A whole-home remodel is where piecemeal contracting breaks down. A kitchen contractor, a bath contractor, and a flooring crew each do their part well and leave the seams for you to deal with: a floor height that changes at a doorway, a panel that is full by the time the basement needs circuits, a wall that came out before anyone checked what was in it.
Standard Building Company takes the whole house as one project. Our design side draws the new plan, our estimating prices it as drawn, and our field side builds it in sequence, with one project lead and one written contract covering everything from demolition to the last coat of paint.
What a whole-home remodel can include
- Floor plan changes, wall removal, and new beams
- Kitchen and every bathroom in one scope
- Electrical service upgrades and rewiring
- Plumbing replacement and new rough-in
- Furnace, air conditioning, and ductwork
- Windows, exterior doors, and insulation
- Flooring, trim, doors, and paint throughout
- Basement finish and attic or garage conversions
Why sequence matters more than anything
In a whole-home project, almost every trade touches every room. Framing has to be done before rough plumbing and electrical, which have to be inspected before insulation and drywall, which have to be finished before cabinets, which have to be set before countertops are templated. Get one of those out of order and the schedule slips by weeks while the crew waits.
Because we design and build, the sequence is set while the drawings are still on the table. The electrical plan already knows where the island is. The plumbing plan already knows the new laundry location. Nobody discovers a conflict after the walls are open.
Older homes in Loveland, Fort Collins, and Longmont
Many of the whole-home remodels we see are 1950s through 1980s homes near downtown Loveland, Old Town Fort Collins, and the older Longmont neighborhoods. These houses were built well but with systems that are now at the end of their lives: 60 and 100 amp panels, galvanized supply lines, aluminum branch wiring in some years, and single-pane windows.
A whole-home remodel is the moment to replace all of it at once, while walls are open and the cost of access is already paid. We price those upgrades as line items so you can see what the house needs versus what you want.
Living through it
Most whole-home remodels mean moving out for part of the project, usually during demolition and rough-in. Some families stage the work in two phases and stay in place. We talk through both options during design, and we build a realistic schedule rather than an optimistic one so you can plan a rental or a stay with family around real dates.
Timeline
Design and permitting for a whole-home remodel typically run two to four months. Construction runs three to eight months depending on the size of the house, how much structure changes, and how long custom items like cabinets and windows take to arrive. We order long-lead items before demolition so the house is not torn apart waiting on a delivery.
What drives cost
Structural changes, the number of bathrooms, and the condition of the existing electrical and plumbing are the biggest variables. Finish selections come next. We give ranges early, before design is complete, and a fixed written price once the drawings and selections are done. See our pricing page for how estimates are built.
How a project runs
- 01
Walkthrough and concept
We look at the space with you, talk through what you want, measure, and flag anything that affects cost or schedule before design starts.
- 02
Design and written price
Our design side draws the plan, we price it as it is drawn, and you get a written scope and price before anything is demolished.
- 03
Permits and build
We submit the permit set, schedule every trade, protect the rest of your home, and keep you posted as the work moves.
- 04
Final walkthrough
We walk the finished work with you, close out inspections, and take care of the punch list before we call it done.
Common questions
Is a whole-home remodel cheaper than tearing down and building new?
Usually, if the foundation and frame are sound. You keep the structure, the lot, the utilities, and in most cases the tax basis. If the foundation has moved or the layout cannot be made to work, a custom home on the same lot can make more sense. We will tell you which case you are in.
Do I need an architect for a whole-home remodel?
You need drawings that a building department will accept and that a crew can build from. Our architectural design side produces those as part of the design-build process, and we bring in a structural engineer when beams or foundations change.
How long does a whole-home remodel take in Northern Colorado?
Plan on two to four months of design and permitting and three to eight months of construction. Winter work on interiors is normal here; exterior phases are scheduled around the weather.
Can I stay in the house during the work?
Sometimes, with a phased plan. Most families move out during demolition and rough-in. We set the schedule during design so you can plan.
Do you handle the permits?
Yes. We prepare the drawing set, submit it to the city or county, respond to plan review comments, and schedule every inspection.
Will my older home need an electrical service upgrade?
If the panel is 100 amps or less and you are adding a kitchen, air conditioning, or an electric range, probably. We check the service and the panel during the first walkthrough and price the upgrade as its own line.
Where we provide whole-home remodels
Standard Building Company is based in Loveland and provides whole-home remodels across Northern Colorado, including Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Windsor, Berthoud, Johnstown, Timnath, Wellington, and Estes Park.
We also take whole-home remodels projects in the mountain towns of Vail, Avon, Aspen, Winter Park, Copper Mountain, and Steamboat Springs.