Openings, decks and shade in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles County
Sherman Oaks Back Walls Opened to the Garden
On a Sherman Oaks visit, Palmcrest Contractors first reads the wall meant to open, then plans the header, the larger glass, a low deck and shade overhead.
Stains under the old sill are what we look for first when a Sherman Oaks house is ready for a wider opening at the back. We also check for soft wood at the door jambs and cracks running from the corners, and we note any outlet, switch or vent that would have to move. Those findings set what the new header, the larger glass and the patio outside will need before a single line is drawn.
What the old wall tells us
Water stains below a tired slider usually mean the sill was never pan flashed, so the framing under it may need repair once the trim comes off. We probe the bottom plate and the jamb studs with an awl and write down what is soft. Wiring in the wall is rerouted around the new opening, and a plumbing vent in the way can often move to the next stud bay. If the stucco shows cracks at the corners of the old door, the patch around the new frame is planned with lath and a weather barrier lapped over the flashing so the repair sheds water like the wall around it.
Shade, the deck and LADBS
With the wall understood, the outdoor half takes shape. A low deck or pavers meet the new sill, and a cover beam set level with the door head keeps hard midday sun off the new doors on an inland valley lot. Because Sherman Oaks belongs to the City of Los Angeles, the structural set for the opening, the cover and any raised deck is filed with LADBS. The engineer's calculations go in with it, inspectors see the footings and the new framing before they are closed up, and the final sign off comes once the doors, the cover and the outdoor floor are complete.
What we build in Sherman Oaks
Every service below is available here, from a wider opening at the back of the house to a full remodel.
Open up your house in Sherman Oaks
Tell us which wall, room or yard you have in mind, and we will arrange a measure.