What happens when you open the walls and find problems?
Something is almost always found: old wiring that's still live, framing cut by a previous renovation, water damage nobody saw. We look before we price to find what we can, and we're plain about what can't be known until the walls are open. When something changes the scope, we stop work on that item, show you what we found, and put the change in writing before it continues. It never shows up for the first time on an invoice.
Do we have to move out?
For a whole-home renovation, almost always. With the walls open and the systems being replaced, the house usually goes without working water, power or heat for stretches of the project, and a construction site isn't safe to live in. We'll tell you at the scope stage roughly when you'll need to be out and when to expect to be back.
Should we renovate, or tear down and rebuild?
It depends on what the house is made of and what you want from it. We build new homes and renovate existing ones, so we don't need the answer to go either way. A renovation can often keep the house where it sits; a new build generally has to meet today's setbacks, which can shrink what the lot allows. If the structure is sound, renovating usually keeps more of what you value. If it isn't, starting over is sometimes the honest answer, and we'll say so.
Can we renovate in phases?
Sometimes, and it's worth asking. But wiring, plumbing and mechanical are most efficient replaced across the whole house at once. Doing them in pieces usually costs more overall and means opening finished rooms twice. If phasing makes sense for your house, we'll lay out what each phase includes and what it costs you over the full project.
Do we need an architect?
If you're changing the layout, yes. Moving walls and relocating rooms needs drawings, and structural permits typically require them. If you're keeping the layout and replacing systems and finishes, the drawing set can be simpler. We work directly with architects and will tell you what your project needs.
Will you replace the wiring, plumbing and mechanical?
Yes. That's what separates a whole-home renovation from a cosmetic one. The systems are run new for the house as it will be, including any rooms that move, and inspected before anything closes up. Leaving an old system behind new finishes is how a renovation ends up being opened again.
How long does a whole-home renovation take?
Several months. How many depends on the house, the scope, permitting, and what's found behind the walls. We give you a realistic range at the scope stage, after we've looked, not before.
What does a whole-home renovation cost?
We don't publish numbers, because the cost is set by what's behind the walls, not by the square footage. Two houses the same size can need very different work once they're open. We look first, price against the drawing set, and tell you where the uncertainty sits.
