Whole Home Remodeling in Claremont
Homeowners who ask us about whole home remodeling in Claremont usually love the city itself but are frustrated by how their house functions day to day. Claremont developed in two distinct waves, starting with a college town core after incorporation in 1907 and continuing through a mid-century expansion that replaced the citrus groves to the north. That history left the area with a mix of Craftsman bungalows near the Village and ranch houses further north, and most of those homes have small, enclosed kitchens that feel cut off from the rest of the living space. A whole home remodel addresses that as a single coordinated project, moving walls, updating plumbing and wiring, and pulling one permit that covers everything rather than treating each room as a separate job.
Services We Offer
Structural & Seismic Work
Roof, Windows & Envelope
Additions & ADUs
Our Whole Home Remodeling Process in Claremont
Whole home remodeling in Claremont calls for a thorough look at the entire house before a single line gets drawn. We walk the attic, the crawl space or slab, and every mechanical system, and where something is uncertain we investigate first: sewer cameras, asbestos testing on older ceilings, a structural review of framing that may have been altered over the decades. Many of the Craftsman bungalows near the Village and the ranch houses further north carry surprises behind their walls, so we document the existing conditions carefully before producing a set of drawings you can review and revise on paper, where changes cost nothing.
That drawing set includes structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents, all submitted together to the City of Claremont Building Division as a single permit application. For any home that qualifies as a historic or eligible resource under the city’s Preservation Ordinance, we factor the applicable review procedures into the project schedule from the start rather than treating them as a surprise. Cabinets, tile, flooring, and fixtures for every room are selected before demolition begins. Work then proceeds in a fixed sequence: demolition, structural repairs, rough plumbing and electrical, inspections, insulation, drywall, and finishes, with one project manager carrying the job through final inspection.
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Whole home remodeling in Claremont almost always triggers a full building permit with plan check, because the work touches structure, electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems at the same time. All of that goes through the City of Claremont Building Division. Two state requirements come up on nearly every job of this size. California Civil Code 1101.4 requires older high-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets to be swapped for water-conserving fixtures on many permitted remodels of homes built before 1994, so we put those in the fixture schedule from the start rather than catching it at final inspection. California’s Title 24 energy code applies to remodels as well as new construction, covering windows, insulation, lighting and HVAC changes, and we prepare the compliance documents as part of the plan set.
Claremont’s housing stock shapes what we find once work begins. The city grew in two distinct waves: an early-1900s college town core near the Village, with Craftsman bungalows and modest floor plans, and a mid-century expansion north of the original grid where ranch houses replaced the old citrus groves. Many of those earlier homes still have galvanized supply lines and undersized electrical panels. Houses built before 1978 may also have lead-based paint, and contractors who disturb it must follow the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. Popcorn ceilings, older flooring and duct wrap can contain asbestos, so suspect materials get tested before any demo, and removal goes to a licensed abatement contractor.
One factor that sets Claremont apart from many surrounding cities is its Preservation Ordinance. It sets formal procedures for reviewing any action that would alter, relocate or demolish a designated or eligible historic resource, and citywide design guidelines apply across the neighborhoods. We check your scope against those requirements at the very start, because they can affect exterior materials, setbacks or the review path before a single wall comes down. If your house sits near the Village or falls within a recognized historic corridor, that review step is part of the permit process, not an afterthought.
Structural changes are the other major variable. Opening a wall between a closed-off original kitchen and the living area, which is one of the most common requests in both the bungalow blocks and the ranch homes further north, requires an engineered beam, posts and sometimes new footings. Raised-floor houses often benefit from foundation bolting and cripple-wall bracing while the floor system is already accessible. Unpermitted additions, enclosed patios and garage conversions from earlier decades are common throughout the city, and they need to be legalized, upgraded or rebuilt before the Building Division will sign off on the rest of the house. If additional square footage is part of the plan, state law allows an ADU on most single-family lots, and it can be designed alongside the main remodel.
