Frequently Asked Questions - Construction in South Florida, FL
We've been building and remodeling across South Florida since 2014. Here are the questions we hear most often from homeowners in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and everywhere in between.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A full kitchen remodel in South Florida typically runs from the mid-five figures for a straightforward gut-and-replace up to six figures for a layout change with custom cabinetry and impact-rated windows. Material costs run higher here than the national average because everything has to meet Florida Product Approval for wind and moisture. We give one fixed bid, itemized line by line, after we measure your space and talk through what you actually want. The price we quote is the price you pay. Call (844) 665-0162 for a free written estimate.
Repair is cheaper short-term, but replacement is often the smarter investment when your roof is past 20 years or has multiple leak points. In South Florida, the sun bakes shingles and hurricane seasons test flashing every year. A patch job on a failing roof usually buys you two to three years before the next call. We assess the decking, the underlayment, and the remaining life of the materials, then tell you straight which path saves money over the time you'll own the home. Our estimates are free and come with no pressure.
Home additions in South Florida generally start in the upper $100s per square foot and climb based on foundation type, impact window requirements, and whether we're tying into existing HVAC. Second-story additions cost more than ground-level because of structural reinforcement and stair access. Every job we bid gets a fixed price based on your specific plans, your soil conditions, and the permit requirements in your municipality. We don't use square-foot shortcuts that change later. Call us for an exact number.
Bids vary because contractors are often pricing different scopes. One bid might assume you'll handle permits yourself. Another might use unapproved materials to hit a lower number. A third might subcontract every trade and mark each one up separately. Our S.O.L.I.D. values mean we give one fixed bid with permits included, licensed trades under our license, and every line item visible. The lowest bid is rarely the cheapest job when you count the change orders and callbacks.
Service & Process FAQs
A Groundwork project manager visits your home, measures the space, listens to what you need, and asks the questions that prevent surprises later. We'll check access for materials, note any structural concerns, and explain the permit process for your city. You get a written scope and fixed bid within a few days, not a vague range that shifts once work starts. There's no charge for this visit and no obligation to move forward.
A bathroom remodel usually takes four to six weeks. A kitchen runs eight to twelve. A full home addition or major whole-house renovation can run four to eight months depending on structural complexity and inspection scheduling. South Florida's building departments vary in speed, West Palm Beach and Boca Raton move faster than some smaller municipalities, and hurricane season can push inspections if backlogs build. We build realistic schedules into every contract and communicate weekly so you know where things stand.
We pull every permit required for the job. It's part of our S.O.L.I.D. values, the L stands for Licensed & inspected. Homeowners who pull their own permits become the responsible party if something fails inspection, and most don't want that liability. We handle the application, the plans, the inspections, and any corrections. You focus on choosing finishes and living your life while we manage the paperwork.
Can I live in my house during a major renovation?
Often yes, depending on which areas we're working in and whether we can sequence the job to keep bathrooms and kitchens functional when you need them. For whole-house renovations or additions where we're opening exterior walls, temporary relocation makes more sense. We discuss this during consultation and build a dust containment and access plan that respects your daily routine. Every job site gets broom-cleaned daily, because your neighbor's house is right next door.
Verify active Florida state licensure, ask for proof of general liability and workers compensation insurance, and request local references from jobs completed in the last two years. Check that they've pulled permits on past work, you can verify this through most county building departments. Ask who actually performs the work, whether it's employees or a string of subcontractors you never meet. At Groundwork, every trade works under our license with one crew boss accountable for your job from start to finish.
Brands & Parts FAQs
KraftMaid makes solid, well-priced framed cabinets that hold up well in our humidity if you choose their plywood box options over particle board. For coastal homes where salt air accelerates wear, we also specify hardware and hinge upgrades that resist corrosion. We don't push one brand on every job. We match the cabinet construction, door style, and price point to how long you plan to stay in the home and how hard you use the kitchen.
