Kitchen Remodeling
Cabinets, countertops, lighting, flooring, and full layout changes, planned with you and built to hold up to daily life.
See kitchen remodeling details →General Contractor in Pasadena, CA
Kitchen and bath remodels, ADUs, hardscape, and painting for Pasadena's Craftsman-era homes, historic districts, and foothill lots, handled by a Corona based general contractor.
General Contractor help in Pasadena
Pasadena's housing is old in a way most nearby cities are not. About 29 percent of homes here were built in 1939 or earlier, per ACS 2020-2024 survey data. When we open plaster walls in these Craftsman-era houses for kitchen remodeling, we often find wiring, plumbing, and framing built before modern codes. So our quotes carry an allowance for the upgrades a permit inspection can trigger once demo exposes the original systems.
The median Pasadena home was built in 1961. That means more than half the city's housing predates 1978, the federal lead paint cutoff. Any interior and exterior painting job, and any remodel that disturbs painted surfaces, follows EPA RRP lead-safe work practices here. That adds containment setup and certified-renovator handling to the job plan, and we build that time into the schedule instead of surprising you later.
Pasadena is a strong ADU market. About 43 percent of the city's housing, 26,989 units, is single-family detached, and the city allows one ADU plus a JADU on those lots. Pasadena's ADU Standard Plans program cuts plan check fees 50 percent and trims permit fees 25 percent for ADUs of 900 square feet or less. We scope ADU construction against those pre-approved plans first, then file through the city's e-permitting portal.
City review shapes timelines here. Exterior work in a historic district needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before the building permit is issued. On foothill lots, larger additions and retaining walls can trigger a Hillside Development Permit, with a geotechnical report and a grading plan once grading reaches 50 cubic yards. We pull permits and book inspections through Permit Center Online, so hillside hardscape and addition jobs get an honest schedule buffer up front.
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Our services in Pasadena
General Contractor services in Pasadena
Bathroom Remodeling
Complete bathroom remodels handled by one crew, from demo and plumbing to waterproofing, tile, and vanities. We plan the layout, pull the permits, and leave you a bathroom that stays dry and looks sharp.
Bathroom Remodeling in Pasadena →ADU Construction
ADU construction handled start to finish: garage conversions, attached units, and detached backyard homes, with design, permits, and build under one roof.
Explore ADU construction →Hardscaping
Paver patios, walkways, driveways, and outdoor living areas built on a compacted base with real drainage, so the surface stays flat for years.
Our hardscaping process →Retaining Walls
Retaining walls built on a compacted base with real drainage behind them, so they hold your slope and stay straight for the long run.
See retaining walls details →Interior & Exterior Painting
Interior and exterior painting done the remodeler's way. We repair the surface first, prep it right, then paint it clean, with one crew for walls, ceilings, trim, stucco, and siding, inside and out.
Interior & Exterior Painting in Pasadena →Pasadena general contractor questions
Where can I find a general contractor near me in Pasadena, CA?
Builders is a general contractor based in Corona, CA that serves Pasadena homeowners for kitchen and bath remodels, ADU construction, hardscape, retaining walls, and painting. We plan each Pasadena job around the city's permit process and its older housing stock. Ask for your free estimate and we will walk the project with you before any work starts.
Do I need approval to remodel a historic home in Pasadena?
Yes, for exterior changes in a historic or landmark district. Pasadena requires a Certificate of Appropriateness for alterations, additions, relocations, or new construction within a historic site or district, and the Historic Preservation Commission reviews major changes to historic resources. That sign-off comes before the building permit, so we add schedule time and keep the design true to the home's street-facing character.
Does Pasadena have pre-approved ADU plans that save money?
Yes. Pasadena's ADU Standard Plans program offers pre-approved plans from studios to two-bedroom units. Plan check fees drop 50 percent, permit fees drop 25 percent for ADUs of 900 square feet or less, and the C&D deposit falls to $1,000. No changes are allowed to these plans, so we check whether a Standard Plan fits your lot before drawing anything custom.
What does a hillside addition or retaining wall need in Pasadena?
In Pasadena's Hillside Overlay Districts, a Hillside Development Permit is required for projects like a first floor addition over 500 square feet. Submittals include a preliminary geotechnical report on soils and site stability, a hydrology report on slope stability, and a grading plan when grading reaches 50 cubic yards. We budget that engineering up front so your wall or addition does not stall mid-permit.
Why do remodel bids run higher in Pasadena than in nearby cities?
Pasadena's median owner-occupied home value is $1,093,300, so owners here expect mid-to-high spec finishes that protect a seven-figure asset. The city's housing is also old, and remodels in pre-war homes carry an allowance for the code upgrades demo can expose. Add historic district review and hillside engineering, and careful bids simply cost more than corner-cutting ones.
Serving Pasadena & nearby
Pasadena is one of the towns we serve from our Corona base.
Pasadena, CA
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