California Renovation: Bridging the gap between dream and dream home PHOTOS BY DIANE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY
There’s no shortage of contractors in Chico, but finding one that’s actually available to work is a different story entirely these days. A confluence of events have created what amounts to a perfect storm in the construction industry, rendering a shrinking supply and exponentially increasing demand with each passing year. In 2017, the Tubbs Fire destroyed 5,643 structures, pulling contractors south to assist in rebuilding the Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa areas. In 2018 the Carr Fire pulled contractors north to the Redding area to assist in rebuilding 1,604 structures. Three short months later, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history swept through Paradise and its surrounding communities, leveling a staggering 18,804 structures. The disaster not only nearly quadrupled the number of structures in need of rebuilding, but simultaneously displaced 50,000 residents, a large number of which were individuals skilled and employed in the construction industry. Many of them left and never returned. In 2020, the COVID pandemic forced the world indoors for an extended period of
time where we discovered we were less than satisfied with the homes we lived in, encouraging another boom in demand for contractors focused on remodels and renovations. Finally, 2021’s Dixie fire added yet another 1,300 structures to the long list of those needing to be rebuilt. With contractors spread thin throughout Northern California, finding an available one—let alone the right one—couldn’t be a more daunting task. California Renovation owner Kelly Mann believes he has a way to change that for good. Born and raised in Roseville, Kelly grew up in a family steeped in home renovation. His grandfather owned and operated a furniture store in Shattuck, Illinois, and the inheritance built within those walls allowed Kelly’s father the opportunity to move to Roseville, where he opened his own furniture store in 1962. As carpeting started to take off in the 70s, his father took over another building in town across from Denio’s Market & Swap Meet, and decided to expand the business into carpet sales and service. Kelly and his brother Earl learned the ins
and outs of both businesses over the years, watching their father build his empire from the ground up. He eventually gifted the carpeting business to his two boys in 1987. After operating the business for nine years, they decided to relocate it next to the original family furniture store, constructing a brand new building and warehouse on the lot the two once played in. “Earl and I knew the business well.” Kelly recalled, “We expanded to carry vinyl and other flooring options, reached out to builders, and did everything we could to make sure their projects were completed on time with excellent customer service. Our name spread quickly as a result of our attention to detail, and we began receiving referrals from one builder to another. Those referrals built the business, and our audience grew faster than we ever expected.” Eventually, the brothers decided to incorporate hardwood flooring, traveling to the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA) school in St. Louis to learn all there was to know about hardwoods. They renamed their business 19
