

As the Erdal Swartz Team, Kevin and Pelin are consummate professionals not only highly skilled in their work, but also deeply connected to a sense of purpose and passion for what they do.

Simple philosophy. The Erdal Swartz Team of Atria Real Estate makes business relationships stress-free, seamless, and successful. Above: Founders Kevin Swartz and Pelin Erdal understand Eichlers’ unique needs.

Eichler Real Estate Marketing

Serving the San Mateo Area 650-208-7355

Brokerage: Coldwell Banker

glennsennett@yahoo.com

www.glennsennett.com

MANY REALTORS FIND their way to the Eichler sales transaction, but few of them can back the sale with first-hand knowledge and appreciation of how enjoyable it is to live in such a home. Glenn Sennett of Coldwell Banker is one of those exceptions.

“It really is a lifestyle living in an Eichler,” Sennett says. “And it’s one that I enjoy. I’ve lived in the San Mateo Highlands for more than 30 years.”

Sennett says that many realtors see the enthusiasm surrounding the Eichler niche as a novelty, but that his understanding of it has really paid off “I’ve been able to develop a 60 percent market share, with 450-plus successful closed transactions and counting, since I’ve been working the Highlands,” he says. “There really are only a few people selling Eichlers consistently.”

Many Eichler fans, says Sennett, seek the genuine article homes that are original and unscathed. He often hears potential buyers mentioning how they would love to get back to the future. “The original-looking Eichlers are the hottest items,” he admits. “There are so many people that want them, in order to preserve them and make them historical homes. People look at these houses

as mid-century classic homes.”

Though Sennett’s primary focus is the San Mateo Highlands, he does not see that area as his only market. He uses techniques honed a 40-year career to great effect, even in other surrounding neighborhoods.

Sennett says his first move when selling a house is getting the pest, home, and radiant heat inspections and repairs taken care of. He then stages the house expertly and usually advocates for a landscaping update.

”Cosmetic upgrades like paint, carpet, and landscaping, in addition to minor repairs, can often result in an ‘as is’ transaction,” he says. “I tell my clients that if they invest a few thousand dollars into upgrades and repairs, not only will they get back every penny and then some, but they will also generate multiple offers and a higher sale price!”

When you put everything together, Sennett’s vast Eichler experience, use of technology his website is an active marketing tool and his proven track record all point to him as a smart choice to sell your own Eichler, if and when that times comes.

SO YOU’R E THINKING about selling or buying an Eichler or other mid-century modern home in Marin County. Then, on a lark, you try calling 415-EICHLER. Or you go to the supermarket and see a woman getting out of a car with California plates reading ‘EICHLER,’ and you get up the nerve to approach a total stranger about your search. Or you go 21st century on the subject, search the Internet, and hit on EichlerForSale.com.

Regardless of your approach, you’re about to meet Renee Adelmann, today’s leading figure of modernist home realty in Marin County.

“I specialize in Eichlers,” Adelmann says of her longtime professional focus, which has also included sales of numerous other mid-century modern homes. “I’ve been selling them for the last 17 years. One of our four offices is even in an Eichler neighborhood,” she adds of her Terra Linda office.

Eichlers are a personal passion for Renee and her husband/business partner Barry Adelmann, born at first in their departure from San Francisco to buy a suburban home for their family.

“If we were going to live in the suburbs, we wanted to have a place that was cool and modern,” she explains of buying and moving to her first Eichler home in San Rafael’s Terra Linda neighborhood. Later the Adelmanns purchased and moved to their second

Eichler, a double-A-frame model in Lucas Valley.

“Eichlers have a tendency to attract cool, fun people,” Renee says of her neighbors.

Just as the integration of exterior with interior design first attracted her to the Eichlers, she says the homes are by design a healthy place to live, extending to the local public schools her children attend.

“It’s really hard to have a bad day in an Eichler. You’re enjoying the nature around you. It’s just a happy place to live,” Adelmann says assuredly.

