What Happens During a Remodel in San Jose? A Step-by-Step Guide

Send photos through the request form, or email a video to adam@landfordconstruction.com, with a short description of what you want to change. For suitable projects, Adam gives a free preliminary ballpark range. It is not a final estimate or a fixed price; it tells you early whether the project fits your budget.

If the range fits, Adam visits the site at no charge, measures, and looks at the existing conditions. A visit can’t show everything behind the walls, but it shows access, how the house is built, and questions that need an answer before pricing.

You get a free written proposal with the scope, price, and schedule. Landford gives one price for the agreed work, and payments are tied to stages listed in the contract. In California, a written contract is required for home improvement work over $500, and CSLB says the contract must state who gets the permits and give a completion date. Our guide on choosing a contractor covers what else to check before you sign.

Cabinets, countertops, tile, plumbing fixtures, appliances, and lighting should be chosen early. Their sizes and requirements affect framing, plumbing, electrical work, and countertop fabrication, and some products take time to arrive. You choose and order the finish materials unless your agreement says otherwise; for an added fee, Landford can order them, track delivery, or deliver them.

When the work needs a permit, Landford Construction applies for it, manages it, and schedules the inspections. You pay only the city’s permit fee. In San José, a minor kitchen or bathroom remodel may qualify for an online permit, while moving fixtures or changing walls means plans and plan review. Our San José permit guide explains the difference, and our guide to permits in other South Bay cities shows where the rules differ.

Floors and surfaces get covered, the work area is sealed off to contain dust, and the site is cleaned up every day. Demolition opens up the space, and framing, plumbing, electrical, and ventilation work follow. In Landford’s San Jose layout redesign, this stage meant removing the original fixtures and wall finishes, updating the plumbing, and taking out the soffit above the bathtub.

This is when hidden problems, such as water damage or old wiring, tend to show up. If something changes the scope, Adam explains it, and the change is documented and signed before any extra work starts. See how change orders work.

The permit card lists the inspections. Rough inspections come first, such as for a tub or shower, and final inspections come at the end. Landford schedules them and updates you after each stage and inspection.

Drywall, waterproofing, tile, cabinets, countertops, flooring, fixtures, paint, and hardware go in, in the order the project needs. In Landford’s Los Gatos kitchen, the cabinets and countertops were in place when the wall templates and dry layout for the backsplash were done. A room can look nearly done while detailed finish work is still going on.

Landford hauls away the debris, does a final clean, walks through the finished work with you, and fixes anything left on the punch list. One month later, Adam calls to make sure everything works. Landford gives a two-year warranty on workmanship, starting when the work is finished, and it is written into your contract.

It depends on the scope, so your written proposal gives dates for your project instead of a standard timeline. Our guide to how long a remodel takes covers what sets the schedule, including the City of San José’s published plan review times.

It can be discussed. Phasing can keep part of the home in use, but it can also mean repeated setup and a different sequence. The plan should reflect your priorities, material availability, and the inspections the work needs. On a whole-home remodel, Adam reviews the sequence with you, including when rooms and utilities will be out of use.

Whether you can stay home depends on which rooms are out of use and for how long. Our guide on living at home during a remodel covers kitchens, bathrooms, dust, and utilities.