By Clyde Noel

General contractor Jay Chapman and Mountain View homeowner Irina Zaks discuss the remodeling of the Zaks home.

When Irina and Herman Zaks bought their house behind Los Altos High School in 1999, it was more than 50 years old. A typical 1,500-square-foot Los Altos-area ranch-style house, it had three bedrooms and 1.5 baths like the rest of the residences in the neighborhood.

“It was a cozy place for a small family,” Irina said. “Now that we have three children, we wanted a kitchen where people don’t bump into each other. We needed to remodel.”

Family members building a house together could be said to be working out their karma in relation to each other. As the house is undergoing renovation, there are trials and tribulations, but there is usually a happily-ever-after ending - if you select the right contractor.

“We had two years of thinking over the plans we wanted. Getting quotes and then making changes again took time,” Irina said. “Herman and I planned the project together as we thought about what we wanted for our family.”

After numerous interviews with contractors, the Zaks selected Jay Chapman of Chapman Construction because they realized how much cooperation and teamwork is needed between homeowners and their contractor during a remodel.

There were several questions to be answered in selecting a contractor: How long had the contractor been in business? Did he have the resources to complete the job as scheduled? Did he have the necessary licenses and insurance?

Finally, the most important step was to contact the contractor’s references, Irina said.

Once they decided on Chapman Construction, the Zaks made plans to add a second story and garage, with an additional 1,000 square feet of living space. Included were a large kitchen, two bedrooms, two upstairs baths, three skylights, and hardwood floors throughout the house. The remodel is now in full swing.

The kitchen is plumbed to allow gas or electricity for the appliances. The Zaks have selected dark granite for the island, counters and backsplash, with natural maple cabinets.

“This is an old house, and it needed a lot of work,” Chapman said.

When connecting the addition to the original structure, he found dry rot that necessitated structural changes.

Chapman told the Zaks it would take about five months to finish the project, but once the sheetrock is in, it will be plain sailing.

“Considering we are living in the house, every subcontractor Jay brought in has been very considerate,” Irina said. “Jay did the scheduling, and I can’t thank him enough.

“Overall, the project has gone very smoothly, and we appreciated being able to live in the house while it was under construction.”

As families put down roots in a home, their sizes change, their requirements change, and the future must be considered. The house that was perfect a few years ago may no longer be adequate, and a remodel may be called for.

Irina would advise those thinking about renovating their home to hire a professional contractor.

“Jay has a genuine concern for a homeowner’s needs and is willing to accommodate your requests, especially when it comes to last-minute changes and scheduling,” Irina said. “You should be able to speak comfortably and frankly with your contractor and avoid conflicts as the job progresses. Jay and I have been getting along exceptionally well.”