Remodeling pre-war homes in the Washington, D.C. area presents a rewarding challenge. It’s an opportunity to take a piece of the city’s history and both preserve and improve it. You can create a home with more mojo—a home with historic style and contemporary functionality.

Sweeten offers an outline on what to know before starting older home renovations in Washington, D.C. (plus, which rooms get the most bang for the buck!) 

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure payments—for free.

Where do you start when renovating an old house?

Start with your vision for the result. Consider all that you want and prioritize those features with your budget. Talk with a contractor as early in the process as possible. Go over the mandatory elements, such as electrical and plumbing, that will have to meet current code requirements. Older homes typically need complete upgrades of:

• Electrical: Older homes need more outlets, plain and simple. Adding plenty of USB outlets makes sense, too, as they allow you to dispense with the extra adapter. Many older homes still suffer from antiquated lighting, with just a solitary ceiling fixture, if that. Energy-efficient puck lights and sconces should be part of any renovation. 

In addition, an updated home should have a 200-amp service, which you’ll learn about through an electrical audit. If you want photovoltaic panels and are allowed to install them, discuss whether the system should be part of your planning with your contractor.

• Plumbing: Efficiency and style have taken over in plumbing, as shown by low-flow “waterfall” showerheads, wall-mounted toilets, and so on. As for the “guts,” of the plumbing system, you can choose a tankless water heater and never run out of hot water, or go with a heat-pump water heater for greater efficiency.
• HVAC system: Improvements abound in HVAC systems, with heat pumps and mini-split systems increasingly popular, along with more effective air filtration systems and energy recovery ventilators becoming standard in many places.
• Windows: Unlike electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, windows are both functional and aesthetic elements, and can vary hugely in cost. Some windows offer more user-friendly features such as opening farther, while others are focused on maximum performance with triple panes and advanced coatings. 

Improved performance is laudable, but costs can balloon for small gains in performance. Your choice of windows is a judgment call, so go over this carefully with your general contractor. You should also do research on the window manufacturers and products so you can learn and ask questions. Windows are a major expense (and are not easily changed,) so take the time to get it right.

(Above) Sweeten homeowner Nicole remodeled her basement bathroom in Virginia

Commonly renovated elements in old homes

• Woodwork: Other elements that often need help include woodwork, built-ins, and floors. Pre-war homes were often hand-crafted with excellent materials, as there were no reasonable alternatives. Time takes its toll, however, and your home’s woodwork may be showing its age. Unless you want a different look or the materials are badly degraded or damaged, it’s often the best and most cost-effective choice to overhaul the existing elements.
  
• Architectural salvage pieces may have a place in your renovation, as well, and it can be enjoyable to go see what’s available. Your builder, architect, and interior designer will be invaluable in this endeavor.
  
• Distressed plaster walls are also a common feature of pre-war homes. Considering the simple materials used, plaster walls are amazing and hold up well. They lend a feeling of solidity and just feel appropriate in an older or historic building. They do tend to crack more readily with settling than newer drywall construction.
  

Fortunately, this is a relatively easy fix—getting the right plaster pro on the job. Your contractor will make sure new and old blends perfectly, make repairs properly, and leave you feeling great about this subtle yet important element. 

(Above) Sweeten homeowners Brandi and Chris renovated their Maryland kitchen

Kitchen upgrades in old homes

Because of the intensity of use as the hub of most homes, your kitchen deserves more focus and more of the budget. Not surprisingly, you’ll make more materials and feature choices for the kitchen, as well. Do you really want a six-burner range, or should that money go elsewhere? One feature we strongly recommend is the best cabinets you can afford. Here, you have options.

“Off-the-rack” cabinets have improved tremendously in the last few years as manufacturers have stepped up to meet the demand for both style and functionality. By their nature, off-the-rack or in-stock cabinets will offer fewer choices, but that may be fine if you’re happy with the finishes and sizes offered.

