Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
Remodeling Company in Santa Monica, CA
Home remodeling in Santa Monica means working with older homes, a salt-air climate, and some of the strictest permit rules in Los Angeles County. Penhallow Remodeling handles whole-home remodels, kitchens, and bathrooms for homeowners who want a written price and a written guarantee before the first wall comes down. If you’re planning a remodel here, call (213) 277-6578 and we’ll walk you through what your project will actually cost.
Why Santa Monica Homes Are Different
Santa Monica’s housing stock runs older than most of the Westside. Many single-family homes in Sunset Park and Ocean Park were built between the 1920s and 1950s, and a large share of the city’s apartment buildings date before 1980. That means remodels regularly uncover outdated framing, undersized foundations, and electrical panels that no longer meet current code. The city’s mandatory seismic retrofit ordinance applies to many soft-story apartments and older wood-frame structures, so a straightforward kitchen remodel can turn into a shear wall upgrade once the walls are open.
The marine layer complicates exterior work. Morning fog slows paint and stucco curing times, and salt air corrodes exterior metal faster than it does five miles inland. We specify marine-grade fasteners and hardware on any coastal-facing work, which is a small upfront cost that prevents callbacks. And because parts of Santa Monica sit inside the Coastal Zone boundary, even interior remodels can trigger a coastal development permit. In Ocean Park and Sunset Park especially, a project that would be over-the-counter in Culver City can add months of discretionary review here. None of this is a reason to avoid remodeling; it’s a reason to hire a contractor who knows the city’s process before the first permit application goes in.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Santa Monica Services
Most Santa Monica homeowners call us for two things: whole-project general contracting and kitchen or bathroom remodels. Here’s how each works here.
General Contractor in Santa Monica
Acting as your General Contractor in Santa Monica means we coordinate the permit path, the subcontractors, the material deliveries, and the inspections. Santa Monica’s planning department handles things differently than neighboring cities, particularly when a property falls within the Coastal Zone or triggers the city’s no-net-loss housing review. We manage that paperwork up front so the project timeline you’re quoted is the timeline you actually get.
Bathroom Remodeling in Santa Monica
Bathrooms in Santa Monica’s older homes are often original to the 1940s and 1950s: cast iron drains, small footprints, and walls that hide surprises. Our Bathroom Remodeling in Santa Monica work covers full gut renovations, tub-to-shower conversions, and vanity and tile replacement. We check for moisture damage behind the tile and address it before new waterproofing goes in, because a new shower over a rotten subfloor is a warranty claim waiting to happen.
Kitchen Remodeling in Santa Monica
Kitchens in Santa Monica’s pre-1980 housing stock often carry plumbing and electrical systems that predate modern appliance loads. Our Kitchen Remodeling in Santa Monica projects start with a load calculation and a plumbing inspection, then move into cabinet, countertop, backsplash, and island installation. We quote in writing, use brands like KraftMaid and Cambria, and back every job with our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Home Remodeling in Santa Monica
Home remodeling in Santa Monica is rarely a simple surface refresh. The city’s pre-1980 housing stock means load-bearing walls, old wiring, and outdated plumbing hide behind most finished surfaces, and the Coastal Zone boundary can turn a basic interior update into a discretionary permit review. That’s why we put the price in writing before work starts and walk each project through the city’s planning process step by step. If you’re weighing a whole-home remodel or a garage conversion, our Home Remodeling team can help you scope it without surprises.
Home Remodeling Contractor
Signs you need it
You’re taking on multiple rooms at once, moving walls, or changing the footprint of your home.
What it costs in Santa Monica
Whole-home remodels in Santa Monica typically run $45,000 – $130,000 depending on square footage, structural work, and finish level.
How we do it
We start with a walkthrough and a written scope, pull the permits the city requires, then sequence demolition, rough-in, drywall, finishes, and final inspection.
Whole House Remodel
Signs you need it
Your home needs systemic upgrades (electrical, plumbing, insulation, layout) rather than a single-room refresh.
What it costs in Santa Monica
A full whole-house remodel typically lands between $45,000 and $130,000 here, driven mostly by structural retrofits and Coastal Zone permitting.
