On the Road to Renewal

Oh, the joys and frustrations of owning an architectural home!

Oftentimes, we experience a mix of both when striving to maintain the many character-defining features that make Eichler homes such cherished icons.

Over the years, and as homes change hands, original features are often covered over, or replaced with off-the-shelf products that can significantly diminish an Eichler's appearance. Other features may fail, or begin to show the wear and tear of time.

But with a little patience and know-how, many of these unique elements can be brought back into service through repair, or through the sourcing of the same or similar replacement parts.

To get you started, we've developed a helpful guide to restoring nine key features, with links to additional support information, and to pros who can tackle the project or at least offer additional advice and direction.

1. FLOORING
More and more homeowners today are stripping their original asbestos tile floors down to the concrete, and polishing them to an attractive sheen. A cinch to clean and care for, concrete provides seamless transitions between rooms, and can also be dyed to complement your home's décor. Polished concrete is also compatible with in-floor radiant heating systems, an important plus. Refer to our archived flooring article for inspiration and options.

2. FRONT DOORS
Original Eichler exterior front doors featured solid-core wood with a flat face, no frills, and no windows. Their simplicity and contrasting paint colors are welcoming, and provide the design distinction that makes a great first impression. For tips on returning your door to its original look, and period-appropriate hardware, here is an article with inspiration galore. For installers, check with our general contractors and handymen.

3. GARAGE DOORS
Garage doors take up a lot of frontage on any home, but on an Eichler their matching grooved paneling are a large part of maintaining your home's seamless architectural look. Instead of discarding those sliding garage doors for a new roll-up replacement, consider going the automated route for your originals. It maintains your home's authentic look, and also costs a lot less money. Here's more info. And here's one installer who still repairs and automates original garage doors.

4. SLIDING GLASS DOORS
What would an Eichler be without its glass sliders? Transparent sliding doors offer a window to the world, and make floor-to-ceiling, indoor-outdoor living a breeze. But they're also in constant use. For safety and insulation against heat loss, original single-pane glass should be replaced with tempered glass, also known as safety glass. However, when latches and locking mechanisms get stuck, and rollers veer off their tracks, rather than completely replace your home's original Arcadia sliders, consider restoring them. The rollers that track along the bottom and top rails can be adjusted, and the latch and locking mechanism repaired or replaced. For overhauling locks, and keeping your sliders in tip-top shape, check with Bay Area Sliding Door Repair. Here's more info. If your sliders are beyond repair, look to our team of glass and slider replacement companies.