Best Materials for Home Remodeling in San Diego

Home remodeling, especially in California, is a huge industry. While that has some perks when it comes to what is available, it also opens the door to many misconceptions. When it comes to materials alone, the fight between the fearmongers and the “everything is acceptable” crowd has been almost as bad for our homes as the fires.

Quality has little to do with tradition, trends, or aesthetics, which can be important on their own. Quality will always be expensive, but it will also be worth it. And let’s face it, you can remodel your home with the best quality materials, and if you don’t have expert labor and design, it won’t look like much.

To have a successful remodel, we need to understand how each of the materials will act and check if any downsides affect your home in particular. Each material has benefits and drawbacks, and what is a perfect match for one household can be a nightmare for even their next-door neighbors.

A Misconception of Eco-Friendliness

One of the biggest pitfalls when home remodeling in San Diego is falling for the long-term fad of being eco-friendly. Most materials used are natural, but that doesn’t always mean using them is good for the environment.

One such example is wooden windows over vinyl, where the latter is in every single way superior to the former. Yes, wood is much more pleasant for the touch, but that isn’t so significant for your windows, as you will rarely caress them.

Wood will shrink and expand, and when the windows are made of it, they will become less effective in holding temperature. This will make you spend more electricity for the AC and make your home less comfortable on average, which are much greater factors.

Not to mention that vinyl windows will last at least twice as long as wood frames, with far less maintenance needed.

A Holistic Approach

There is your location, your aesthetics, your lifestyle, and your “housemates,” and you need to envision a remodel with each of these factors in mind. Also, you need to remember that these factors can change over time between remodels, so you need to stay flexible.

Location is relatively easy to account for as the sun will always come from the same side, and the climate is generally predictable, if not always stable. Here, you will need to know not to put steel on the sunny side, where it will become a stovetop, hurting anyone who touches it.

Your aesthetics will depend primarily on what you like but also on what fits with the rest of your house. Ideally, you will want to like both, but that is not always the case. Make sure your home is remodeled so that you like being inside it.

Lifestyles are where it becomes tricky, as you will need to be honest with yourself. People who can pay for constant housekeeping can choose materials that are a bother to maintain. But, if you don’t want to spend half of everyday cleaning, you should remodel with that goal in mind.

Finally, your housemates are sometimes responsible adults who will enjoy the space, and sometimes unexpected guests you have made yourself and now need to take care of them for a few decades. Wood floors and constant spills don’t match very well.

Wood and Wood Composite

Wood is the most frequent material for remodels, both for its feel and general availability. While current lumber is either exceedingly expensive or not as high-quality, the resin has allowed for a bit of a workaround. 

Laminated wood can bring many benefits of well-aged wood without the price tag. It is also much more resistant to moisture and impact, which can benefit most homes.

For tables, countertops, and other surfaces that see a lot of wear and tear, it is possible to have a combined solid wood and epoxy that will look even better than natural wood and be sturdier.

Alternatively, there are woods such as bamboo that are cheap, durable, and look good in a sunny home. Bamboo is good for small furniture as it is light and can be replaced when you don’t like the piece anymore.

Pros & Cons

Vinyl

Colloquially called vinyl, this refers to polyvinyl chloride or PVC, the world’s most used construction plastic. In much of the world, it’s used extensively on the outsides of the buildings due to being very low maintenance and 100% waterproof.

The issue in California is that exposed vinyl is susceptible to UV degradation. If not coated, PVC will become brittle under constant sunlight.

However, if used inside the house or with layers on top of it, it can be the best material for insulation against both water and temperature.

Pros & Cons

Metal Components

There is a wide range of metals that can be used for a home remodel, with stainless steel and chrome being the most prominent, followed by iron, aluminum, and brass. Precious metals are also good for decorations and fixtures, but they are seen as tacky and require a lot of maintenance.

The advantage of metal is not so much durability as maintenance. Especially when it comes to stainless steel it is very easy to clean and won’t be damaged by cleaning chemicals the same way wood or vinyl would. And once polished, they can be really shiny, awakening that inner magpie in all of us.

Pros & Cons

Stone and Stone Composite

Last but not least, stone and stone composites, including bricks, ceramics, and adobe, are not as frequently seen in home remodels in San Diego because of their high price, but they will offer the best solutions to many remodeling tasks.

Floor tiles, especially medium-sized, such as 30×30 inches, can look amazing on your inside floors, can have any design you want, are amazing for under-floor heating, and are the easiest thing to clean. They may cost more at installation, but they save that in cleaning time and energy very quickly.

Granite countertops also fall into this category, which is why they are sought after. Properly polished granite can be cleaned with a damp cloth and will never aid bacteria, even if it is old. Because of these properties, they are often used in kitchen and bathroom remodels in San Diego.

Finally, when it comes to durability, stone is unsurpassed. We don’t know how long granite countertops or tiled floors last. The oldest are ~3000 (three thousand) years old and still holding, so you should be good until the next remodel.

Pros & Cons