Marrokal Design & Remodeling has a "Make-It-Right" Gurantee

In tough economic times, warranties are often compromised. Some companies won’t offer guarantees of their work. That should be a red flag to a homeowner.

“If I put a new roof on your house and five or 10 years from now it leaks, my company will take care of it; shouldn’t we? You want a company that if you have any problems, you know they’ll be taken care of,” says Gary Marrokal, owner of Marrokal Design and Remodeling.

He says homeowners should try to find out how problems were handled by a company that they are considering hiring.

“Today’s society and world are not perfect but how I handle those imperfections— whether it’s during the job or three years later—is what creates memorable moments for clients.”

The make-it-right guarantee is what continues to grow Marrokal Design and Remodeling.  Just ask his clients who will tell you that trust, longevity, people with experience, and a full-service company that starts from beginning of concept design to the completion of a project are what made them loyal clients for life.

Small Home Remodels Are the Modern Answer

Homeowners are finding their smaller homes may need a little remodeling work in order for them to have a comfortable fit, a well-designed usage of space, and distinct sense of belonging. That was the goal for Robert Drake and Deborah Lenz. They bought their tiny North Park home in 1989. It was 740 square feet on a very small lot.

“My wife was the one who said ‘We’re better off putting money into this house and getting it fixed up. Why don’t we just look into it and see what it would cost?’ So we did and it made the best financial sense to just invest in this house, especially in light of what has happened to the housing and mortgage market,” says Drake.

Now, after 80 percent of their home was renovated by Marrokal Design and Remodeling, it’s turned into a comfortable, flowing floor plan. By adding a second floor, the home nearly doubled in square footage to 1,300 and increased from two bedrooms and one bath to three bedrooms and two baths.

“I like to say that now it feels adult-size. It’s just the two of us and two dogs. It feels spacious, yet it’s not big; it feels like a really good fit for us,” says Drake.

Often, envisioning how a small home can be turned into a right-sized fit for homeowners can be challenging. Marrokal Design and Remodeling recently completed several remodels of bungalow homes, including the Drake/Lenz remodel, in North Park and University Heights areas. Davies own home, a modernist bungalow, was also remodeled.

Marrokal Design and Remodeling Named NARI 2011 Regional Contractor of the Year

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named Marrokal Design and Remodeling, in San Diego, California, 2011 Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) in the Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration category, the Entire House Remodel category, and in two Residential Kitchen Remodeling categories of its annual awards competition.

Marrokal offers full-service design/build services and has served San Diego communities for over 30 years. “I am extremely proud of our accomplishments,” says Gary Marrokal, President of Marrokal Design and Remodeling. “Our winning team continues to shine in all areas of our company, from the initial design phase of our projects through the construction phase to the service we provide after completion. I’m very proud of them and our clients.”

Contractors from seven regions around the country vie for CotY Awards on an annual basis, and all regional winners will now be eligible for the National CotY Awards. National winners will be honored at NARI’s Evening of ExcellenceSM on Saturday, April 2, 2011, at the Westin Jersey City Newport.

Marrokal’s winning projects include a historical home renovation, an interior/exterior whole house remodel, a beach cottage kitchen expansion, and a kitchen as part of a whole house remodel. Three of Marrokal’s four projects that won Regional CotY Awards also won Local CotY Awards in December 2010.

All projects submitted for judging were an improvement or an addition to an existing structure, with the exception of one category, “Residential Exterior Specialty.” Otherwise, new construction projects were not eligible.

In addition, competing projects were completed between July 1 of 2009 and November 30 of 2010 and were not submitted in prior NARI National contests. An impartial panel of judges who are experts within the industry and associated fields, selected winners based on each entrant’s binders, which include “before and after” photography and project descriptions. Judging focused on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and entry presentation.

Trophies will be awarded at the Evening of ExcellenceSM at the Westin Jersey City Newport on April 2, 2011, where National CotY Winners and Achievement Award Winners will also be announced and awarded.

The Evening of ExcellenceSM is widely considered to be the premier event of the year in the remodeling industry. It will be attended by more than 350 of the industry’s elite.