Semi-custom and custom cabinets can provide nearly anything you want, such as finishes, specialized hardware, and sizes to fit any space. You can usually expect upgraded cabinets to show better fit and finish, but you might have to wait for them to be built. This shouldn’t be a problem, as you’ll have many renovation tasks to complete before the cabinets go in.

Another upgrade that might fly under your radar is a heavier sink, either of stainless steel or synthetic material. This is a subjective thing, but heavier sinks just feel solid and have a better, quieter tone with water running on them.

Exterior elements have endured a lot

Outside, the humid climate in Washington, D.C. is no friend to structures. The mortar in historic brick buildings, for example, needs maintenance periodically. Old bricks were much softer than current bricks, and older lime mortars were more flexible than modern mortars. These older materials worked well together.

Today, however, modern mortar costs about half of the traditional lime mortar, so many repairs over the last couple of decades have used the newer, less pliable mortar, leading to bricks cracking and crumbling, instead of the mortar. Typically, you’ll find lime mortar in cream or black tones, while the modern mortar is gray. Check this out and talk with your contractor about how much work needs to be done.

Challenges for layout changes and additions

While these renovation decisions are happening, consider the layout of your home. Does it work for your family, or does it need help? The need for a more functional design may in fact be the driving force behind the entire renovation. Do you need more square footage or just a refinement of the layout? Whether or not you’re able—either physically or legally—to add more square feet is a major factor.

Row homes, for example, may be impossible to add on to. For other homes, setbacks and/or various associations may prohibit changing the home’s footprint, even if the lot has room. If your contractor has worked on other projects in your neighborhood, he or she may already know what’s possible. Nonetheless, it doesn’t hurt to double-check with your historic district.

Allowing for surprises

It’s inevitable to have a few surprises while remodeling pre-war homes. But budgeting for them and preparing mentally, plus going through the house thoroughly with your contractor, will minimize the chances of a major surprise. You’ll also have permits to pay for, and for this, you’ll want to coordinate with your contractor.

When you’re ready to get started on your kitchen or home remodel, work with Sweeten to renovate with the best contractors in the Washington DC area.

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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

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Kitchen in newly constructed luxury home

Have you ever noticed: when you have friends over or are at home with your family, everyone congregates in the kitchen? That’s because the kitchen is truly the heart of a house. Whether your kitchen is a cooking space in an old Boston Victorian or a condo in East Boston, it can be renovated to work with the way you cook. 

Deciding on a budget is one of your first steps in this journey. In this guide, Sweeten offers a jumping-off point for how much your kitchen renovation will cost. It covers key factors, such as the age of your house, the design you want, and the finishes you want, which all affect your final costs. You’ll also need to meet with a general contractor, who will want to see the space to confirm an accurate budget. 

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free..

Here’s what to expect when remodeling a kitchen in Boston, and how much it may cost.

Plumbing in Boston apartment buildings

One issue that Boston-based Sweeten contractor Taghi sees a lot is that the older, smaller pipe size in some buildings doesn’t match the bigger pipe size of modern fixtures. As a result, “Your water pressure will go down,” said Taghi. Often, this is not apparent until a general contractor gets into the walls. If this happens to you, prepare your budget accordingly. Changing the size of those older pipes in the walls can add a few thousand dollars to a kitchen renovation’s budget, Taghi said.

Old walls in apartments and houses

Because of age, and a lack of building codes and structural engineering in the years before the 1950s, older buildings can have shoddy workmanship. “This is the most problematic issue – the lack of consistency in buildings,” said Sweeten contractor Jeff who is based in Boston.  One potential outcome is walls that are not plumped or straight. Like the pipes, it is not likely to be clear when a general contractor is pricing out a job. Walls like this often have to be rebuilt and can add to the budget (and a few extra days to the timeline).

Switching to an open plan living

A lot of kitchen remodels—apartment or house—in Boston involve pulling down a wall to open the space between kitchen, dining, and living room. Of course, that isn’t how many Boston homes were designed—so it is easier said than done! Frequently, a load-bearing wall has to come down, so the roof or top floor needs to be supported in another way, said Sweeten expert Taghi. Ultimately, it can mean a huge beam needs to be installed across the space to hold everything up.

