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bkshopr - 23 November 2009 06:53 PM

California Room is located in the rear yard just outside of a living space. Many times homeowners added trellis above the paved patio to create a much more intimate space. In this case a solid roof over the patio is technically a covered patio packaged in a fancy name to charge the consumer a much higher price.

The trellis above the patio is much more appealing to me than this solid roof version.  The more open feeling of the trellis feels much more “california” than the solid roof being pushed by TIC.  Heck, we ALL had covered patios back in the midwest where I grew up—- but nobody had a trellis patio, it was pointless b/c of the weather.  In Irvine a solid roof patio cover almost seems pointless with the weather here.

CK - 23 November 2009 07:03 PM

bkshopr - 23 November 2009 06:53 PM

California Room is located in the rear yard just outside of a living space. Many times homeowners added trellis above the paved patio to create a much more intimate space. In this case a solid roof over the patio is technically a covered patio packaged in a fancy name to charge the consumer a much higher price.

The trellis above the patio is much more appealing to me than this solid roof version.  The more open feeling of the trellis feels much more “california” than the solid roof being pushed by TIC.  Heck, we ALL had covered patios back in the midwest where I grew up—- but nobody had a trellis patio, it was pointless b/c of the weather.  In Irvine a solid roof patio cover almost seems pointless with the weather here.

After watching the design innovation clip from the TIC website the “nice mild weather in Southern CA promotes outdoor living”. Because TIC said so and this is an open book quiz I would conclude this answer true and very unlikely to be false. I guess you still can have the outdoor living without the roof but the furniture would not be protected from the dust caused by the blowers and soot from surrounding traffic.

There are benefits to a CRoom rather than a covered patio.

For one, a CRoom has two sides to it so it has a better climate control. You can put in a ceiling fan or a heater to control the temperature.

From the get go, you don’t have to cement a slab and build the pergola… it’s done and has it’s own lighting etc etc.

I actually like not having direct sunlight into the family/great room because bright direct light is always a problem with watching TV.

If you have a dog, a CRoom is a better outdoor area to keep the dog when it’s raining or very hot as it provided better protection from the elements.

That’s why now, whenever I see new homes that have a deck at the master option, I want it because it also provide a pseudo CRoom in the backyard.

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No one can hide in their yards in Irvine. Neighbors from the sides or back can clearly see into your yard from the second story windows. Having a roof over the patio would cut off that view allowing you to have some privacy. This is the only privacy solution for having a small yard. Having the California Room also would disguise the small yard by blocking off the panoramic view of a postage stamp size yard by the thick columns. By blocking off the view it also create an illusion that there may still be a larger yard around the corner of the California Room.

MojoJD - 23 November 2009 09:32 PM

unless you’re in a perfectly situated lot (this exludes 95% of irvine) maybe watching TV in the yard might be a tad rude to the neighbors.  I’m cool with all kinds of neighborly sounds (bbqs, kids playing, yard work, etc), but habitual TV noise coming from outdoor speakers might bug the hell out of me.

I have neighbors that are always outside and even though I don’t particularly like the kind of music they listen to, I don’t mind because at least they have a decent sound system.  But what I can’t stand is the television outside.  I hate almost all television noise and it angers me that I have to close my windows so I don’t have to hear it.  Thank god for winter and colder weather.  I dread the day when they discover those outdoor fire pits and heaters.

ABC123 - 23 November 2009 11:51 PM

MojoJD - 23 November 2009 09:32 PM

unless you’re in a perfectly situated lot (this exludes 95% of irvine) maybe watching TV in the yard might be a tad rude to the neighbors.  I’m cool with all kinds of neighborly sounds (bbqs, kids playing, yard work, etc), but habitual TV noise coming from outdoor speakers might bug the hell out of me.

I have neighbors that are always outside and even though I don’t particularly like the kind of music they listen to, I don’t mind because at least they have a decent sound system.  But what I can’t stand is the television outside.  I hate almost all television noise and it angers me that I have to close my windows so I don’t have to hear it.  Thank god for winter and colder weather.  I dread the day when they discover those outdoor fire pits and heaters.

Now with California Room the yard now would have some life. It will anger those who wants a quiet yard when now the neighbors spend the whole day out there sitting, drinking, BBQ, watching TV, outdoor Fireplace and heater keeping them warm through the night. May be HOA can enforce the 10 pm quiet time and parking rule in the future.