To be considered for a CotY Award, a company must be a NARI member in good standing. The entries making up this year’s competition totaled $93 million in remodeling projects. NARI members represent an elite group of the approximately 800,000 companies and individuals in the U.S. identifying themselves as remodelers.

Having a Full-Service Design and Remodel Under One Roof Solves Problems Before They Start!

While this may seem like the more expensive route, it can actually be the most predictable and cost-effective. “A lot of designers don’t know how to listen to homeowners,” says Gary Marrokal, owner of Marrokal Design and Remodeling. A full-service design remodeling company helps homeowners understand exactly what they are getting—from start to finish—which avoids common industry problems that often occur when an architect drafts the design plans and then a builder is brought in later.

Frequently, when homeowners turn to architects, the plans are over-built and too costly to be developed. When you use a full-service design-and-remodel company, the budget for the design and construction are taken into consideration.

“It’s like if you and I go to the store and we don’t know the budget and I load up a bag with expensive steaks, chips, soda, and a lot of other items without realizing the real cost of the food. Then when we get to the counter, we’re way over budget. The bag gets blown out because we can’t afford it,” says Marrokal.

“In a full-service company, you will understand your design and how it’s going to be when it’s complete,” he says.

Marrokal is the Company That Has Experience and a Healthy Reputation as Well as Trust

A company that you can trust with your home

Nothing can beat a quality reputation. If the work doesn’t measure up and problems with the remodel mount, the company will eventually find itself buried in lawsuits. Homeowners should always check with a remodeler’s past projects. Ask for clients to speak with and then take the time to view the projects that are similar to the work you will be having done. The extra hours of research could save you future endless headaches and thousands of dollars.

“You really want to talk to a client that the company is doing work for currently. Everyone has a happy client that had work done six months or a year ago, but homeowners should seek to talk to someone who is getting work done right now or whose home was just completed,” says Gary Marrokal, owner of Marrokal Design and Remodeling. He says it gives an accurate picture of what you can expect.

A company that has experience and a healthy reputation

The biggest complaint in the industry is that many home remodeling companies hire surly, fast-talking sales associates to close deals on remodeling projects. This creates a disaster. Homeowners feel pressured and end up with unsatisfactory remodels.

Marrokal says his company has studied customer service training, and the staff knows that the company’s biggest asset is its clients. That’s why their complete satisfaction is a must. And it begins with educating clients. Marrokal Design and Remodeling carefully guides clients, but ultimately lets them choose which level of quality they want for their home.

“You want a company that will give good value but you want a company that will educate you about the different levels and costs for products so that you can choose how much to spend ,” says Marrokal. He adds, 

“All cabinets will hold your plates but you want hinges and wood that will work ten years from now. You want a finish that will look good 10 years later.”

Smart Small-Home Remodels Offer Simple and Comfortable Living

Supersize, no more! The new home theme boasts a less-is-more attitude and homeowners love it. The smaller-home remodel trend is delivering big results for homeowners who want to bring back simple living that leaves nothing to waste in these strained economic times.

“Smaller homes are becoming more pertinent under the current market conditions,” says John Mills Davies, Director of Design at Marrokal Design and Remodeling. The negative effects of urban sprawl—such as the long commutes which impact the quality of a person’s life are causing more people to search for neighborhoods that offer a better living environment. According to the National Association of Home Builders, many baby boomers want to be closer to families and are looking for smaller homes. “There’s a lot of thought in this country about neo-traditionalist principles and how the old neighborhoods really worked well. They were oriented toward how people interact and inter-relate,” explains Davies.

“People are buying into neighborhoods that have character, are really a pleasant place to live, and where they are able to interact with people in a reasonable fashion without having to spend three hours on the freeway commuting,” says Davies.

Smaller homes are also more appealing because of the green-trend movement to conserve. A reluctance to pay for any unnecessary space is fueled by energy and construction costs and the overall desire to leave a smaller carbon footprint.  A less-is-more attitude prevails and satisfaction is found in simpler living.

