Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
Windows & doors
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterConstruction Before & After in Santa Clara, CA
Photos beat promises every time. We’ve documented every project since 2007, and the ones below show what happens when a crew shows up with a written scope, pulls the permit, and leaves a photo record behind. These are real jobs in Santa Clara neighborhoods, with real problems we found and real results we delivered.
Recent Transformations
Kitchen Remodel: Galley Conversion in the Old Quad
The homeowner had cooked in a 9-foot galley for thirty years. The original cabinets were particleboard with three layers of contact paper; the subfloor had a 2-inch dip toward the sink wall from decades of water migration. We sistered the joists, leveled with self-leveling compound, and ran new electrical for a 36-inch induction cooktop where the wall oven had been. KraftMaid shaker cabinets in warm white, Cambria Brittanicca quartz on a waterfall island, and engineered hardwood throughout. Under Clause 1, the $67,500 price was written before demolition started. The signed change order for the under-cabinet LED lighting added $340. Final invoice: $67,840.
Bathroom Remodel: Subfloor Rot in Rivermark
The tile looked tired, but the real problem was underneath. We pulled the pan and found the subfloor rotted through to the joist bay, with black mold on the north wall from a slow wax-ring leak that had gone undetected for years. We replaced three joist sections, installed a Schluter-Kerdi membrane system, and built a curbless shower with a linear drain pitched to the plumbing wall. Kohler Purist fixtures, floating vanity with a quartz top, and large-format porcelain tile with epoxy grout. The $31,200 written quote included the subfloor replacement we knew we’d find; when the joist damage extended 18 inches further than expected, we absorbed the difference rather than write a change order for something we should have caught. The photo record showed the rot progression and the repair sequence. The homeowner has the files.
Roofing: Two-Layer Tear-Off in Westwood Oaks
This was a two-layer tear-off, which Santa Clara’s building department flags for full deck inspection. The top layer was 20-year three-tab curling at the rake edges; the bottom layer was original 1970s organic felt with 847 exposed nail heads we counted during the estimate walk. We stripped to deck, replaced 34 sheets of 7/16 OSB that had delaminated around the chimney and two vent stacks, and installed GAF Timberline HDZ in Charcoal with a Golden Pledge warranty. The soffit intake vents were painted over by a previous owner; we cut new continuous intakes and balanced them with a ridge vent. Written price: $24,800. No change orders. The photo record shows every deck sheet before it was covered.
Home Addition & ADU: Garage Conversion in Ponderosa
The previous owner had finished the garage as a “bonus room” without permits, which meant no insulation, no egress window, and a kitchenette tied into the main house’s electrical panel with 14-gauge Romex on a 20-amp breaker. Santa Clara’s ADU ordinance allowed a legal conversion, but the unpermitted work had to come out entirely. We demolished to studs, installed R-13 walls and R-30 vaulted ceiling with proper vent baffles, added a 4-foot egress window on the north wall, and ran a separate 100-amp meter. The kitchenette got a two-burner induction cooktop, under-counter fridge, and a 24-inch dishwasher. Full bath with curbless shower to maximize the 480 square feet. Written price: $118,000. Two change orders: the homeowner upgraded to vinyl plank flooring (+$1,200) and added a mini-split rather than window units (+$2,800). Final: $122,000, within 3.4% of original. Permit signed off on first inspection.
Driveway & Pavers: Settled Concrete in Laurelwood
The concrete driveway had settled 4 inches toward the garage, which meant every hard rain sent water under the door. We broke out 680 square feet, excavated 12 inches, and installed a permeable aggregate base with a channel drain tied to the existing storm line. Belgard Catalina pavers in a three-piece random pattern, tan and charcoal, with a soldier course border. The base prep took three days; the paving took one. Written price: $14,600. No change orders. The photo record shows the excavation depth, the drain connection, and the final compaction reading.
Windows & Doors: Single-Pane Originals in Santa Clara Gardens
The homeowner’s PG&E bills had climbed 40% in two years. The original 1978 aluminum single-pane windows conducted heat like a radiator; three operators were broken and one bedroom window had been painted shut for a decade. We replaced fourteen openings with Renewal by Andersen Fibrex double-hung units, Low-E4 glass, with full-frame installation including new casings and extension jambs. The living room picture window became a gliding unit for egress access. Written price: $19,400. The photo record shows the old U-factor sticker (0.87) and the new one (0.25) side by side.
Want Results Like These?
Every project here started with a free estimate and a written price before any work began. Call (669) 259-1843 to schedule yours. We’ll review your plans or your problem, deliver a flat quote with a written scope, and leave a photo record you’ll have forever. The 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to every trade we run, from a single window to a full ADU.
Written by Grant Rowan, Owner at Rowan Construction Group Santa Clara, serving Santa Clara since 2007.