Whole Home Remodeling in San Dimas
Most San Dimas homeowners who call us about a whole home remodel are happy with their neighborhood but frustrated with how the house actually functions. That feeling makes sense given the housing stock here. Most of the residential tracts went up after the city incorporated in 1960, growing out from an 1887 railroad townsite and decades of orange groves, which means a lot of these suburban foothill homes carry the floor plans and utility systems of that era. A whole home remodel addresses that as a single coordinated project: rooms reworked together, walls relocated to open the floor plan, plumbing and electrical brought current, and one permit package submitted to the City of San Dimas Building and Safety Division covering all of it. That scope is a different undertaking from a single-room job, 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 San Dimas
Whole home remodeling in San Dimas begins long before any walls come down. We walk the entire house, attic to slab, because the suburban foothill tract homes that make up most of the city’s housing stock were built across several decades, and what a previous owner altered in the framing or supply lines is not always obvious. Where something looks uncertain, we investigate first: a sewer camera, asbestos testing on textured ceilings, a structural look at modified framing. From there we draw the existing layout and the proposed one together, so changes happen on paper. Structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents go into a single plan set submitted to the City of San Dimas Building and Safety Division as one permit.
If your home sits within one of the city’s specific plan areas carrying Early California or Western architectural guidelines, exterior decisions go through the design review process before work begins, and we account for that schedule from the start. Cabinets, tile, flooring, and fixtures for every room are selected at our Fullerton office before demolition. Construction then follows a fixed order: demolition, structural work, rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, followed by inspections, insulation, drywall, and finishes. One project manager carries the job through final inspection.
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A whole home remodel in San Dimas almost always requires a full building permit with plan check, because the work touches structure, mechanical systems, plumbing and electrical at the same time. Those permits go through the City of San Dimas Building and Safety Division. San Dimas also has specific plan areas that carry Early California and Western architectural guidelines, and exterior work runs through the design review process set out in Chapter 18.12 of the zoning code. We check your scope against those requirements at the very start of the project, because they can affect exterior materials, setbacks and the review path well before any walls come down.
Most of the residential tracts in San Dimas were built after the city incorporated in 1960, and the age of that housing stock drives a lot of what we find once work begins. Homes constructed before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and any contractor disturbing it must follow the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule; Horizon is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. Popcorn ceilings, certain older flooring and duct wrap from that same era can contain asbestos, so suspect materials are tested before removal, and any abatement goes to a licensed specialty contractor. Galvanized supply lines and undersized electrical panels are also common in houses of that period, and a whole home remodel is the practical moment to address them, while the walls are already open.
Two California requirements come up on nearly every whole house job. State law 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 account for that in the fixture schedule from the beginning rather than at final inspection. California’s Title 24 energy code applies to remodels as well as new construction, and the 2025 standards cover permits filed on or after January 1, 2026. New windows, insulation, lighting and HVAC changes all have to meet compliance, and we prepare those documents as part of the plan set.
Structure is often the biggest variable in a remodel like this. Opening a kitchen to a living area typically means an engineered beam, new posts and possibly additional footings. Raised-floor houses common to this area may also benefit from foundation bolting and cripple-wall bracing while the work area is accessible. Unpermitted additions, enclosed patios and garage conversions are not unusual in older San Dimas tracts, and they need to be legalized, upgraded or rebuilt before the city will approve the broader scope. If additional square footage is part of the goal, state law allows an ADU 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 San Dimas
Why San Dimas Homeowners Work With Horizon
Horizon Construction and Remodeling has been operating as a licensed Class B general building contractor, bonded, since 2009. A Class B license is exactly what a whole home remodel calls for: multiple trades, structural coordination, and a single permit package moving through one process. For San Dimas homeowners, that permit process runs through the City of San Dimas Building and Safety Division, and if your house sits inside one of the city’s specific plan areas carrying Early California or Western architectural guidelines, exterior changes also go through the design review process. We handle that coordination directly, so you are not left figuring out which submittal goes where.
Most of the residential tracts in San Dimas were built after the city incorporated in 1960, which means a significant number of homes are now old enough to have aging systems and dated layouts behind otherwise solid walls. We are straightforward about what an older suburban tract house typically needs once walls are open, which items can wait without creating larger costs later, and whether staying in the home during construction is realistic for your situation.
Drawings, engineering coordination, permits, and construction all sit under one contract with one project manager. The people who develop the floor plan communicate directly with the crew building it, and finish selections for every room are made together so the kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring stay consistent throughout the house.
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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 at a time, several rooms are redone together, walls are moved or removed to reshape the floor plan, and plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are brought up to date throughout. For the post-1960 suburban tract homes common across San Dimas, that coordinated approach matters because everything is drawn, permitted, and sequenced as a single project, so trades come through once and finished work does not get torn open again on the next phase.
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 focuses on changing layouts and finishes, while renovation means restoring what the house already has, covering structure, windows, plumbing, wiring, and heating and cooling. Most whole home remodeling projects in San Dimas blend both, especially in the post-1960 suburban tract homes that make up most of the city’s housing stock. We scope them together, prioritizing anything that protects the structure first, then systems that are difficult to reach once walls close, then the finishes you see every day.
Do we have to move out during a whole home remodel?
It depends on the scope of your project. Many families doing a full whole home remodel in San Dimas choose to move out during the heaviest phases, particularly when every bathroom and the kitchen are out of service at the same time or floors and drywall are coming out throughout the house. If the work can be phased, keeping one bathroom functional and setting up a temporary kitchen elsewhere, staying home is possible. Phasing does add time to the schedule, so 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 San Dimas takes depends on the scope of work, how fast plan check moves, and how quickly you lock in your selections. Design and permitting can easily match construction in calendar time, and plan check with the City of San Dimas Building and Safety Division alone can run several weeks or more. If your project touches the exterior of a home in one of the city’s Early California or Western architectural plan areas, design review adds another layer to that timeline. Construction on a full house typically runs several months, and structural work, additions, or conditions found behind walls stretch that further. We build a schedule tied to your specific house into every proposal, and getting drawings started early is the single biggest thing that moves your return date forward.
Who handles the permit for a whole home remodel in San Dimas?
Yes, we handle the full permit process for whole home remodeling in San Dimas. Our team prepares the plan set, which includes structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents, submits everything to the City of San Dimas Building and Safety Division, and works through any plan-check comments until the permit is issued. Because parts of the city fall under Early California and Western architectural guidelines with design review requirements, we account for that process in the project schedule from the start. Throughout construction we coordinate framing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and insulation inspections, and we close the permit out at final. If an HOA review also applies to your property, we fold that into the timeline as well.
What drives the cost of a whole home remodel?
Whole home remodel costs in San Dimas vary too widely for published ranges to be useful, because two houses of similar square footage can land far apart depending on what the work actually involves. The biggest cost drivers are structural changes such as removing a load-bearing wall, relocating a kitchen or bathroom on a slab foundation, how much repiping, rewiring, and panel work the house needs, any lead or asbestos handling, added square footage, and the finish level you choose. For homes in San Dimas’s Early California or Western design review areas, exterior scope also runs through the City’s design review process, which can shape material choices and timing. Your proposal separates every item line by line, distinguishing must-do work from the decisions that are yours to make.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving San Dimas and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.