How to Choose a Home Remodeling Company

How can homeowners who are considering a home remodel in San Diego be sure, ahead of time, that they’re entrusting their most expensive possession to the right company? Gary Marrokal, owner of Marrokal Design and Remodeling, says homeowners should expect a company to exceed their expectations not just meet them.

There are five vital factors that a home remodeling company should have: a staff that skillfully listens and pays attention to clients’ needs, trust, experience, full-service design and remodel, and a make-it-right guarantee. Marrokal talked with me about how he’s built long-lasting clients by focusing his efforts on these important customer concerns.

A company that listens and pays attention to clients’ needs

“We understand that clients want a company that will listen and take their ideas and expand on them so that the remodeling concepts offer various design options as well as help to enhance their bottom line such that when the project is done it exceeds their expectations,” says Marrokal.

Being the recipient of a highly coveted ethics award, Marrokal knows that not all remodel companies are built the same. Some are seeking profit over true customer satisfaction. And that’s when consumers suffer. Some companies won’t offer energy-efficient or recyclable products; thus the remodel isn’t as cost-effective when it’s complete.

“You want to hire a company that’s going to over-insulate your home, a company that will utilize techniques that can save you money on your water and electricity bills, and also make your home more comfortable,” he says.

But Marrokal cautions homeowners to really make sure they understand what they’re getting. “There are a lot of energy-efficient products that are not cost-effective because it takes too long to recover the cost of the initial product.” Marrokal Design and Remodeling has knowledgeable, experienced staff that can help you determine which products to use in your remodel to give you the most value.

Residential Historical Renovation and Restoration by Marrokal Wins another Contractor of the Year Award (CotY)!

This home remodel is a compelling family generational story encapsulated within a charming and historically significant Point Loma Community of San Diego. When the owner was a child, her parents, with the design help of her grandparents, built a modestly sized but very well constructed, traditional home overlooking a park. She was raised in this home and her parents lived there until their deaths a decade ago. Upon inheriting the home, a lengthy and meticulous renovation/restoration of this little coastal gem was undertaken.

The square footage of the house was not increased and very little was removed from the original structure except for the kitchen and main bathroom. Hardwood floors, painted moldings, wrought iron features and basket pattern brick floors and patios were painstakingly restored. The charming features original to the house have been retained and finishes made new, such as the arched telephone niche which perforates the wall between the hallway and the kitchen. This was originally designed so that her parents could easily answer their one telephone from both the kitchen and the master bedroom.

All of the new cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom are custom designed following the same design aesthetic as the original case work in the home providing a seamless transition from old to new. Highly detailed, period correct tile work in the kitchen as well as the enlarged, accessible master bath, have enhanced the charm of the original house. Planned in the late 1930’s and finished in 1940, the black and white, high-gloss tile and wainscot of the bathroom appear absolutely original to the home. Reclaiming space from an adjacent closet allowed for the bathroom expansion and the creation of a curb less and door-less, walk/roll-in shower with a seat and a multitude of plumbing features including a ceiling-mounted rain head. Matching period correct porcelain pedestal sinks, a deep soaking tub and toilet were all selected to appear original. Storage was achieved through custom medicine cabinets with mirrored doors and electrical outlets inside as well as a custom linen cabinet behind the bathroom door that matches casework in the kitchen. Original lighting fixtures were reinstalled with period correct replicas reflecting the design spirit of the original fixtures being added where appropriate. Cabinet pulls and towel bars were also selected from restoration sources for their period correct design. The top-of-the-line kitchen appliances in stainless steel mesh wonderfully with the couple’s collection of historic objects arranged behind glass cabinet doors, while providing state of the art utility and function.

The exterior of the home, including landscaping, was treated with the same care and exhaustive research. Plant varieties were selected from memory of the original installations 70 years ago and enhanced with selections which were popular from that time period. Additions were made to extensive brick work existed to increase the outdoor living areas including a new front porch. The color scheme for the exterior involved a selection process based in popular color trends from 1940, which enhance the façade and increase interest, although not the original color palette.

