Eichler Homes - Flegels Construction Palo Alto CA

Bring in the Sunlight!

Written on February 18, 2021.

Bring in the Light! Treat Your Eichler Home to New Windows

Trust Eichler Remodeling Experts with Window Options for Your Bay Area Home

Eichler homes are lovely mid-century marvels that have withstood the test of time. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in light and create a minimalist exterior with striking A-frame architecture. Some of these distinctive homes have windows covering a third of the exterior. All those windows bring in the light! However, they also bring in or let out the heat. Work with the skilled and experienced team at Flegel’s Construction to update your Eichler home.

Let’s discuss ways to make your home more energy-efficient with new windows and window treatments without compromising the unique architectural design and distinctive charm:

Upgrade the single-pane windows that have little to no insulating properties. We suggest double-pane glass with an airtight space between the panes. When pumped with argon or krypton gas, the new windows will insulate your home 3-4 times better than the original ones.
Coat the exterior window with low-emissivity material to resist heat transfer. Low E windows reflect harmful infrared energy while letting in shorter wavelengths.
Installing triple pane windows is another option. However, they are extremely heavy, and the thicker framing makes them poorly suited for Eichler construction guidelines.

If replacing all your windows exceeds the budget, we can concentrate on improving the leakiest ones, by:

Adding an acrylic insert on the inside surface, or
Replacing the weather-stripping on doors and windows with better insulating materials

Schedule a feasibility analysis with our home construction consultants for affordable ways to improve dated windows and window treatments in your Eichler home.

Window Dressings to Add Privacy and Show Off Your Tall Windows

The expansive windows bring in the light and create a stunning impression. Do you need decorating ideas that won’t detract from the open feel of your Eichler home? Keep window treatments minimal, by:

Using a ceiling-mounted track to hang floor-length drapes in solid colors. The curtain should span the length of the glass wall.
Following the geometry of your home. If the window wall extends to the sloped ceiling, simply mount woven shades across the horizontal line just below where the ceiling slope begins.
Installing motorized shades in neutral tones. This is also a great choice for smaller windows to achieve a cohesive look.

Hire Experienced Eichler Remodelers in the Bay Area to Brighten Up Your Home

Opening up your Eichler home to draw in more natural light involves more than simply choosing new windows and having them installed. You need to consider the orientation of your home, which direction the windows are facing, and how much privacy you need for the space, while allowing in plenty of sunlight.

With years of experience in updating and modernizing gorgeous Eichlers, we know what works, and what doesn’t. Feel free to browse our portfolio of home renovations in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Redwood City, Redwood Shores, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Los Altos.

For stress-free improvements to Eichler home window walls, you can rely on the team at Flegel’s Construction. Contact us online for assistance with construction projects in your Bay Area home.

Top 10 Favorite Features of an Eichler Home

Written on November 27, 2020.

Decoding the Epitome of Mid-Century Modern

Eichler homes have remained a coveted construction style for several decades. With smart design principles that redefine living spaces, Eichlers have many interesting characteristics. The experts at Flegel’s offer some insights into the top 10 favorite features of an Eichler home.

Understanding the Timeless Appeal of Eichler Homes

Built as affordable residences in the 1950s and 60s across Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, Eichler homes are full of panache and amenities. No other construction style comes close to the minimalist design, open floor plans, and bright, airy ambience of the Eichler homes. In fact, many cities throughout the Bay Area have introduced guidelines for preserving and upgrading Eichler homes without detracting from their characteristic mid-century modern charm.

Here are the top 10 favorite features of an Eichler home:

Exclusive detailing: Whether it is the simple façades, and clean, geometric lines on the exterior, or the innovative open concept living areas and exposed beams on the interiors, Eichlers offer charming details that make them truly unique.

Roof references: Featuring distinctive post-and-beam construction, Eichler homes usually have flat roof lines or low-sloping A-frames. The Eichlers that feature a shingled hipped roof, clipped gables, and copious use of glass offer a beautiful modern take on the traditional, thatched English cottage.

Indoor-outdoor living: Besides attractive indoor living spaces, Eichler homes bring the outdoors in. Generous-sized private backyards, floor-to-ceiling windows, and abundant skylights add a special touch to the typical Eichler home.