“I’ve sold more Eichlers than any other agent in the last 17 years,” Renee points out, noting that Barry is the licensed broker for Bay Area Modern Real Estate as well as Gold Country Modern Real Estate, which includes more than 25 team members.

Adelmann says she also enjoys selling other modernist homes besides the approximately 1,500 Eichlers in Marin, especially those designed by noted Bay Area architects Warren Callister and Roger Lee. This success in selling, she says, is founded in her admiration of the genre.

“I like the modern design of these homes,” she says, also noting the comparatively modest price of older, moderate-sized modernist homes, including Eichlers. “It’s nice because it brings modern to the masses, and within a budget.”

Back to the future. “There are only a few people selling Eichlers consistently,” says realtor Glenn Sennett. He is one of them.

Cool and modern. “I’ve sold more Eichlers than any other agent,” says Renee Adelmann (above), who also lives in one of her own.

Eichler

Serving

Brokerage:

MONIQUE ANTON

EVER SINCE MONIQUE ANTON launched her real estate brokerage Modern Homes Realty in 2012, she has worn her emotions for Eichlers and all things mid-century modern on her sleeve.

She produced two documentary films about Bay Area architecture, including ‘People in Glass Houses: the Legacy of Joseph Eichler,’ and acquired rights to numerous Anshen and Allen and Claude Oakland Eichler architectural plans and updated them for interested parties to build their own Eichler replicas.

Anton has been featured in prominent publications Dwell, Realtor.com, California Home + Design, Curbed, Architect Magazine , and others for her work rejuvenating Eichler homes and specializing in modern home sales. Considered an evangelist for mid-century modern, she has done much to revitalize interest in rescuing and preserving the legacy of these homes. Modern enthusiasts know to contact her for this style of architecture.

At Modern Homes Realty, where she is the firm’s broker and CEO, Anton has assembled a team of agents, consultants, and specialists, which include an architect, a landscape architect, and a videographer.

Through Modern Homes Realty, Anton has sold more than $250 million in real estate. She focuses on strategically marketing mid-century modern properties

by emphasizing their unique details, and by providing buyers with a refined vision for their potential new home. She achieves much of this success through eyecatching staging “we know exactly how to make a mid-century modern property stand out” and through marketing with effective video production.

“To entice the best buyers, and to encourage multiple offers, we produce compelling videos that go way beyond standard virtual tour imagery, even setting a new standard for real estate,” says Anton. “Our videos put potential buyers inside the home, highlighting the classic and historical architecture from a unique perspective.”

Anton says she gets the most joy out of bringing life back to mid-century modern homes that have been distressed. “I love seeing home buyers fall in love with the homes once we have fixed them up,” she says of her company’s restoration service.

For Anton, working in the mid-century modern niche is a way of life that is truly enjoyable and rewarding on a daily basis. She purchased a mid-century modern home in Ladera/Portola Valley with her husband and has restored that home as well.

“The clients, design, ambiance, and spirit of the houses give me a sense of peace that I have worked so hard to find in a profession,” she says. “I feel like myself with this work and cherish every day working alongside my team.”

Eichler evangelist. Because of her dedication and enthusiasm, Eichler sellers have lovingly nicknamed Monique Anton ‘The Eichler Lady.’

Eichler Real Estate Marketing

Serving the East Bay

415-889-7608

Brokerage: Compass

thomas.westfall@compass.com

www.ThomasWestfall.com

DRE License #01833889

THOMAS WESTFALL

THOMAS WESTFALL comes from a real estate background his mother put three children through college as an agent which naturally led him to invest in his first of many properties by age 25, and to choose real estate as his second career.

Prior to becoming a top producer for Compass and Alain Pinel Realtors, Westfall spent 20 years in the music business as a marketing executive for major record labels and management groups, and earned over 40 RIAA certified gold and platinum awards.

The two trades are more similar than most people might imagine, Westfall points out, and many of the skills required to successfully develop new music artists have translated well for Westfall to selling properties, especially ones as unique and specialized as Eich lers.

Though he’s a native of the East Bay, Westfall has lived and owned property in the New York area, Chicago, and Los Angeles before returning to the Bay Area in 2004 and becoming a Castro Valley Eichler owner in 2007.

