Whole Home Remodeling in Fountain Valley
Whole home remodeling in Fountain Valley is what we do for homeowners who have decided the house is worth keeping but the floor plan is not. Most of the calls we get come from people living in the ranch tract houses built across Green Valley, Tiburon, Southpark, and the Mile Square Park area during the 1960s and 1970s. The bones are solid, the lots are good, and the neighborhoods are established. What stops people is the layout: a galley kitchen sealed off behind a wall, living spaces that feel disconnected, plumbing and wiring that have never been touched since the original build.
A whole home remodel treats the house as one project instead of a series of separate jobs. We move walls to open up the floor plan, update the plumbing and electrical as part of the same scope, and pull one permit that covers all of it through the City of Fountain Valley Building Division. Because city zoning in Fountain Valley includes floodplain and seismic hazard overlay districts, that permitting process typically carries requirements beyond what you would see in a standard remodel, and we plan for those from the first walk-through rather than discovering them mid-project.
Services We Offer
Structural & Seismic Work
Roof, Windows & Envelope
Additions & ADUs
Our Whole Home Remodeling Process in Fountain Valley
A whole home remodel in Fountain Valley starts long before anyone picks up a hammer. Most of the homes here went up in the 1960s and 1970s, and a lot has happened inside those walls since then. We begin with a full walk-through of the entire house, not just the rooms on your wish list. We look at the attic, the slab, the electrical panel, and the supply lines. Where something looks uncertain, we investigate before we draw anything. That means a sewer camera if the drain lines are in question, asbestos testing on textured ceilings common to that era of construction, and a close look at any framing that may have been altered over the decades. Getting those answers early keeps the project from stalling once walls are open.
From that walk-through we draw the existing house and the proposed new layout together in one plan set. You review it and make changes on paper, where revisions cost nothing. Structural engineering and Title 24 energy compliance documents go into that same set before we submit to the City of Fountain Valley Building Division. Because Fountain Valley carries floodplain and seismic hazard overlay districts in addition to standard zoning, the permit review can involve extra requirements, and we account for those in the drawings rather than discovering them mid-project. Specialty trade work, including electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-in, is performed by appropriately licensed subcontractors we coordinate. Finishes for every room are selected at our design center in Fullerton before demolition begins, so materials are confirmed and ordered ahead of schedule.
Construction follows a fixed sequence: demolition, structural work, rough trades, inspections, insulation, drywall, and finishes. Because it is one coordinated plan, the plumber reroutes lines once and the flooring runs continuously through the house without a threshold where an old project stopped. For ranch-style homes here, that often means opening the wall between the galley kitchen and the living room as part of a structural scope that is already engineered and permitted, rather than treated as an afterthought. One project manager runs the job from that first walk-through through final inspection.
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A whole home remodel in Fountain Valley almost always requires a full building permit with plan check, because the work touches structure, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems at the same time. Permits for this work go through the City of Fountain Valley Building Division. One local factor worth knowing before the drawings are started: the city zoning map carries floodplain and seismic hazard overlay districts that layer extra requirements on top of the base zone. We check your property against those overlays at the start of the project, since they can shape exterior materials, setbacks or the review path before a single wall comes down. Getting that sorted early keeps the permit process moving instead of stalling it.
The age of Fountain Valley’s housing stock is what drives most of what we find once work begins. The city was largely built out through the 1960s and 1970s, and homes from that era carry predictable conditions. Surfaces disturbed during remodeling in houses built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint; contractors who disturb those surfaces must follow the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, and Horizon is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. Popcorn ceilings, some older vinyl flooring and duct wrap from that period can contain asbestos, so suspect materials are tested before any demolition proceeds, and any confirmed asbestos removal goes to a licensed abatement contractor. Galvanized supply lines and undersized electrical panels are also common in houses of that era, and a whole home remodel is the right time to address them while the walls are already open.
Two state requirements come up on nearly every whole house job in California. Civil Code Section 1101.4 requires that older high-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets be replaced with water-conserving fixtures on many permitted remodels of homes built before 1994, so we put that directly into the fixture schedule rather than discovering it at final inspection. California’s Title 24 energy code applies to remodels as well as new construction, and the 2025 standards govern permits filed on or after January 1, 2026. New windows, changes to mechanical systems, insulation and lighting all have to meet those requirements, and we prepare the compliance documentation with the plans.
