Can we live in the house during a whole-home remodel?

For a cosmetic refresh, sometimes — with a phased plan that keeps a functioning kitchen and bath. For a layout renovation or full gut, we strongly recommend living elsewhere, because dust containment, utility shutoffs, and open framing make daily life impractical and slow the crew down.

How far in advance should we plan the move-out?

Line up temporary housing before demolition starts and plan for the full construction window plus a buffer. We build the expected timeline into the phasing plan so you can commit to a rental or arrangement with confidence rather than guessing.

What surprises do older Utah homes tend to hide?

Common ones are knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, undersized panels, galvanized supply lines, missing or minimal insulation, and framing that was never engineered for the openings you now want. We budget a discovery contingency because these are the norm, not the exception.

Can you remove walls to open up the floor plan?

Yes. Non-bearing walls come out readily; bearing walls require an engineered beam and proper support, which we design and permit. On homes over crawl spaces or on expansive clay we also confirm the load path all the way to the footing.

Will a full remodel meet current energy code?

A gut renovation triggers current Utah energy-code requirements for insulation and air sealing, which is actually a benefit — it is the one time you can affordably re-insulate walls and upgrade windows while everything is open.

Is remodeling really cheaper than building new?

It depends on the home. Keeping a sound foundation and shell can save meaningfully versus ground-up construction, but a full gut of a compromised structure can approach new-build cost. We give you an honest comparison during preconstruction so the decision is informed.

Construction & Remodel

Whole-Home Remodeling

Reimagine the house you love without leaving the neighborhood you chose.

Estimated Range

$150k – $500k+

Request detailed quote

Service Tiers

Cosmetic Whole-Home Refresh

$150k - $225k

A comprehensive surface-level transformation that keeps the existing layout and systems intact.

All-new flooring throughout
Kitchen and bath finish updates
Interior paint and trim
Lighting and fixture replacement
Refreshed cabinetry or refacing

Layout & Systems Renovation

$225k - $375k

Reworked floor plan with select structural changes and updated core systems for a home that lives like new.

Non-bearing and select bearing wall removal
Electrical panel and rewiring updates
Plumbing and HVAC modernization
New kitchen and primary bath
Window and door replacement

Full Gut Renovation

$375k - $500k+

Taken back to the studs and rebuilt — new envelope, new systems, new everything inside the existing footprint.

Studs-out demolition
Complete mechanical, electrical, and plumbing replacement
Structural reframing and reinforcement
Insulation and energy-code upgrades
Fully custom finishes and millwork

Key Benefits

Keep your lot, neighborhood, and schools while getting a functionally new home
Correct dated layouts that no cosmetic update can fix
Replace aging wiring, plumbing, and HVAC in one coordinated pass
Bring an older Utah home up to current energy and safety standards
Phase the work so demolition, systems, and finishes flow without idle gaps

Our Process

Discovery & existing-conditions survey
We document the current structure, systems, and any hidden constraints before a single wall is designed out.
Design, budget & phasing plan
We reconcile the wish list with a real budget and map the sequence, including your living-elsewhere logistics.
Demolition & discovery repairs
Controlled demo opens the house, and we address the surprises older homes always hide before rebuilding.
Systems & structure rebuild
New framing, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing go in, followed by insulation and drywall.
Finishes & move-back
Cabinetry, tile, flooring, trim, and paint complete the home, then a detailed clean and walkthrough.

Cost Guide

Whole-home remodels cover a huge span — a cosmetic refresh might run $150k while a studs-out gut of a larger home can pass $500k. The biggest driver is how deep you go: paint and flooring is one number, but the moment you move walls and replace systems, the cost accelerates because labor, engineering, and inspections multiply. Older homes along the Wasatch Front also carry a discovery premium that a newer house does not. The estimate ranges below reflect the levers we see most.

Depth of the remodel

A finish-only refresh is a fraction of a full gut; each step deeper — moving walls, then replacing systems, then studs-out — roughly adds a tier of cost as more trades and engineering come into play.

Hidden conditions in older homes

Knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized plumbing, and undersized panels are common in mid-century Utah homes and can add $15k–$50k that only demolition reveals, which is why we carry a discovery contingency.

