Straight answers, before you call.
The questions we get asked most, answered honestly. If yours is not here, call us and ask.
Getting started
Before you call us
How do I start a project with you?
Call or send the form and we will set up a free visit to your home. We listen, measure, and talk through what you want. There is no fee and no pressure at that stage.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. The visit, the measuring, and the conversation cost nothing. You only commit when you approve a written price.
Do you handle design, or only construction?
Both, and that is the point. From your first inspiration photo to 3D renderings and construction ready drawings, we design in house, then build what we drew. If you already have plans, we are glad to price and build those too.
Can you build from plans I already have?
Absolutely. If you have drawings, we will price and build them. Starting from zero? We design and build under one roof, which is where we do our best work.
What areas do you serve?
Greater Los Angeles. If you are close but not certain you are in range, just ask and we will tell you straight.
Pricing and timeline
What it costs and how long it takes
How much will my project cost?
Every project is different, so we skip the vague ballparks that balloon later. After a free visit to your home you get a fixed written price for the full scope, and you approve it before any demolition starts.
How do you keep a project from going over budget?
Clear drawings and one accountable company. The scope is settled on paper before work begins, so there are far fewer surprises to pay for later.
How long will it take?
That depends on scope and permits, so your quote comes with a written schedule. Because one company runs the job from start to finish, that schedule holds.
Can the work be built in phases?
Yes. We design the full picture, then build it in stages that fit your budget, so the plan stays coherent even if the work is spread out over time.
Do you require a deposit?
Payment terms are set out in your written agreement before work begins, so you know exactly what is due and when. Nothing is open ended.
Working with us
Who does the work and what it is like
Who actually does the work on my project?
Design, cabinetry, and steelwork are handled by our own in house team. Plumbing, electrical, stucco, concrete, landscaping, and pools run through vetted local trades we have worked with for years. One company stays accountable for all of it.
Do you really build in your own shop?
We do. Cabinets are milled and assembled, millwork is fabricated, and custom steel for BBQ islands and firepits is welded in our own local shop. That control over the craft is a big part of why the details come out right.
Can we live at home during the work?
Usually, yes. We seal off the work zone, protect floors and pathways, and leave the site clean each day. We will also be straight with you about the loud, dusty stretches so you can plan around them.
Will the site be cleaned up each day?
Yes. Protected floors, contained dust, and a tidy site every evening. Your home stays livable while we work in it.
Who is my point of contact?
You deal with us directly, not a rotating cast of strangers. The same people who designed your project run it through to the final walkthrough.
Licensing, permits and warranty
The paperwork and the promises
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. J.F. Designs holds California contractor license #943985, and permits, code compliance, and inspections are part of every job.
Do you handle permits and inspections?
We do. Permits, code compliance, and inspections are part of the job, not your homework. Our drawings are made construction ready for exactly that.
Do structures like pergolas need permits?
Often, yes. Pergolas, covers, and outdoor kitchens usually require permits, and we handle the applications and inspections as part of the project.
Do you offer a warranty?
Yes. Every project ends with a final walkthrough, and our workmanship is warrantied. If something is not right, we come back and make it right.
About the work itself
Kitchens, baths, interiors and exteriors
What does custom interiors cover?
Home bars, entertainment walls, built in shelving, feature walls, fireplace surrounds, and full room remodels, designed and fabricated in our own shop.
Can you move walls or open a kitchen up?
Often, yes. Opening a wall for an island or a more open plan is one of our most requested projects. We handle the structural work, permits, and inspections as part of the job.
Who handles waterproofing in a bathroom?
We do. Membranes, slopes, and code inspections are part of the job, never an afterthought. What lives under the tile matters as much as what you see.
What does custom exteriors cover?
Everything outside the house: patios, decks, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, fire features, custom fences, and pool surrounds. We design and build the whole outdoor space, or any single piece of it.
Do you install pools?
We design and build the full space around the pool, and the pools themselves run through the top notch local pool contractors we have worked with for years, all coordinated by us.
Do you build the BBQ islands yourselves?
Yes. Our custom BBQ islands and firepits are fabricated from steel in our own shop, so each one is sized to your grill and your space instead of forced from a kit.
Ready when you are
Did not find your answer?
Tell us about your project and we will answer it in person, on a free visit to your home.
Get started
Tell us about your project.
Send a few details and we'll come out to your home for a free estimate. Prefer to talk it through? Call us. A real person answers.
- Free estimate at your home with no obligation
- Fixed pricing before any demolition
- Serving greater Los Angeles and the Westside
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