How Much Does Home Remodeling Cost in Columbia & Lexington, SC?

If you own a home, you’ve likely considered giving it some love through some kind of remodel, addition, or building a separate space entirely for more SQFT.  Custom projects like these are common here in the Midlands of South Carolina and oftentimes, one of the biggest variables folks are curious about as they start exploring options is cost.  When it comes to home remodeling costs in Lexington, South Carolina or Columbia, SC, and all of the surrounding areas, there is no one size fits all.  There are several variables that will impact YOUR specific project, whether that’s a whole home remodel, building a home addition, a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel, a basement or attic remodel, building an accessory structure, and everything in between.

Because every project, property, and client is completely unique, the range of costs for home remodeling projects is vast.  Some of the main variables that impact project costs are: the project’s overall scope of work, the condition/size/age of the existing home or property, the design direction and level of finishes, municipality and neighborhood requirements, and importantly, the type of experience you are hoping to have from the remodeling/build team you hire to execute the project.

Let’s explore those factors individually below.

Project Scope

Cost will largely be dictated by the overall scope of your project.  A project’s “scope” is defined by all of the variables involved with the project. Think: what all needs to happen to bring this project to life from start to finish, from initial construction prep to final inspection? No two projects are the same, and no two clients are the same in how they want their new space to look, function, feel, and perform.  So, “project scope” is a big variable when considering how much YOUR specific project will cost.

Let’s take a home addition for example. The purpose of the addition’s space plays an important role in cost.  If the project is a kitchen addition with a project scope that includes built-in cabinetry, multiple mechanical considerations, high-durability features, etc., it will likely be significantly more expensive than the project scope of something like a home office addition, which is essentially an open room with few mechanical considerations, fixtures, or built-in elements.

Additionally, as we think about the overall home’s performance when it comes to building a home addition, we have to consider things like the home’s current mechanical capabilities (electrical, HVAC, and plumbing) and whether updating the mechanicals needs to be included in the project scope to support the additional square feet. Home additions also require structural considerations as a part of the project scope that play a big role in the construction costs, such as how the addition will tie into (or “connect”) to the existing home, whether or not the project scope will include a new roof for the whole home (existing and new) or the new addition only, as well as considering what type of foundation the addition will require (ex. crawl space vs. slab).

The home addition’s project scope also involves the types of materials being used, specifically questions around if we are matching the existing home’s exterior finishes (ex. siding material), or going with exterior finishes that achieve a different purpose than what’s currently in place (i.e., more cost effective, better performance, etc.).

All of those components, and many more, play a role in the overall project’s scope, which heavily informs the project’s overall cost.

Code Requirements & Current Home/Property Condition
The home’s and property's conditions play a big role in dictating your home remodel’s cost.  There are several factors we have to consider when we think about a home remodel project, such as:

• What is the age of the home? What can that age tell us about the likely age and condition of important mechanicals, like electrical, HVAC, and plumbing? Will any of those mechanicals need to be updated as a part of this project in order to support the new layout/design/square footage of the home?
• Are there areas of the home we will need to bring up to current code, such as installing smoke detectors throughout the home?
• If we’re talking about a home addition, what are the municipality’s setback requirements (how close a structure can be from the property line) that will impact the size the home addition could be, and the home addition’s location, which impacts cost.
• If we’re talking about a home addition, what are the municipality’s lot coverage requirements, or amount of the property that can be covered with “built” structures vs. green space?  That could determine the home addition’s size, which impacts cost.
• Does the home’s age indicate possible asbestos presence, thus meaning asbestos testing and remediation will need to be a part of the project’s scope?
• Is there evidence of possible mold, thus requiring mold remediation as a part of the project’s scope?
• If the project is building an accessory dwelling unit on your property (ex. detached garage, flex building, etc.), where will the structure be located as it relates to the property survey/plat plan?

There are also certain code requirements surrounding the percentage of the home that's touched by a remodeling project.  If we are touching a small percentage of the home, we are only responsible for ensuring the remodel space is up to code.  If we are remodeling a large percentage of the home, like in a whole home remodel, we could be responsible for ensuring the entire home is meeting current code standards, all of which impacts project costs.  An older home in worse condition will be costlier than a newer home in better condition.