How we do it
We remove finishes to expose framing and systems, correct any structural or seismic deficiencies, then rebuild to current code with your chosen materials.
What Home Remodeling Costs in Santa Monica
| Item | Typical range in Santa Monica |
|---|---|
| Whole house remodel | $45,000 – $130,000 |
| Kitchen remodel | $14,000 – $45,000 |
| Bathroom remodel | $9,000 – $28,000 |
How long does a whole-home remodel take in Santa Monica?
A whole-home remodel typically takes four to eight months here. Coastal Zone review and seismic retrofit requirements can add weeks or months to the front end, so we build permit timelines into the schedule before work starts.
Will my Santa Monica remodel require a coastal development permit?
If your property sits inside the Coastal Zone boundary, yes, even interior work can trigger coastal review. We confirm your zoning early and file the right applications before demolition, so the permit path doesn’t stall the job mid-project. Call (213) 277-6578 for a free estimate.
Brands We Service in Santa Monica
We install and service products from Sakrete, Abodu, and Cover, with parts sourced through our local supply network. Our our brands page lists what we carry. Most common components are available locally, which keeps lead times shorter than a special-order-only shop.
See the difference
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AfterPricing for Remodeling Company in Santa Monica, CA
| Service | Typical range in Santa Monica |
|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | $14,000 – $45,000 |
| Small kitchen remodel | $9,000 – $20,000 |
| Bathroom remodel | $9,000 – $28,000 |
| Small bathroom remodel | $5,000 – $12,000 |
| Walk-in shower installation | $4,500 – $12,000 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $3,500 – $10,000 |
| Countertop installation | $2,000 – $6,500 |
| Backsplash installation | $800 – $2,500 |
| Home addition | $45,000 – $130,000 |
| ADU construction | $90,000 – $220,000 |
| Garage conversion | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Window replacement | $4,500 – $15,000 |
What pushes a Santa Monica remodel toward the top of these ranges? Coastal Zone permit review, seismic retrofit requirements on pre-1980 structures, and marine-grade material upgrades all add cost. Our written price before any work starts means the number you approve is the number you pay, not the number you discover after demo day.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Santa Monica
We work across Santa Monica, including:
- Ocean Park
- Sunset Park
- Pico District
- Santa Monica Canyon
- Wilshire-Montana
Our crews are in the area most weeks. Depending on current schedule and permit status, we can typically have a written estimate to you within a few business days of the walkthrough.
Service Area – Cities Near Santa Monica
We serve Santa Monica and the surrounding Westside and Valley communities. If you’re in Los Angeles, CA, Studio City, CA, North Hollywood, CA, or Burbank, CA, the same written-price and written-guarantee standard applies.
Serving Santa Monica, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Santa Monica area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Remodeling Company in Santa Monica
Start time depends on permit status. Simple interior updates can begin within a few weeks of the signed contract. Projects requiring Coastal Zone review or seismic retrofit plans may take months before the first day of construction. We give you a realistic timeline in writing before you commit.
Yes, we file city permit applications and coordinate with any HOA or architectural review board your property falls under. Santa Monica’s permitting process is stricter than most neighboring cities, and we handle the paperwork and inspections so you don’t have to chase the planning department yourself. Call (213) 277-6578 to walk through your project.
Every project includes our 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If a covered repair fails within the guarantee period, we return and fix it at no charge, including a free second visit if something wasn’t done right the first time. The price is written before work starts, and the guarantee is written before work starts too.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local construction pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Santa Monica Customers Say
"Primary bath remodel. They gave me a schedule and hit it, called me for every decision, and kept the dust contained with plastic. Beautiful tile work."
- Dana Monroe"Did our whole kitchen. The written estimate held, which after reading remodel nightmares online I did not take for granted. Showed up every morning on time and the crew was clean and polite."
- Warren Updike"Redid two bathrooms at once. The crew protected the floors and cleaned up every single day before leaving. Quote was detailed and there were no mystery charges at the end."
- Tricia Dawson