“Although I work with all styles of homes, Eichlers are dear to me,” Westfall says. “Even when they’ ve been altered, there is something in the bones which is easy for me to envision, d raw

out in collaboration with the owner, and sell with a proven mix of physical and digital marketing not so different from artist development.”

Westfall says one of his greatest skills is his intuitive sense of pricing. His keen understanding of market forces and timing has proven out time and time again for clients who follow his guidance.

As an Eichler owner, Westfall stays knowledgeable about multiple Eichler communities and has a great sense of not only what’s im-portant to preserve versus change, but also what the cost and effort would be to maximize return on investment.

He’s brought in more than 20 great new neighbors to Castro Valley’s Greenridge, and has worked with Eichler sales in Oakland, Walnut Creek, Concord and even Sacramento.

“One of my fa vorite experiences was selling an Eichler in Sacramento to an English couple relocating from Boston sight unseen,” Westfall says. “They trusted me enough to buy the house without their having ever stepped foot in it, based on my input plus a video walk-through I created. And I’m thrilled to say they love their home.

“The more I learn about Eichler homes and their communities, the more I love the brand and what I do for a living and for my clients.”

NICOLE COLLINS is the daughter of two university professors who moved to the Bay Area from the East Coast in 1971. Her parents settled nicely into the Greenridge Eichler neighborhood of Castro Valley, where Collins was born and where her love for mid-century modern architecture began.

At 17, Collins left home to attend the university. After college, she spent time living in various places, including Belo Horizonte, Brazil to work with underprivileged children in favelas. Her nature of giving back continues, as you’ll often find Collins doing what she can to help those in need.

Returning to California to marry and start a family, she bought her first Bay Area home at age 24. She found that helping others do the same felt incredibly rewarding. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong desire to help others, Collins feels fortunate to be an expert in a field that allows her to blend the two.

“I care deeply about people. I go the extra mile to ensure my clients are taken care of,” she says. Her focus on families, community, and the importance of homeownership is clear.

Having lived in Eichler homes for over 34 years, Collins’ unique perspective and connection to the Eichler lifestyle runs deep. In fact, between herself and her family, they have lived in five different Eichler floor plans. Collins

purchased her own Eichler, in Castro Valley, in 2006. In 2007 she bought the Eichler next door so her elderly parents could be close.

Collins’ vast experiences living in several Eichler models and being a real estate broker with 22 years of experience makes her uniquely suited to help fellow mid-century modern homeowners bring their own homes to market. Furthermore, like Joe Eichler himself, Collins appreciates and welcomes diversity in her clientele.

Having worked with clients from the Bay Area to Sacramento and from Fort Bragg to Santa Cruz, she notes, “I’ve found that it doesn’t take an ‘area specialist’ to get the job done, but rather a real estate specialist.”

The many connections she’s cultivated over the years with contractors, tradespeople, and vendors, in addition to her eye for interior and exterior design, are valuable assets for her clients when selling or buying real estate.

Collins uses her ability to provide top-of-the-line marketing social media, print, photography, videography, and her ability to evaluate and research specific geographic areas and properties to assist her clients in buying and selling their homes.

“Every client’s story is unique,” Collins says. “I pride myself in truly listening to their needs and making their success my number one priority.”

Eichler lover. “Growing up in an Eichler,” says Nicole Collins (above), “just gives you a different outlook” on housing and community.

Natural fit. A true Eichler specialist who lives in a Castro Valley Eichler, Thomas Westfall found a real estate career in his mom’s footsteps.

