Remodeling in Berkley
Berkley is 1,100 square feet on a 40 foot lot, and families keep deciding to stay instead of move. That decision is a remodel: a second story, a rear addition, or finally finishing the basement.
Request a walkthrough →What We Find Behind Berkley Walls
Almost the whole city is prewar and immediate postwar, on lots narrow enough that the only place to build is up or straight back.
Small Brick Bungalows
Two bedrooms, one bath, arched living room opening. Charming, well built, and about four hundred square feet short of what a family needs.
Postwar Ranches
North of Twelve Mile. Wider footprint, low-slope roof, and interior walls that are often removable once we confirm the load path.
Second Story Additions
The signature Berkley project. Zoning, height limits, and how the existing foundation carries the new load decide what is possible.
Basements Worth the Effort
Low but usable. Once ducts and the beam are mapped, most Berkley basements finish out to a real family room.
What Berkley Houses Have in Common
Small houses on small lots. Every inch is a decision, which is why planning matters more here than material selection.
Clay Soil and Basement Water
Same heavy clay as the rest of south Oakland. Grading, footing drains, and a working sump come before any framing.
Low Basement Headroom
Many Berkley basements run 6'8" to 7'2" to the joists. We measure and map every duct before quoting a finished height.
Undersized Service Panels
60 and 100 amp panels are common. Finished basements and real kitchens need 200 amp, and we price it up front.
Rear Alley Access
A gift for staging and a constraint for garages. We plan dumpster and delivery access through the alley when it is legal to do so.
Lot Coverage Limits
On a 40 foot lot, coverage and setbacks decide your addition before your wish list does. We confirm both before drawing.
Original Cast Iron Waste
Stacks crack at the hub. When a bathroom opens up we look at the whole stack rather than just the fixture.
We Pull the Permit, You Do Not
Berkley reviews plans before issuing, and trade permits are separate from the building permit. We pull all of them under our builder license and meet the inspector on site.
- →Zoning height, setbacks, and lot coverage confirmed first
- →Drawings prepared for Berkley review
- →All trade permits pulled by us
- →Inspections sequenced around the review queue
- →Final approvals handed to you at closeout
Requirements change. We confirm current Berkley code and zoning with the building department on every project before we price it.
Where We Work in Berkley
Berkley is a five minute drive from the shop. Tim is on your street most days of a build.
Services for Berkley Homes
Home Additions
Second stories and rear additions are the most-requested project in the city.
See the service →Basement Remodeling
Low headroom, heavy clay, and real potential once both are handled.
See the service →Kitchen Remodeling
Small original kitchens that need a wall removed and a service upgrade.
See the service →Bathroom Remodeling
One bath at the top of the stairs, original waste stack, no exhaust fan.
See the service →Wall Removal
Bungalow living-and-dining walls are almost always structural here.
See the service →Whole House Renovations
Pre-war houses where the wiring, plumbing, and layout all change at once.
See the service →Berkley Homeowners Ask Us This
Anything not answered here, call Tim directly at 313.236.0985.
Can I add a second story to a Berkley bungalow?
Often, but zoning answers first. Height limits, setbacks, and lot coverage set the envelope, and the existing foundation has to carry the new load.
How much headroom will I have in a finished basement?
We measure to the joists and map the ducts before quoting, so you get the real finished height room by room instead of a guess.
Why do Berkley basements take on water?
Heavy clay, eighty-year-old footing drains, and grading that has settled toward the house. Fixable, but before finishing, not after.
Can we use the alley for the dumpster?
Often yes, coordinated with the city. It keeps your driveway usable through the build.
Is my 100 amp panel enough?
For a bathroom, usually. For a kitchen or finished basement, usually not. We run the load calculation during pricing.
How long does plan review take?
It varies with the season and project size. We build the queue into the schedule and submit as early as the drawings allow.
Full service area across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, Downriver, and Monroe County.
We Are Five Minutes Away
Tim walks the house, tells you what the work actually involves, and gives you a real price range. No deposit, no sales visit.