Remodeling Older Covington Homes
A lot of Covington’s neighborhoods went up in the late 1990s and 2000s, which means a big share of the housing stock is now 25 to 30 years old. The builder-grade kitchens, the bathrooms with the cultured-marble vanity tops, the basements that were left unfinished to keep the purchase price down, those are the projects we get called for here. We know these floor plans, we have a good idea of what is behind the walls before we open them, and we know how the local permit process runs.
Whole-House Remodeling in Covington, WA
A whole-house remodel means we are touching most of the house at once: bathrooms, the kitchen, flooring, and paint, sometimes a basement on top of that. Homeowners usually call us for this after buying a tired house in a good Covington neighborhood and deciding to fix everything at once instead of one room a year for the next decade.
These projects need more planning up front. We work through finish selections, sequence the plumbing and electrical inspections, and figure out whether you are staying in the house during the work or setting up a temporary kitchen. We walk you through all of that before anyone picks up a hammer. You get a written, line-itemed estimate, and the same person stays with the project from the first visit to the final walkthrough.
Bathroom Remodeling
Full gut remodels, walk-in shower conversions, vanities, tile, and fixtures. Most Covington bathrooms we do run two to three weeks.
Kitchen Remodeling
New cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and flooring. We work with your layout or open it up. Most kitchens take three to five weeks.
Basement Remodeling
Framing, drywall, flooring, lighting, and egress windows when a bedroom is in the plan. We turn unfinished Covington basements into rec rooms, guest suites, and home offices.
Full Home Renovations
Bathrooms, kitchen, flooring, and paint in one project. Better planning and less disruption than remodeling one room a year.
Tile Installation
Floors, walls, showers, and backsplashes. Mortar-bed shower pans and proper waterproofing so the work lasts.
Kitchen Remodeling in Covington, WA
For most Covington families the kitchen is the hardest-working room in the house. It is where you cook, where everyone ends up during a party, and where the kids do homework at the island. When it stops working for how you actually live, that is usually when people call us.
We have been remodeling kitchens for over a decade, and most of the jobs we do in Covington fall into one of three buckets. A cabinet refresh keeps your layout and gives you new doors, countertops, backsplash, and appliances, usually two to three weeks and somewhere around $20,000 to $35,000. A full cabinet replacement on the same footprint runs longer, three to five weeks, and typically $40,000 to $70,000 depending on cabinet grade and countertop. A layout change, where we take out a wall or move plumbing to add an island, adds $10,000 to $25,000 on top of that.
A kitchen remodel with us can include:
- Gutting the existing space
- Opening a wall for better sightlines into the living area
- New cabinets, countertops, and backsplash
- New plumbing fixtures, lighting, and flooring
- An added pantry, bar, or mudroom
Bathroom Remodeling in Covington, WA
Walk-in showers, full gut remodels, and quick refreshes
Bathroom remodeling is what we do most. We have finished hundreds of them across Covington, Kent, Renton, and the rest of our service area. Most start the same way: a cramped shower, tile that never looks clean, a vanity from the 1990s, or a layout that stopped working for the family.
We handle the whole job. Demo, plumbing rough-in, waterproofing, framing changes, tile, vanities, fixtures, lighting, and paint. The single most-requested project we get is a walk-in shower conversion, replacing an unused tub-and-shower combo with a curbless or low-curb walk-in. We also do full primary-bath remodels with double vanities and freestanding tubs, and smaller second-bathroom updates that come in under $15,000.
- Shower remodels: new tile, glass, pan, drain, and waterproofing, usually $7,000 to $14,000
- Tub-to-shower conversions: about a five to seven day job for a standard 60-inch alcove
- Curbless walk-in showers: we handle the joist work and waterproofing properly, the part that leaks or fails inspection two years later when it is done wrong
- Aging-in-place updates: grab bars, comfort-height toilets, low-curb showers, and better lighting
A basic refresh with a new vanity, tile, and fixtures usually runs $8,000 to $15,000. A full gut with a new shower, layout changes, and all new finishes lands between $18,000 and $40,000. If lowering your water use matters to you, we can spec low-flow fixtures and efficient toilets. Either way, you get the number in writing before you commit to anything.
Basement Remodeling in Covington, WA
Basements are the third big part of our work, and Covington has a lot of houses with real square-footage sitting unfinished downstairs. We turn them into rec rooms, guest suites with a full bathroom, home offices, home gyms, and theater rooms.