Note to RC and others If you have light sleeper infant or toddlers then avoid neighbors who spend excessive time outside.

ABC123 - 23 November 2009 11:51 PM

I dread the day when they discover those outdoor fire pits and heaters.

This confirms our rear neighbors definitely hate us.

CK - 24 November 2009 12:33 AM

ABC123 - 23 November 2009 11:51 PM

I dread the day when they discover those outdoor fire pits and heaters.

This confirms our rear neighbors definitely hate us.

I knew it! =)

I can predict the problem at the rear would be worse than the parking problem at the front. You can tow away a car but you can’t tow away a party. Can one throws a party but refrain from making noise?

I know what homeowners would do if the California Room is in the San Fernando Valley.

For some reason music and party noise doesn’t bother me as much as television and female yakking on the phone noise.  If you buy a house with a California room and insist on having people over several nights a week, just be considerate to your neighbors and only invite interesting people.

Products were well designed during the last bubble era. Product differentiation was a great leap from the last recession by getting rid of garage dominant elevations and introduction of courtyards. This time around the products lack really the big idea that successfully turned the last recession around by rendering the older homes obsolete and enticed homeowners to move up. The covered patio from what I can see is the only differentiating element like changing a trim detail to a BMW model.

This is also true.

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MojoJD - 24 November 2009 02:04 AM

MojoJD - 23 November 2009 07:00 PM

Haha.  My parents are debating adding on a California room to one of your Mahogany plan 3’s.  Thoughts, BK?

I’m still waiting to hear BK’s take on california-room-izing one of his designs. 

Not so easy unless the covered patio is only matching the width of the family room to exclude the bedroom. It would look the best if the depth matches and flush with the back of the tandem garage and entirely across the back of the house including the rear bedroom. The challenge is the rear bedroom already has its single story roof and there is no wall up above for the future roof to terminate. If your parents insist on doing it they can contact me for design consultation.

The roof would over shoot and block the master bedroom windows up above. However, to do it just across the family room would not only look awkward but also isolate the rear BR into a deep hole.

bkshopr - 24 November 2009 02:38 AM

MojoJD - 24 November 2009 02:04 AM

MojoJD - 23 November 2009 07:00 PM

Haha.  My parents are debating adding on a California room to one of your Mahogany plan 3’s.  Thoughts, BK?

I’m still waiting to hear BK’s take on california-room-izing one of his designs. 

Not so easy unless the covered patio is only matching the width of the family room to exclude the bedroom. It would look the best if the depth matches and flush with the back of the tandem garage and entirely across the back of the house including the rear bedroom. The challenge is the rear bedroom already has its single story roof and there is no wall up above for the future roof to terminate. If your parents insist on doing it they can contact me for design consultation.

The roof would over shoot and block the master bedroom windows up above. However, to do it just across the family room would not only look awkward but also isolate the rear BR into a deep hole.

bk, mahogany was like 10 years ago, right?  you were ahead of your time - its STILL a nice plan.

sc fan - 24 November 2009 02:51 AM

bkshopr - 24 November 2009 02:38 AM

MojoJD - 24 November 2009 02:04 AM

MojoJD - 23 November 2009 07:00 PM

Haha.  My parents are debating adding on a California room to one of your Mahogany plan 3’s.  Thoughts, BK?

I’m still waiting to hear BK’s take on california-room-izing one of his designs. 

Not so easy unless the covered patio is only matching the width of the family room to exclude the bedroom. It would look the best if the depth matches and flush with the back of the tandem garage and entirely across the back of the house including the rear bedroom. The challenge is the rear bedroom already has its single story roof and there is no wall up above for the future roof to terminate. If your parents insist on doing it they can contact me for design consultation.

The roof would over shoot and block the master bedroom windows up above. However, to do it just across the family room would not only look awkward but also isolate the rear BR into a deep hole.

bk, mahogany was like 10 years ago, right?  you were ahead of your time - its STILL a nice plan.

The firm that I worked for years ago did it and I can’t take credit for it. I still hate the token porch.

Is there anyway to unstretch the window caused by the plans?

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How did you do that Graph? reducing the floor plans.

The right answer is #6. Rule #1 for taking test: the longest phrase is usually the right answer.

2 of the above is a trick answer.

Will explain the answer later.