Remove & Replace Home Remodeling: Is it Right for Your Project?

Do you walk into an area of your home and start making a “To-Do” list of everything you want to change about it?

Are you also worried that starting a home remodeling project will burn through your paycheck and leave you with stress headaches for months on end?

If your answer is yes to both of these questions, then remove & replace remodeling can turn your “To-Do” list into a “To-Done” list. Quality materials, competitive pricing, and efficient project timelines make remove & replace remodeling the secret weapon to achieving your dream home.

JSB Home Solutions is a remove & replace remodeling company with over four decades of experience in the industry. We have seen homeowners at the end of a remodel project, needlessly tired and stressed about their budget. And we have built a process to address these issues and now watch homeowners breathe a sigh of relief at the end of their projects. Whether you work with JSB to complete your remodel project or not, we want to equip you with the knowledge to ask useful questions as you interview remodeling companies. 

Table of Contents:

• What is Remove & Replace Remodeling?
• Cost of Remove & Replace Remodeling
• Timeline of Remove & Replace Remodeling
• 3 Advantages of Remove & Replace Remodeling
• 3 Disadvantages of Remove & Replace Remodeling

By the end, you will know whether a remove & replace remodeling approach is a good fit for your project.

What is Remove & Replace Remodeling?

Remove & Replace remodeling involves removing existing materials and replacing them with new products. Sometimes known as pull & replace remodeling, this approach could include installing new appliances, replacing tubs or showers, updating cabinets, installing new flooring, and making minor layout adjustments.

The remove & replace method streamlines product selections. Materials offered are limited to a selection of trusted manufacturers and popular colors and styles. Compared to a facelift remodel, remove & replace remodeling offers greater customization and flexibility. And it removes the overwhelming array of choices typical of a design-build remodel.

Most remove & replace contractors refrain from undertaking structural modifications to a house. They may handle tasks like removing kitchen soffits or non-load-bearing walls. It’s important to clarify such details with your contractor during initial discussions.

Remove & replace companies usually avoid relocating significant electrical, plumbing, or HVAC lines. Working with electrical, plumbing, or HVAC systems increases both costs and project timelines.

As always, the most common queries about any home remodel project revolve around cost and duration.

Cost of Remove & Replace Remodeling

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the answer to the unavoidable cost question is, “Well, it depends…”. It depends on the room you are renovating, the size of the space, the scope of work, and the materials selected.

Kitchen remodel cost falls in the $15,000-$60,000 range.” Larger kitchens and/or a more extensive scope of work can reach up to the $75,000+ mark. As a rule of thumb, financial experts suggest you plan between 5% to 15% of your home value for a kitchen renovation to maximize your return on investment. 

The average bathroom remodel costs $18,000 – $50,000 for a complete tear-out and replacement of all walls, fixtures, and appliances. Factors like bathroom size, bathroom type (half-bath, full-bath, or master-bath), and materials selected will influence the overall bathroom remodel cost.

Timeline of Remove & Replace Remodeling

Remove & replace remodeling projects take longer than simple cosmetic renovations but significantly less time than traditional, full-scale remodels. Considering the amount of time that your space will be unusable is important for what your life will look like during the project. 

Is your kitchen remodel happening in the summertime when you can grill out or will you need to eat out most meals? 

If your master bath is under construction, do you have another bathroom to shower and get ready for your day in?

Kitchens can usually be completed in 2-3 weeks using the remove & replace method. That does not mean that you will be completely without a kitchen for all 3 weeks but it will be important for you to clarify expectations with your contractor. Some contractors have ways to reduce the amount of time you will be without a kitchen. For example, here at JSB Home Solutions, our kitchen remodel process includes setting you up with a temporary sink and countertops until your new countertops can be installed.

Bathroom remove & replace projects can take as little as 3 – 5 days for tubs and showers (commonly referred to as wet spaces). Complete bathroom remodels usually take 1-2 weeks. The larger the bathroom and the more customized the project, the longer the bathroom will take.

As with any decision, considering the advantages and disadvantages of remove & replace remodeling will help you decide if this remodeling approach is right for your project.

3 Advantages of Remove & Replace Remodeling

#1 Value-Driven Pricing

Remove & replace remodeling may or may not be the least expensive option for a renovation project. Sometimes facelift remodeling costs less but often, remove & replace has competitive pricing for similar scope of work. The key with remove & replace is the value that it offers. You might pay more for a remove & replace project but you can be sure your products are of higher quality and will usually last longer than facelift remodels.

The slightly higher cost of remove & replace remodeling is worth it for many homeowners who want to get the most bang for their buck.

#2 Customization Without Too Many Options

The remove & replace approach to home renovation strikes a great balance between the limited options of facelift remodeling and the unlimited options of a design-build remodel approach. A design consultant will help you through the material selection process. Options are based on the trends of similar houses in the region. You will still have plenty of selections to make! But the choices have been reduced to manufacturers the company trusts and styles and colors that are the most popular.

#3 Opportunity for Layout Adjustments

You can’t move load-bearing walls or completely move features around a room. Here is a list of structural components that remove & replace remodeling can do:

• Remove or build kitchen soffits
• Remove or build knee walls
• Remove or build non-load-bearing walls
• Make minor changes to the room design.

Remove & replace projects can add an island or peninsula to your kitchen. It can also change a single-bowl bathroom vanity to a double bowl.

3 Disadvantages of Remove & Replace Remodeling

#1 Limited by Structural, Electrical, and Plumbing Components

Limited layout changes are the biggest difference between remove & replace and design-build projects. Homeowners with older or smaller homes might want to rearrange or add to a room to improve function. These types of projects are not a good fit for remove & replace remodeling.

With new-build homes, this may not be a problem. New build homes usually have great bones and nice “working triangles” in the kitchen. Their layouts are efficient and clean so there isn’t a huge need to go moving complex systems like plumbing and electrical. You just need upgraded materials.

#2 Not Unlimited Customization

You have more limited options with remove & replace remodeling than with design-build. Remove & replace companies limit their selections on purpose. Homeowners like you can make selections without decision fatigue. You will also know that the options have been well-vetted. 

Selected customization can be seen as a benefit if you don’t want to be overwhelmed with choices. Or it can be a drawback if you enjoy the details that go into building a fully customized space.

#3 Not the Shortest Project Timelines

If you are comparing remove & replace remodeling timelines to those of facelift renovations, then timeline will be a disadvantage. Remove & replace projects will take longer than facelift renovations, although it is a difference of a few days to a few weeks.

If you are comparing remove & replace remodeling timelines to design-build projects, then timeline is definitely an advantage. Design-build projects are very involved, fully customized and usually take at least 6 months of active construction. It would not be surprising if they took a year and a half to complete. Remove & replace remodeling’s 3 week projects are certainly appealing compared to months of heavy construction.

Is Remove & Replace Home Remodeling Right for My Project?

Lives are busy and beginning a home renovation that will impact your everyday life is not a choice to approach lightly. You also want to ensure you are spending your hard-earned money wisely and get the most return on your investment. Remove & replace remodeling can give you just what you are searching for.

If you are ready to upgrade your home, high-traffic bathrooms and kitchens are the places to start. You will want to make a list of bathroom renovation components and kitchen renovation components that you want to accomplish. This will help you determine if remove & replace is a good fit for your project. 

Renovating your home is an exciting adventure and choosing which level of home remodeling is right for you will set you up for success.