Underground utilities: Preserving their clean lines and minimalist look, Eichler homes feature underground utilities. Which means, the vast network of cables and pipes transporting water, gas, or electricity is usually completely hidden.

Potential for expansion: Most Eichler homes offer sufficient space and scope for expansions, as well as easy upgradability for 21^st century lifestyles and preferences.

Indoor-outdoor gardens: Whether it is impressive edible gardens on the inside, or decorative foliage on the outside, the bright and airy structure of Eichler homes have an organic way of encouraging gardening enthusiasts.

Visual appeal: The exclusive construction style of Eichlers makes them easily recognizable on a street lined with different types of homes. Their distinctive visual appeal is a special quality in itself.

Atrium models: The 1959-built East Bay area atrium-model Eichlers feature a low-slung mid-century post-and-beam profile. Sleek, operable covers on the central atrium allow you to switch between a sun-drenched look and a cool, cozy one by simply closing off the area to the elements.

Double ‘A’ frames: Rarely available and highly coveted, the double ‘A’ frame Eichler homes offer a unique design and extra square footage. Soaring tongue-and-groove ceilings and expansive glazing makes these homes truly one-of-a-kind.

“Super Eichlers”: These Eichlers are usually oriented around a large tree and offer even more rooms and spaciousness than the regular Eichlers. Also known as Gallery Eichlers, only a handful of these specific models exist throughout the state of California.

For Eichler Home Upgrades, Count on the Bay Area’s Premier Remodeling Contractors

At Flegel’s, we specialize in Eichler home repairs or remodels throughout the Bay Area. Our creative designers and skilled craftsmen are well-versed with the local guidelines and building codes that focus on preserving and maintaining Eichler homes. We offer innovative, lifestyle-friendly solutions to update your Eichler home and make it more luxurious and energy efficient, while retaining its distinctive style. When you hire us, expect nothing less than creative design, superior finishes, and consistent customer service.

Check out the Eichler makeovers we have done to understand the scale and complexity of the upgrades that we can deliver.

Upgrading an Eichler home in the Bay Area? Hire the trusted Eichler home renovation specialists at Flegel’s Construction Co. Contact us online to discuss your custom home renovation project.

Eichlers in Mountain View

Written on December 11, 2019.

Be the Proud Owner of an Eichler in Mountain View

Buy, Remodel, or Custom Build a Characteristically Charming Home

Exploring options to buy and remodel an Eichler? Planning a custom build for your Eichler-style home? These architectural gems feature an abundance of charm and character, along with other features that you typically look for in modern homes. Here’s a quick rundown on Eichlers in Mountain View, an area that offers exciting opportunities to buy, build or own this style of home.

Eichler Homes are Full of Charm, Style and Amenities

Symbolizing the mid-century modern style, Eichler homes upstaged several other architectural ideologies to become one of the most popular and affordable residences in the 1950s and 60s. Spread across Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, Eichlers represented a new breed of construction that:

Featured a minimalist design with flat roof lines and open concept layouts.

Promoted indoor-outdoor living and plenty of natural light by incorporating skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Offered distinctive façades with a characteristic pattern making Eichler homes easily recognizable.

With modern aesthetics, visionary design, and the ability to build entire Eichler communities, architect Joseph Eichler created legendary homes that remain highly desirable even today. With a few modifications and upgrades, an expertly remodeled Eichler could give contemporary home styles stiff competition in every aspect of design and functionality.

Where Can You Find Eichlers in Mountain View?

Fascinated with the idea of owning a bright, airy Eichler home, and updating it with luxurious designs and modern conveniences? Check out the two large developments in Mountain View, CA that together feature over 275 Eichler residences.

The Fairview tract: There are over 200 Eichlers, built in the mid-1950s in the Monta Loma neighborhood. Find them on Quincy Drive, Emmons Drive, Richard Court, Thaddeus Drive, Nedson Court, Thompson Avenue, Benjamin Drive, Victory Avenue, Dell Avenue, and Alvin Street. Most homes feature 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. In this subdivision, you may also find Mackay Homes and Mardell homes that have a certain resemblance to Eichlers, since one of their designers was originally an Eichler architect.

The Bell Meadows tract: This area houses around 75 Eichlers, most of them along Eichler Court, Trophy Drive, and Eichler Drive. Built in the early 1970s, these homes are relatively larger, and offer an extra bedroom as compared to the ones in the Monta Loma neighborhood.

