Whole Home Remodeling in Lomita
Homeowners who ask us about whole home remodeling in Lomita almost always say the same thing: they like the neighborhood but not the way the house functions. That makes sense given the housing stock here. Most of these homes went up in the early and mid twentieth century, before open-plan living was standard, and a typical single-story house on a small lot near Narbonne Avenue or the blocks around the Lomita Railroad Museum carries a kitchen and floor plan sized for a different era. A whole home remodel addresses that all at once, moving walls, updating plumbing and wiring, and pulling one permit through the City of Lomita to cover the full scope. That is a different undertaking than a single-room project, and we treat it that way from the first walk-through.
Services We Offer
Structural & Seismic Work
Roof, Windows & Envelope
Additions & ADUs
Our Whole Home Remodeling Process in Lomita
Whole home remodeling in Lomita typically begins with a thorough walk-through of the entire house, not just the rooms on your wish list. Most homes here are modest single-story structures built in the early and mid twentieth century, and that age shapes what we find: framing altered over the decades, original electrical panels, supply lines that may need rerouting, and textured ceilings that can warrant asbestos testing before a tool touches them. We document the existing layout and the proposed new one so you can review changes on paper, where revisions cost nothing. Structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents are folded into a single plan set submitted to the City of Lomita for one building permit.
With permits issued and materials selected before demolition starts, construction follows a fixed sequence: structural work first, then rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, followed by inspections, insulation, drywall, and finishes. Because everything runs on one plan, the plumber reroutes lines a single time and finish flooring carries through each room without the awkward thresholds that patchwork projects leave behind. One project manager coordinates the work from start to final inspection.
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Whole home remodeling in Lomita almost always triggers a full building permit with plan check, because the work touches structure, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems at the same time. Permits are issued by the City of Lomita for all work inside city limits. No unusual local overlay applies here, so what governs your project is the California building code and the age of your house. We review that combination against your scope at the very start, since it can affect exterior materials, required setbacks and the review path the city assigns before any walls come down.
The age of the housing stock is one of the most practical factors on a Lomita remodel. Most homes in the city went up through the early and mid twentieth century, and that era of construction comes with predictable conditions. 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, certain flooring products and older duct wrap can contain asbestos, so suspect materials get tested before anything is removed, and any confirmed abatement goes to a licensed abatement contractor. Galvanized supply lines and undersized electrical panels are also common in houses of that period, and a whole home remodel is the right time to address them while the walls are already open. Specialty trade portions of that work are performed by appropriately licensed subcontractors that we coordinate.
Two state requirements come up on nearly every project. California Civil Code 1101.4 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 from the beginning rather than discovering it at final inspection. California Title 24 energy standards apply 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.
Structure is the other variable that shapes the budget and the schedule. The typical Lomita home is a modest single-story house on a small lot, with a kitchen sized for its era rather than for open-plan living. Removing a load-bearing wall to connect the kitchen to the main living area means an engineered beam, posts and sometimes new footings. Raised-floor houses may also benefit from foundation bolting and cripple-wall bracing while the work area is open. Unpermitted additions and enclosed patios are common in neighborhoods like those around the Narbonne Avenue corridor, and they typically need to be legalized or rebuilt before the city will sign off on the rest of the house. If additional square footage is part of the plan, state law allows an accessory dwelling unit on most single-family lots, and we can plan it alongside the primary 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 Lomita
Horizon Construction and Remodeling is a licensed and bonded Class B general building contractor, and we have been working on Southern California homes since 2009. A whole home remodel is exactly the kind of project a Class B license is built for: multiple trades, structural decisions, and coordinated permitting all handled under one roof. We do not invent timelines, pad budgets, or claim credentials we have not earned.
Older Lomita homes present a specific set of conditions. Many were built in the mid-twentieth century on compact lots, with kitchens and bathrooms sized for the way people lived then, not for the open layouts most families want now. Because the City of Lomita issues its own building permits for work inside city limits, and because no unusual local overlay complicates the process, what governs your project is the building code and whatever your particular house is hiding behind its original walls. We are straightforward about what that means: older construction often needs electrical, plumbing, or structural attention before the finish work begins, and we tell you that up front rather than midway through demolition.
Drawings, engineering coordination, permitting, and construction all sit under one contract with one project manager. The people who worked through your floor plan are the same people talking to the crew building it. Finishes for every room are selected together, keeping the kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring consistent from one end of the house to the other.
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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 series of separate jobs. Instead of updating one room and leaving the rest untouched, multiple rooms are addressed at once, walls are moved or removed to change the floor plan, and plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are brought up to date throughout. In Lomita, where many single-story homes were built in the early and mid twentieth century with kitchens sized for a different era, that kind of full-scope work often makes the most sense. Everything is drawn, permitted through the City of Lomita, and sequenced together, so trades move through once without reopening finished work later.
What's the difference between a whole home remodel and a complete home renovation?
A remodel and a renovation are not the same thing, though most whole home projects in Lomita end up being both. Remodeling changes layouts and finishes, while renovation addresses the house itself: structure, windows, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling. Because so much of Lomita’s housing dates to the early and mid twentieth century, the age of the house often drives what needs to happen first. We scope both together, prioritizing anything that protects the structure, then systems buried behind walls, then the finishes you live with every day.
Do we have to move out during a whole home remodel?
How disruptive a whole home remodel in Lomita will be depends almost entirely on scope. Projects that pull out the kitchen and every bathroom at once, or strip floors and drywall through the full house, typically push families out during the heaviest phases. When the work can be staged, keeping one bathroom functional and setting up a temporary kitchen elsewhere, some homeowners choose to stay. Many of the modest single-story homes here are compact enough that phasing requires real planning, so we walk through the trade-offs once the drawings are finished.
How long does a whole home remodel take?
How long a whole home remodel in Lomita takes depends on the scope of work, how long plan check runs, and how quickly you finalize your selections. Permitting through the City of Lomita and design work together can easily match or exceed the time spent on construction itself, and plan check alone sometimes stretches several weeks. Construction on a full house typically runs several months, and that timeline grows when structural work, an addition, or unexpected conditions behind the walls come into play. Many of the modest single-story homes in Lomita were built decades before open-plan living became standard, so it is common to find outdated framing, wiring configurations, and mechanicals once walls open up. We build a schedule around your specific house and include it with your proposal. The single biggest factor in getting you back home sooner is starting the drawings early, so that permitting can move forward without delay.
Who handles the permit for a whole home remodel in Lomita?
We handle permitting for whole home remodeling in Lomita from start to finish. The City of Lomita issues building permits for work inside city limits, and we prepare the full plan set, including structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents, submit everything, and work through any plan-check comments until the permit is in hand. Throughout construction we schedule and attend all required inspections, including framing, mechanical, and insulation, and we close the permit at final. If an HOA approval also applies, we account for that in the schedule.
What drives the cost of a whole home remodel?
Whole home remodeling costs vary widely, and two houses of similar size can land at very different numbers depending on the scope of work involved. In Lomita, where most homes are modest single-story houses built in the early and mid twentieth century, the age of the structure often surfaces must-do items alongside the choices you make. Structural changes such as removing a load-bearing wall, relocating a kitchen or bathroom on a slab foundation, repiping, rewiring, panel upgrades, lead or asbestos handling, and any added square footage all push the number in different directions, as does the finish level you select. Your written proposal separates required work from optional upgrades, line by line.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Lomita and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.