A full remodel in Somerville reworks most or all of a home at once: kitchen, baths, layout, systems, and finishes, often while keeping the existing footprint. Because so much of Somerville’s housing is pre-1940, the real work is usually behind the walls, in the wiring, plumbing, and framing.
Triple-deckers, Victorian two-families, and condo conversions here were built for a different era. A whole-home project is the moment to open tight floor plans, replace knob-and-tube wiring and cast-iron waste lines, add insulation, and bring the house up to current code in one coordinated pass.
Older Somerville homes also carry realities like lead paint (pre-1978) and asbestos in old materials, which have to be handled by certified trades. In Somerville, a building permit is required for this scope, with painting, tiling, and flooring the only common interior exceptions.
A typical JRH full remodel in Somerville can include:
Gut and reconfiguration of the kitchen and bathrooms with new plumbing and electrical.
Whole-house rewiring, panel upgrades, and new supply and waste lines.
Opening walls to connect kitchen, dining, and living space in tight layouts.
Insulation, windows, and heat pump upgrades that can qualify for Massachusetts rebates.
It is ideal when a home has been added onto piecemeal over decades, or when you would rather do one coordinated project than a series of disruptive smaller ones.
The process starts with a free in-home consultation and a full assessment of your Somerville home: layout, systems, structure, and what is realistic within your budget. You get an itemized written scope and estimate that includes permit handling and a phasing plan.
Because a whole-home remodel touches structure, electrical, plumbing, and sometimes gas, JRH files the building permit through the City of Somerville’s CitizenServe portal, and licensed electricians and plumbers pull their own permits, as the city requires.
We sequence the work to keep the project moving and safe: demolition and abatement where needed, structural and rough-in trades, insulation and inspections, then finishes. On an occupied home we phase the work so you can stay when possible.
Every required inspection is scheduled with the city, and the project closes with a final walkthrough and sign-off. Timelines depend heavily on scope; a full gut that moves structure and systems takes considerably longer than a cosmetic whole-home refresh.
Yes. Somerville’s Inspectional Services Division (ISD) requires a building permit for whole-home remodeling, plus separate electrical, plumbing, and gas permits pulled by licensed trades. For a 1-2 family home you occupy, the city allows owner-occupants to pull some permits, but the licensed-trade requirement for electrical, plumbing, and gas still applies; for 3 or more units, a licensed contractor is required. JRH manages the entire permit set through the city’s CitizenServe portal, and Somerville ISD can be reached at (617) 625-6600 ext. 5600. On older homes, expect the city to require smoke and carbon-monoxide certification, and lead and asbestos to be handled by certified contractors. Skipping permits on a project this size is the fastest way to derail a future sale or refinance, when unpermitted work surfaces and has to be redone.
Whole-home remodels in the Greater Boston area commonly run from about $150,000 to $400,000 for homes under 2,500 square feet, and $400,000 or more for larger homes, with major kitchen and bath work falling between roughly $400 and $800 per square foot (Block Renovation, Boston, 2026 data). Your Somerville number depends on how much structure and system work is involved and the level of finishes.
Massachusetts homeowners can offset part of the cost through statewide programs. Mass Save offers rebates for heat pumps, insulation, and other energy-efficient upgrades added during a whole-home renovation.
Because JRH is a registered contractor, your project is also covered by the state’s Home Improvement Contractor program and Guaranty Fund. We give a free, itemized in-home estimate, with no starting-at guesswork.
JRH takes on full remodels throughout Somerville, including Davis Square, Union Square, Ball Square, Teele Square, Winter Hill, Spring Hill, East Somerville, Prospect Hill, and Assembly Square.
Somerville is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States, in Middlesex County, covering ZIP codes 02143, 02144, and 02145. With the Green Line Extension now serving Union Square and Somerville stations, whole-home updates on older two- and three-family homes have become a common way for owners to modernize without leaving the neighborhood.
JRH Constructions is a licensed Massachusetts home improvement contractor (MA HIC #204867), registered and active, so your Somerville whole-home project is covered by the state’s HIC consumer-protection framework. We are fully insured, and every permit is pulled and inspected through the City of Somerville.
Based in Lynn and working across Somerville’s triple-deckers, Victorians, and condo conversions, JRH pairs local knowledge with code-compliant work. Serving Somerville and Middlesex County. Call (781) 520-1982 for a free in-home estimate.
Common questions Somerville homeowners ask before starting a full home remodel:
Do I need permits for a full home remodel in Somerville?
Yes. Somerville ISD requires a building permit plus separate electrical, plumbing, and gas permits from licensed trades. JRH manages the whole permit set through the city's CitizenServe portal.
How much does a whole-home remodel cost in Somerville, MA?
In Greater Boston, homes under 2,500 sq ft commonly run $150,000 to $400,000, and larger homes $400,000 or more (Block Renovation, 2026). Your Somerville cost depends on how much structure and systems change.
Can I live in the house during the remodel?
Sometimes. We phase occupied projects to keep part of the home usable when possible, but a full gut that touches every system usually means moving out for part of the work. We map this out with your estimate.
How are lead paint and asbestos handled in older Somerville homes?
Homes built before 1978 can contain lead paint, and older materials can contain asbestos. Both must be handled by certified contractors under state rules, which we build into the scope from the start.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. JRH Constructions is a Massachusetts-licensed home improvement contractor (MA HIC #204867), fully insured, and we permit and inspect every project through the City of Somerville.
