All Posts By

AMRON

January 9, 2020
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Hillside Construction

By | structural & reinforced concrete

HILLSIDE CONSTRUCTION

AMRON builds for your future.

Hillside construction is not the normal type of construction implemented during the average construction project workday. It’s more complex, and requires considerable knowledge related to soil stabilization, soil dynamics, and heavy equipment.

Most, if not all, foundations being built on hillsides are required to be engineered and incorporated with caissons. The caisson portion of the foundation is normally drilled directly into bedrock at depths of five to fifteen feet. The bedrock in question might be ten to fifteen feet below the soil on which the foundation / grade beam will rest. This means that the drilled caissons will have to be drilled twenty to thirty feet deep, penetrating the depth of the loose soils including loam, silt, and/or clay, then continuing deeper into the surface of the stable bedrock that represents the base of the hill and the community at large.

When one stops to realize the dynamics of such a feat, it requires placing heavy drilling equipment, sometimes weighing many tons, on a fifteen to twenty degree hillside slope, or greater; and then managing the large amount of soils that the drilling auger is unearthing as it bores deeper and deeper into the hill side. This scenario requires choreographing several large pieces of heavy equipment, as well as, workmen moving together in unison and harmony in a specific area of the hillside.

Depending on the geological studies of the surrounding soils, when working on hillside construction, the foundation / caissons are required to be engineered with a stronger PSI mix of concrete and supported by a greater number of larger steel rebar. The steel rebar represents a steel cage, cast-in-place with high strength concrete that now represents the foundation, grade beams and / or caissons being cast in place.  This process enhances the foundation stabilization, and allows it to function in unison with gravity and / or movements within the surrounding hillside.

AMRON’s hillside construction service includes hillside foundations, retaining walls, house bolting, earthquake retrofitting, structural / reinforced concrete, friction piles, grade beams, hillside stabilization, correcting poor drainage and other water intrusion issues.

For further information on AMRON’s services, call 310-384-2042.

December 5, 2019
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Be Prepared

By | earthquake retrofit

BE PREPARED

AMRON builds your future.

Safety First.

Like most things that are significant in our lives, it’s knowing who to contact in an emergency. When one requires medical assistance, one contacts his / her trusted doctor or dentist. When one requires automotive repairs, one normally has had the experience of dealing with a specific mechanic.

Living in California and especially in Los Angeles is very gratifying because of our climate; but there is an element of this environment that one must be cognizant of, and that is earthquakes. Should one require construction services, be it preventative or for actual repairs,

Who Would You Call?

Responding to the community’s needs.

AMRON’s owner, Robert Williams, was heavily involved as Operation Manager for alleviating the debris of massive distribution in the city of San Francisco and surrounding areas after the Northern California Loma Prieta quake, and was instrumental for removing the Embarcadero freeway in the heart of the city.

Robert Williams managed a team to remove and rebuild several sections of the city of Oakland’s 580 and 880 freeways, correcting earthquake damages to several freeway overpasses, and correcting damages to several office building and homes in the San Francisco bay area.

The education acquired from the experience of working in such a large earthquake damaged environment was phenomenal: to have gained the on-site, firsthand experience of removing massive entanglements of steel rebar interlacing in concrete rubble, and to have witnessed the disruptive forces that impaired the integrity of modern engineering has only enhanced the knowledge of building, repairing or providing preventative measures to structures exposed to possible earthquakes.

If one were to ask the question of how many managers/owners of construction companies have participated in such an event as a major earthquake, and gained the on-site and firsthand knowledge of working in the devastation of such an event, the answer would be,

Not Many.

November 21, 2019
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A Los Angeles Pastor Has A Vision

By | commercial construction

A LOS ANGELES PASTOR HAS A VISION

One faithful parishoner makes the commitment:
AMRON develops the DREAM!

Responding to the community’s needs.

The church project was constructed on a 3.5 acre site. Existing asphalt, concrete buildings, slabs and grade beams/piles were removed.  50% of the site was excavated 8 ft. deep and re-compacted.

The project was constructed as a design build.  As  liquefaction was prevalent in the area, the building’s foundation design was critical. The building’s grade beam design required #9, #10, and #11 bars. The cast in place beams set on 57, 24″ radius piles, some over 50 ft deep.

