The duration of a remodeling project will vary widely depending on the type of project, the scope and complexity of the work, not to mention the overall size of the project. Once we’ve designed your project and understand these factors, we will provide you with a realistic timeframe before work begins. While it stands to reason we cannot predict exactly how long your project will take before we understand all these factors, below are some general estimates for different types of remodeling projects based on our experience:
Small Projects (e.g., bathroom or kitchen updates): These projects can typically take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months.
Medium-Sized Projects (e.g., room additions or significant interior renovations): These projects may take several months, typically ranging from three to six months.
Large-Scale Projects (e.g., whole-house renovations or extensive exterior work): These projects can take six months to a year or more.
The first steps of our process—the design and planning—can usually begin within weeks of your initial consultation. However, there are several factors that will impact the time construction begins. While we cannot give you an exact start date for your project before we’ve completed the design and planning steps, we can provide transparent insight into potential timelines once we understand more about your project.
To ensure consistency and effective communication, and to maintain high-quality work, Upscale Remodeling employs its own team of trusted, in-house designers and carpenters, along with reputable trade partners and talented architects. The extensive experience of our team members, all working together cohesively over the years, enables us to exercise better control over the quality of work, reducing the risk of delays and miscommunications commonly experienced in this business.
No. We are exclusively a design-build remodeling firm and do not offer retail sales of individual remodeling or home-improvement products.
Our Design Studio is by appointment only. Because we are typically working with existing clients or busy working on their designs, we are unable to accommodate walk-in traffic. We are, however, happy to give you a private guided tour of our unique and inspirational design studio, by appointment.
Please feel free to contact us to schedule a time to discuss the details of your project with one of our project consultants. From there we can schedule a private tour or determine if it makes sense to schedule a site visit to your home to see the particulars of your project before scheduling a design studio tour.
Upscale Remodeling was founded in 1991 by Steve Nash, Jr.
Steve’s ancestors settled the Ellis Hollow/Snyder Hill area in the early 1800s and built some of the area’s first homes. Learn more about our history.
We offer one of the strongest warranties in the remodeling industry, a full five-year written workmanship warranty. If you experience any problems with our workmanship, we’ll come back and fix it on our dime, not yours.
Free Annual Inspections:
At no additional charge, we’ll come back each year for up to five consecutive years after we’ve finished your project to inspect our work and make sure it’s performing as expected. We want to ensure the work we’ve done will stand up to the test of time.
Certainly! Our initial consultation typically begins with a phone conversation to gather basic details about your project, its location, your expectations, and your preferred timeline. If everything aligns and we can help with your project, we will schedule an initial visit to your home to gather more details, take initial measurements, hear more about your ideas, and share ours.
From there we usually have enough information to prepare a rough idea of what your project might cost—usually a high-low “ballpark” range. This rough estimate does not delve into every detail of your project, but gives us a general understanding of the financial scope before progressing to the next step of our process. This process is typically free.
For most projects, the next step is to engage with us to design and develop your project by signing a Project Development Agreement (PDA) and providing a deposit (typically 5% to 7% of anticipated costs). From there we begin designing your project—working out all the details, helping you select all the appropriate materials, and providing a formal proposal with a detailed scope of work with an accurate price for the entire project.
For a more in-depth understanding of our project development and design process, please see: Our Design-Build Process
In most cases, no. We minimize mess and disruption and do our best to accommodate your needs while your project is being completed. However, for larger-scale projects or projects that may be exceptionally disruptive, we will discuss the necessity of temporarily relocating upfront.
We try our best to determine all costs involved with our projects before preparing a formal proposal. Because we put in so much effort designing our projects up front, we tend to discover many things that other less thorough contractors may miss. But this is remodeling, and try as we may, there are often surprises lurking around many corners and changes are often inevitable.
There are two main categories of changes that may add to the cost of your project: “Unforeseen” changes (a.k.a. surprises) and “Client Requested” changes (a.k.a. the “oh, while you’re here” requests).
Examples of “Unforeseen” changes might include the discovery of preexisting conditions, such as poor framing or bad wiring, decayed materials, a hidden pipe that needs to be relocated, etc. There is a higher potential for these types of changes in older homes than in new homes. The risk does not go away with newer homes, but in our experience, the potential for additional work is less.
Examples of “Client Requested” changes might include replacing a door, adding a skylight, painting an additional room, or other requests for work that was not included in the original scope.
We advise our clients to set aside between 5-12% in additional funds beyond the anticipated project cost. This typically covers most unforeseen items, and many of the client requested changes we encounter. Sometimes we don’t incur these costs, and in those cases, we’re all happy!
Getting other estimates is a personal decision. It’s very easy to compare estimates, but it can be difficult to compare scope of work and specifications. It can be even more difficult to compare things like dedication, service, design talent, and craftsmanship, just to name a few. All too often people are tempted by a lower price and live to regret it when they don’t get what they expected. Our advice has always been to hire a company that you like, trust, and feel confident will do the job you expect. Do your due diligence—check references, read their reviews, inspect their work, and look for evidence of a good reputation. Trust and comfort are key.
Ensuring a good job at a fair price hinges on the contractor’s reputation. Opting for a company with stellar references and satisfied clients significantly increases the likelihood of receiving a high-quality project at a reasonable and fair price. Looking at previous work, either in person or via a project portfolio, allows you to assess the quality of their work with tangible examples. Harness the power of online review sites during your research phase before making any decisions. These platforms serve as invaluable resources, providing insights into others’ experiences with the contractor, and online reviews should play a pivotal role in guiding your decision-making process. If a contractor lacks reviews, it’s prudent to exercise caution and treat them similarly to those with negative reviews until further evidence proves otherwise.