WAYS TO PREPARE:

Talk to your general contractor about the possible issues that may come up based on the age and history of your home. It’s always a good plan to have a 10%—15% contingency plan of the final budget in case problems arise.

Remodeling in a Boston apartment vs. a Boston house

When outlining your budget, an important factor will be whether you’re in a house or an apartment. Surprisingly, a house renovation often has lower costs than an apartment! Renovating an apartment will mean stricter rules on times and days your general contractor can be at work, which then adds to the timeline, which then adds to the budget.

In an apartment, the demolition phase can also take longer because whatever you’re removing can’t just be carted out the front door and into a dumpster. It needs to go through common hallways, and down service elevators to get outside. The availability of parking for your general contractor and other tradespeople can also add to the time it takes them each day to get started on the job.

WAYS TO PREPARE:

Your contractor should be able to discuss a general timeline with the following milestones so you can feel prepared with the process:

• a start date range
• milestones
• potential variables

Doing a Boston Kitchen Remodel with Mid-Range Finishes

A mid-range kitchen remodel in Boston can start at $40,000. It involves a layout change, with the addition of a kitchen island. However, it’s important that the location of plumbing and electrical stay as-is to keep costs down.

With this budget, you have a lot more creative leeway with semi-custom wood cabinets. You can consider appliance brands, like General Electric, and can include a vented range hood, a built-in microwave, and garbage disposal. You can also play around with some custom lighting.

Doing a Boston Kitchen Remodel with Upscale Finishes

An upscale kitchen remodel in Boston starts at $65,000. This budget level means you can look overseas for creative backsplash tiles, delve into quartz (or even marble countertops), and use custom cabinets. Take note: Fully custom cabinets can take a third to half of your budget.

You can browse designer kitchen stores for an undermount sink and designer faucets, plus a water filtration system. (Tip: with an undermount sink, your countertops cascade into the sink for easy wiping.) Lighting design, including undercabinet lighting, is also within your budget’s reach. Flooring can be tile.

Like the mid-range kitchen, you can play around with the layout by adding a kitchen island. But again, it’s advised that you keep your oven and sink where they are. That way, you can save money on plumbing and electrical, and spend more on those European tiles.

Are you remodeling a kitchen in Boston? Sweeten can uniquely match your renovation project with Boston’s best vetted, insured contractors.

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Trying to pick between a kitchen peninsula or a kitchen island? Use Sweeten’s guide to help you decide!

Planning on renovating multiple rooms? Read our renovation cost guide for Boston for the whole home, kitchen, bathroom, and the basement.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

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A well-designed front porch is an important part of the home’s design. Plus, it serves a function; like a place to relax or a space for greeting visitors. Sadly, many porches don’t suit homeowners’ needs. 

This is especially true of porches on older homes that have been remodeled in the past. Previous homeowners often selected design details that clashed with the character of the house. Some removed the front porch entirely, damaging the integrity of the home’s design.

Take note: Porches for historic houses need to be approved by the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) for Washington DC. 

It’s a good idea to list what you don’t like about the current porch. From this starting point for the front porch renovation, Sweeten outlines the path to building a structure that works with your lifestyle and the house’s architectural style.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free..

How will you use the front porch?

Porches are transition spaces between the outside world and home. At the same time, they are an extension of living space that is not quite inside or outside. Start your project by determining how you will use the porch space. Will it be a space to greet guests? Will it be a family gathering spot? Do you plan to eat on the porch?

Your answers will help determine the features of the new porch. In the Washington DC area, a ceiling fan will make summer evenings more pleasant. The way the porch will be used also determines its size.  Importantly, not all porches extend across the entire front of the building. Want to estimate the space needed for renovating your front porch? 

• A covered entry for greeting guests or judging the weather before venturing outdoors can be about four feet deep.
  
