Remodeling South Hill.
South Hill sits on the slope between downtown and the bay, and a lot of these homes have been here since the 1940s through the 1960s. The lots are steep, the views are good, and most of the houses were built with one small bathroom and a kitchen that was closed off from the rest of the floor plan. That setup made sense when these homes went up. It does not match how people live now.
The job we get asked about most on South Hill is opening up a tight kitchen and either adding a primary bath or enlarging the single one the house already has. Working on a hillside lot means we plan access and staging carefully, since there is rarely a flat driveway to stage from. We also map out how the daylight basement and the main floor connect, because on South Hill that often decides where a new bathroom can realistically go.
What we see on South Hill homes.
Common home styles
Established mid-century houses, modest two-story and split-entry homes, and a few older bungalows. Most sit on steep lots with daylight basements and have their original single bathroom.
Popular projects
Opening a cramped, closed-off kitchen toward the dining and living space, adding a second or primary bath, and enlarging an undersized full bath. New cabinets, countertops, and a tiled walk-in shower come up on almost every job.
What's behind the walls
Behind South Hill walls we routinely find 1940s to 1960s wiring and plumbing that has reached the end of its life. We update those runs, bring circuits to current code, and waterproof every wet area before any tile goes in.