Frequently Asked Questions - Construction in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Real answers from a local Fort Lauderdale remodel team that works on the homes in this city every week. We've organized everything by what homeowners actually ask us before they schedule a free estimate.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A mid-range kitchen remodel in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $28,000 to $55,000 depending on cabinet grade, countertop material, and whether you move plumbing or electrical. Galley kitchens in older Lauderdale Manors or Victoria Park homes often land at the lower end when the footprint stays put. Upper-end remodels with custom cabinetry and stone work can exceed $80,000. You'll always get a written line-item price before any work starts, so there are no surprises once the project is underway. Call (754) 354-7423 to schedule a free estimate and we'll price your exact layout.
A full bathroom remodel in Fort Lauderdale usually falls between $14,000 and $28,000 for a standard 5x8 space. Guest baths with a tub-to-shower conversion and mid-grade tile often come in near the low end, while primary baths with double vanities, glass enclosures, and custom niches can push past $35,000. Homes in Coral Ridge and Rio Vista tend to have larger baths where material volume drives cost higher. Every proposal includes a fixed written price before we start, not a rough quote that changes later.
A whole-home renovation in Fort Lauderdale typically ranges from $90,000 to $250,000+ depending on square footage, structural work, and finish level. A 1,500-square-foot mid-century home in Middle River Terrace with original plumbing and wiring will need more behind-the-walls investment than a newer build in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Costs escalate quickly when you move walls, replace windows, or upgrade the electrical panel. We price every scope in writing before demolition starts, with no change orders unless you add scope. Your estimate is free.
Construction pricing in Fort Lauderdale generally runs $90 to $180 per square foot for interior renovation work, with new construction running higher. The range comes down to what you're doing: a cosmetic refresh with paint, flooring, and fixtures lands lower, while a gut renovation with new plumbing, electrical, and structural changes sits at the top end. South Florida labor rates and hurricane-code compliance both factor into the numbers. Rather than rely on broad per-square-foot rules, we write a specific line-item price for your scope so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Yes, the estimate is free. We come out, walk the space with you inside your Fort Lauderdale home, take measurements, and talk through what you want. Then we send a written line-item proposal with the full price. No deposit to get the number, no obligation to book. If you're in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Plantation, Oakland Park, or anywhere else in our service area, the same applies. Call (754) 354-7423 and a live coordinator will get you on the schedule.
No. The price we put in writing before the job is the price you pay, unless you add scope along the way. If you decide halfway through the project that you want to expand the tile work or upgrade your cabinet hardware, we'll write a separate change order with its own price and get your sign-off before doing the extra work. You'll never get hit with an unexpected lump sum at the end. That fixed-price commitment is part of why Fort Lauderdale homeowners work with us.
Impact-rated window replacement in Fort Lauderdale typically runs $700 to $1,400 per window installed, including the old window removal and the new unit installation. The spread depends on size, style, and brand. We regularly install CWS, ES Windows, and ECO Window Systems units, and each has a different price point and lead time. South Florida building code requires impact-rated or hurricane-shuttered glazing in most residential applications, so that requirement is already built into our quotes. We'll give you a written per-window price for your exact openings.
Service & Process FAQs
It starts with a free in-home estimate. We walk the space, take measurements, and listen to what you want from your Fort Lauderdale remodel. Then you get a written line-item price before you commit to anything. Once you book, you get a live arrival time for the crew, not a four-hour window. During the job, we send photo updates of the work before and after each phase. You'll know what's happening in your home without having to manage it from your phone.
A typical kitchen remodel in Fort Lauderdale takes 6 to 10 weeks from start to certificate of completion. Cabinet lead times are the biggest variable, since custom orders can add two to three weeks. Plumbing, electrical, and structural changes extend the timeline further. We'll give you a clear production schedule in your proposal so you know what week each phase happens. That schedule lives in your project updates, so you never have to guess what's happening next.
A standard bathroom remodel in Fort Lauderdale runs 3 to 5 weeks, assuming the plumbing layout stays in place and materials are already selected. Moving the shower drain or the toilet line adds time to the rough-in phase. Custom tile work and glass enclosure fabrication also extend the schedule. We sequence the work to keep your home usable as much as possible during the project, and the schedule is part of your written proposal.
For most kitchen and bathroom remodels in Fort Lauderdale, homeowners stay in the home. We section off the work area with dust barriers and run the job so you still have a functioning bathroom and a temporary kitchen setup. Whole-home renovations with a full gut and re-plumb are a different story, and many homeowners choose to stay elsewhere during the heaviest weeks. We'll walk through this at the estimate so you can plan accordingly.
We pull the permits. Any structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work in Fort Lauderdale requires permits through the city's Building Services Division, and we handle that process from application to final inspection. The permit fees are listed in your written proposal, so you see exactly what the city charges. We don't ask you to chase paperwork or sit at the permit counter. It's all part of the job.
Yes. If you have a vision, we'll build to it. If you need help, our team can guide selections for cabinets, countertops, tile, fixtures, and finishes that work for your Fort Lauderdale home and your budget. We'll point you toward showrooms we trust throughout Broward County and help you settle choices before the demo starts. The goal is a written price that reflects the materials you actually picked, not placeholder allowances that change later.
