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It's certainly true that maintaining the Eichler look, whether adding a room or just replacing a light fixture, isn't always easy, especially given that the large-chain home-improvement stores don't have 'Eichler replacement parts' departments. Fortunately, creative Eichler owners have developed their own solutions; and service providers, several of whom uphold the Eichlers' original aesthetic, have sprung up to service the Eichler communities.
 Please fence me in
Fencing is one item that often needs attention, and long before the 50-year mark. While Eichler-style fencing isn't available off the shelf, that doesn't mean it's time to give up and take the white-picket route. Sunnyvale Eichler owners Leslie and Tod Fitch stayed true to the aesthetic: "We wanted to match the original fence, though it took us a while to convince the contractor. He tried to talk us into a fence that looked more appropriate to an Arts and Crafts bungalow than an Eichler!" The contractor milled the new fencing material to these dimensions on site: grooves 1-3/4 inches on center, groove width 5/8 inch, groove depth 3/8 inch. A similar approach was taken by San Jose owner Cathye Smithwick, who used Eichler-style siding to face her fence, saying, "It gave us the continuous, simple look we were after."
For those Eichler owners who have atrium models in which the carport divider is composed of panels of obscure glass, consider building a front yard fence that matches the look of the divider. Create a wood frame that incorporates matching panels of obscure glass for a truly sophisticated look. A contemporary glass style that closely matches that used by Eichler is 'Mistlite,' sold by ACI Distribution through local glass dealers. Warning: even short runs of a style like this can end up costing up to $100 per linear foot just for materials. However, the level of skill required to build it is not great, and many homeowners can handle most fence construction as a 'do it yourself' project.
Typically, fences rot away and need replacing because the posts are sunk into concrete that is level with the ground. Dirt and debris build up around the base of the posts, providing bacteria and fungi a hospitable environment in which to thrive. Consider this approach to extending the life of your fence. Use metal post bases (made by Simpson Strong-Tie, for example, approximately $12 each) and bolt the posts to them after sinking the bases into concrete. Leave a two-inch gap below the post and the base plate to allow air to circulate. Be sure to paint or treat the underside of the post to protect it.
While Simpson says their post bases are for weight-bearing posts only, not freestanding fence posts, in fact they work very well in this application (hurricane force winds excepted). Master carpenter Al Triguerio puts it this way: "I won't put wood posts into concrete anymore because they just don't last. I always use metal post bases. Good wood is just too expensive to replace every 25 years!"
 
Grooving on siding
Siding replacement is always a hot topic when Eichler owners discuss home maintenance. While siding life can be extended with regular repainting or re-staining, and by keeping vegetation clear of the walls, nothing lasts forever. What's more, new owners often have to contend with the poor maintenance practices of previous owners. Fortunately, businesses like Eichler Siding (online at www.eichlersiding.com) offer siding panels that duplicate three of the most common Eichler styles: 'thin line' with 1/8-inch-wide grooves set 1-5/8 inches apart, 'wide line' with 3/8-inch-wide grooves set two inches apart, and 'plank tex' with 3/16-inch-wide grooves set eight inches apart and features a swirl texture cut into the face. They will also mill custom siding in other patterns.
To maximize the life of the siding, before installation the company recommends putting a primer coat on the back side and also priming or sealing the edges in some way. The next decision is: paint or stain? Eichler Homes stained their siding, and while some sources believe that was done principally because it was cheaper than painting, others point out that it also looks better, since stain allows the grain of the wood to show through and keeps the grooves nice and sharp.
Eichler Siding offers their siding styles in different materials, some of which are specifically designed to take paint only, and others that can be painted or stained. Let them know how you intend to finish your new siding and they'll advise you on which materials are best.
While many homeowners choose paint in the belief that the time between recoats is longer, Dave Salas of California Paint and Wallpaper in Sunnyvale points out that a solid stain can last nine to 12 years, comparable to paint (semi-transparent stains will last three to five years, semi-solid stains five to seven years). Salas says staining gives a more natural, rustic look as well as ensuring that the siding grooves stay sharp and clear, even after multiple recoats.
When siding is made of cedar or redwood, Salas recommends using a primer under a solid stain because those woods are more absorbent. However, priming is not recommended for semi-solid or semi-transparent stains on new siding, making that option a real time-saver. When painting, new wood always requires priming first.
This leads to the topic of house colors, and the important role they play in giving the house facade (and the neighborhood, for that matter) its personality. Joe Eichler favored earth tones, though he certainly did not always restrict himself to them. Catherine Munson, an Eichler Homes veteran who now specializes in selling Eichlers in Marin through her Lucas Valley Properties, recalls that the "trim color was sometimes orange or turquoise, colors which now are often considered brash and too intense. Over time people started changing to lighter colors. But now many people prefer more subdued, less 'contrasty' colors." She also favors not going overboard with using the trim color on window moldings and other details, but sticking to a simpler look.
For those seeking to renew their home in an authentic Eichler color, visit California Paint, where Salas keeps a file box of original Eichler colors that he has amassed over the years. He can guide the homeowner to currently available colors that match the old colors, or even create a custom color, if necessary.
Let there be light
Eichler homes typically were accented with several exterior lights, usually finished in anodized aluminum. Invariably these lights have corroded over the decades, and many homeowners have discarded them, perhaps not realizing that they can be restored. One restoration technique is to have the light sandblasted to remove dirt and corrosion and then powder-coated, giving an extremely durable finish. Re-anodizing is also possible, though results can be mixed, especially if the level of corrosion is heavy. Motion detectors can also be wired into old lights so that they can be turned on automatically as needed.