A standard basement finish covers framing, insulation, drywall, flooring, lighting, and trim. For an 800 to 1,200 square foot space that usually runs $35,000 to $60,000. If you want a legal bedroom down there, we cut in an egress window, which adds about $4,000 to $7,000. Adding a full bathroom adds $15,000 to $25,000, and if the layout needs a sewage ejector pump, that is another $2,000 to $3,500.
We pull the permits and schedule the inspections. For a property inside Covington city limits, building, mechanical, and plumbing permits go through the City of Covington Permit Services, and electrical permits come from Washington State Labor and Industries. Most homeowners would rather not deal with scheduling any of that, and we do not blame them. If you want to see what the city requires, you can read it on the City of Covington’s permit page.
What to Look For in a Covington Remodeling Company
Plenty of remodeling companies will quote a Covington job. Here is what actually separates us, and what we would tell you to check on anyone you are considering.
You talk to the same person from the estimate to the final walkthrough. No handoff to a project manager halfway through, and no “the salesperson said something different” surprise.
You get a written, line-itemed estimate. Demo costs separated from materials, separated from labor. If something changes mid-project, we put it in writing and get your sign-off before we do the work, not after.
We do not subcontract the build out to crews we have never met. The crew that starts your job is the crew that finishes it. That is the main reason our timelines actually hold.
We are licensed and bonded in Washington, license number FIRMRRL783PU, and we carry general liability and workers’ comp. You can verify the license yourself, and we will send you a certificate of insurance before the job starts if you want one for your records.
Most of our work comes from neighbors in Covington, Kent, Renton, and Maple Valley who recommended us to someone else. Ask us for addresses of recent jobs near you and we will send you a list.
Covington remodeling questions we get a lot
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Covington, WA?
A basic refresh with a new vanity, tile, and fixtures usually runs $8,000 to $15,000. A full gut with a new shower, layout changes, and new finishes lands between $18,000 and $40,000. We give free in-home estimates, so you see the real number before committing to anything.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Covington?
A cabinet refresh with new countertops and backsplash usually runs $20,000 to $35,000. A full cabinet replacement on the same footprint is typically $40,000 to $70,000. Moving walls or relocating plumbing to add an island adds $10,000 to $25,000. Every estimate is itemized, so you can see where the money goes.
How much does it cost to finish a basement in Covington?
A basic finish with framing, drywall, flooring, lighting, and trim for an 800 to 1,200 square foot space usually runs $35,000 to $60,000. Adding a full bathroom adds $15,000 to $25,000, and an egress window for a legal bedroom adds about $4,000 to $7,000.
Do I need a permit to remodel in Covington?
For most remodels that change plumbing, electrical, or structure, yes. Inside Covington city limits, building, mechanical, and plumbing permits go through the City of Covington Permit Services, and electrical permits come from Washington State Labor and Industries. We pull the permits and schedule the inspections for you.
Are you licensed and bonded in Washington?
Yes. Our license number is FIRMRRL783PU. We carry general liability and workers’ comp, and we can send a certificate of insurance before the job starts if you want one for your records.
I am in Covington, not Maple Valley. Do you really come out here?
Yes. Covington is right down 272nd from our shop, and we work there most weeks. Travel time is not a charge, it is just part of doing business in this area. The only thing your location affects is which days we can fit in an estimate visit.
How long does a remodel take?
Most bathrooms run two to three weeks, and kitchens run three to five weeks depending on cabinet lead time. Basements depend on whether we are adding a bathroom or a bedroom. We give you a realistic timeline before we start, not after.
Do you offer free estimates in Covington?
Yes. We come to your home, look at the space, talk through what you want, and put together a written estimate. No charge and no pressure. Call (206) 773-8264 or fill out the form on this page.
Firm Remodeling LLC
26424 233rd Ave SE, Maple Valley, WA 98038
(206) 773-8264
About Firm Remodeling
Firm Remodeling has been doing this for over a decade. We started in Maple Valley and we are still based here, and the owner is on every job at some point. We are not the cheapest bid you will get, and we do not try to be. What we offer is a crew that shows up when we said we would, an estimate you can actually read, and a finished space that holds up. Most of what we build is for people who got our name from a neighbor, and we would like to keep it that way.
Before & After