Design Direction & Level of Finishes
Another big factor that establishes project costs is the overall design direction as well as the level of finishes you want as a part of the project.  Let’s tackle design direction first.

A project’s design direction can mean the project’s functional and aesthetic details that make the new space special.  In a kitchen remodel, design direction can include details like whether or not we’re including under cabinet lighting, whether or not we’re including tile backsplash, or whether or not we’re incorporating a pot filler.  Design direction can also speak to specialty cabinetry “innards” such as trash can pull outs, drawers for large pot storage, or appliance garages custom-built to house things like coffee makers, mixers, etc.  In a bathroom remodel, are we wanting to include heated tile flooring for a more luxurious feel?  For any kind of home remodel, are we incorporating any custom wall millwork details, such as shiplap walls, wainscoting, specialty trim like crown molding, etc.?  All of these little details impact the project's costs and are closely connected to the overall performance and function of the new space.

Next, we have the level of finishes and fixtures you’re wanting to incorporate into your new space.  It’s no secret that there is a spectrum of finishes in the industry, both from a functional and aesthetic standpoint.  Finishes can range from builder-grade (basic finishes that aren’t necessarily meant to be long-lasting, and likely don’t incite the “wow” factor) all the way to designer/luxury finishes (longer-lasting finishes that have that “designer” touch, custom selected for your space).

Design direction and level of finishes plays a critical role in establishing a project’s costs, and every project we take on is completely custom (no one size fits all).

Municipality & Neighborhood Requirements
Municipality Regulations:
Every municipality (county, town, city, etc.) has its own set of property and home remodeling requirements that have to be adhered to.  For example, projects within the City of Columbia will have different regulations than projects in Lexington County.

Additionally, homes located in historic preservation overlays or districts will have stricter requirements in terms of design, all of which will impact costs.

Neighborhood Regulations:
For certain properties, neighborhood HOA’s, Design/Architectural Review Boards, or other entities that govern the community’s aesthetic and design could dictate project details and requirements, all of which play into the project's costs.

Type of Experience
Finally, the type of experience you are hoping to have as a client impacts cost.  Residential remodeling is certainly an industry where the phrase “you get what you pay for” couldn't be more accurate.  Most folks embarking on the journey of a home remodeling or renovation project want the following premium services to be a part of their experience:

- Seamless process from project planning & design to execution 
- Communication
- Transparency
- Customization of design
- Boutique, personal feel
- High-quality work
- Code adherence
- Professionalism
- Effective schedule & budget management
- Guaranteed warranty process

There is no sugarcoating this point - you WILL pay a premium for the services above.  Delivering on those services above takes time, effective organization, energy, intention, the right folks on the team, and a relentless dedication to seeing those variables through. Those variables are NOT guaranteed, or “givens,” for all build teams or general contractors.  Just like no two projects are the same, not all build teams or general contractors operate equally and you should expect to financially invest in a premium service.

Additional Costs to Consider Outside of Construction Costs

• All labor necessary to carry out the project scope (from initial demolition to the finishing touches)
• All materials necessary to carry out the project scope and design direction (to include things like framing material, electrical wiring, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, flooring, etc.)
• Service-based project management and execution oversight. Home protection necessities (laying down flooring protection, hanging barriers between spaces being remodeled and spaces not being touched, setting up air scrubbers, tarps to protect against the elements, etc.)
• General project execution necessities (dumpster, portable toilet, etc.)
• Project-specific Builders Risk insurance
• Pulling of required permits and facilitating required inspections
• Our company's overhead to execute the project and provide a warranty process
• Profit to encourage responsible company growth

How do I figure out how much MY project might cost?
Reach out to our Team to start the conversation on exploring YOUR unique project ideas! That’s the best first step in getting reliable information about what you’re considering.  We also have a helpful resource online that helps shed light on general financial information for different types of remodel projects: CLICK HERE.