Open area design for the congregation required a 50 ft. span from wall-to-wall, so steel became the materials factored during design.

Wood purlins with plywood shear created a panelized roof system.

Exterior and interior framing utilized metal studs and light gauge steel at the outer walls for shear. The building was wet-wall construction.

A ceiling with a 36″ clear crawl space was required for the mechanical systems, ventilation/duct work, fire sprinkler system, and a special remote-controlled retractable platform for an audio/projection system.

The interior of the facility was designed with ADA compliance, so carpet covered ramps were added throughout the interior of the complex.

 

The finished roofing system was Red S-Clay tile with an automatic skylight opening into the 2nd level projection room.

In order to accommodate any/all types of events, the interior sanctuary was constructed for usability.

When the project was completed the congregation extended a grand exultation, not just for the completion of the project, but also for the quality of the work.

November 14, 2019
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Pressing Business

By | structural & reinforced concrete

PRESSING BUSINESS

AMRON helps a Sonoma grape grower achieve his construction vision.

Why a Sonoma vintner hired AMRON:

AMRON is not your typical contractor. From single family homes to major league ballpark stadiums, we have been serving clients since 1965. Our latest project is the concrete work for a custom vineyard home.

Building the foundation for an environmentally friendly vineyard.

The custom vineyard home required extensive groundwork.

Construction starts from the ground up, so it’s imperative that the footings and grade beams are laid out correctly.

Steel rebar in concrete footings is essential. It’s not just the concrete that creates the integrity of footings and beams, it’s the steel.

This project is designed to sustain major hillside movement. It required 70,000 lbs. of steel and 800 cubic yd. of concrete. Yes, it’s massive: this is what AMRON does!

Interior walls were cast­in­place concrete. Design specified that most grade beams Most are 12 in. thick and 20 ft. high.

Design specified that most grade beams Most are 12 in. thick and 20 ft. high. and stem walls were 18 in. thick. Our craftsmen built the wood forms on site, installed specialized steel rebar, then placed and finished the concrete.

The major retaining wall was 100 ft. long, 12 in. thick and 26 ft. high. AMRON understands and can implement all concrete pours. Few contractors can say that!

 

This project was designed with a vaulted ceiling and 26ft. high cast­in­place gable end walls. Not your ordinary concrete project!

Understanding and meeting the needs of our clients.

County building inspectors were awed by the magnitude of the formwork and concrete pours. With seventeen required county building inspections, not one correction was required!

It’s a statement that AMRON provided impeccable service.

Upon completion of the concrete project, the owner’s parting statement was:

“This project could not have been built without AMRON.”

October 25, 2019
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Wow! What A Beautiful Home!

By | residential construction

WOW! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOME!

AMRON Perfects the Art of Design and Construction.

Moving a mountain to build a dream. 

Building is our passion! AMRON’s ingenuity and technical expertise satisfies clients with projects ranging from single family homes to major league ballpark stadiums. Our latest project is the completion of a custom design built home.

Hillside construction is one of our specialties. We cut the hill to the desired plateaus, and moved five thousand cubic yards of dirt to local landfills to ready the site for concrete foundations.

After excavating for the hillside foundations, AMRON’s workmen lay out for boring the caissons.

Boring twenty five caissons on excavated plateaus is not unusual for AMRON: we understand and are familiar with hillside construction.

Certain hillside projects have allowed AMRON to use metal forms to accelerate the concrete phase. We also build our own wood forms if dictated by the requirements of a particular project.

Framing hillside homes requires knowledge of integrating heavy metal connectors with large wood timbers, not your typical house framing. AMRON’s background and experiences makes it happen.

It all starts with the foundation.

AMRON has the unique qualifications for building with heavy commercial construction related materials and then phasing into the soft finishes for the interior of the house.

AMRON believes that living in a well built and beautiful house is truly inspirational, and we build homes with that philosophy in mind.

One of our AMRON workmen said after completing this house:

“It’s so gratifying to know that one has put forth an extreme effort to complete something of such beauty.”

October 16, 2018
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AMRON Condo Remodel in Pacific Palisades

By | Remodel

AMRON’s clients decided to completely remodel their circa 1970’s condo.  AMRON gutted the entire unit and put in new electrical, plumbing, support beams, floor, ceilings, walls, drywalls, bathrooms, kitchen, walk-in closets, windows, doors, molding, and deck resurfacing.