• Porches for relaxing and living on require more space.
  
• Comfortable seating requires a porch that is at least five feet from the wall of the house to the railing. 
  
• Add a dining table and you will need a wider, or deeper, porch. There should be at least 36 inches from a dining chair to an obstruction, like the house’s wall. 
  
• To be comfortable when using the table, plan on a 10-foot-deep porch.
  

Fitting the front porch with the house

Sometimes renovating a front porch is done to enhance curb appeal.  A well-designed porch can certainly do that, whether it is a renovation or building a whole new structure. However, it’s important that the porch complement and contribute to the design of the house. It should not look tacked on.  This is especially important where the original porch was renovated in the past or removed altogether. 

Renovating or adding a porch to a period home requires a little research. You can take cues from similar houses in your neighborhood.  And there are historical references, including some online, that list period details. Local designers and contractors can also help get the details right. 

Porch designs can relate to the house in a few ways, including using similar materials, roof style and architectural details. Matching roof styles, such as gable or hip roofs, will help the porch integrate with the house. 

Match exterior materials

Wood frame houses usually have wood porches. Brick houses have brick or other masonry foundations. The roofing material on the porch should match the material on the house. 

Architectural details

Architectural details can be anything from moldings, decorative brackets and medallions, railings and banisters, and columns. The goal is to incorporate the house’s style characteristics into the porch design. For example, the trim style around the windows might be used for the fascia of the porch.

Using the correct style of front porch columns

Columns not only support the roof, but they play an important role in porch design. The trick is to use columns that match the style of the house. A colonial home requires classical columns that are in proportion to the porch and house. A craftsman, or bungalow, house can have stone columns or columns that are clad with siding that matches the house. Also, columns should frame doors and windows. They should not be added where they block a window, for example. 

Front porch railing design

The right railing can make or break a porch design. Victorian homes usually have elaborate “gingerbread” type railings. Simple railings with clean lines work well with contemporary home designs.  Your own research and advice from experts can help you settle on the right railing system. 

Adding a new front porch

Placing a porch where one does not exist should follow the same design rules as renovating a front porch. But the process includes building everything from the foundation to the roof. You will be selecting materials for the flooring, ceiling, and railing that work with the original house. In addition, the porch space has to be in proportion to the original house. And that is important because a house and porch not in proportion will never look right.

New porches planned for historic homes in Washington DC have special provisions. Basically, a new porch, as well as a renovated porch, must be historically accurate. Approval for changes come from the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) for Washington DC. It is best to check what is and is not allowed before spending too much time on the design process. 

Expanding on the back porch

Back porches are another matter. There is a 20- or 25-foot setback from the rear property line, depending on location in Washington D.Cthe city. But you cannot build out beyond 10 feet from an adjoining house.  So if your back walls lines up with your neighbor’s, you can build a 10-foot-deep back porch. But if their wall or porch is five feet beyond your wall, you can build out 15 feet. 

Building permits for porches

DCRA is the body that issues building permits. The process from application to approval can take two to four months. DCRA circulates the permit application to a number of government agencies, including the Historic Preservation Division. Navigating the process is difficult. But an experienced designer or general contractor will handle the permit process for you. 

DCRA will consider property setbacks in the process. In the front, you cannot build beyond an existing structure that is closest to the street. So if houses on your block have porches, you can build out to the porch nearest the street. 

Starting a front porch renovation

Considering your own front porch renovation? Porches provide valuable living space, plus they can enhance the curb appeal of a house. But remember—the design, whether a renovation or new construction,  should look like an extension of the main house.  

Ready for your own front porch project? Sweeten can connect you with the right general contractor!

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ADUs or accessory dwelling units can transform into home offices, living space for family or as a rental, or a retreat.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

The post Renovating a Front Porch in Washington DC appeared first on Sweeten.

