A very tough job.

Just putting the finishing touches on a silhouette for a new house, and auxiliary structure - a 600 sq. ft. pool house. This silhouette was the toughest one in recent memory. Structures and ice plant, trees and rocks on the roof. Every type of obstacle you can imagine. but the end result was another fine job by Riviera Rich Contractors.

Look at this wasted stairway and landing.

Some people are just dense or cheap, or maybe totally unrealistic because of their economic situation- either way they don't make good decisions. Here is another photograph of this rotted and totally unsafe stair landing. One thing about the Zenbuilder you can count on ... he doesn't lie, he just tells it like it is. If I put my full weight on that landing I'd be landing alright... on the ground below! Zenbuilder out.

Terrible jobs, illegal stairs

It's been over a month since my last posting. My work load went from sporadic to beyond full time in that period, but alas- I am back! Today ridiculous construction photo depicts the most unsafe stairway I have ever seen. Not only is it worn-out and rotted, it's a miss-match of materials. The homeowner wanted to try to fix it as is. needless to say wasn't interested as a licensed contractor of even touching such a monstrosity!

Custom project, owners unit, makeover.

I just thought since I haven't blogged in quite some time i might post some photos of a recently finished owners unit project here in the South Bay. This was a fun job and it turned out beautiful

- of course all projects turn out great when you plan and execute properly. When knowledge, experience, and skill are working together great things can happen. I am sure that is a universal truth, one which transcends era, materials, and technology. Over the next few blogs i will discuss in detail the project and it's various elements. I will leave you with a quote from Albert Einstein, " The only reason for a thing called time, or the passage thereof, is so that everything doesn't happen at once." Thanks Zenbuilder.

Completing the project.

Last time I said I would post a photo of the completed mantel and stone project, well it's not 100% finished but I decided to post it as a progress report. I am going to make a pair of distressed doors out of oak for the firewood storage compartment. The owner who has worked with me on the stone portion of the job will complete the grouting (Sweat Equity.) There is no new apartment building projects in the works as of yet, but there are some new projects that I will be starting soon. One is a major addition, and the other is a custom door install. ( Many doors.) - Thought for the day. There are three types of people in this our world, energy givers, energy neutrals, ( people who live in ignorant oblivion.) energy takers. Which one are you?

New jobs, Ultimate challenges.

This is Mickey Mantel talkin to ya, the Mantel is finished and installed! It of course looks awesome, and the real stone veneer is not to shabby either! I will post a picture upon total completion. In the meantime lets try to stay away from people who are energy stealer's and time wasters. You know the kind of people I'm talking about, the kind that methodically and purposefully scheme to waste your time - we've all met them at one time or another in our lives. Beware!

Know thy self. masterbuilder.

Hello I am the Zenbuilder. I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks for all the support you have given me on my website and blog- I mean 30,000 visits a month that's phenomenal! Thank you very much. And now for my next act I will beat the living daylights out of a the custom mantel from yesterdays blog. Don't worry mantels are actually inanimate objects and it's totally legal to give them a severe "Barnaby Jones" style butt-kicking! ( This activity is also known as distressing the wood.)