The new AMRON design build kitchen features custom built upper and lower cabinets, new Thermador appliances, quartz counter tops and marble backsplash.  The following are 3 photos of the condo before it was refurbished.

AMRON’s remodel included new wall additions / layout throughout the units with new interior solid core 1 3/4″ doors/jambs and hardware, finish plumbing, finish electrical and ceiling fixtures / recess lighting, finish tile, and all miscellaneous finish work required to complete the unit. The AMRON remodel also included new drywall, oak flooring, and paint.  The following are photos show the condo upon completion of the project.

AMRON opened up the kitchen to the living room and hall to fully utilize the space and light coming in from the ocean view.  The kitchen features a window seat next to the dishwasher and an independent island with lots of cupboard space.  The engineered support beam by the kitchen island replaces the support wall.

The flooring is engineered oak wood.

For this AMRON design build bathroom, AMRON installed new shower lath, custom built cabinets, quartz counter tops, tile backsplash and mirror frame, nickel platted fixtures, and marble shower, walls and floor.

AMRON tore out an outdated wet bar and media center in the living room and used the reclaimed square footage to build a brand new walk-in cedar closet with recessed lighting, floor to ceiling full length mirror, and oak floors for the Master Bedroom.  Check out the following photos of the walk-in closet.

The guest bathroom has the same light and airy motif as the kitchen and master bathroom with marble walls and floors, nickel platted fixtures, quartz countertops, AMRON custom made cabinets, and tile backsplash, mirror frame, and bathroom floor.

To add ambiance to the living room area, AMRON utilized the wall space where the old media center had been, and designed and built a marble, gas fireplace as shown below. Note, the new, sliding glass doors to the balcony, as well as, recessed lighting, oak floors, throughout.

For an expert approach to your construction needs, AMRON has the skill, experience, and creative touch to build your project from the ground up.

AMRON: (310) 384-2042                                                     AMRONconstruction.com

July 10, 2018
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AMRON: Builder of Award Winning Design Project

By | New Construction

AMRON CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF DESIGN & BRINGS IT TO REALITY

Recently, an AMRON built project received the Grand Award for Residential Design via the Concrete Masonry Association of California and the American Institute of Architects of Southern California.

AMRON Construction

AMRON is passionate about building, and AMRON’s ingenuity and technical expertise made this award winning design come to fruition.

AMRON Construction

To see what makes this AMRON built project unique, read on!

AMRON Construction

The studio was built in a remote location with no crane access; and yet, AMRON successfully erected the six ton roof structure.  The AMRON team balanced extreme steel angles and its massive weight on four mid-center points.

AMRON craftsmen at work in symphony creating aesthetics, not sound.

The architect’s dreams came to fruition with AMRON’s knowledge and abilities – A true team effort.  AMRON can build any dream from simple to complex designs.

AMRON’s site work complemented the structure and vice versa, and integrating commercial concepts into residential design construction enhanced the integrity and enabled creativity.

The structure was recently built, but it appeared as though it had been there for many years – a blending of the old and new.

AMRON Construction

TRULY, A WORK OF ART!

AMRON Construction

For an expert approach to your construction needs, AMRON has the skill, experience, and creative touch to build your project from the ground up.

AMRON: (310) 384-2042                                                     AMRONconstruction.com

June 28, 2018
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Beautiful Bathroom Remodel by AMRON

By | Bathroom Remodel, Concrete & Retrofitting, Remodel, Residential, residential construction, Residential Renovations, structural & reinforced concrete, Uncategorized

AMRON CREATES & BUILDS A BEAUTIFUL SPACE

When it comes to designing & building a space our clients love, AMRON does it right!  The following is a peak at the final product, but read on to see what it takes to make it happen!

AMRON’s client purchased a 1930’s fixer upper, complete with vintage tiles, knob & tube electrical wiring, cast iron plumbing, and jerry-rigged structural beams.

The bathroom ceiling was so low, AMRON’s client had to stoop to take a shower.  The cast iron plumbing and knob and tube electrical wiring was antiquated and hazardous, and the rickety support beams consisted of odds and ends nailed together.

AMRON began by gutting the bathroom ceiling, walls, and floor; tore out the tiles, plumbing, electrical wires, and jerry-rigged beams.

