Whole Home Remodeling in Running Springs
Homeowners who ask us about whole home remodeling in Running Springs generally like the setting but want the house to work better for the way they actually live. The housing stock here grew in waves, starting after 1920s highway work opened the old Hunsaker Flats logging country to cabin development, with more construction added in every decade that followed. Most of these homes are compact one- or two-story mountain cabins sitting on sloped lots at nearly 6,000 feet, with galley kitchens, steep roofs, wood stoves, and entry and parking arranged around the grade. A whole home remodel addresses all of that at once: walls repositioned to open the floor plan, plumbing and electrical updated throughout, and a single permit coordinating the full scope rather than separate pulls for isolated rooms. That makes it a fundamentally different project from a single-room renovation, and we approach the planning accordingly from the first walk-through.
Services We Offer
Structural & Seismic Work
Roof, Windows & Envelope
Additions & ADUs
Our Whole Home Remodeling Process in Running Springs
What Whole Home Remodeling in Running Springs Actually Involves
Whole home remodeling in Running Springs begins with a complete walk-through of the cabin as it stands, not just the rooms on your wish list. Mountain cabins built out over several decades often carry alterations from multiple owners, so we look at the attic, the crawl space or slab, the electrical panel, and the supply lines before a single line gets drawn. Where something is uncertain we investigate first, whether that means a sewer camera, asbestos testing on older textured ceilings, or a close look at framing that may have been modified years back. After that inspection we draw the existing house and the proposed layout together, so changes happen on paper while they are still inexpensive to make.
Structural engineering, snow load calculations for the roof and decks, and Title 24 energy documents all go into one plan set submitted to San Bernardino County Land Use Services, Building and Safety, which handles permits for this unincorporated county territory. Cabinets, tile, flooring, and fixtures for every room are selected at our design center in Fullerton before demolition begins, so materials are confirmed and sequenced in advance. Construction follows a fixed order: demolition, structural work, rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, then inspections, insulation, drywall, and finishes. One project manager carries the job from that first walk-through through final county inspection.
Read More →
Running Springs sits in unincorporated San Bernardino County, so permits for a whole home remodel here go through San Bernardino County Land Use Services, Building and Safety rather than a city hall. That distinction matters from the first day of planning. A project that touches structure, plumbing, electrical and mechanical work at the same time typically requires a full building permit with plan check, and the Mountain Region standards that apply at roughly 6,080 feet add specific requirements on top of the standard residential code. Foundations are designed to an 18-inch frost line depth, roofs and decks are engineered for snow load, and exits under downslope eaves steeper than 4:12 must be protected from sliding snow and ice. We review those factors against your scope before anything is drawn, because they can affect exterior materials, setbacks and the plan check path.
The age of a Running Springs home shapes nearly everything else about the project. Cabins and vacation houses in areas like Smiley Park, Fredalba and Hunsaker Flats were built out across many decades, and a home from the 1950s or earlier can carry a long list of pre-renovation concerns. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and any work that disturbs it must follow the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule; that work is handled by an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. Popcorn ceilings, certain flooring materials and older duct wrap can contain asbestos, so suspect materials are tested before demolition begins and any 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 practical time to address them while walls are already open.
Two California requirements come up on nearly every whole house job regardless of the home’s age. Civil Code 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 include that in the fixture schedule from the start rather than flagging it at final inspection. California’s Title 24 energy code applies to remodels as well as new construction, and new windows, insulation, lighting and HVAC changes all have to meet the current standards. We prepare the compliance documents as part of the plan set.
Structural changes are common in the compact one and two-story cabins typical of Running Springs, where small galley kitchens and tight floor plans make opening walls an obvious goal. Removing a load-bearing wall to connect the kitchen to the living area means an engineered beam, proper posts and sometimes new footings to carry the load. Raised-floor houses may also benefit from foundation bolting and cripple-wall bracing while the work area is accessible. Additions, enclosed decks or conversions built without permits in past decades are another frequent issue, and they need to be legalized, upgraded or rebuilt before the county will sign off on the broader project. If additional living space is part of the goal, state law allows an ADU on most single-family lots, and it can be designed alongside the remodel to keep permitting consolidated.
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 Running Springs
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 what a Class B license is built for: structural work, multiple trades and the coordination that holds them together under a single permit. Because Running Springs is unincorporated county territory, permits run through San Bernardino County Land Use Services, Building and Safety rather than a city hall, and we handle that filing and inspection process as part of our scope.
We work design-build, which means drawings, engineering coordination, permits and construction all sit under one contract with one project manager on your side. The people who laid out your floor plan are the same ones talking to the crew framing it. You are not passing messages between separate firms. Finishes across every room are selected together, so the kitchen, baths and flooring read as one consistent home rather than a collection of separate decisions made at different times.
We are also direct about the parts of a remodel that are easy to avoid until they become problems. Older Running Springs cabins, many of them built out in stages across several decades, often carry surprises behind the walls. We tell you up front what the house likely needs structurally, what can wait without costing more later, and whether living on site during construction is genuinely realistic for your situation.
Schedule a Consultation
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 single room or area. In Running Springs, where most homes are compact mountain cabins that have grown room by room since the highway-era buildout of the 1920s opened Hunsaker Flats and the surrounding slopes, that approach makes particular sense. Multiple rooms are addressed at once, walls are moved or removed to change the floor plan, and plumbing, electrical and HVAC are updated throughout the structure. Everything is drawn, permitted and sequenced together, so trades move through once instead of 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 identical. A remodel changes layout and finishes, while a renovation restores the house itself, covering structure, roof, windows, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling. Most whole-home projects in Running Springs combine both, especially in older cabins where decades of additions can leave systems layered and hard to reach. We scope them together, putting protection first, then buried systems, then the finishes you live with every day.
Do we have to move out during a whole home remodel?
Whether you stay or move out during a whole home remodel in Running Springs depends on how much of the house is open at once. Tearing out the kitchen and every bathroom at the same time, or pulling floors and drywall throughout the cabin, usually means relocating for the heaviest phases. In these compact mountain homes, there is rarely a spare wing to retreat to. If the work can be phased, keeping one bathroom live and staging a temporary kitchen elsewhere, some families stay put, though phasing adds time to the schedule. We walk through that trade-off once the plan is drawn.
How long does a whole home remodel take?
How long a whole home remodel in Running Springs takes depends on scope, how fast selections are made, and how quickly plan check moves through San Bernardino County Land Use Services. Design and permitting frequently take as long as construction itself, and plan check alone can stretch several weeks or more. Building a whole house typically runs several months, and that window grows with structural work, additions, or hidden conditions behind walls. We include a schedule specific to your home 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 Running Springs?
Permits for a whole home remodel in Running Springs go through San Bernardino County Land Use Services, Building and Safety, since the community sits in unincorporated county territory rather than inside a city limit. We prepare the full plan set, including structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents, then submit everything and work through any plan-check comments until the permit is in hand. Construction inspections covering framing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and insulation are scheduled and attended by our team, and we carry the permit through to final close-out.
What drives the cost of a whole home remodel?
Whole home remodel costs in Running Springs vary too widely for a published range to mean much, because two cabins of similar square footage can land far apart depending on what the work actually involves. Structural changes carry the most weight, particularly removing a load-bearing wall, relocating a kitchen or bath, or addressing the foundation and framing issues common in older mountain properties built out here since the highway-access era of the 1920s. Repiping, rewiring, panel upgrades, and any hazardous material handling add more. Your proposal separates every line item, distinguishing required work from the finish choices you control.
Explore More in Running Springs
Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Running Springs and the surrounding San Bernardino County communities.