With a 250-year-old history, the Boston housing stock is flush in centuries-old buildings. Here, Colonial, Federal, and Victorian styles are among the many that enrich the residential landscape. While many exteriors tend to be well-preserved, interiors commonly need to be updated.

Sweeten offers an outline on what to know before starting older home renovations in Boston (plus, which rooms get the most bang for the buck!) Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free..

Upgrading electrical in Boston homes

What makes us comfortable in our homes? What will most improve the layout and/or function? Before you start with the obvious, consider what’s not visible, but is still very impactful. 

No matter what the scope of your remodeling is—the whole house or just a kitchen and/or baths—electrical service may need a boost. One 100 amp circuit box may not be enough. For a 2,000-square-foot home, 200 amps are optimal. It’s better to go bigger, allowing for add-ons in the future, since it’s more cost-effective. A professional electrical audit helps determine what needs upgrading (like adding GCFIs where there is water, in kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, for example).

Older home renovation “Must”: Bring the HVAC up to speed

Depending on the age of the heating and cooling systems, you may want to replace units for more efficiency. Newer systems have been designed to work better. Sizing is calculated according to square footage; sometimes two or more furnaces and air conditioners are needed. Make sure ducts are insulated. Zoning spaces also is smart, so that you can shut down areas of the house that may not be used all the time. 

Note that AC units manufactured before 2010 contain Freon. That R-22 material has been banned by the EPA (as of this year) because it’s ozone-depleting. It’s still available, but much more costly. Eventually, those air conditioners will need to be retrofitted for a new refrigerant or replaced as supplies run out. 

Hot water heaters generally have a shelf life of seven years. If you need to replace one, consider high-efficiency tankless heaters. They supply hot water on demand.

Improve window efficiency

Even the best HVAC system won’t work optimally if you have leaky windows. Single-pane glass common in older homes often is a source of heat loss. Consider replacing windows with Energy Star-qualified ones. Options include all-wood, vinyl, aluminum-clad with wood inside, and fiberglass. 

Features to look for:

• Low-E, or Low-Emissivity, with metallic coatings that allow windows to reflect rather than absorb heat

• Double or triple panes

• Gas-filled (argon or krypton gas) between glazed layers to improve heat insulation and slow heat transfer

Allow for contingencies

“We try to work within a budget,” says Sweeten general contractor Jeff who is based in Boston. But once you open everything up, he says, there may be structural work beneath a ceiling. Or fixing a slant on a floor. “I recommend allowing at least 10 percent extra,” he says.

Boston-based Sweeten general contractor Peter, for example, talks about problems inherent to Boston buildings 200 to 300 years old.

“A lot of structures in Downtown, South End, Back Bay neighborhoods, sit on wood piles. There’s a regulation many don’t know. When you renovate, you have to put in rainwater discharge to maintain water level. That’s so the piles don’t rot when the wood gets exposed to oxygen.”

How to preserve the best elements of your older Boston home

One blessing of older homes is inheriting original features. Hardwood floors, crown moldings, and wood built-ins add warmth and character. If the materials are generally in good shape, it’s best to restore. Even if repairs are in order, costs usually are far less than replacement. Lifting up wall-to-wall carpeting may reveal intact hardwood. Sand out tack holes and refinish the floors. Yellowed boards can also be fixed with sanding. Stain, or leave the floors natural, topped with non-yellowing polyurethane. And relocating a built-in can save thousands of dollars. It’s possible, for example, to repurpose a kitchen cabinet as a linen closet.

Make a master plan

Once you’ve brought electrical and mechanicals up-to-date, you’re ready to dive into room remodels. Create a wish list in order of your “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.” Sweeten gets you started with a renovation cost guide for the interiors in Boston here. One way to keep the costs down is to maintain the existing floor plan. Add about 10 percent more to your final budget for contingencies. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of permits and dumpsters. 

The kitchen: the hub of the historic (and modern) home

For most, remodeling the kitchen is the biggest game-changer. It’s at the core of today’s living—no matter what your lifestyle. For those who love entertaining, it’s even more pivotal. 

