In a La Jolla home, the faucets and fixtures were usually picked with care, and they deserve the same care when something goes wrong. The problems are the same as anywhere else. A kitchen faucet that drips, a handle that gets stiff, a shower that keeps dripping after you turn it off. What's different is what's around them. Custom cabinets, stone counters and fine finishes don't handle water well, and they cost more to fix.
Most of these problems have simple causes. A drip is usually a worn cartridge or seal, and it's a small repair worth doing before the water gets to the finishes around it. A stiff handle usually means worn parts, and it's cheapest to fix early. A shower that won't fully shut off usually has worn parts inside the valve, and a leak at the valve behind the wall is the one that gets expensive behind fine finishes. High end and thermostatic valves often use their own parts, so getting the right ones matters.
Kitchen, bath, shower or tub, the contractor repairs what can be repaired and replaces what can't, or what you're ready to update. New installs need to be seated, sealed and tested carefully around finishes like these. You'll get your options explained in plain English, and the decision is yours.
