Ready to break ground on a new construction project in San Diego? Pause, theres a few things you need to take care of before you start building your new dream home. As with any city, the City of San Diego has specific guidelines home builders must follow to ensure all buildings stay within certain building codes. These dense laws and regulations can be difficult for a homeowner to navigate. We’ve created a short guide to help explain some of the general new construction guidelines and regulations we have to adhere to here in San Diego.

Permits and Approvals

• Building permit: Before breaking ground, all new construction builders must obtain a building permit through the city. Your contractors will submit your building plans and documents to the city staff for approval. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the scope, location and workload of the project.
• Demolition permit: A demolition permit is needed to completely demolish or remove any structure before beginning new construction on the property.
• Construction noise permit: You must obtain a construction noise permit if you plan to hold construction between 7pm and 7am on weekdays or at any point on Sundays or holidays.
• Grading permit: If you are moving 200 or more cubic yards of earth, or filling 8 feet or more, your construction team must submit a grading plan to the city for approval.

For more information on how to submit building permits, visit the city of San Diego’s Project Submittal Manual.

Codes and Regulations

The 2022 California Building Standards Code (CBC) was put into effect on January 1, 2023 for project submitted after that date. This code ensures new buildings are up to state wide standards of fire, life, structural and accessibility compliance. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones in San Diego.

State and Regional Codes

San Diego builders must adhere to state-wide, regional and location specific codes to maintain legality when planning new construction projects.

• California Building Standards Code (Title 24): At its broadest, San Diego must adhere to statewide code enacted in January of 2023.
• San Diego Municipal Code (SDMC): The SDMC contains local amendments to state codes that address specific local conditions and requirements for the area of San Diego.
• Land Development Code: Land development code involves regulations for the use of land for the area of San Diego with our unique zoning laws, subdivisions and land-use activities.

Regulations

These requirements vary from region to region and fit under the overarching codes that dictate new construction plans in San Diego

• Structural Requirements: structural requirement codes ensure that buildings can withstand loads from earthquakes and other forces
• Electrical safety requirements: electrical codes safeguard builders and homeowners against shocks and electrical fires caused by poor installation of electrical equipment.
• Plumbing standards: plumbing codes govern the installation and maintenance of incoming and outgoing water supply to ensure that everything is safe and hygienic.
• Energy Efficiency: San Diego climate action initiatives have mandated energy efficient home features like insulation and window requirements.

For more information on San Diego’s unique codes and regulations, visit the city of San Diego’s development services page.

Now, with a basic understanding of what is required of home builders before even breaking ground, you, as a future homeowner, are more equipped to tackle this project. Choose home builders that keep you in the loop through the entirety of the project from form submissions to final touches. D & L Builders stands as a widely trusted home builder for San Diego County, with the legal and hands-on experience to ensure a smooth and beautiful home-building experience. So get your hardhat, let’s get building!

Perhaps the most important feature in the home, the focal point of the kitchen and the choice with limitless options – the countertops. In the whole process of home building or remodeling, you have dozens of choices to make, one of which is the type of countertop you want in your kitchen. All with different appeals and different styles, when given the choice between marble, quartz, and granite, you may not know where to start. Let’s take a look at each and talk about what might be right for you. 

Choosing the Right Material For Your Countertop

What works for you and your household may not work for others. That’s why it’s extremely important to take your needs into careful consideration when choosing your countertop. The options for countertops seem to be growing every day, with new trends like butcher block and stainless steel becoming popular choices. The classic and most popular surfaces still stand as marble, quartz, and granite. Let’s take a look at some of the features of these materials to guide you in choosing your dream countertops.

Granite Countertops

Granite is by far the most popular choice for countertops and likely will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. Its versatile and timeless design stands the test of decades. Granite countertops are cut from natural stone, sealed, and installed. Their highly durable material and finish make them virtually indestructible. Granite comes in two forms: slab and prefabricated. Buying a granite slab is ideal for highly customized kitchens that have intricate features, cutouts or formations. Prefabricated granite comes precut to fit home countertops for a one-size-fits-all approach. Buying fabricated tends to be cheaper. Beyond this, there are dozens of colors and styles of granite to choose from, with varying grade, thickness, porosity, etc. 

Pros

• Durable & heat-resistant
• Holds its value
• Unique 

Cons

• heavy
• Requires maintenance

Marble Countertops

Now instead of bring used for deity honoring monuments, it is filling our kitchens and bathrooms with a sleek, classic glow. The elegant veining of marble is the biggest draw and with numerous styles and varieties, each piece is unlike any other. Marble is slightly less durable than granite because it is more porous, meaning it requires frequent sealing. Marble is also more expensive, on average $25/sqft more expensive than granite.

Pros

• Timeless
• Many color options

Cons

• Not heat resistants
• Manufactured, not natural

Quartz Countertops

Quartz is unique in that is is real stone, processed and sealed in resin. Because of this, it can take on many different styles and forms. As 90% quartz and 10% resin, this counter top remains completely non-porous and stain-resistant. However, the downside of the resin coating is that quartz countertops are not heat resistant like granite and marble are. In terms of cost, quartz is similar to granite but, as always, you’ll have to look at specific countertops to narrow down the price point. The processing technique allows for many more styles than the other two options, so it will work with more kitchen styles and tastes.

Pros

• Wider variety of options and styles
• No maintenance needed
• Highly durable and stain resistant

Cons

• Not heat resistant
• Manufactured, not natural

Home Builders and Renovators to Install Your Countertops

The decision is a big one so it is important to think about your lifestyle and what your needs are. You should make a choice that you will love now, and in the future. For stone countertop installation, contact D&L Builders. 

As we all know, trends are ever changing. Every year new trends emerge, and old ones are left behind. When it comes to kitchen remodels, some like to go with the latest trends, while others branch out and go for a more unique look. Ultimately, a remodel is an investment, and you want to choose a look that is right for you. After all, you are the one seeing it every day! In 2023, there have been multiple trends for kitchen designs. Let’s take a look at the top 3. 

Two-Toned Cabinets

One trend seen in 2023 is two-toned cabinets. Picking two complementary colors for your cabinets is a great way to create contrast and depth in your kitchen. For a softer look, paint your upper cabinets white and your lower cabinets gray. If you want to go bold, try black and white. Some other common color duos for cabinets are white and sage green, white and royal blue, forest green and brown wood, and cream and navy. 

Natural Wood Cabinets

Natural wood cabinets are another trend seen in 2023. While it’s a simple look, it creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. This trend is a staple look that gives you a lot of creative room to incorporate other colors with appliances, rugs, backsplash, dish towels, etc. With natural wood, you can also stain the cabinets over time to switch up the tone.

Dark, Matte Finished Cabinets

Dark, matte cabinets are growing increasingly popular for homeowners wanting to add a modern look to their kitchen. The dark matte appearance creates an elegant, intimate vibe. It is common to pair the dark cabinets with lighter countertops for contrast. 

Trust D&L Builders

There are endless options when it comes to kitchen design. When choosing a design, consider the colors and tones that you can see yourself enjoying over time. Trends come and go, so don’t feel pressure to follow them! When you are ready to upgrade your kitchen, D&L Builders is here for you. Our team of professionals manage your remodel from the moment you call us until the end of the project. Call us today at 858-727-4509 for top-notch remodeling services!