The price tag for a kitchen remodel, of course, is affected by materials and appliance choices. You may want to splurge on a dual fuel range and choose a more modest dishwasher or refrigerator. Once you start comparing prices, you can play the balancing act. Decide what’s most important for your lifestyle. Ultimately, there are a few key kitchen renovations you can do (on a budget!) for an older home in Boston.

Choosing appliances

Communication is critical, particularly in kitchen re-design. Contractor Jeff says that always involves prioritizing. “I am honest,” he says, about helping to choose appliances.  “It’s about balancing the budget.” So he might discourage a very high end brand refrigerator, especially if resale is an ultimate goal. “You won’t get your money back if you’re going to sell,” he says.

Cabinetry and countertops

The choice of countertop and cabinetry materials can reduce line item cots. “You can go to a lesser expensive quartz,”  says contractor Peter. “And there’s a lot of frameless off-the-shelf cabinets that look nice. These might even have soft-close features. These days, many prefer clean cut, straight lines.”

If the cabinets are in good shape, they may be candidates for a new stain or paint. Replacing the fronts with simple shaker-style wood panels is an easy facelift. New hardware also can raise the style quotient. For some, storage may be an issue. Reconfiguring interiors with slide-out shelves or adding deep drawers for cookware are one answer. 

Adding or extending an island also may improve its efficiency. The additional surface extends prep and eating space. Then, you can build in more storage below it. 

Keeping or moving plumbing

In a minimal remodel, it’s more cost-efficient to keep the plumbing in place. Re-piping or relocating pipes for remodeling adds between $5,400 and $7,000 (based on 1,500 square feet). Amping up the supply line from the main sewer to your home will assure a good flow of water throughout the home. If your water pressure needs help, ask your contractor whether a booster might work. Obviously, an overall kitchen and bath plan for plumbing is ideal. Also be sure plumbers check for lead in pipes, valves, or faucets.

Create a functional layout for your older home

Floor plans in older homes may not work for today. Some are too small or have chopped up rooms. An addition may not be in your budget, but it may be possible to borrow space. Look at closets, small rooms, hallways, even a sunroom or porch. There may be enough space for a breakfast room. Creating a new layout may even net a family or a bedroom.

A powder room on the first floor is a must-have today. It also can provide a canvas for instant style. Since it doesn’t require a large footprint, you probably can find the square footage. Some have even tucked powder rooms under back stairs. Without a shower or tub, a powder room is less expensive than a bath. So you might feel more comfortable splurging on some materials.

Refreshing a master bath

A spa bath may be on your wish list but not in your budget. Still, there’s a lot you can do to get a more modern look. Replace the fixtures. Get a new vanity. Install light sconces as well as an overhead chandelier. You can give it all a luxury look with porcelain tile instead of marble or limestone. There are so many stone lookalikes at a fraction of the cost. A mid-range bath remodel recoups close to 59 percent of the job cost.

“Try to create as much space as you can,” says Sweeten contractor Peter. “A tub takes up a lot of space. We often install showers instead.”

Both Sweeten contractors say that rain showers are high on Bostonians’ lists, and there’s a large enough price range to suit most budgets.

Even modest renovations to an older Boston home can be transformative! You’ll certainly realize there’s an upside: the more you live in your home, the more you’ll see its full potential with future renovation projects.

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Doing renovations to an older home—in Boston or beyond—is crucial for protecting it from the winter cold from pipes and roof to masonry.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

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(Above) “After” photos by Kingston Ko for Sweeten homeowner Nel’s rowhouse in Bella Vista

No two cities are exactly the same when it comes to renovating, and this absolutely the case for Philadelphia. As one of the oldest municipalities in the U.S., Philadelphia’s individuality can be seen in its broad mix of housing types. According to Sweeten founder and CEO, Jean Brownhill: “Philadelphia has a unique architectural mix, from historic rowhouses and trinities to modern condos.” 

