NEEDHAM ELECTRIC & CONSTRUCTION

WITH THEIR SLAB FOUNDATIONS and flat roofs, Eichler homes are notoriously hard on electricians and plumbers, which is why it takes an experienced tradesman to master them.

Enter Tom Needham, who’s been licensed as an electrician since 1986 and has worked on Eichlers for most of his career. Today, he specializes in electrical for remodeling and new construction, troubleshooting and repairs, service and panel upgrades, and lighting needs.

Needham moved to the Bay Area from his native Ireland in 1983, after working from childhood with his father, a general contractor. “In those days, there, you did the electric, and the heating, and all that stuff as one contractor,” Needham says. So when he came to the United States, he already had a good working knowledge of building systems.

Since then, as an electrician, Needham has been contracted to work on homes including Eichlers and other mid-century moderns all over the Bay Area. More than fifteen years ago, he settled in the Highlands of San Mateo, “where it’s about 80 percent Eichlers.” Now, Needham not only works on Eichlers, he works on his neighbors’ Eichlers.

The key to doing electrical work on an Eichler, Needham says, is to think ahead and measure very carefully.

Smith Electric

AS EICHLER EXPERTS GO, electrical contractor Sean Smith is about as manor-born as one can get. The son of an electrical contractor who serviced and built original Eichler homes, Smith has more than 25 years of experience, having worked weekends and summers in his father’s shop from the age of 12.

The product of a proud family business, Smith now runs his own family business, Sean Smith Electric, with his wife Cheryl. And Eichlers, as well as the families living in them, continue to be a focus for the Smiths.

“You have to be careful working around children and toddlers. We have a good reputation with them. We strive to be courteous and work around sleep times,” Sean Smith says.

That kind of attention to detail is one of the key principles of Smith Electric. From strict adherence of appointment times to finicky cleanliness on the job site to well-organized wiring, the Smiths and their crew make a point of eliminating loose ends.

“We have had inspectors say about our work, ‘I’ve never seen anything so clean,’” says Cheryl Smith, the company’s chief financial officer. “I love that. I go home with a smile on my face.”

The original Eichlers had conduit embedded in the concrete slab, which ran up into the walls. But in many houses that original conduit is in the midst of corrosion, eventually rendering it unusable.

“So let’s say your circuit for your kitchen fails,” Needham says, “there’s no way to rewire it with the same conduit, because you can’t pull the wires through because it’s corroded.

“You fix it by going from the panel up onto the roof, then you figure out where the wall space is, and you have to drill down into that wall space so you can fish a pipe down and fit an electrical box.”

Definitely not for the do-it-yourselfer. And, Needham adds, “it has to be done appropriately with waterproof fitting, machine bends, and all that stuff. It’s critical that you have your measurements correct.”

Because rewiring Eichlers is so difficult, Needham recommends that Eichler owners think ahead, by installing new conduit when it’s time to replace their roof. He recalled one client, a Highlands neighbor, who hired him for such a project in conjunction with their planned remodel.

“They were so happy at my making that recommendation,” Needham says, “and glad I could help them see what was going to happen down the road. Now they feel like they’re ahead of the game.”

While ser vice is a key part of the Smiths’ business philosophy, doing expert work remains their foundation. Sean Smith’s experience with a variety of electrical systems, including commercial and industrial jobs as well as Eichlers, makes him a versatile tradesman.

During the middle of his career, Smith did a stint with Midland Electric. There, he learned how to create futuristic ‘smart homes,’ in which all functions of the home, from thermostat control to window openings, can be done remotely from a computer.

On the more nuts-and-bolts side, Smith says just being around Eichlers for so long has made him comfortable with their unique challenges, including the lack of crawl space and attic.

“Basically, we do everything from install lights to troubleshooting problems, panel changes, kitchen remodels to additions, and wiring houses from the ground up,” Smith says.

The company’s main coverage area is the entire peninsula. With two trucks, one car, and a five-person team, the small company is poised to grow like the family at its center.

800-396-6949 solar@earthwiseenergysolutions.com earthwiseenergysolutions.com

CA license #1028255

JASON HAMI LTON FIRST DISCOVERED his passion for renewable energy in the early 1990s and founded Earthwise Energy Solutions in 2010 as his one-stop shop for all residential solar power needs.

Earthwise brings a unique, data-driven approach to the industry that helps potential clients visualize the impact a changeover to solar could provide.

From just a single PG&E bill, Earthwise can more often than not analyze the annual electrical usage of a household and figure out “how much solar we need to put on the roof in order to offset the optimal amount of electricity,” Hamilton says.

While Hamilton’s company undoubtedly does its job in helping ease the consumer’s burden on the environment, Earthwise Energy Solutions’ impact is twofold.

“The money that you’re not going to pay PG&E will pay this solar asset off in six-and-a-half years on average,” Hamilton says. “Since the thing’s guaranteed for 25 years, now you’ve got 18-and-a-half years guaranteed free electricity after the system’s paid for.”

To ensure customers get the best value, Hamilton places his trust in LG brand solar panels and batteries and SolarEdge inverters, as these two companies find themselves ranked in Tier 1 by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. They are excellent products backed by industry-leading warranties and financially bankable manufacturers.

Therefore, clients can rest easy knowing that the equipment used by Earthwise can always be replaced or fixed should something ever happen to it.