AMRON’s electrician and plumber installed modern electrical and plumbing. AMRON’s carpenter installed up-to-code beams to reinforce the building’s structural integrity. The interior walls were also replaced.

AMRON’s tiler laid marble tile throughout, including a herringbone, marble tile pattern on the bathroom floor. The detailing is simply elegant!

The results: a light, airy open space, allowing fresh air and exterior sunlight to shine through the vintage stain glass window and bathe the entire bath area!

Our client is well over 6’7″. By gutting the bathroom and getting rid of all the outdated plumbing in the ceiling, AMRON picked up much needed, additional space: now our client can stand tall when taking a shower! Note, the smooth plaster ceiling and recessed lighting.

Take a peek at our tiler’s beautiful, inlaid tile, shower shelving.

AMRON added custom built cabinets & countertops to complete the bathroom.

WHEN THE PROJECT WAS DONE, SEE WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAID ABOUT US :  

“We’ve worked with AMRON on several projects including bathroom remodels, plumbing replacement, deck rebuild, structural work and more. We couldn’t be more thrilled with our experience. Bob and his team are professional, so kind, so hardworking and are perfectionists. The client is #1. They stand behind their work and aren’t happy unless the client is. We wouldn’t work with anyone else.”

For an expert approach to your construction needs, AMRON has the skill, experience, and creative touch to build your project from the ground up.

AMRON: (310) 384-2042                                                     AMRONconstruction.com

April 17, 2018
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AMRON Designs & Builds a New Garage

By | New Construction

AMRON Designs & Builds a New Garage

AMRON’s contemporary new garage construction is so sleek and pretty it warrants a new car to match! Let’s see how AMRON designed & built it.

First steps: AMRON checked city requirements, produced and finalized structural and engineering drawings with the city, and obtained a city building permit for the project.

AMRON prepared the pad and installed the forms for the concrete pour.

AMRON brought in the concrete truck to pour 14 cubic feet of concrete in two separate pours.

On the first pour, AMRON poured the concrete for the footings.

Next, AMRON poured and placed the concrete for the garage slab on grade.

AMRON workers smoothed the concrete.

AMRON framed the new garage construction.

Here you can see AMRON’s finished concrete slab, the framing, and the exterior stucco lathing.

AMRON electricians wired the new garage construction and installed the fixtures.

AMRON wraped the garage exterior with metal lathing for the stucco.

AMRON installed the interior garage drywall, garage door, and garage door opener.

AMRON applied smooth stucco for the final finished touch!

The finished garage side view shows the footings, exterior lighting, and garage door.

This garage corner view displays the sheet metal, gutter, and down spout that directs water away from the building, protecting the new construction against water intrusion damage.

AMRON’s new design build garage is ready for the client’s vehicle.

For an expert approach to your construction needs, AMRON has the skill, experience, and creative touch to build your project from the ground up.

AMRON: (310) 384-2042                                                     AMRONconstruction.com

January 11, 2018
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AMRON – Your Earthquake Brace & Bolt Contractor

By | Concrete & Retrofitting, Earthquake Brace & Bolt, earthquake retrofit, FEMA, Remodel, Residential, residential construction

Did you know that your home may be eligible to receive up to $3000.00 for Earthquake Retrofit?  The California Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) program is encouraging home owners with older homes to get their homes retrofitted by providing financial assistance to homeowners in selected zip code neighborhoods.

The consequences of an improper earthquake retrofit or of not strengthening an older home can be devastating.  More than 1.2 million houses in high-hazard areas are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because of the type of construction.  These homes were typically built before 1979, wood-framed with a raised foundation and have a cripple wall in the crawl space under the house.

In an EBB retrofit, the cripple wall is strengthened with bracing and bolting or with bolting only, depending on the house foundation. With bracing, plywood is added to the cripple walls to strengthen them and to help prevent the home from collapsing.  With bolting, anchor bolts are added in the crawl space to help prevent the home from sliding.

Eligible homeowners can apply for retrofit funding from January 23 – February 23, 2018, at earthquakebracebolt.com.  As a FEMA trained, registered, and participating EBB general contractor, AMRON is at your service to assist you with the application process and to answer your questions. Please call AMRON at 310-384-2042.