However, with a unique housing supply comes a unique set of rules and regulations. Philly homeowners considering remodeling should be aware of these before starting a project. In this guide, Sweeten outlines what to know about renovating in this historic city: upsides, challenges, and remodeling tips specific to the region.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

In Philadelphia, a licensed general contractor can file your permits

Unlike New York, where an engineer or architect must file building permits, a licensed general contractor can do the job in Philly. If a contractor files the permit, actually the most likely scenario here, the contractor will need a commercial activity license and a contractor’s license from the City of Philadelphia. A contractor license requires a certificate of insurance, at least one supervising employee to have completed OSHA 30 training and a tax clearance form, which proves the contractor filing the building permit application does not owe the city any money. (If they are in debt to the city—i.e. with taxes—the application will be rejected.)

If a contractor is doing more than $500 worth of work for you, they will need a contractor’s license. Why is a general contractor with a license the wise choice? (Well, the easy answer is: it would be illegal not to have one!) But it’s also for the good of your project, as it ensures the contractor knows how to run a safe worksite and has adequate insurance.

As part of its multi-point screening process, Sweeten makes sure any contractor in its network not only has a license, but also has experience with your type of project and budget parameters, and is local. To check if there’s a Sweeten contractor near you, click here.

Smaller Philadelphia remodeling jobs may qualify for EZ Permits

While other cities might require building plans for even the smallest jobs, Philly doesn’t. The city’s EZ Permits system allows some building, electrical, and plumbing permit applications involving single-family homes to be submitted without plans. Projects that get the EZ Permits go-ahead include installing flooring, replacing roof coverings, putting in certain pools and spas, or adding a rear deck that is less than 216 square feet. (Take note: any buildings on the Philadelphia Historical Registry will not qualify for EZ Permits, regardless of the project’s scope.)

If your project does not fall under EZ Permits, and the budget exceeds $25,000, three sets of building plans must be submitted—all signed and sealed by a design professional registered in the state of Pennsylvania. The Structural Design Criteria form is also required if your renovations are substantial, such as moving a load-bearing wall and reframing windows and doors.

Are you renovating a landmark or in a historic district in Philadelphia?

If you purchased a landmarked home in need of TLC, the city’s Historical Commission has strict regulations to follow. You most likely already know if your home is a landmark or in a historic district. But if you want to double-check, here’s a list. Are you altering the outside of your home (the roof, back, sides, and/or front)? In that case, your historic home project will need the blessing of the commission. This is different from other cities, where only renovations on the street-facing facade of a historic building are subject to additional approvals.

If your project involves a historic home in Philly, then a general contractor, engineer, or architect who has some experience working with the Historic Commission will be very helpful. (This will come in handy, as they will likely be filing the paperwork!)

Tips for renovating Philadelphia’s rowhouses

The pride of the city’s real estate is its rowhouses. The side-by-side homes are more numerous than any other building type in the city. Many are now multi-family housing units. One common type of rowhouse is the three-story trinity, (tiny, three-story homes built for factory workers in the 1700s). You’ll also see larger, Victorian-style rowhouse structures, which were historically occupied by more affluent locals.

Rowhouses are so important to Philadelphia’s identity that the city actually created a manual for those who own them! The manual outlines why they are significant and how to renovate them. For example, it encourages rowhouse owners to consider the impact of facade renovations on the look of their neighborhood. (This even applies if the building isn’t a landmark or in a historic district.)

The manual shares a few more rowhouse-specific renovation tips. For example, it recommends using a modified asphalt—a specific type of material—for the gently sloping roofs, which most rowhouses have. The manual also covers serious construction changes, like adding a garage under the home. (Another upside: there’s plenty of general renovation advice in the manual that can relate to non-rowhouse owners!)

Ready to start a Philadelphia home remodel?

Since 2016, Sweeten has helped Philadelphia homeowners bring their remodeling dreams to life by pairing them with expert contractors in the region. Sweeten handles remodeling projects of all sizes: from simple bathroom updates in city apartments to transformative gut renovations in rowhouses or suburban homes.

