Kitchen Remodeling · Bird Rock, La Jolla, CA
Full Kitchen Remodel — La Jolla, San Diego
The Project
A 1962 La Jolla coastal home had a closed-off galley kitchen with original cabinets, single-pane windows, and a 60-amp subpanel that couldn't support modern appliances. The owners wanted an open layout with an island, full quartz, and a layout that would survive the salt-air environment.
Why this matters in La Jolla
La Jolla coastal homes face a remodeling challenge most San Diego County contractors underestimate: salt-air corrosion. Within 2 miles of the Pacific, standard MDF cabinets, low-grade hinges, and uncoated steel fasteners begin failing in 3–5 years. A kitchen remodel that ignores the marine environment can look beautiful for two seasons and then need a $15,000 cabinet replacement. The right approach uses marine-grade plywood box construction, stainless or coated hardware, and elastomeric paint systems on adjacent stucco — adding roughly 8–12% to the project budget but extending the useful life of the build by a decade or more.
Scope of Work
- ✓Demo of existing cabinets, countertops, flooring, and partition wall
- ✓City of San Diego permit (combination electrical + plumbing)
- ✓Engineered LVL beam to remove load-bearing wall between kitchen and dining
- ✓Custom shaker cabinets in marine-grade plywood (rated for coastal humidity)
- ✓Quartz countertops with waterfall island edge
- ✓Full electrical: dedicated 20-amp circuits, under-cabinet LED, recessed lighting on dimmers
- ✓Plumbing relocation for sink + new island prep sink
- ✓Porcelain tile flooring with heated mat under high-traffic zone
How Subworkit Contracting Delivered
Subworkit Contracting handled the entire build in-house — no subcontractor handoffs. Bernard Eldib personally managed permitting with the City of San Diego, sequenced the rough trades to minimize downtime, and delivered final inspection on schedule. Marine-grade materials were specified throughout to handle the Bird Rock salt-air environment that destroys standard MDF cabinets within 5 years.
Materials & Specifications
Specific brands, products, and engineering specs used on this project. We document materials so the homeowner has a complete record for warranty claims and future maintenance.
- Custom shaker cabinets
- Marine-grade plywood box, soft-close hinges, full-extension undermount slides
- Quartz countertops
- 3 cm Cambria with waterfall island edge, mitered seams
- Engineered LVL beam
- 3-1/2" x 11-7/8" Microllam, sized by structural engineer for 14' span
- Porcelain tile flooring
- 24x48 large-format porcelain with electric heating mat at high-traffic zone
- LED lighting
- Dimmable under-cabinet strip + 6-can recessed on separate dimmer circuit
- Plumbing fixtures
- Kohler Strive sink, Delta Trinsic faucet (matte black), KitchenAid disposal
Project Timeline & Process
6 weeks from start to final inspection. Each phase below shows what happened on-site, when, and why — the same level of detail you'll get on your project status update.
- 1
Permit + design lock
Days 1–7City of San Diego combo permit submittal, final cabinet shop drawings, Title 24 lighting compliance.
- 2
Demo + structural
Days 8–14Cabinet, counter, and partition wall demo. LVL beam install with temp shoring. Subpanel upgrade to 200 amp.
- 3
Rough-ins
Days 15–24Plumbing relocation for sink and prep sink. Electrical rough for 8 dedicated 20A circuits, recessed lighting, and dimmers. Mid-rough inspection.
- 4
Drywall + tile
Days 25–30Drywall, mud, texture, paint. Heated mat + porcelain tile install with epoxy grout for moisture resistance.
- 5
Cabinets + counters
Days 31–37Cabinet install, quartz template, fab, and install with waterfall edge. Backsplash tile.
- 6
Punch + final inspection
Days 38–42Appliance hookups, plumbing trim, electrical trim, final City inspection, walkthrough with homeowner.
Outcome
Project completed 2 days ahead of the 6-week schedule and $1,800 under the original $50,300 estimate. Final invoice: $48,500. Full permit close-out and Certificate of Final Inspection issued 2026-02-14.
Permits: City of San Diego — combo electrical + plumbing permit, closed 2026-02-14
“Bernard's team was the only contractor who understood why we needed marine-grade everything. The project came in early and under budget. We're already planning to have them do our bathrooms.”
Related services we offer
Most kitchen remodeling projects in La Jolla touch one or more of the trades below. Subworkit Contracting handles them all in-house under a single CA Lic #945572.
Also serving nearby cities
This project was completed in La Jolla, but Subworkit Contracting takes kitchen remodeling jobs throughout San Diego County, including:
San Diego · Pacific Beach · Del Mar · Coronado
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Subworkit Contracting (CA Lic #945572) delivers transparent pricing, fixed schedules, and in-house crews across San Diego County. Free estimates.