James Hardie fiber-cement siding performs well in South Florida because it doesn't rot, warp, or attract termites the way wood does, and it holds paint longer than vinyl in intense sun. It's non-combustible, which matters in areas with wildfire exposure, and it meets Miami-Dade wind standards when installed to manufacturer spec. We use it for whole-home re-siding and for accent areas on additions where the existing home has stucco. The material costs more upfront than vinyl but typically returns that investment in longevity and lower maintenance.
Plant Prefab builds high-quality modules that can meet Florida's stringent wind codes if specified correctly, and Tuff Shed makes durable outbuildings and accessory structures that work well for home offices, pool equipment enclosures, and workshops. Modular isn't always faster in South Florida because site prep, foundation, and utility connections happen on the same timeline as conventional builds, but the quality control in a factory setting can be superior. We evaluate whether prefab fits your project based on access, design complexity, and your timeline.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. We maintain active Florida state contractor licensure and carry general liability and workers compensation coverage. We pull permits in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Belle Glade, Canal Point, Bryant, and Clewiston. If you're unsure about your specific municipality, call us and we'll confirm coverage before we schedule a visit.
Our Built-Right Project Guarantee covers all workmanship for 730 days, two full years, across every trade. If anything we built isn't right, one phone call brings a Groundwork crew back to make it right. Not a claim form. Not a subcontractor pointing at another subcontractor. Our name is on the whole job, so the fix is on us. That promise is in writing on every contract, and it's the same standard Groundwork upholds across California, Texas, and Nevada.
Groundwork operates as one licensed general contractor with trades working under our license and one crew boss accountable for each job. The exact employment structure varies by trade and market, but the accountability doesn't. The boss on your job gives you his cell number, and he's the same person who walks the final inspection with you. That's the "One accountable crew" in our S.O.L.I.D. values.
Emergency & Response FAQs
We take urgent calls during our operating hours, Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM. For true emergencies, storm damage or structural failures that make a home unsafe, we assess by phone and dispatch if we can help immediately. If the situation requires a specialist we don't have available, we'll tell you honestly and point you toward someone who can respond faster. We don't promise what we can't deliver.
Smaller jobs like bathroom updates or shed installations can often start within two to four weeks. Major renovations and additions typically schedule six to twelve weeks out depending on permit timing and material lead times. Custom cabinets from KraftMaid or specialty windows can add four to eight weeks. We don't rush permits or start work before inspections are scheduled, that approach costs more in delays and redos. When we give you a start date, we honor it.
Our crews work throughout Palm Beach County and into the western communities, from North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens down through Wellington, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach. We also build in Boca Raton to the south and Belle Glade, Canal Point, Bryant, and Clewiston to the west. If you're near these areas and unsure whether we cover your property, call (844) 665-0162 and we'll confirm.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
The Built-Right Project Guarantee covers any defect in our workmanship for two full years from completion. That includes cabinet installation, tile work, roofing, framing, electrical and plumbing rough-ins, and finish carpentry. It does not cover damage from storms, homeowner alterations, or normal wear on finishes like paint and caulk. If you suspect a problem, call us. We send someone to look, determine if it's on us, and fix it without a claims process or third-party adjustor.
Yes. Product warranties from James Hardie, KraftMaid, and other manufacturers we specify transfer directly to you, and we register them in your name when required. We also document installation per manufacturer spec so those warranties remain valid. Many product warranties are voided by improper installation, which is why we don't leave that to chance. You get both our 730-day workmanship guarantee and the full manufacturer protection on materials.
Call (844) 665-0162 during our business hours. Describe what you're seeing, and we'll schedule a visit to assess. For issues clearly within our workmanship guarantee, we prioritize the fix and communicate a timeline. For problems that turn out to be unrelated to our work, we'll explain what we're seeing and can often suggest the right specialist. Either way, you get a straight answer and a clear path forward. That's the "Done right, or we make it right" in our S.O.L.I.D. values.
Written by the team at Groundwork Construction Co. of South Florida, serving South Florida since 2014.
Still Have Questions?
We are happy to help. Call us - same-day and after-hours emergency service available.
(844) 665-0162