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Cut the hole before the plan is approved

I opened the ceilings of the Snake Pit lounge before approval and found what the design had been missing.

The rear of the Shelby building in Gardena was Carroll Shelby's former apartment plus a patchwork of offices, slated to become the Snake Pit VIP lounge. No one knew what sat above the ceilings.

I chose to start preliminary demolition before the plan was approved. A few holes went in, we studied the structure and the ceiling, and we patched everything back.

Many contractors steer clear of opening walls on a renovation, since a surprise tends to become a change order and a dispute. I prefer to see the connections, hold-downs and ceiling while the design can still absorb the findings. The cost is small.

What we found was a tall, wide volume with a barrel ceiling that could not be seen from outside. Everyone agreed the moment they saw it, so I had nothing to sell. The structure became the feature, and a double-sided showpiece fireplace at the entrance carried very large screens.

Doing the preliminary demo ahead of approval made the rest easy, and that was the key. Look inside the walls before the design is locked. A hidden condition found early gives you a design opportunity. Found late, it gives you a change order.

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