Inspired Home Remodeling in Seattle for Every Lifestyle

What Opening a Wall in an Older Seattle Home Can Turn Up

Any house renovation in Seattle that goes past the surface runs into the age of the building. These are the conditions we plan for on the first walkthrough, not the week demolition starts:

• Plaster and lath walls. Common in pre-war homes, plaster takes more care to cut, patch, and match than drywall, and it creates more dust when it comes out.
• Lead paint. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint on trim, walls, or cabinets, which changes how demolition and cleanup are handled.
• Asbestos-containing materials. Older flooring, pipe insulation, and textured ceilings can contain asbestos. In the Puget Sound region, an asbestos survey is required before renovation work begins.
• Aging pipes. Galvanized supply lines and cast iron drains are still common in older houses and often need replacing once the walls are open.
• Earlier unpermitted work. Decades of updates by past owners don't always meet code, and they sometimes have to be corrected before new work can pass inspection.

When a remodel moves plumbing or wiring, it generally needs a permit. In Seattle, that means SDCI for building and electrical work and Public Health – Seattle & King County for plumbing. As your remodeling contractor in Seattle, we handle the filing and inspections.

Bathroom Remodeling in Seattle, Sized for Small Baths

Many early Seattle homes were built with one small bathroom, often off a hallway or tucked under a sloped ceiling. A small bathroom remodel in Seattle usually comes down to making every inch count: a bathroom vanity sized to the room, storage recessed into the wall where the framing allows, and a layout that works with the door instead of against it.

Replacing an original tub with a walk-in shower remodel in Seattle is one of the most effective ways to open up a tight bath. Our tub-to-shower conversions handle the drain, waterproofing, and tile as one job.

Kitchen Remodeling in Seattle, Starting With a Material Checklist

Kitchens in older homes were often built as closed rooms at the back of the house, with limited counter space and little room for modern appliances. A kitchen remodel in Seattle often means rethinking that layout. Sometimes that means opening a wall; sometimes it means keeping the footprint and making it work harder.

Kitchen projects most often stall when finishes aren't confirmed before construction starts. Before work begins, we provide a material checklist covering cabinets, countertops, flooring, and fixtures, so everyone is working from the same list.

Seattle Neighborhoods We Work In

As kitchen and bath remodelers in Seattle, we work across the city's central and southern neighborhoods, and the housing changes a lot from one to the next:

• Queen Anne: Many homes date to the early 1900s, including Victorian-era and craftsman houses with original layouts and plaster walls.
• Capitol Hill: Known for large early-1900s foursquare homes, with generous main rooms but kitchens and upstairs baths that are often due for an update.
• Mount Baker: Craftsman and Tudor-style homes from the 1910s and 1920s, many with original details worth keeping.
• West Seattle: A mix of early-1900s houses and mid-century homes, depending on the neighborhood.
• Beacon Hill: Early- to mid-1900s bungalows, many with a compact kitchen and a single bathroom.

We also work in Madrona, Leschi, Montlake, and Columbia City.

Start With a Walkthrough of Your Space

Tell us which room you want to change, and we'll walk it with you, check what's behind the finishes, and give you a written estimate. Whether it's a bathroom remodel in Seattle or a full kitchen, every project includes a 12-month workmanship warranty, and we're licensed, bonded, and insured in Washington (Contractor License #VITALNR771NJ).

Reach out to us today and get your free estimate.