Eichler owners may seek to restore original fixtures because currently available lights are pretty far afield from mid-century modern. However, there are lighting manufacturers producing contemporary styles that blend well with the Eichler aesthetic. Stonco Lighting makes an 'Architectural Bullet' series in aluminum that echoes mid-century bullet lights. UltraLights offers their 'Classic' line in a number of designs that incorporate heavy gauge copper, brass, or stainless steel; and translucent acrylic panels in a simple, timeless style. Check out their 'Luz Azul' line of striking metal wall sconces as well.
Entries and exits
The distinctively plain front door is a signature feature of the Eichler style, and one that is perhaps replaced more often than anything else. Yet, points out Peninsula architect David Solnick, owners should carefully consider any such alteration, especially when it includes replacements that are decorative and traditional. "With Eichlers, I specify a solid wood slab, or if the client has the budget for it, I might use steel or even stainless steel, but still with a flush face," he says. "To pick a froo-froo door out of a catalog is a travesty -- and the same goes for garage doors. I do not say this because I feel the need to be authentic. I simply think that it's the best design choice. Eichler's original choice of doors was just right!"
Peninsula architect Guy Ayers doesn't minimize the difficulty of finding the right replacement door for an Eichler. "There may be some half-way decent, off-the-shelf modernist doors, but I haven't found any," claims Ayers. "There are a few European and American suppliers of nice interior doors, but 99 percent of the custom exterior-door companies don't do modern. If you want a reasonably priced door, use flat solid-core fir or a paint-grade, exterior-grade door. But since many custom door companies, just like custom cabinet companies, will make whatever you want, you just need a creative designer with an eye for modernism who understands how doors are fabricated."
As Solnick points out, garage doors are another frequently modified aspect of Eichler exteriors, particularly those that slide horizontally. This often happened because unaware homeowners brought in their local garage-door repairer, asking for their doors to be repaired, or even automated, only to be misled by the unscrupulous, who simply wanted to register a bigger sale.
Homeowners are often told by garage-door companies that their original doors can only be automated if they converted to a roll-up style door. That is simply not correct. In fact, homeowners can even add an electric opener to their horizontally sliding doors themselves, as Tod Fitch did to his Sunnyvale Eichler. He used a standard Sears worm drive opener (make sure any opener you buy is UL approved, as required by California code) with optional full extension and photoelectric sensor, and mounted it himself (photos here).
If such a project seems over your head, you may want to call on companies like Artistic Garage Doors on the peninsula. According to Artistic's Ron Fouts, "We use the Genie worm drive opener with some custom brackets to automate Eichler sliders. We do a lot of custom doors, and the Eichler doors are some of the simplest ones for us to work on." Artistic's services include rebuilding Eichler garage-door frames and putting new matching siding on them. "Eichler sliders are the most maintenance free of all types of garage doors," continued Fouts, "because they just hang there! As long as they don't hit against the concrete, they'll last forever."
The 'expanded restoration'
When it comes to Eichler exteriors, the biggest challenge of all is adding rooms to your Eichler without altering the look of the house from the street or impacting neighbors' privacy. Bay Area architect David Thimgan of the Thimgan Architectural Group claims that the original Eichler design has a powerful influence on design proposals he makes to his clients. "It completely affects my design approach," he explains. "My whole objective is to make the addition or modification an extension of the original design as best as I can interpret it. I want people passing by the house to be unable to tell where the addition begins and where it ends."
Fellow-architect Ayers finds that many Eichler owners typically want to add more space to their homes by adding a bedroom or enlarging the kitchen. "I've been pretty conservative," he confesses. "I try to make the addition look like it's part of the original house."
Eichler owners treasure their rear 'wall of glass,' but all that glass can leave them vulnerable to the actions of their neighbors, particularly to ones that add a second story. Ayers believes that "most of the time it's tough to add a second story to an Eichler and have it look decent. They tend to loom over single-story houses." However, with careful planning, a well-orchestrated addition can accommodate the rights of neighbors, while at the same time maintain the design integrity of the house as viewed from the street. This can best be done by enlisting the services of a qualified architect.
Catherine Munson is unabashed in her belief that adding incompatible additions and ornamentation decreases the value of the home. "Inappropriate remodels are not looked on as an asset by potential buyers," she says. "If you make an addition adding square footage to the back of the house, and it's done in good taste, it will add value."
On the other hand, what would reduce the value of the house? "When a contractor wants to put a conventional roof on an Eichler and make it look like a ranch house, with the rationale that it will save on heating bills," responded Munson. "This move can make the house look ridiculous, like a little girl with an old lady's hat on." In this case, it may be better to put on an insulated roof in the original style than to destroy the architectural character of the home.
Realtor Loni Nagwani, who markets Eichlers from Palo Alto to San Jose, concurs. "When appraising an Eichler, I will give more value to those kept in the original design than to a 1980s remodel or an oak kitchen remodel," points out Nagwani. "In general, if the house has been remodeled in the modern way, that's great. But many of my clients prefer an original Eichler so they can start with a blank canvas and make the changes they want."
The final word on how to remodel an Eichler belongs to Matt Kahn, former design consultant to Eichler Homes and, for five decades, Professor of Art at Stanford University. " I'm not saying that the house can't be changed, but the changes have to be consistent with the modernist spirit," emphasized Kahn. "If there's any fundamental law, it is that architects should be involved in any Eichler remodel. And there are some regional architects who are unrepentant modernists who could do modifications to an Eichler with genuine respect for the house."
For those Eichler owners who want more space in their 1950s-era homes, Kahn says, "I don't have any clever cues for uncertain homeowners except to tell them to find someone who is knowledgeable, understanding, and professional—and who can do an 'expanded restoration,' not a remodel."
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