Tell Sweeten about your project and get matched with licensed, vetted general contractors in the Philadelphia area.

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Evaluating your stair needs

Whether your remodel involves a staircase from a 1780 Philadelphia trinity, a colonial rowhouse, or a suburban home from the 1980s, chances are the staircase you currently have won’t meet today’s building codes. This means that building around and refurbishing what you have may well be the most efficient on the budget, design, and logistics of your project.

However, safety and modernization may require the creation of a new set of stairs. Read about codes, structural work, permits, and refurbishing vs. new builds for a staircase remodel in Philadephia.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors in Philadelphia, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

What do building codes say about new staircases?

Generally, the older the building is, the steeper the staircase will be. Staircases built before the 1950s often have a tread of about nine inches with a nine-inch rise. As a result, the vertical and horizontal pieces are evenly sized.

The current International Code Council (used by the City of Philadelphia and many surrounding municipalities) now calls for more tread and less height: requiring a 10.5-inch tread with a maximum rise of 7.75 inches. The code also requires a minimum width of 36 inches, expanding older conventions where a staircase might be as slim as 26 inches. The trick here is that old construction is grandfathered in and doesn’t run afoul of the code, unless you decide to replace what’s there.

Winder stairs code

Staircases that wind around corners can also be problematic. In its historical guide to rowhouses, the City’s planning commission refers to these as “winders,” where stairs spiral out from a single point. Because of poor safety—walking down is difficult—adding “winders” is now illegal in major renovations and new construction. So, you can keep any existing, older winder staircases; but replacing them brings new requirements that might be challenging to fit in the house’s dimensions.

How a new staircase can affect your floor plan

If you want to replace a staircase, you must meet current codes. In older homes, this causes problems. As the code calls for a longer tread and a lower rise, a new staircase typically needs to be longer to reach between floors, and will overshoot the current length. In homes with a small footprint, new staircase dimensions can end up awkwardly jutting out against a wall or door. In some cases, you can add a slight turn to the new staircase design to minimize length. Additionally, you may be able to elevate some of the overhead floor to accommodate the additional length, but in many cases, refurbishing what you have will be the least invasive solution.

Structural work and permits needed for a new staircase build

Constructing a new staircase requires building permits and your plans will also need the approval of a structural engineer or a registered architect. Prepare yourself for electrical and plumbing implications (and permits) if your designs involve layout or structural changes.

Many older staircases are typically walled-in on one or both sides. With current housing trends calling for an open plan, most homeowners want to open up at least one side of a staircase, either partially or in full. These walls on the side of the stairs are usually always load-bearing and therefore structural. Building permits and approvals by either a structural engineer or a registered architect will be required.

Reasons to build a new staircase

Safety and accessibility are the biggest reasons to bring in a new staircase. Consider treads that cannot fit a whole foot, steep rises between stairs, a winding path, and a slim fit between wall and railing. These aspects aren’t easy to navigate and can affect use for people of all ages.

How to renovate an existing staircase

Updating the aesthetics of an existing staircase will be less invasive and probably won’t need building permits. There are ways to refurbish a staircase without changing the structure. “Replace the treads, risers, or railing” if you’re looking for an update, advises Philadelphia-based Sweeten contractor Kenny. “If you keep the existing opening through the floor above, you’ll avoid the requirement for a code-compliant stair, which might not fit in your home.” You can also update the stringers (which support the treads) by adding material to strengthen or enhance them, he continued.

Other changes to consider include adding or removing carpeting; updating the banister style; changing the wood type over the staircase’s substructure; or laying down tile.

Finding the right general contractor in Philadelphia for a staircase remodel

It’s clear that remodeling a staircase in a home, especially a historic or older home, can be challenging. However, the guidance and expertise from the right general contractor, as well as an architect or design team, can help you navigate the process. 

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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

The post Does Your Philly Home Renovation Involve a Staircase? appeared first on Sweeten.