A Contractor Who’s Up to the Challenge

Town & Country Builders is a licensed general contracting design build firm that has been serving Oahu residents for the past 32 years. The company specializes in new and custom homes, remodels, second-story additions, designer kitchens, bathrooms, Americans with Disability Act (ADA) modifications/ improvements as well as multi generational homes, and it offers full construction services including planning and permitting.

On a recent project, homeowners in Hawaii Kai contacted Town & Country Builders about the possibility of constructing a second-story master bathroom and walk-in-closet addition adjacent to their existing master bedroom. They wanted to do this because they had four members in the household sharing one bathroom and shower on the second-floor level. They wanted an additional full bathroom with double lavatories, a toilet, tub-shower combination and a walk-in closet for additional wardrobe space.

Here’s the Challenge

The contractor scheduled a site visit to view the situation and discuss the project with the owners. After analyzing the conditions in the area, two options seemed possible:

Option One

Because of the proposed location of the new bathroom, tying in the waste connection needed to be addressed. The connection to the sewer lateral was a distance of 85 feet and was at the front-left side of the property. Completing the connection would entail excavating a trench, saw cutting, breaking and repouring a concrete patch across the existing driveway. Beautiful landscape would also have to be torn up.

This would be an expensive endeavor that could destroy the lawn and create an unsightly patch in the driveway. This led the contractor to explore another possibility.

Option Two

The existing second-floor bathroom was 16 lineal feet from the proposed master bathroom addition. To tie in the waste connection would involve removing the master bedroom carpet and reinstalling it along with a portion of the plywood sub-floor. It also would involve removing and replacing the existing bathroom ceramic tile floor covering. This presented an issue that needed special consideration because the bathroom was tiled with the same color tile throughout the floor, walls and shower. By removing the floor tile, it would be difficult to re-match it without removing all the tile. This would be an added expense to the owner.

Additionally, a section of the gypsum-board wall and ceiling on the first floor would need to be removed, replaced, textured, primed and painted in order to expose interior drain pipes for connection. An interior connecting door from the existing bathroom and bedroom would require infilling and the existing bathroom wall paper would need to be primed and painted.

Here’s the Solution

The homeowners decided to go with option two, even though other building contractors who had conducted a site excluded it as a possibility. Yes, the homeowners were inconvenienced and their lifestyle was disrupted, but for substantial savings in the cost of the project and the beauty of their landscape and driveway.

The owners also located marble for the bathroom floor that complemented the existing ceramic tile and looked wonderful.

Quite often it is wise to be cautious and explore several options before making a final decision about construction on your home. It is also very important to engage the services of a seasoned and knowledgeable architect.

One such architect is Henry Reese, who has been designing homes/additions and has been responsible for all aspects of new construction, residential renovations and new homes from inception to completion since opening his office in Honolulu in 1986. He is worth hiring to design a pleasing addition, remodel or new home, and he will ensure that the structural requirements for the new work meet guidelines and requirements.

Reese is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a degree in Architecture and is a member of the American Institute of Architects. Whether designing a home of your choice or planning a major renovation, you will find that he is congenial, conscientious and articulate in his field and he works in association with this builder to ensure quality construction projects.

You can reach Town & Country Builders at 737-7766 for a free in home consultation or visit www.townandcountrybuildersllc.com. Town & Country Builders is a member of the Better Business Bureau with an A-plus rating, a certified remodeler and winner of the 2012 Elite Customer Satisfaction award.

contact // 737-7766
web // www.townandcountrybuildersllc.com