General Contractor in Lakewood
A project in Lakewood that touches structure, involves multiple trades, or requires permits needs a licensed general contractor to carry it through. Horizon Construction and Remodeling is a California Class B general building contractor serving Lakewood homeowners with remodels, additions, and new construction. Most of the housing stock here went up between 1950 and 1953, a single-story tract built to a handful of repeated floor plans, which means expanding that original back kitchen or adding a room almost always pulls framing, electrical, plumbing, and finishes into one coordinated job. We manage the permits through the City of Lakewood Building and Safety Division, coordinate every trade, and stay on the project from the first drawing through final inspection sign-off.
Services We Offer
Room Additions & ADUs
Whole Home Remodels
New Construction
About Working with a General Contractor in Lakewood
How We Manage a Remodeling Project in Lakewood
Every project with a general contractor in Lakewood starts with a site visit and a written scope of work. Because the vast majority of homes here were built between 1950 and 1953 to a small number of repeated tract plans, we know what to look for behind the walls before work begins. We prepare drawings, bring in a structural engineer or energy consultant when the scope requires one, and write a contract that clearly states the work, payment schedule, and start and completion dates. All permit applications go through the City of Lakewood Building and Safety Division, and we handle plan submittal, plan-check responses, and permit issuance under our license.
Once construction starts, one project manager keeps demolition, framing, and every trade running in the right sequence. Materials are ordered ahead of need so inspections are never delayed. Any change you request receives a written change order showing the effect on cost and schedule before any work proceeds. We close out the permit, collect lien releases, and walk the finished project with you.
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Permits, Licensing, and Consumer Protections for Lakewood Homeowners
Permits for remodeling work in Lakewood are issued through the City of Lakewood Building and Safety Division of the Community Development Department. Because no unusual local overlay applies here, what governs your project is the California building code and the age of the house itself. That second factor carries real weight in Lakewood, where nearly every single-family home was built between 1950 and 1953. Tract construction from that era often means original wiring, aging plumbing, and framing details that modern inspectors look at closely. We review those conditions before a contract is signed so that plan check does not return a set full of surprises.
In California, a Class B general building contractor license covers any 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 does excellent work in a single trade but cannot serve as the prime contractor on a multi-trade remodel. Before you sign with any contractor in Lakewood, search the license number on the Contractors State License Board website. Confirm that the record is active, in the correct classification, and in the company’s legal name. The record also 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 must be in writing and include a description of the work, a payment schedule tied to work actually performed, approximate start and completion dates, and required consumer notices including your right to cancel in certain situations. Under Business and Professions Code 7159.5, the down payment a contractor may collect is capped by state law, and progress payments cannot run ahead of the work completed. If a contractor asks for a large sum up front, treat that as a warning sign.
Two additional rules come up on most jobs. Subcontractors and suppliers who are not paid can record a mechanics lien against your property even when you paid the general contractor in full, which is why preliminary notices often arrive during a project. Collecting lien releases as each payment goes out is the standard protection. Separately, because virtually every home in Lakewood 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 Lakewood
Horizon has held a California B General Building Contractor license since 2009 and has been in business for over 15 years. We are licensed and bonded, and the license number on your contract is the same one used when permits are pulled through the City of Lakewood Building and Safety Division. There are no unusual local overlays here, so what governs your project is the California building code and the realities of the house itself.
Those realities matter in Lakewood. Nearly every home in the city went up between 1950 and 1953, built fast to a small set of repeated floor plans. Decades of use mean aging systems and structural details that a general contractor needs to account for before work begins. We coordinate drawings, engineering where required, permitting, and construction under one contract with one project manager, so the person who planned the job is directly responsible for how it gets built.
That structure protects you most on the projects a general contractor exists to handle: whole-home remodels, room additions, ADUs, structural changes, and ground-up new construction, where a missed step between trades costs real time and money. Our license is public record and straightforward to verify with the CSLB.
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General Contractor FAQ
Do I need a general contractor for my project in Lakewood?
For a multi-trade project like an addition or whole-home remodel in Lakewood, California generally requires a licensed Class B general building contractor when the work involves two or more unrelated trades or touches framing. You can take the owner-builder route on your own home, but that puts scheduling, inspections, and any employer obligations for hired workers directly on you. In a city where nearly every house went up from the same small set of tract plans between 1950 and 1953, updates almost always cross multiple trades at once, and most homeowners find managing all of that is a full-time job.
Who pulls the permit, and who deals with the inspector?
Yes, we handle permits directly. Every Horizon project in Lakewood runs through the City of Lakewood Building and Safety Division of the Community Development Department, with permits pulled under our license and every inspection scheduled and passed by our team, covering everything from framing and foundation through rough trades to final sign-off. Given that most homes here went up between 1950 and 1953, aging systems and original construction details often come up during inspections, and we address any flagged items and call for re-inspection ourselves. When the job is done, we close out the permit so the work is on record, which matters when you refinance or sell.
How long does a general contractor project take?
How long your project takes depends on what you are building and how complex the scope turns out to be. Design and engineering for a larger remodel or addition in Lakewood often run several weeks to a few months, and plan check with the City of Lakewood Building and Safety Division can add several more weeks depending on workload and whether correction rounds come back. A single-room remodel may take several weeks to build, while a whole-home remodel or addition typically runs many months. We give you a realistic schedule once scope is defined, not a guarantee.
What drives the cost of a general contractor project?
Cost on a general contracting project in Lakewood is shaped primarily by scope and structure. Many of the tract homes built here between 1950 and 1953 have aging plumbing and electrical systems, and bringing those up to current standards adds real work to any remodel. Moving walls, reconfiguring a roofline or adding square footage pulls in engineering, framing and additional inspections. Finish selections matter, and so do site conditions. The single most avoidable cost driver is changes made after construction begins, so we lock in every decision before the first tool comes out.
How much can a contractor ask for up front?
California law caps the deposit a general contractor can collect before work begins, and after that, payments are meant to follow actual progress on the job. A contract that demands a large share of the total upfront, before anyone has lifted a tool, is a warning sign worth taking seriously. Our contracts comply with the statute, tie each payment to a defined stage of completed work, and include the consumer notices required by law. That structure matters in Lakewood, where so many homes share the same original tract layout and a remodel can move quickly once it starts.
Do you use subcontractors?
Yes, like nearly every general contractor, we bring in licensed specialty subcontractors for certain trades, and those subs work on our schedule and under our direct supervision. We take responsibility for what they do. Because Lakewood’s housing stock dates almost entirely to the early 1950s, older systems often need coordinated attention across multiple trades at once, which is exactly where having one project manager in charge matters. We pay subs and suppliers on time and provide lien releases as payments go out, so a preliminary notice from a supplier is just paperwork, not a threat to your project.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Lakewood and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.