Structure is the other major variable in these ranch-style tract homes. Removing a load-bearing wall to open the kitchen to the living area, which is one of the most common requests we hear in Fountain Valley, means an engineered beam, posts and sometimes new footings on the slab. Unpermitted additions, enclosed patios and garage conversions are also common in neighborhoods like Green Valley and the Mile Square Park area, and those spaces have to be legalized, upgraded or rebuilt before the city will sign off on the broader project. If adding square footage is part of the goal, state law allows an ADU on most single-family lots, and planning it alongside the remodel is generally more efficient than treating it as a separate project later.
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 Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley homeowners who are planning a whole home remodel often start by searching for one contractor who can handle everything without the back-and-forth that comes from managing an architect, separate trades, and a general contractor who was never part of the design. That is the problem our design-build approach solves. The drawings, engineering coordination, permits, and construction all sit under one contract with one project manager, so the people who laid out your floor plan are the same ones talking to the crew framing your walls.
We have held a Class B general building license since 2009, and a whole house remodel is exactly the kind of project that license covers: multiple trades, structural work, and a single permit pulled through your local building department. Being bonded gives you a layer of financial protection that matters on a project of this size. Finishes for every room are selected together at our design center in Fullerton, which keeps the kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring consistent from one end of the house to the other rather than looking like three separate decisions made at three separate stores.
We are also straightforward about the parts homeowners do not always want to hear. Staying in the house during a full remodel may not be realistic depending on scope. Older homes in the area frequently need work behind the walls that only shows up once demolition begins. We say so early, so the budget and schedule reflect what the project actually requires rather than what would have been easier to promise at the start.
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Whole Home Remodeling FAQ
How is a whole home remodel different from a regular home remodel?
A typical remodel updates one room and works around the rest of the house, while a whole home remodel treats the structure as a single system. Several rooms are redone at once, walls are moved or removed to open up the floor plan, and plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are updated throughout. For Fountain Valley’s 1960s and 1970s ranch-tract homes, that often means taking out the wall that closes off the galley kitchen from the living room. Everything is drawn, permitted through the City of Fountain Valley Building Division, and sequenced together, so trades come through once instead of reopening finished work on a later project.
What's the difference between a whole home remodel and a complete home renovation?
The two terms overlap more than most people realize. A remodel generally means changing the layout or finishes, while a renovation focuses on restoring what the house is built on: structure, windows, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling systems. Most whole home remodeling projects in Fountain Valley end up being some of both, because the tract homes built here in the 1960s and 1970s often need systems work before the finish work makes sense. We scope everything together, addressing whatever protects the house first, then the systems that are hard to reach once walls close, then the finishes you live with every day.
Do we have to move out during a whole home remodel?
Whether you need to move out depends on the scope and how the work is phased. If the kitchen and every bathroom are being torn out at the same time, or if flooring and drywall are coming out through the whole house, most families relocate for at least the heaviest part of the project. Many Fountain Valley ranch homes are single-story open slabs, which means dust and noise travel quickly from room to room. If the work can be sequenced so one bathroom stays functional and a temporary kitchen is set up elsewhere, some homeowners do stay. Phasing adds time to the schedule, and we walk through that trade-off with you once the plan is drawn.
How long does a whole home remodel take?
A whole home remodel typically runs several months in construction alone, and design plus plan check with the City of Fountain Valley Building Division can take just as long before a single wall opens up. Scope drives the timeline most, and structural work or surprises behind the walls of a 1960s or 1970s tract home can extend it further. We provide a project-specific schedule with your proposal, and starting the drawings early is the single biggest factor in controlling your move-back-in date.
Who handles the permit for a whole home remodel in Fountain Valley?
We handle the permit from start to finish. For a whole home remodel, that means preparing the plan set, including structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents, submitting everything to the City of Fountain Valley Building Division, and responding to any plan-check comments until the permit is issued. Many of the ranch-tract homes built here in the 1960s and 1970s fall within the city’s floodplain or seismic hazard overlay districts, which can layer additional requirements onto the base submittal. During construction we schedule and attend all required inspections and close out the permit at final.
What drives the cost of a whole home remodel?
Cost is driven by the scope of structural and systems work your specific house needs, and no two projects land in the same place even when the houses look identical from the street. Removing a load-bearing wall, relocating a kitchen or bathroom, and cutting into a slab foundation for plumbing changes are among the largest cost factors, and many Fountain Valley tract homes from the 1960s and 1970s need updated wiring, panel capacity, and repiping on top of that. Hazardous material handling, added square footage, and the finish level you choose all move the number as well. Every proposal we put together breaks costs out line by line so you can see what is required versus what is a choice.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Fountain Valley and the surrounding Orange County communities.