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Whole-home renovation taken back to the studs by Elusive Construction

Full Renovation

Whole-Home Remodels

A full renovation, often back to the studs — structure, systems and finishes rebuilt as one coordinated project instead of six trades pointing at each other.

  • Licensed CA General B #1112902
  • Fully Insured
  • Santa Clara & San Mateo Counties
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Once the walls are open, everything is on the table

A whole-home remodel is the one project where you can fix what's actually wrong with a house — not just how it looks. Old wiring, failing drain lines, missing insulation, framing that was never right. With the walls open, that work costs a fraction of what it costs later.

It's also the project with the most unknowns, which is why our proposals separate defined work from allowances. Subfloor, dry rot, and what's above a garage ceiling can't be honestly priced until they're opened. Those get billed at actual cost, and whatever isn't spent comes back to you.

Scope

What a whole-home remodel covers

Demolition to the studs

Controlled demo so the structure can actually be inspected rather than guessed at.

Structural repair

Dry rot, termite damage, failed framing and anything the reports flagged that nobody has addressed.

Systems replacement

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical brought up to current code while the walls are open.

Insulation & envelope

Insulation, weather barrier and windows — the part you never see and feel every month.

Kitchens & baths

Rebuilt as part of the whole, waterproofed correctly, not bolted on at the end.

Finish & walkthrough

Floors, trim, paint and fixtures, then a punch list walked together.

Common Questions

Straight answers

Do I need to move out during a whole-home remodel?
For a true to-the-studs renovation, almost always — and it's worth planning for. If the house will be vacant, confirm with your insurance carrier that it's covered while unoccupied and under renovation. Many homeowner policies exclude vacancy past 30 or 60 days, and a full remodel runs longer than that.
Why are there allowances instead of one fixed price?
Because a fixed price on work nobody has seen yet is a guess with padding on it. Allowances cover exactly the items that can't be known until demo — and they're billed at actual cost, with anything unspent credited back to you.
How long does a whole-home remodel take?
Longer than the optimistic version you may have been quoted elsewhere. We'll give you a realistic duration at proposal. An overrun costs us margin, so we have every reason to schedule it honestly rather than tell you what you want to hear.
Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
Yes — California General Building (B) license #1112902, a $25,000 contractor bond, and an active workers' compensation policy with The Hartford. Verify the license on the CSLB registry. Certificates of insurance are available on request.
Do you handle the design?
We build your vision — we're not designing the place with you. If you already have plans, we price and build from them. If you need real design work, you need a designer, and we'll say so up front rather than three weeks in.
How do allowances work?
An allowance covers work nobody can honestly price until something is opened up. Those are billed at actual cost, and whatever isn't spent comes off your final invoice. We'd rather show you the unknowns than bury them in a padded fixed price.

Service Area

Where we build

Permit process, plan check and utility requirements change at every city line. Each page covers what's actually true where you're building.

Tell us about your project

Book a 30-minute discovery call and we'll tell you what's realistic — scope, budget and timeline — whether or not we're the right builder for it.