Remodeling in Clawson
Clawson is about two and a half square miles of small, well-built postwar houses. Almost every project here is the same question: how do we get more usable space out of what is already on the lot?
Request a walkthrough →What We Find Behind Clawson Walls
The city built out between about 1940 and 1960, so the houses are consistent: small, square, solid, and short on bathrooms.
Postwar Bungalows
Two bedrooms down, expansion space up. A dormer and a second bath is the single highest-impact project on this house.
Compact Brick Ranches
Three bedrooms, one bath, and a kitchen closed off from everything. Removing one wall changes the whole floor plan.
Detached Garages
Set back at the end of a long drive. Good for staging a build, and often worth replacing rather than repairing.
Basements With Potential
Poured walls, moderate headroom, and a stair placement that usually works. Water first, then finish.
What Clawson Houses Have in Common
Small footprints, clay soil, and original systems. Once you know that, most Clawson projects plan themselves.
Heavy Clay and Slow Drainage
Water sits rather than moves. Grading, footing drains, and a working sump come before a single stud goes up.
One Bathroom
Adding a second is the most requested project, and stack access decides where it can go. We locate it at the walkthrough.
Original 100 Amp Service
Fine for lights. Not fine for an induction range, a finished basement, or central air added later. We price the upgrade up front.
Plaster and Lath
Cut cleanly and patched to match. We do not skim drywall over wavy plaster and call it finished.
Tight Lot Coverage
On a 40 to 50 foot lot, coverage and setbacks set your addition envelope before your wish list does.
Attic Expansion Potential
Roof pitch and existing ceiling joists decide whether an upstairs is a dormer project or a full second story.
We Pull the Permit, You Do Not
Clawson reviews plans before issuing, and trade permits are separate. We pull the building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits under our builder license and meet the inspector on site.
- →Zoning setbacks and lot coverage confirmed before design
- →Drawings prepared for Clawson review
- →All trade permits pulled by us
- →Inspections sequenced so trades never idle
- →Final approvals handed to you at closeout
Requirements change. We confirm current Clawson code and zoning with the building department on every project before we price it.
Where We Work in Clawson
Clawson is a few minutes from the shop, so Tim is on site daily instead of checking in.
Services for Clawson Homes
Home Additions
Dormers, second stories, and rear additions on small postwar footprints.
See the service →Bathroom Remodeling
Adding a second bathroom, or gutting the original one properly.
See the service →Kitchen Remodeling
Removing the wall that closes the kitchen off from the rest of the house.
See the service →Basement Remodeling
Poured walls and moderate headroom. Water handled first, then finish.
See the service →Wall Removal
Postwar interior walls that carry more than they look like they do.
See the service →Whole House Renovations
Houses where the wiring, plumbing, and layout all need to change at once.
See the service →Clawson Homeowners Ask Us This
Anything not answered here, call Tim directly at 313.236.0985.
Can I put a dormer on my Clawson bungalow?
Usually. Roof pitch, existing ceiling joists, and zoning height decide whether it is a dormer or a full second story. We check all three first.
Where can a second bathroom go?
Wherever we can reach the stack with proper venting. We locate it during the walkthrough so the layout is real before you commit.
Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel?
Yes, plumbing and electrical permits at minimum, and a building permit if walls or structure change. We pull them.
Is my basement dry enough to finish?
We test and document before framing. If there is an active issue we price the fix separately and you decide before we proceed.
Will a 100 amp panel work?
For a bathroom, usually. For a kitchen or finished basement, usually not. The load calculation happens during pricing.
How much of the house can I cover with an addition?
Zoning sets it, not us. We confirm coverage and setbacks with the city before the drawings are final.
Full service area across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, Downriver, and Monroe County.
We Are Minutes From Your Street
Tim walks the house, tells you what the work actually involves, and gives you a real price range. No deposit, no sales visit.