The whole house
Whole-house remodels
A new layout and new guts, in an order that lets you keep living.
A whole-house remodel is where the drawings matter most. We measure what exists, find what's in the walls before we price, and plan phases so you can stay in part of the house. In houses built before 1978 we follow the EPA's lead paint rules, and we test suspect old materials before demolition starts.
What's in it
Measured drawings of what exists, and layouts to choose from
New wiring, plumbing and heating and cooling where needed
Insulation, windows and doors brought up to current code
Kitchen and bath work as part of one plan
Phasing, so part of the house stays usable
What it doesn't include
Left out unless the contract says otherwise
Furniture, rugs and art
We protect what you leave. Moving it and storing it are yours.
Appliances
We set an allowance and install what you choose, or install what you bring.
Landscaping
We restore the work area. New beds and patios are a separate scope.
What changes the cost
What moves the number
Whole-house jobs are priced from drawings, not from an average.
What's in the walls
Old wiring, galvanized pipe and hidden rot are found in the survey where we can, and in demolition where we can't.
How much moves
Moving a kitchen or a bath means new plumbing runs. Keeping them in place keeps the budget.
Systems
New heating and cooling, a new panel or a new water line are line items we list, not hide in a lump.
Finishes
A whole house is mostly finishes: floors, doors, trim, tile and paint. We set allowances and you choose.
How it goes
How phases work
- 01
Step 1: Survey and plan
We measure, open a few walls where we can and plan the phases.
- 02
Step 2: Demolition and rough-in
Selective demolition, then framing changes, wiring, plumbing and ducts, all inspected.
- 03
Step 3: Close-up
Insulation, drywall, then floors and cabinets. Each room is finished before the next one is closed.
- 04
Step 4: Finish and punch list
Paint, trim, hardware and a walk-through with a written list we close before the last payment.
Permits and rules
Permits and lead paint rules
A whole-house remodel needs permits for the structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, each inspected. Paid work in a house built before 1978 follows the EPA's lead paint rules, and our firm certification for it is on the credentials page.
Who does what
We: every permit, every inspection and dust containment
You: sign applications and approve the phasing
The city or county: inspects each trade and the final
Examples
Sample work
Showing 3 of 3
Sample photos.
Questions
Whole-house remodels
Can we stay in the house?
Sometimes, in phases. We plan which rooms stay usable and which don't, and we tell you the dates up front.
How do you handle lead paint?
In houses built before 1978 we follow the EPA's lead paint rules: sealed work areas, controlled dust and a documented cleanup. The credentials page shows our firm certification.
What about asbestos?
Old flooring, popcorn ceilings and pipe wrap can contain it. We test suspect materials before demolition and plan around what we find.
How do you keep the price from moving?
By pricing from drawings and listing allowances. The things that do move the price are in the change order, with a photo and a number.
Start with the survey
Book a site visit and we'll tell you what we need to see in the walls before we price anything.