General Contractor in Palos Verdes Estates
If your project in Palos Verdes Estates has structural work, a permit and more than one trade, it needs a licensed general contractor. Palos Verdes Estates was laid out as a master-planned community in 1923 by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and Charles Cheney, incorporated in 1939, and built out over the decades that followed. The typical home is typically a detached single-family house on a generous landscaped lot, frequently with an older service-style kitchen tucked behind the main rooms instead of open to them, and changing a house like that usually means framing, plumbing, electrical and finishes in one job. Horizon Construction & Remodeling is a California Class B general building contractor that takes on remodels, additions and new construction in Palos Verdes Estates, and we carry the permit, the trades and the inspections from first drawing to final sign-off.
Services We Offer
Room Additions & ADUs
Whole Home Remodels
New Construction
About Working with a General Contractor in Palos Verdes Estates
A job with Horizon starts with a site visit in Palos Verdes Estates and a written scope. From there we prepare drawings in-house, bring in a structural engineer or energy consultant when the work calls for one, and write a home improvement contract that spells out the work, the payment schedule and the start and completion dates. Selections are made before construction, so a tile or fixture decision never holds up a crew.
We submit plans, answer plan-check comments and pull the permit under our license. Once work starts, one project manager schedules demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, drywall and finishes in the right order, orders materials ahead of need and calls for each inspection. Any change you ask for gets a written change order showing its effect on cost and schedule before the work is done. At the end we close out the permit, collect lien releases and walk the finished job with you.
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Permits for this work go through the City of Palos Verdes Estates Department of Building and Safety. One local factor worth knowing: the Palos Verdes Homes Association Art Jury, in place since 1923, must approve exterior work including structures, windows and doors, roofing, painting, landscaping, hardscape, grading and tree removal before any work begins, and it is separate from the city process. Factors like that shape the drawings and the schedule, so we account for them before a contract is signed rather than after plan check sends the set back.
In California, a Class B general building contractor license covers a project that involves at least two unrelated building trades, or any framing or carpentry, on a structure people live or work in. A specialty licensee such as a C-10 electrician or a C-36 plumber can do excellent work in one trade, but cannot act as prime contractor on a multi-trade remodel. Before you sign with anyone in Palos Verdes Estates, look up the license number on the Contractors State License Board website. The record should be active, in the right classification and in the company’s name, and it shows whether a bond and workers’ compensation coverage are on file.
Home improvement contracts in California are governed by Business and Professions Code 7159. The contract has to be in writing and include a description of the work, a payment schedule tied to work performed, approximate start and completion dates, and specific consumer notices, including your right to cancel in certain situations. Under Business and Professions Code 7159.5, the down payment a contractor can ask for is capped by state law, and progress payments cannot run ahead of the work completed. If a contractor asks for more up front, treat that as a warning sign.
Two other rules come up on most jobs. Subcontractors and suppliers who are not paid can record a mechanics lien against your property even if you paid the general contractor, which is why you may receive preliminary notices during a project. The protection is to pay on the contract schedule and collect lien releases as payments go out. And if the house was built before 1978, work that disturbs painted surfaces falls under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, which requires a certified firm. Horizon is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm.
Other Remodeling Services We Offer
A kitchen remodel touches more trades than any other room in the house: layout, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and finishes. Horizon designs and builds kitchen remodels under one contract, from the measured layout to the final inspection.
Whether you envision a classic Southern California pool or a fully customized backyard oasis, Horizon Construction & Remodeling delivers the highest level of quality and service. Our comprehensive pool design and remodeling services cover everything from layout and decking to built-in BBQs and final touches like landscaping. Let Horizon be your trusted partner in transforming your backyard into the perfect outdoor retreat.
If you are planning a complete bathroom remodel or simply want to change your tub, shower, update your plumbing fixtures, or make the space more efficient, our team at Horizon will help you through the process with expert advice, professional craftsmanship, and affordable options with beautiful results. Learn more about our bathroom remodeling services.
Transform your space with our expert interior work services. We offer a comprehensive range of solutions — from space planning and custom design to the selection of high-quality finishes and materials. Our team of experienced professionals works closely with you to create a space that’s both functional and stylish, tailored to your unique needs, goals, and budget. Whether you’re updating a single room or overhauling your entire interior, we bring precision, creativity, and craftsmanship to every project.