The owners claim that passers-by now stop and repeatedly ask about the house whereas prior to the renovation/restoration the home was generally unnoticed. The owners are once again in love with this revitalized childhood home.

The Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards are given each year by NARI Headquarters to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling projects.  NARI Contractor Members are invited each year to compete for the prestigious Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award.  CotY Award Winners report that winning this award is a major factor in enhancing their image within the industry and with prospective clients, and is a major morale-booster for their employees.

Marrokal Design and Remodeling is Your One-Stop-Shop for Home Remodels

The full-service home-design remodel company offers homeowners one-stop shopping for their remodeling needs. “I develop a written program based on what my clients’ needs and goals are for their remodel,” says Steve Walton, Senior Design Consultant for Marrokal Design and Remodeling. He adds, “Throughout this I am digging deep and finding out what’s important to my clients. A lot of companies don’t ask these questions but this is how Marrokal Design and Remodeling starts to develop a preliminary budget for our clients.”

The company also uses value engineering to design the remodel with clients’ budget needs and requested items in mind. “Value engineering” means refining and sometimes redesigning aspects of the remodel to make it more cost-effective.

Why a full-service remodeling company?
This is perhaps one of the most significant points when choosing a remodeling firm. A full-service company keeps your remodeling project running smoothly by coordinating all of the necessary design, construction developments, and communication with trade companies through one primary source (removing the unnecessary hassle of trying to get numerous trade companies to work together).

“When people are first looking into a home remodeling project, money tends to be the number one factor but, when the work is finished, the money factor actually drops to six or seven on the list,” says Walton. He says what ends up being more important is the fact that the homeowner hired a remodeling company that provided a complete understanding of the entire remodeling process, and oversaw the project from the design phase to the building of it—leaving the homeowner with just one primary company to work with during the remodel.

An Entire House Transformation by Marrokal Wins a Contractor of the Year Award (CotY) from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry!

This 1971 home underwent a total design transformation, inside and out, to become the well designed comfortable home that these clients wanted. With a penchant for old world ambiance, the owners wished their home to reflect warmth and style with European appeal.

An elevated arched tower now provides a dramatic entrance into the home from the newly designed front courtyard. Custom designed wrought iron gates at the courtyard’s entrance reflect the same arc as the towers arch. Hand chiseled Ann Sach’s tile was laid in a Versailles pattern throughout the courtyard and El Dorado Stone was applied to the front exterior. Reclaimed European pavers were set into the driveway to recreate a particular Italian street pattern favored by the owners and carriage style garage doors were installed to replace the original aluminum roll-up.

In order to effectively utilize all of the space within the home’s original footprint, the center of the residence was opened to create one large cohesive space that accommodates the kitchen, dining, library and living areas. Separate “his” and “her” offices were designed adjacent to the entry vestibule, with French doors opening to the front courtyard from “hers”. The coffered ceiling in “his” features inserts of recycled grass cloth.

The raised outdoor pavilion, carved from the formerly unused hillside, adds a final dramatic element. Carved from the hillside, this outdoor room was created to provide an al fresco retreat complete with all amenities. The conversation area, featuring fireplace and fountain, has all the current multimedia options and is only steps away from the separate outdoor dining area. The home’s Tuscan theme is displayed in unique finishes and designer details used throughout.

Hand-painted and intricately patterned tile was applied to the face of the built in seating areas. Custom scroll work railings accent the staircases, each designed with a quarter-turn radius. The cast stone fireplace creates a distinctive focal point while custom blended, hand chiseled Ann Sacks limestone tiles provide an inimitable flooring surface. The layered stone fountain, set in a fragrance garden provides a final tranquil element. These homeowners are delighted with their home’s total transformation into a tranquil retreat, both inside and out, reminiscent of a European vacation.

The Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards are given each year by NARI Headquarters to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling projects.  NARI Contractor Members are invited each year to compete for the prestigious Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award.  CotY Award Winners report that winning this award is a major factor in enhancing their image within the industry and with prospective clients, and is a major morale-booster for their employees.