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 Whole Home Remodeling in Claremont
Horizon Construction and Remodeling has held a Class B general building contractor license since 2009, and a whole-home remodel is exactly the kind of work that license covers: structural changes, multiple trades running at the same time, and a single permit set coordinating all of it. We are licensed and bonded, and every project moves under one contract with one project manager on your side.
Because Claremont’s housing stock spans two distinct eras, the planning looks different depending on where your home sits. A Craftsman bungalow near the Village may fall under the city’s Preservation Ordinance, which sets review procedures before any alterations to a designated or eligible historic resource. A mid-century ranch north of the Village carries its own considerations, particularly those closed-off original kitchens that were built behind doorways rather than open to the rest of the house. Either way, permits run through the City of Claremont Building Division, and we handle that process directly rather than leaving it to you to track.
We are straightforward about the parts that are harder to hear: what an older house typically needs once walls are opened, which upgrades make sense now versus later, and whether living in the home during construction is realistic given your scope. Drawings, engineering coordination, and construction stay connected under the same roof, so nothing gets lost between design and build.
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Whole Home Remodeling FAQ
How is a whole home remodel different from a regular home remodel?
A whole home remodel treats the house as a single system rather than a collection of separate projects. Several rooms are addressed at once, walls are moved or removed to reshape the floor plan, and plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are updated throughout. Everything is drawn, permitted through the City of Claremont Building Division, and sequenced together, so trades come through once instead of reopening finished work later. That coordinated approach matters especially in Claremont, where many early-1900s Craftsman bungalows near the Village and mid-century ranch houses further north carry original layouts that benefit from being rethought as a whole.
What's the difference between a whole home remodel and a complete home renovation?
A remodel changes layout and finishes, while a renovation restores what holds the house together: structure, windows, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling. Most whole home remodeling projects in Claremont involve both, especially in the early-1900s Craftsman bungalows near the Village where aging systems hide behind original plaster walls. We scope them together, prioritizing anything that protects the house first, then hard-to-reach systems, then the finishes you live with every day.
Do we have to move out during a whole home remodel?
The honest answer depends on scope and sequencing. Claremont’s Craftsman bungalows near the Village and the mid-century ranch houses further north both tend to have small, closed-off kitchens, so a whole home remodel here often means gutting multiple rooms at once, and most families move out during the heaviest phases when no bathroom or kitchen is functional. If the schedule can be phased to keep one bathroom running and a temporary kitchen in place, staying home is possible, though phasing adds time, a trade-off we work through once the plan is set.
How long does a whole home remodel take?
How long a whole home remodel in Claremont takes depends on scope, how fast selections are made, and how smoothly plan check moves through the City of Claremont Building Division. Design and permitting often consume as much calendar time as construction itself, and plan check alone can stretch several weeks or more. Homes near the Village frequently fall under the city’s Preservation Ordinance and design guidelines, which can add review steps. Construction on a full house typically runs several months, longer when structural work, an addition, or hidden conditions inside older walls are involved. We provide a schedule tied to your specific house with the proposal, and getting drawings started early is the single biggest factor in your move-back-in date.
Who handles the permit for a whole home remodel in Claremont?
Yes, we handle the full permit process for whole home remodeling in Claremont. Our team prepares the plan set, including structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents, then submits everything to the City of Claremont Building Division and works through any plan-check comments until the permit is issued. For homes near the Village where the city’s Preservation Ordinance may apply, we account for that review in the schedule from the start. We coordinate all required inspections through final closeout, and if an HOA approval is also needed, we build that in as well.
What drives the cost of a whole home remodel?
Whole home remodeling costs vary widely, and two houses of the same square footage can land at very different numbers, which is why we don’t publish price ranges. In Claremont, where many homes near the Village are early-1900s Craftsman and bungalow buildings subject to the city’s Preservation Ordinance and design guidelines, the biggest cost drivers tend to be structural changes like removing a load-bearing wall, relocating a kitchen or bathroom, repiping, rewiring, panel upgrades, hazardous material handling, added square footage, and the finish level you choose. Your proposal separates must-do items from optional choices, line by line.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Claremont and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.