At Horizon, we believe your home is more than just four walls — it’s where life happens. It’s the place you relax, gather with family and friends, and create lasting memories. That’s why we offer a full range of exterior work services designed to elevate your outdoor living space. From patios and hardscaping to custom decks and exterior renovations, we help turn your vision into a dream yard that complements your lifestyle and enhances curb appeal.
At Horizon Construction & Remodeling, our expert team includes a dedicated design and planning division that works hand-in-hand with licensed architects and structural engineers. We take care of everything — from detailed plans and blueprints to securing city permits — so you don’t have to deal with delays or red tape. Our goal is to streamline the process and provide a fully approved set of documents that aligns with both your vision and city regulations, saving you time and stress.
Why Choose Horizon Remodeling For General Contractor in Palos Verdes Estates
Horizon has held a California Class B General Building Contractor license, since 2009, and has been in business for more than 18 years. We are bonded, our crews are covered by workers’ compensation, and the license on your contract is the same one the permit is pulled under.
We work design-build. Drawings, engineering coordination, permits and construction sit under one contract with one project manager, so the person who planned the work is answerable for how it gets built. That matters most on the projects a general contractor exists for: whole home remodels, room additions and ADUs, structural changes and ground-up new construction, where a sequencing mistake between trades costs time and money.
Our record is public and easy to check. Horizon is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, a member of NARI and NKBA, rated A+ by the BBB, a multi-year Best of Houzz recipient and an Angi Super Service Award winner, with more than 1,500 projects completed. You can see finishes and materials at the Horizon Design Center in Fullerton, and our Laguna Hills office handles scheduling for jobs across the region.
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General Contractor FAQ
Do I need a general contractor for my project in Palos Verdes Estates?
If the work needs a building permit, involves two or more unrelated trades, or touches framing, California generally requires a licensed contractor with the right classification, and for a multi-trade job that is a Class B general building contractor. You can act as an owner-builder on your own home, but then the scheduling, inspections and possible employer obligations for anyone you hire become yours. On an addition, a whole home remodel or a new build, most homeowners find that carrying all of that is a full-time job.
Who pulls the permit, and who deals with the inspector?
We do. Permits for Horizon projects are pulled under our license through the City of Palos Verdes Estates Department of Building and Safety, and we are responsible for passing every inspection along the way, from foundation and framing through rough plumbing, electrical and mechanical to final. If an inspector flags something, we correct it and call for the re-inspection. At the end we close out the permit so the work is on record with the city, which matters when you refinance or sell.
How long does a general contractor project take?
It depends on scope and on the jurisdiction. Design and engineering for a larger remodel or addition often take several weeks to a few months, and plan check can add several more weeks depending on the building department’s workload and how many correction rounds come back. Construction on a single-room remodel can run several weeks, while a whole home remodel, addition or new home usually takes many months. We give you a realistic schedule once the scope is defined, not a guarantee.
What drives the cost of a general contractor project?
Scope and structure drive cost more than anything else. Moving walls, adding square footage or changing a roofline brings in engineering, framing and more inspections. Upgrading electrical service, replacing old plumbing or meeting current Title 24 energy rules adds to the work. Site conditions such as soil, slope, access and fire-zone requirements matter, and so do your finish selections. Changes made after construction starts are the most avoidable cost driver, which is why we settle selections first.
How much can a contractor ask for up front?
California caps the down payment on a home improvement contract under Business and Professions Code 7159.5. The amount is capped by state law, and after that, payments are supposed to track the work actually completed. A contract that asks for a large share before any work is done is a red flag. Our contracts follow the statute, list the payment schedule against defined stages of work, and include the consumer notices the law requires.
Do you use subcontractors?
Yes, like nearly every general contractor. Some trades are handled by licensed specialty subcontractors who work on our schedule and under our supervision, and we are responsible for their work. We pay subs and suppliers on time and give you lien releases as payments go out, so a preliminary notice from a supplier is paperwork, not a problem. You deal with one project manager, not a list of separate trades.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Palos Verdes Estates and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.