MORE RECOMMENDED SERVICE COMPANIES

Supplementing our roster of ‘Preferred Service Companies’ profiled throughout this directory, the home-improvement companies listed below also receive a collective thumbs-up from the Eichler Network and Northern California Eichler owners. If you have additional quality service company recommendations for the Network to consider, please e-mail info@eichlernetwork.com. Location codes below: Peninsula (P), South Bay (SB), Marin (M), East Bay (EB), San Francisco (SF)

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

Ventwerx (P-SB-EB)

(408) 422-2987 • ventwerx.com

DG Heating and Air Conditioning (SB) (408) 669-3496 • dgheatingandair.com

Alternative HVAC Solutions (P) (650) 322-4328 • alternativehvacs.com

Residential Heating and Air Conditioning (P) (408) 377-4073 • residentialheating-ac.com

Downing Heating, Inc. (M-SF) (415) 485-1011 • downinghvac.com

Air Synergy, Inc. (EB) (925) 510-2037 • airsynergy.com

HVAC MANUFACTURERS

Unico System (800) 527-0896 unicosystem.com/eichler-homes

PAINTING CONTRACTORS

Palladino Painting (P-SB)

(650) 728-4000 • palladinopainting.com

N Style Painting (P-SB) (408) 518-2144 • nstylepainting.com

Greenline Painting (M) (415) 823-4837 • greenlinepaintingca.com

Andres Martinez Painting (M) (415) 847-8024 • paintingam.com

All Surface Painting (EB) (925) 625-9155 • allsurfacepaintingca.com

PLUMBING

Gladiator Repipe (P-SB)

(408) 649-7290 • onedaycopperrepipe.com

Big Blue Plumbing (EB) (510) 939-7870 • bigblueplumbingservice.com

Judieh Plumbing Company (EB) (925) 261-9313 • .judiehplumbing.com

WINDOWS & SLIDING DOORS

Supreme Glass Company (EB) (510) 625-8995 • supremeglass.net

WINDOW & SLIDING DOOR MANUFACTURERS

Fleetwood Windows

(800) 736-7363 • fleetwoodusa.net

Arcadia Architectural Products (323) 908-5467 • arcadiaproducts.com

Blomberg Window Systems

(800) 884-2566 blombergwindowsystems.com

SLIDING DOOR REPAIR

Bay Area Sliding Door Repair (M-SF) (650) 333-5893 • bayareaslidingdoorrepair.com

WINDOW SOLAR FILM

Crystal Shade Window Tinting (SB) (408) 334-7391 • crystalshadetint.com

Tint Guys (P)

(650) 588-1838 • thetintguys.com

WINDOW COVERINGS

Rebarts Interiors (P)

(650) 348-1268 • rebarts.com

Floortex Design of San Rafael (M) (415) 785-4614 • floortexdesign.com

WINDOW WASHING

R:12 Window Cleaning (SB) (408) 372-7712 • r12windowcleaning.com

ELECTRICAL

Divine Electric (M)

(415) 299-0381 • divineelectricnorcal.com

C & J Electric Company (EB) (510) 992-4676 walnutcreekelectricians.com

East Bay Electric (EB) (925) 395-4069 • eastbayelectricinc.com

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Wilson Construction (P-SB) (408) 655-4882

SINGLE-PLY ROOFING

Shadowfax Roofing (SB) (408) 620-6331 • shadowfaxroofing.com

Eastman Roofing & Waterproofing (SB) (408) 971-9000 • eastmanroofing.com

Fidelity Roofing Company (EB) (510) 547-6330 • fidelityroof.com

CONCRETE FLOORING

Robles Concrete Design (P) (415) 690-8174 • roblesconcretedesign.com

OTHER FLOORING

Precision Flooring (SB) (408) 294-1970 • prefloors.com

Slaughterbeck Floors (SB) (408) 379-5813 • slaughterbeckfloors.com

Bay Area Floors and Design (P)

(650) 358-2580 • bayareafloors.com

Flooring Alternatives (EB) (510) 550-4449

flooringalternatives.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

Marshall Interiors (P-SB)

(408) 890-8800 • marshallinteriors.com

Go2 Design Studio (SB)

408-859-9015 • go2designstudio.com

Lucile Glessner Design (P)

(408) 203-6729 • lucileglessnerdesign.com

Design Loft Company (P)

(650) 938-8885 • designloftcompany.com

Mscape Modern Interiors (M-SF)

(415) 543-1771 • mscapesf.com

Project Guru Designs (EB)