Though Earthwise operates with a small workforce, Hamilton believes that the size of his operation allows for a level of personable rapport, simplicity, and transparency that larger companies cannot match.

“Our clients have one point of contact for the first half of the project, a residential sales manager. And then they have one point of contact for the rest, and that’s a project manager,” Hamilton says.

“We have a process that provides that visibility through every step of the way, from site inspection to design and engineering, to permitting, to installation, and to interconnection.”

And while Hamilton does have experience working on Eichler homes, he continues to educate himself on its nuances to provide the best possible service in the future.

“We’ve managed to find a really strong group of associates that also work on Eichlers roofing companies and other contractors that have really been able to give us some insights and help us flatten the learning curve for some of the unique aspects of Eichlers.”

Solar & Energy Storage Systems

Serving the Entire Peninsula

650-327-3200 info@dura-foam.com www.dura-foam.com

CA license #488066

DURA-FOAM ROOFING & SOLAR CENTER has been installing hi-tech insulated roofs on Eichler homes since 1981. This span of years built the company a solid reputation long before rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar became an affordable option for Eichler owners.

Adam Feriante, CEO of Dura-Foam, claims that this early start in spray-foam roofing, over 40 years ago, has helped his company move its Solar Center division quickly to the head of the field in PV rooftop solar for mid-century modern homes.

“There aren’t any other companies that have our depth of experience in foam roofing and PV solar installations on flat and low-slope roofs,” says Feriante confidently. “It’s a huge benefit to our customers, since our Dura-Foam roofs are the perfect choice under solar arrays, as nobody wants to remove their solar system to install a new roof every ten to 15 years.

“Our roofs are tough-skinned, durable, and waterproof, which is a big help when sealing in the dozens of roof penetrations that support the solar racks,” says Feriante. “During our decades of experience sealing supports for electric and hot-water solar, we have discovered critical steps that prevent future roof problems.”

Dura-Foam’s customers are often relieved knowing they have a single company and not two or more

Boyenga Team

WHEN IT COMES TO TEAMWORK, it’s rare to find a partnership like Eric and Janelle Boyenga, founding partners of Compass, the innovative and exciting national real estate platform.

As the Silicon Valley-based Boyenga Team, this husband-and-wife duo have earned their reputation for being data-driven real estate agents whose secret to success is always putting the client’s best interests first.

With specialized knowledge in mid-century modern and restorative construction, the Boyenga Team delivers expert pre-listing and project management to help clients unlock all of the equity in their mid-century modern homes.

Also, through extensive experience with family trusts and transitions, they understand the nuances and requirements of working with trustees and help families navigate complex transactions through emotional challenges and geographic distances.

Branded by Zillow as ‘next generation’ agents, and known throughout the industry and at Compass with high regard as ‘Property Nerds,’ the Boyenga Team sets the modern standard for mid-century modern marketing, utilizing digital technology and social media strategies to help achieve their clients’ goals.

“Like a classic car, vintage watch, or fine wine, one of the things that is so wonderful about Eichlers is their responsible for their solar system and underlying roofing. “The largest solar company in the U.S. quit installing solar on flat and foam roofs after realizing that they were not up to the task of integrating such systems reliably,” Feriante points out.

“Removing solar equipment to get to a roof issue can be an expensive problem, plus it’s hard to determine who is responsible for the leak repair and the solar reinstallation expense.”

Dura-Foam resolves these industry-wide pain points with its niche specialty in flat-roof solar and all-inclusive guarantees.

Talent development and hands-on experience have been core to the family-owned-and-operated DuraFoam since its founding. “My brother started the company in 1981, and I joined him in 1982,” says Adam, brother of Dura-Foam founder Randy Feriante. Adam’s son Isaac runs the office while son Eli works in sales.

“Staying on the cutting edge is important to our sustainability-minded Silicon Valley customers,” Feriante says. “In fact, we installed one of the Bay Area’s first Tesla Powerwall energy-storage systems.”

Decades of experience have definitely helped Dura-Foam Roofing & Solar Center get out in the lead when it comes to installing solar arrays to the utmost level of power, production, and aesthetics for Eichler homeowners.

24 timeless architecture,” Eric says. “Janelle and I feel fortunate to represent clients who understand there is much more to these post-and-beam gems than what meets the eye.”

“When purchasing an Eichler,” he adds, “you are not just buying a home you are acquiring a lifestyle that only a select group appreciate and understand. It is a true testament to Joe Eichler’s forward thinking that these homes are so highly sought after today and that their demand continues to outstrip their supply.”

So what’s the secret of the Boyenga Team’s success?

First of all, always doing “what is best for our clients,” Eric points out. For over two decades the Boyenga Team has guided and represented their clients to insure they make informed and sound financial decisions.

Secondly, the Boyengas’ success also stems from their passion and enthusiasm for Eichlers and their understanding of mid-century modern architecture and the unique breed of people drawn to these homes.

“The Eichler clientele shares our same devotion for these architectural gems,” Eric points out. “Working from this common ground, we have a natural connection, and share similar visions and values that enable our clients to have an exciting and successful experience.”

Contact Eric and Janelle today for a no-obligation consultation.

Serving

408-201-3849

650-223-5383

Brokerage: kevin@atriare.com www.atriare.com