Brands & Parts FAQs
We install CWS, ES Windows, and ECO Window Systems, along with Mr-Glass products, and we'll help you pick the right one for your home and budget. Each brand has its own strengths: CWS is widely specified in coastal Broward County for impact performance, ES Windows offers clean sightlines, and ECO Window Systems provides a solid value point. We know the lead times and price differences between them and can give you a written per-window quote for each option.
For coastal exposure and hurricane code compliance, CWS and ES Windows are two of the stronger options we install in Fort Lauderdale. Both are engineered for high-wind zones and salt air. ECO Window Systems is a smart pick when budget is the biggest factor and the home is further inland, like in Plantation or North Lauderdale. The right brand depends on your elevation, your exposure, and your budget, and we can quote two or three options side by side so you can compare real numbers.
Florida code requires impact-rated windows or shutter-protected openings in most residential construction, and Fort Lauderdale enforces this strictly. The requirement applies to any window replacement, not just new construction. Impact-rated units have laminated glass and reinforced frames that hold together when debris hits them during a storm. We quote to code on every project, which means your written price already includes compliant materials. No surprises at the permitting desk.
Yes, we install impact-rated entry doors, French doors, and sliding glass doors throughout Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. The same code requirements that apply to windows apply to doors, and we handle that as standard on every door project. Coastal homes in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Hallandale Beach see the most salt exposure, so we recommend stainless hardware and marine-grade finishes there. Your written proposal covers the door, the installation, and the permit.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Every pro working under the Sawyer Remodel Fort Lauderdale name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires for the work they perform. We carry the coverage the job calls for, and we're happy to provide documentation when we send your proposal. Fort Lauderdale homeowners should always ask for proof of license and insurance before any contractor swings a hammer, and we'll have those documents ready at your free estimate.
For specialized trades like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, we bring in licensed professionals whose work we coordinate and inspect. The local team manages the job, the schedule, and the quality control from day one. You'll see every trade's arrival time and work status through your project updates, and the final walkthrough is with us. We don't hand your project off to someone you've never met and disappear.
Ask for a written line-item price before any work starts, verify the license and insurance are current, and find out who will actually be on the job site and when. The biggest complaints we hear from Fort Lauderdale homeowners who switch to us are previous contractors who went dark, price creep, and endless phone tag. A contractor who puts the schedule, the price, and the progress updates in writing is usually one who will actually finish the job.
Emergency & Response FAQs
Yes, we handle storm and hurricane damage repairs across Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding cities. After a major storm, our phones do get busy, and we work through each request in the order it comes in. Our hours are Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Call (754) 354-7423 and a live coordinator will get your information to the local team. If it's an active water intrusion or structural emergency, secure the area and contact emergency services first.
Once you approve your written proposal, we'll lock your start date into the schedule. The lead time depends on material availability and the current project queue. Cabinet orders, custom windows, and specialty tile often have factory lead times that dictate the earliest possible start. We'll tell you the real start date at the estimate, not an optimistic one that slides later. Your schedule is part of the written agreement.
We can share photos, project galleries, and references from recent Fort Lauderdale remodels. For liability and privacy reasons, we can't bring visitors onto active job sites, but we're glad to show you before-and-after photos from projects similar to yours. If you're in Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, or Dania Beach, you can often see the exterior of completed jobs from the street. Ask at your estimate and we'll point you toward work near your neighborhood.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
Every Sawyer Remodel Fort Lauderdale project is backed by the Relay Visibility Guarantee from Relay Home Co. It means you get a live arrival time you can track to your door, photo updates of the work before and after, and a written price before anything starts. You always know who's coming, when they'll be there, and what it will cost. Each location is independently owned and operated, and we run our Fort Lauderdale branch to that same standard on every job.
We stand behind the work that leaves our hands, and we'll walk you through exactly what's covered and for how long before you sign anything. The specifics depend on the scope: labor and installation carry their own coverage, and manufacturer warranties on materials like windows, cabinets, and fixtures run separately. If something isn't right after we finish, you call (754) 354-7423 and we'll make it right. That's the point of a written agreement and a company that wants your referral.
Yes, CWS, ES Windows, ECO Window Systems, and Mr-Glass products all carry manufacturer warranties that cover defects in the glass, frame, and hardware. The length and terms vary by brand and product line, and we'll include the specifics with your written quote. The installation itself is covered under our own workmanship warranty, so you have both layers if something goes wrong. Ask for the warranty docs at your estimate and we'll go over them line by line.
Call us. The same Fort Lauderdale team that ran your project is the team that handles the follow-up. We don't disappear after the final walkthrough. If it's covered under our workmanship warranty, we schedule the fix and make it right. If it's a manufacturer issue with a window or fixture, we'll help you file the claim and coordinate the replacement. The goal is a home you're happy to walk into every day, and a team you'd actually call again.
Because we write the price down before we start, and we don't change it after. You get a live arrival time, photo updates as the work progresses, and a digital invoice you can pay from your phone. The brand behind us, Relay Home Co., has held that standard since 2005, and our Fort Lauderdale branch runs on the same promise. If you're tired of phone tag and price creep, call (754) 354-7423 for a free written estimate and see the difference yourself.
Written by Luca Romano, Owner at Sawyer Remodel Fort Lauderdale, serving Fort Lauderdale since 2005.
Still Have Questions?
We are happy to help. Call us - same-day and after-hours emergency service available.
(754) 354-7423