(925) 286-0086 • yourprojectguru.com

LIGHTING

Practical Props (online)

(818) 980-3198 • shop.practical props.com

Hip Haven (online)

(512) 462-4755 • hiphaven.com

Illuminee (SB)

(831) 423-1121 • illuminee.com

Coast Lighting (P)

(877) 264-7089 • coastlighting.com/

CABINETRY MANUFACTURERS

Kerf Design

(206) 954-8677 • kerfdesign.com

Doolittle Design Company

(408) 412-1609 • doolittledesign.com

BRAND CABINETRY

Lusso (SB)

(408) 966-1118 • lusso-us.com

Lamperti (M)

(415) 454-1623 • lampertikitchens.com

MORE RECOMMENDED SERVICE COMPANIES (continued)

Blue Plum Design (SF) (833) 258-7586 • blueplumdesign.com

CUSTOM CABINETRY

Segale Bros. (EB) (510) 331-0596 • segalebros.com

Cabinet World (P) (650) 592-8020 • cabinetworldusa.com

JMCR Kitchens (SB) (408) 817-0584 • jmcrkitchens.com

SPACE-SAVING SOLUTIONS

Modern Shelving (online) (877) 477-5487 • modernshelving.com

MODERN TILE

Modwalls Tile (online) (877) 439-9734 • modwalls.com

Porcelanosa (SB) (408) 467-9400 • porcelanosa-usa.com

Grand Tile & Cabinet (P) (650) 226-8388 • grandtileandcabinet.com

Meister Tile & Marble Company (P) (650) 576-6866 meistertilemarblecompany.com

Art Tile (EB) (510) 547-8288 • arttileoakland.com

MCM DOORS, WALLS & COUNTERTOPS

Make It Mid-century (online)

(844) 696-6462 • makeitmidcentury.com

STEEL BEAM CAP MANUFACTURER

RETRObeam Restorations

(530) 363-0619 • retrobeam-restorations.com

GARAGE DOOR REPAIR & AUTOMATION

Artistic Garage Door (P) (650) 594-1183 • artisticgaragedoor.com

Northgate Garage Doors (M) (415) 472-6004

northgategaragedoor.com

ATRIUM & PATIO COVER MANUFACTURER

Rollamatic Roofs

(800) 345-7392 • rollamatic.com

LANDSCAPING DESIGN

Jeff Barrett Studio (EB) (415) 359-4248 • jeffbarrettstudio.com

Bay Maples (SB)

(408) 642-1860 • baymaples.com

Keith Willig

Landscape Architecture (P) (650) 326-2294 • keithwilliglandscape.com

Monarch Gardens (M)

(415) 453-5544 • monarchgardens.com/

PEST & TERMITE CONTROL

Omega Termite and Pest Control (EB) (800) 257-3636 • omega-homeservices.com

MODERN FURNISHINGS

EQ3 Design District (SF) (415) 431-8100 • eq3/SF.com

Flegels Home Furnishings (P) (650) 326-9661 • flegels.com

Mid Century Maddist (SB)

(408) 455-6837 • midcenturymaddist.com

MID-CENTURY MODERN ART

Shag the Store (online & Palm Springs store) (760) 322-3400 • shagstore.com

HOUSE NUMBERS

Eichler Numbers (online) (408) 266-4180 • eichlernumbers.com

With over 50 years of construction, design, sales, and consulting experience, Steve Streng can help you evaluate your upcoming purchase or sale while maintaining architectural integrity, improving energy efficiency, and increasing the value or your home.

“Adding the Rollamatic was like putting an addition on our house. The atrium is now comfortable and usable day and night, year-round. When it’s warm outside, we can leave it open, so we have the original open atrium that many of us treasure in our Eichlers. Or we can partially open it, for cooling or warming.”

— Bill & Paula, Eichler Owners

Since 1958, Rollamatic has been designing and building custom retractable glass-roof systems. They’re delighting hundreds of Eichler homeowners daily.

Abril Roofing

owners David Kumar (left) and Rick Abril