Structural changes

Removing bearing walls for an open plan requires engineered beams, temporary shoring, and sometimes new footings on expansive clay soils, typically adding $8k–$30k depending on span.

Systems replacement

A new electrical service, full re-pipe, and modern HVAC together often add $40k–$80k, but doing them while walls are open is far cheaper than piecemeal later.

Living-elsewhere and phasing

Temporary housing during construction is a real budget line, and heavy phasing to keep you in the home lengthens the schedule and its associated cost.

Project Timeline

Discovery & existing-conditions survey
2–4 weeks
We document structure and systems, test for asbestos or lead where age warrants, and identify constraints before design commits.
Design, budgeting & permitting
6–12 weeks
Full drawings, structural engineering for any wall removals, selections, and city permit approval for the combined scope.
Demolition & discovery repairs
2–4 weeks
Controlled studs-out or selective demolition, dust containment, and correction of the hidden conditions demolition uncovers.
Systems & structure rebuild
6–12 weeks
Reframing, beams, rough mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, insulation to energy code, and drywall with required inspections.
Finishes & move-back
6–10 weeks
Cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, trim, paint, fixtures, final inspection, deep clean, and the owner walkthrough.

Materials & Options

Engineered LVL and steel beams

When bearing walls come out, laminated veneer lumber or steel carries the load in a slim profile that keeps ceilings open without a dropped soffit.

Dense-pack and spray-foam insulation

A gut remodel is the moment to re-insulate open walls to current energy code, cutting the heating load through cold Wasatch Front winters.

PEX re-pipe systems

Replacing corroded galvanized supply lines with PEX restores water pressure and resists the scale that Utah's hard water builds inside old pipe.

Updated 200-amp electrical service

A modern panel and rewiring retire dangerous knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring and support today's appliance, EV, and HVAC loads.

Low-E dual-pane windows

Replacing single-pane or failed windows during the remodel improves comfort, cuts glare, and meets the energy code a full renovation triggers.

Permits in Utah

A whole-home remodel almost always requires a building permit, and the systems work adds separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits that Utah cities inspect independently. Because much of the work is hidden behind finishes, inspectors sign off in stages — rough framing, rough mechanical/electrical/plumbing, and insulation must all be approved before the walls close. Homes built before the late 1970s frequently require asbestos and lead-paint assessment before demolition, which is regulated at the state level. A gut renovation also triggers current energy-code compliance for insulation and air sealing. We pull the full permit package, coordinate any hazardous-material abatement, and manage the staged inspections so nothing gets covered before it is approved.

Maintenance

Change HVAC filters on the schedule for your new system; a modern high-efficiency unit is sensitive to airflow restriction.
Flush the water heater and consider a softener loop, since Utah's hard water shortens the life of fixtures and appliances.
Re-caulk kitchen and bath wet areas every couple of years to protect the new substrate behind tile and stone.
Monitor for seasonal drywall cracks in the first year as a remodeled home settles, and note them for the one-year walkthrough.
Keep the updated as-built and permit records with your home file for future projects and resale disclosures.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Budgeting with no discovery contingency

Older Utah homes reliably hide wiring, plumbing, and framing problems that only demolition reveals, and a budget with zero cushion turns every one of them into a stressful funding scramble.

Trying to live in a full-gut renovation

Open framing, dust, and repeated utility shutoffs make daily life miserable and slow the crew, so the perceived savings on rent are usually erased by a longer, more expensive build.

Removing walls without engineering

Assuming a wall is non-bearing and pulling it out can sag ceilings or crack finishes above, and correcting it after the fact costs far more than the engineering would have.

Finalizing finishes after demolition starts

Undecided cabinetry, tile, and fixtures create gaps in the schedule where trades sit idle, and last-minute selections limit lead-time options and inflate cost.

General Contracting

One accountable builder from first budget to final walkthrough.

Project-based · typically 15–25% of construction cost

Home Additions

More room where you already love living — built to look original.

$60k – $350k+

Basement & ADU Conversions

Transform unused space into high-yield luxury suites.

$85k – $120k+