Old houses, federal rules
Wilmington’s housing stock is old, and that is the whole story of remodeling here.
Rowhomes and twins built long before 1978 dominate large parts of the city, which means most renovations touch surfaces that may contain lead paint. Federal law requires the contractor disturbing those surfaces to work under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule and to follow lead-safe work practices. It is not a formality — it changes containment, cleanup and disposal on the job, and it belongs in the estimate rather than appearing later as a change order.
Permits inside the city go through the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Cross the city line and you are dealing with New Castle County instead, under a different process. As with most renovation work, the time people lose is lost before construction starts.
What we build in Wilmington
- Whole-home renovation
- Home additions
- Kitchen remodeling
- Bathroom remodeling
- Basement finishing
- Deck construction and design
- Flooring installation
What older homes actually need
In a Wilmington rowhome, the work under the finishes is usually the work that matters: joists that have sagged, party walls that need attention before a kitchen can be opened up, waste stacks that have to be replaced rather than tied into, and knob-and-tube wiring that has to come out before anything else can be signed off.
None of that shows up in a glossy rendering. All of it shows up in the schedule and the budget, which is why we establish what is structural before we quote a layout rather than after.
Across New Castle County
We work throughout the county, including Newark, Bear, New Castle, Claymont, Christiana, Pike Creek, Glasgow, Middletown, Odessa, Townsend and Hockessin.
Common questions
Does my Wilmington home need lead-safe renovation practices?
If it was built before 1978 and the work disturbs painted surfaces, federal Renovation, Repair and Painting rules apply. Most of Wilmington’s rowhome stock predates 1978.
Do I permit through the city or the county?
Inside Wilmington city limits, the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Outside them, New Castle County. We confirm which applies before drawings are produced.
Can you open up a rowhome floor plan?
Often yes, but party walls and bearing conditions decide how far. We establish what is structural before quoting the layout, not after.
Project photos from Wilmington
A typical project in Wilmington
A typical Wilmington project is a renovation of an older home: kitchen, bathrooms and updated systems. We check existing conditions first, then build a written scope that accounts for what we find.
Start your Wilmington project
Request a free consultation and we will walk the house, confirm the permitting path and give you a written proposal.