10 Challenges in Santa Cruz and How We Solved Them
At New Avenue, problem-solving is what we do best.
Every home has unique construction challenges. Here are the top 10 from our new ADU in Santa Cruz.
Last week, we showed you our latest custom ADU in Santa Cruz—a 1000-square-foot home built for versatility as a vacation home, a guest house, and a place where the owners will one day age in place in comfort and style.
Here's a closer look at our ten most interesting challenges for this design/build project.
1. Curbless showers in a concrete slab floor
The homeowners intend to use their ADU for guests now and for themselves in the future. They may also want to rent the property out at some point. To make this home exceptionally accessible, they needed curbless showers.
This was a particular challenge with a concrete slab floor. A section of the slab needed to be blocked out when pouring the concrete to create a recess where the shower pan would be. Once that was done, we aligned the tiles with the floor and created a precisely measured slope for safety and proper drainage.
2. Enhanced shower accessibility
In addition to the curbless entry, we made the showers more accessible with barrier-free glass, plenty of space, and built-in grab bars. The glass door required precise installation to keep water from flowing into the bathroom, and the grab bar had to be securely anchored. The New Avenue team made it all happen with both precision and aesthetic appeal.
3. A solid-pine living room wall treatment to counter the modern feel
The homeowners loved modern-style ADUs, but they wanted to make sure to incorporate warmer tones and a welcoming feel into their new home. To both complement and balance the modern feel of the design, we opted for a solid-pine wall treatment.
Because pine is a soft wood, the panels had to be acclimated for a few days and then carefully installed to avoid gaps, warping, or buckling. The wood also needed to be properly sealed to avoid yellowing over time. From design to installation, our team ensured the structural integrity and longevity of this beautiful wall treatment.
4. Hardie Artisan siding with mitered corners for a super-clean look
Hardie Artisan siding was the ideal choice for a clean look that complemented the property and the primary home.
To achieve seamless corners, we implemented perfect 45-degree cuts and precise alignment. In dealing with this siding, even slight deviations can lead to visible gaps or misalignment. Factory edges aren’t mitered, so we made the cuts on site with specialized tools.
5. Trimless, stepped interior window treatments
Trimless window treatments are beautiful and well worth the effort it takes to get precise cuts and perfect alignment. Being a soft wood, the natural pine used in the windows is subject to warping and slight movements over time, so we made sure everything was properly aligned. We also took care to use the right fasteners and sealants to ensure both beauty and structural integrity for years to come.
6. Custom drainage to preserve the surrounding environment
When developing any project, we have to consider how the new structure will impact drainage for the property and the surrounding area. To protect the environment around the ADU, we had to add a complex custom drainage system at the perimeter.
Here's our drainage system during installation. It's not pretty and was a lot of work, but it will protect the property for decades.
7. Keeping beach sand out of the house
An outdoor feet-washing station is a necessity in Santa Cruz. These homeowners wisely chose to install one in their yard.
A feet-washing station should be carefully designed to suit the property. Without careful planning, a homeowner can end up with easily clogged drains or muddy puddles in the yard. A platform with slats like the one we installed allows proper drainage and keeps feet out of the mud.
8. Privacy between the ADU and primary home
When adding a new ADU behind an existing home, it's important to consider privacy. This can often be achieved with careful placement of entrances and windows.
On this property, the most convenient and design-friendly place for the ADU's main entrance was facing an existing window on the primary home. To avoid potentially awkward situations, we needed an attractive way to shield the ADU's door without compromising on its convenient positioning. Our custom privacy screen was the perfect solution.
9. A huge sliding door that lets in as much natural light as possible
Sliding glass doors are our go-to for creating indoor–outdoor living spaces and bringing in tons of delightful sunlight. We chose an exceptionally large 12'x7' sliding door set that complements the home.
With large, heavy doors, it's important to ensure proper structural support and to use a high-performance frame. In this case, installation required our specialized knowledge and experience due to the size and weight of the panels.
10. Low-impact natural drainage throughout the property
In addition to our perimeter drainage system, we added a 275-square-foot patterned concrete paver patio for low-impact natural drainage.
For optimal results, we compacted the base soil in a way that created a uniform foundation while allowing adequate drainage. We used permeable materials and positioned the pavers so that, in the event of heavy rain, runoff would go into grass and gardens rather than into the two homes on the property. The result was a beautiful, multifunction patio that also served as a natural drainage system.
Every new construction project comes with unique challenges. Taking on those challenges is one of our favorite things about design/build. With hundreds of completed projects and over 15 years of experience, we've seen it all.
Backed by years of experience, our carefully cultivated team anticipates obstacles, finds creative solutions, and guides our clients through every step with confidence. Try us. We love a challenge.
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