Bay Area’s Premier Remodeling Contractor for Eichler Home Upgrades

The team of passionate designers and skilled craftsmen at Flegel’s Construction Co. have over 30 years of experience in building and remodeling homes. We specialize in repairing and upgrading Eichlers, and comply with the applicable guidelines for retaining their characteristic charm. From adding or upgrading rooms, to improving energy efficiency, and repairing structural elements, we can meet the renovation goals for your Eichler home.

Happy Eichler home owners across Mountain View, CA admire our creative solutions, professional touches, and unparalleled customer service.

Upgrading an Eichler home in Mountain View or other areas in the Bay Area? Hire the trusted Eichler remodeling experts at Flegel’s Construction. Contact us online to discuss your custom home renovation project.

Why Were Eichler Homes Popular?

Written on October 18, 2019.

Question: Why Were Eichler Homes Popular?

Answer: Minimalist, Modern, Distinctive Style

If you are a modernist who identifies with clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and bright, open plan living, then you may already be a big fan of Eichler homes. For those who are wondering why Eichler homes were so popular, Flegel’s Construction Co. offers some insights.

Eichler Homes: The Epitome of Mid-Century Modern Style Homes

Eichler homes were modern, affordable homes that changed the reigning architectural ideology in the 1950s and 60s. With over 11,000 residences built all over Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, these homes got their name from the primary architect, Joseph Eichler.

Here are some of the key features that made Eichler homes popular:

Fresh, modern, budget friendly style: Most homes at that time were compact brick houses, with small windows and asphalt shingles. In contrast, Eichler homes introduced indoor-outdoor living by featuring huge windows, open-air foyers and open concept layouts. However, the modern, innovative design style remained budget friendly and affordable, making it very popular with the suburban middle class.

Bringing the outside in: One of the key philosophies behind Eichler homes was to bring the outside in, while retaining an optimum sense of privacy. So, you may find floor-to-ceiling windows (glass walls) looking out on private outdoor areas at the rear of these homes. While most houses did not have any front facing windows, some featured small, discreet, frosted glass ones.

Distinctive exteriors: Eichler homes are all about post-and-beam construction and flat or low-sloping A-framed roofs featuring vertical 2-inch pattern wood siding. The simple, minimalistic façades and clean geometric lines gave these structures very distinctive exteriors, making them easily recognizable as Eichler homes.

Community living: Eichler’s vision went far beyond building standalone homes. He designed entire Eichler communities, integrating sidewalks, parks, community centers, and other community living features that many homebuyers seek even today.

A visionary, Joseph Eichler’s modern aesthetics continue to be inspirational and desirable in the 21^st century. Both homeowners and potential buyers consider these homes to be architectural gems. After all, who wouldn’t want to own a bright, airy home that offers an intimate connection with the surrounding landscape without compromising privacy?

Bay Area’s Top Renovation Contractor for Your Eichler Home Upgrades

As the Bay Area’s top renovation contractors, Flegel’s Construction Co. specializes in repairing and remodeling Eichler homes. From updating living spaces and building gourmet kitchens, to adding rooms and improving roofing or insulation, we cater to a range of requirements for making Eichler homes more energy efficient, functional and luxurious. Our creative designers and skilled craftsmen can modernize your home without detracting from its characteristic charm. We also ensure that our designs and construction are fully compliant with the Eichler home guidelines.

Our team has successfully completed many Eichler home renovation projects across the Bay Area, including in Mountain View, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Campbell, and San Jose, CA.

Looking to upgrade your Eichler home? Exploring the possibility of buying and renovating an old Eichler property? Speak to the remodeling experts at Flegel’s Construction today. Contact us online.

San Jose Eichler Neighborhood Recognized

Written on August 15, 2019.

Eichler is added to historic register

Congratulations to the residents of the Fairglen Additions neighborhood of San Jose who led a successful campaign to have the tree-lined district — distinguished by its 218 Eichler homes — added to the National Register of Historic Places this year. The neighborhood near Curtner and Booksin avenues is San Jose’s largest enclave of Eichler homes, built between 1959 and 1961 and known for their distinctive flat or lowsloped roofs, open floor plans and tall windows. And three of the homes, all within walking distance of each other on Fairwood Avenue, will be featured in a Preservation Action Council tour on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

At the same time, there also will be a Mid-Century Pop-Up Shop — with vendors selling period memorabilia, decor and furniture — on Fairwood Avenue, which will be closed to traffic for the event. Sally Zarnowitz, cochair of the Fairglen Additions Preservation Committee, will talk about the significance of the housing tract at 11:30 a.m., and author and historian Heather David will sign copies of her book, “Motel California,” and the San Jose Signs Guide at noon.

