Before & After Gallery - Rowan Construction Group Cupertino

Construction Before & After in Cupertino, CA

Photos don’t pitch. They show the seam where old work ends and ours begins. We’ve documented every Rowan project since 2007 because a homeowner in Cupertino deserves to see what “done right” actually looks like before they sign anything. The gallery below is organized by trade, with the problem we found, the spec we used, and the result the customer walked through.

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Recent Transformations

Kitchen Remodel: Oak Cabinet Swap for KraftMaid Painted Inset in Cupertino

The homeowner had lived with the original kitchen for sixteen years. The oak cabinets were structurally sound but the finish was worn through at the handles, and the laminate counter had a heat blister near the cooktop that had spread. We measured the existing footprint, confirmed the soffit could be removed without structural relocation, and quoted a flat price for KraftMaid painted inset cabinets in “Dove White” with soft-close hinges, a Cambria “Brittanicca” quartz counter with an eased edge, and a tile backsplash in a running bond pattern. The quote included a written scope, a 365-Day Done Right Promise, and a documented photo record of every visit. The crew found galvanized supply lines behind the sink that were corroding at the threads, photographed the condition, and replaced them with braided stainless before the cabinet install proceeded. The homeowner received a signed change order for the line upgrade, a photo of the old lines, and a photo of the new ones. The kitchen was usable at the end of each workday, and the final walkthrough included a photo binder of the full sequence.

Bathroom Remodel: Fiberglass Shower to Curbless Wet Room in Cupertino

The existing bathroom was a standard 5×8 layout with a one-piece fiberglass shower that had cracked at the drain flange and was leaking into the crawl space. We found the subfloor was spongy within a four-foot radius of the drain, photographed the deflection with a straightedge, and documented the moisture reading with a pin meter. The quote specified removal of the fiberglass unit, sistering of the floor joists, replacement of the subfloor with 3/4″ exterior-grade plywood, a Schluter-Kerdi membrane system for waterproofing, a curbless entry with a linear drain set to 1/4″ per foot slope, 12×24″ porcelain tile in a stacked layout, a floating vanity with a quartz top, and Kohler “Purist” fixtures in brushed nickel. Under Clause 1 of the Haven Standard, the written price included every line item before demolition started. The signed change order for the joist sistering was presented when the spongy subfloor was exposed, not after the fact. The homeowner has a photo of the cracked flange, the sistered joists, the membrane flood test, and the finished tile.

Roofing: Three-Layer Tear-Off to GAF Timberline HDZ in Cupertino

This was a 1964 ranch with three layers of asphalt shingle, which is over the two-layer maximum in Santa Clara County building code. The ridge was sagging between trusses, and the homeowner had noticed granule accumulation in the gutters after every rain. We photographed the layer count from the ladder, the granule depth in the gutter, and the ridge sag with a string line. The quote specified a complete tear-off to the deck, replacement of any rotted sheathing, installation of GAF FeltBuster synthetic underlayment, and GAF Timberline HDZ architectural shingles in “Charcoal” with a 130-mph wind rating. The existing ridge vent was crushed flat by the weight of the third layer; we specified a new Cobra Ridge Vent and confirmed the soffit vents were unobstructed for intake airflow. The crew found two sheets of plywood that were delaminated around a plumbing vent, photographed the condition, and replaced them with a signed change order. The homeowner received a photo record showing the three layers coming off, the bare deck, the new underlayment, and the finished roof, plus the GAF warranty registration.

Windows & Doors: Aluminum Single-Pane to Milgard Tuscany Vinyl in Cupertino

The home still had its original 1978 aluminum single-pane windows with failed weatherstripping that whistled in the Santa Clara Valley wind. The sliding patio door had condensation between the glass lites that obscured the view of the backyard. We measured every opening, noted the drywall returns versus wood casings, and quoted Milgard Tuscany Series vinyl double-pane windows with Low-E coating and argon gas fill, plus a new Tuscany sliding patio door with a screen. The quote included removal and haul-away, interior trim repair or replacement as needed, and exterior caulking with OSI Quad. The crew found rot in the sill of the patio door opening, photographed the punky wood with a probe, and replaced the sill with pressure-treated lumber and flashing tape before the door went in. The change order was signed before the lumber was cut. The homeowner has photos of the failed weatherstripping, the condensation pattern, the rotted sill, and the finished installation with the trim painted to match.

Driveway & Pavers: Cracked Concrete to Belgard Catalina Patio in Cupertino

The existing concrete driveway was cracked in a map pattern from root intrusion and had settled to slope toward the garage, which sent water under the door during heavy rain. The homeowner wanted a surface that could be repaired in sections if root intrusion returned, rather than replaced as a monolith. We quoted removal of the concrete, excavation to 8″ depth, installation of a permeable aggregate base in two lifts with plate compaction, bedding sand, and Belgard Catalina pavers in “Toscana” with a soldier course border, all sloped 1/4″ per foot away from the garage and toward the street. The quote included a written price for the full scope, including the unexpected possibility of root pruning or a root barrier if the offending tree was within the drip line. The crew found the original concrete was only 3″ thick with no rebar or mesh, photographed the cross-section, and installed a geotextile fabric and 4″ of Class II base before the pavers. The homeowner received photos of the cracked concrete, the excavation, the base lifts, and the finished pattern, plus the written warranty.

Home Addition & ADU: Garage Conversion to 480-Square-Foot Studio in Cupertino

The homeowner had a detached 2-car garage that was used for storage and wanted a permitted studio ADU for family use with future rental potential. We confirmed the setback complied with Cupertino’s ADU ordinance, the floor area was under the 1,200-square-foot maximum, and the existing slab was thick enough for conversion without replacement. The quote specified insulating the walls and ceiling to Title 24 standards, adding a kitchenette with a two-burner cooktop and compact refrigerator, a 3/4 bath with a 32″ shower, a Mitsubishi mini-split for heating and cooling, a separate electrical meter, and a tankless water heater. Under the Haven Standard, the price was written before any work started, and no change proceeded without a signed change order. The crew found the existing slab had no vapor barrier and was wicking moisture, photographed the efflorescence with the meter reading, and specified a sealed floating floor system rather than direct glue-down. The change order was signed, the floor went in, and the homeowner has photos of every phase plus the final inspection sign-off from the City of Cupertino.

Want Results Like These?

Every project you see above started with a free estimate and a written price before anyone picked up a hammer. We’re Rowan Construction Group Cupertino, and we’ve delivered over 4,000 projects under The Haven Standard since 2007. Call (669) 202-9618 to schedule your free estimate. Bring a competitor’s written quote and we’ll review it line by line at no charge. Under Clause 1, your price is written before work starts, always.

Written by Grant Rowan, Owner at Rowan Construction Group Cupertino, serving Cupertino since 2007.