Whole Home Remodeling in Desert Hot Springs
Homeowners who ask us about whole home remodeling in Desert Hot Springs usually want to stay in the neighborhood they chose, not escape it. The house itself is the problem. Much of the local housing stock dates from the 1970s through the 1990s, with additional master planned tracts built in the 2000s, and the typical result is a single story stucco house on a concrete slab with a compact two or three bedroom layout and a galley or L-shaped kitchen closed off from the living area. A whole home remodel addresses all of that in one project: floor plan changes, walls relocated, plumbing and electrical brought current, and a single permit covering the full scope through the City of Desert Hot Springs Building and Safety Division. That is a fundamentally different undertaking than redoing one room, and we approach the planning accordingly from the very first walk-through.
Services We Offer
Structural & Seismic Work
Roof, Windows & Envelope
Additions & ADUs
Our Whole Home Remodeling Process in Desert Hot Springs
Whole home remodeling in Desert Hot Springs begins with a full walk-through of the entire house before a single drawing is made. Most homes here are single story stucco construction on concrete slabs, built between the 1970s and the 1990s, and decades of previous patch work can hide problems inside walls or beneath finishes. We look at the slab condition, the electrical panel, supply lines, and any ceiling texture that may contain asbestos before we commit anything to paper. Where something is uncertain, we investigate first, because catching it during design costs far less than catching it during demolition.
Once we understand what exists, we draw both the current layout and the proposed one in the same plan set, adding structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents so that everything goes to the City of Desert Hot Springs Building and Safety Division as a single permit submission. Because Desert Hot Springs falls within a special wind region under Riverside County design load criteria, structural details account for the higher wind speed requirement from the start. Construction follows a fixed sequence, demolition, structural work, rough trades, inspections, insulation, and finishes, and one project manager carries the job through final inspection.
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Most whole home remodels in Desert Hot Springs require a full building permit with plan check because the work touches structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems at the same time. That permit application goes through the City of Desert Hot Springs Building and Safety Division, and we handle the submission and follow-up as part of our process. One detail we address at the very beginning is the wind load. Riverside County design criteria place Desert Hot Springs in a special wind region with a higher design wind speed than most surrounding communities, and that designation can influence which exterior materials qualify, how setbacks are calculated and which review path the city assigns before any demolition begins.
The era when a house was built shapes what we find once work starts. Desert Hot Springs developed steadily from the 1970s through the 1990s, and a good portion of that housing stock carries the same aging systems. Galvanized supply lines and undersized electrical panels were standard at the time, and a whole home remodel is the right moment to replace them while the walls are already open. Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint, and any contractor who disturbs it must follow the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. Popcorn ceilings, older resilient flooring and duct wrap from that period can contain asbestos, so suspect materials are tested before demolition, and any removal goes to a licensed abatement contractor.
Two California requirements come up on nearly every whole house job. The state requires older high-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets to be replaced with water-conserving fixtures on many permitted remodels of homes built before 1994, so we build that into the fixture schedule early rather than discovering 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 documentation with the permit plans.
Structural changes are often central to what homeowners want. The typical Desert Hot Springs house is a single story stucco plan with a compact, walled-off kitchen, and opening that space to the living room means an engineered beam, new posts and sometimes additional footing work. Unpermitted additions or enclosed patios added in past decades also have to be legalized or rebuilt before the city will sign off on the broader project. If additional square footage is the goal, state law allows an accessory dwelling unit on most single family lots, and it can be planned 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 Desert Hot Springs
Why Desert Hot Springs Homeowners Work With Horizon
Horizon Construction and Remodeling has held an active Class B general building contractor license since 2009, and we carry a contractor’s bond. A whole home remodel is exactly the kind of project that license covers: multiple trades, structural decisions, and coordinated inspections pulled under one permit set submitted to the City of Desert Hot Springs Building and Safety Division. We manage that process from the first drawing to the final sign-off, so you are not chasing down separate contractors or translating between an architect and a framing crew.
Our design-build approach means the people planning your layout are the same team overseeing the build. Finish selections for the kitchen, bathrooms, and every other room are worked out together, which keeps the overall look consistent across the house rather than drifting room by room. One project manager holds the whole job together under a single contract.
We are also direct about the realities of older Desert Hot Springs homes. Many houses built in the 1970s through the 1990s carry surprises behind the walls, and we tell you what we find early. We will also flag which updates can wait and which ones, like structural framing in a special wind region with elevated design load requirements, should not.
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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 one connected system rather than a collection of separate projects. Instead of finishing a kitchen this year and a bathroom next year, several rooms are addressed at once, walls can be moved or removed to reshape the floor plan, and plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are updated throughout in a single coordinated effort. For older single-story stucco homes in Desert Hot Springs, many built in the 1970s through 1990s with compact galley kitchens walled off from the living room, that kind of structural rethinking often makes a real difference. Everything is drawn, permitted through the City of Desert Hot Springs Building and Safety Division, and sequenced together so each trade comes through once rather than reopening finished work later.
What's the difference between a whole home remodel and a complete home renovation?
A remodel and a renovation are related but not the same thing: remodeling changes layouts and finishes, while renovation restores what the house already has, covering structure, windows, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling. Most whole home remodeling projects in Desert Hot Springs end up being both at once, especially in the older stucco tract homes from the 1970s and 1980s where systems are overdue for attention. We scope everything together, addressing what protects the house first, then the systems buried behind walls, then the finishes you live with every day.
Do we have to move out during a whole home remodel?
Whether your family needs to move out during a whole home remodeling project in Desert Hot Springs depends on the scope of work. Gut-level jobs, where the kitchen, all bathrooms, flooring, and drywall come out at once, typically push families out for the heaviest phases. Phasing the work differently, keeping one bathroom functional and setting up a temporary kitchen elsewhere, lets some households stay put, though phasing adds time to the schedule overall. We walk through that trade-off with you once the plan is drawn.
How long does a whole home remodel take?
How long a whole home remodel in Desert Hot Springs takes depends on scope, how quickly selections are made, and how smoothly plan check moves through the City of Desert Hot Springs Building and Safety Division, which can take several weeks or more on its own. Design and permitting often consume as much calendar time as construction itself. Building on a whole house typically runs several months, and that stretch grows when there is structural work, an addition, or hidden conditions inside the walls. We provide a schedule specific to your house with the proposal, and getting the drawings started early is the single biggest factor in your move-back-in date.
Who handles the permit for a whole home remodel in Desert Hot Springs?
Yes, we handle the entire permit process for whole home remodeling in Desert Hot Springs. We prepare the full plan set, which includes structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents, then submit everything to the City of Desert Hot Springs Building and Safety Division and respond to any plan-check comments until the permit is issued. Throughout construction we coordinate and attend all required inspections, from framing through insulation, and close out the permit at final. If an HOA approval also applies, we build that into the schedule.
What drives the cost of a whole home remodel?
Whole home remodel costs vary too widely for us to publish a useful range, because two houses of the same square footage can land far apart in price. In Desert Hot Springs, where most homes are single story stucco construction on concrete slabs, factors like relocating a kitchen or bathroom on that slab foundation, removing load-bearing walls, repiping, rewiring, panel upgrades, lead or asbestos handling, added square footage, and your chosen finish level all push the number in different directions. Your proposal breaks every item out line by line, separating work that has to happen from choices that are yours to make.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Desert Hot Springs and the surrounding Riverside County communities.