Tickets are available for $20 in advance at preservation.org or by calling 408-998-8105, or $25 on the day of the event at the pop-up shop on Fairwood Avenue.

Originally written by Sal Pizarro, Columnist, The Mercury News on Thursday August 15, 2019.

Guidelines for Eichler Homes in Palo Alto

Written on July 13, 2019.

Expert Advice from a Trusted, Local Home Improvement Contractor

Guidelines to Preserve Your Palo Alto Eichler Home

Undertaking maintenance or remodeling of your aging Palo Alto Eichler home? The Eichler Neighborhood Design Guidelines, issued by the Palo Alto City Council, are a good starting point. Whether you are replacing expired materials, or adding lifestyle-enhancing elements, these guidelines will help you retain the characteristic features of your Eichler home.

Key Suggestions for Maintaining and Repairing Palo Alto Eichler Homes

The extensive guidelines issued by the Palo Alto City Council cover a variety of aspects important for preserving the design and ethos of Eichler communities. These include:

Recommendations on placement and design of doors, windows, roof forms and chimneys.
Advice on cladding materials, form and massing, and other exterior materials.
Suggestions for constructing basements, first-story additions, carports or garages, in keeping with the privacy requirements of the community.
Visible impact of upgrades related to mechanical systems, ducting, plumbing, and more.

Here are a few key maintenance tips to help preserve and maintain the characteristic features of your Eichler home.

Fenestration: Doors and windows are among the most noticeable features of any home. While the guidelines encourage homeowners to improve energy efficiency, they recommend treating or repairing the original windows and doors in place, if possible.

Consider options, such as adding high-quality clear films, or changing the weather stripping to reduce air infiltration and heat gain.

If you are replacing a deteriorating window trim or swapping out your single-pane windows for insulated ones, try to maintain the same size, profile and configuration as the original window.

While replacing entry doors or garage doors, opt for simple, flat appearances and minimal to no glazing, in order to blend into the signature Eichler community look.

Roof Repairs and Maintenance: The characteristic patterns of fascia, slopes and rafter ends give Eichler home roofs a degree of visual variety while retaining their modernist architectural style. If you are replacing your roof:

Try to retain the original design, height and profile of the roof, along with a relatively plain appearance.

Use roofing materials like single ply, foam, tar and gravel, or composite shingles.

Try to retain the overhanging eaves, exposed beams and soffits or the fascia boards, all of which are defining elements of Eichler homes.

If you are installing skylights or solar panels on the roof, try to minimize the visual impact of these features to preserve the Eichler look.

Replacing Exterior Cladding Materials or Paint: While repairing or replacing the existing cladding materials, maintain the vertical wood board or plywood siding. Avoid adding other materials, such as brick, stone, shingles, or vinyl to the exterior walls, as these are not in line with the typical look of Eichler homes. To repaint your home’s exterior, select colors that support the broad, mid-century modern characteristics of Eichler neighborhoods. As far as possible, use only one primary color, along with an additional trim / accent color.

While these are only guidelines, they can help you make informed decisions when you undertake repairs, maintenance or upgrades for your Palo Alto Eichler home.

Hire Palo Alto’s Trusted Construction Contractor for your Eichler Home Repairs or Remodeling

As Palo Alto’s premier home improvement contractors, the team at Flegel’s is well-acquainted with the guidelines for preserving and maintaining Eichler communities. We have extensive experience in repairing and reviving Eichler homes, without detracting from their overall character. With creative designs and skilled craftsmanship, we can transform your Eichler home into a more attractive, functional space that is better suited to your lifestyle and preferences.

Check out our many Eichler home remodeling projects across the Bay Area, including Palo Alto, Mountain View and Sunnyvale, CA. A growing base of happy customers vouches for our consistent service and superior finishes.

Need repairs, upgrades or remodeling for your Palo Alto Eichler home? Set up a consultation with one of the experts at Flegel’s Construction. Contact us online.