Frequently Asked Questions - Construction in Miami, FL
Straight answers to the questions Miami homeowners ask us most about remodeling and construction. Pricing that's real, process that's clear, and no fine print runaround.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A full kitchen remodel in Miami typically runs $35,000 to $85,000, depending on cabinet quality, countertop material, and whether walls or plumbing move. Budget kitchens with stock cabinets and laminate tops can start around $22,000, while high-end builds with custom millwork and stone surfaces push past $100,000. Miami's market carries its own cost signals: older homes in Kendall and Coral Gables often need electrical upgrades behind the walls, and high humidity means we spec moisture-rated drywall in every kitchen we open. Condos in Brickell and Edgewater add freight-elevator logistics and building insurance requirements that townhomes don't carry. The only way to get a real number for your space is a written estimate. Call (850) 801-8046 and we'll line-item the whole job before anything starts.
A bathroom remodel in Miami usually lands between $12,000 and $30,000. A guest bath refresh with new tile, vanity, and fixtures starts near $10,000. A primary bath with a curbless shower, Schluter waterproofing, and a freestanding tub can reach $40,000 or more. The spread comes down to tile choices, shower glass, and whether the footprint changes. Areas like Miami Shores and Coral Terrace are dense with 1950s and 60s ranch homes where we find cast-iron drain lines that should be replaced while the walls are open, a cost older homes carry but newer builds don't. We put the full price in writing before demo day, so you won't get surprised mid-project. Call (850) 801-8046 for a free estimate specific to your bathroom.
A whole-home remodel in Miami generally runs $100,000 to $250,000, depending on square footage, structural changes, and finish level. Homes in Miami Gardens and Hialeah Gardens built in the 1960s and 70s frequently need plumbing and electrical brought to current code, which adds to the total. A cosmetic full refresh with floors, paint, and kitchen and bath updates lands lower; moving walls, replacing roofs, or reworking layouts pushes higher. Miami's wind-load requirements shape window and door pricing more than in inland cities. We're upfront about this: the written estimate lists every line item, so you see exactly where the money goes. Call (850) 801-8046 to schedule a walkthrough.
Flooring installation in Miami averages $6 to $15 per square foot installed, depending on material. Porcelain tile runs $8 to $18 per square foot, luxury vinyl plank $5 to $10, and hardwood $10 to $20 with Miami's humidity factored into acclimation and install method. We recommend against solid hardwood in slab-on-grade homes common across Kendall and Sweetwater because moisture migration through the concrete causes warping. Engineered hardwood or tile handles South Florida's climate better. We'll walk you through material options with real local pricing, not national averages that miss Miami's market. Call (850) 801-8046 for a measured, written flooring quote.
Yes, estimates are free. We'll come to your home anywhere in the Miami area, take measurements, discuss scope, and send you a written line-item quote. That quote is the price you pay; we build The Relay Standard into every project, which means the price goes in writing before any work starts. No estimate fee, no pressure, no price that drifts once the job begins. Call (850) 801-8046 to book yours.
Only if you change the scope. The price we give you in writing is the price, period. Change orders happen when a homeowner adds something mid-job, like upgrading tile or adding a second vanity, and those are priced in writing and approved by you before any extra work happens. Miami homes occasionally hide surprises, like corroded supply lines in Coral Gables mid-century houses, and we flag those the moment we see them with a written line item, not a vague "it'll cost more." You never pay for work you didn't approve. Call (850) 801-8046 to talk through your project.
Service & Process FAQs
It starts with a free estimate. We come out, measure, talk through your goals, and send a written line-item price. Once you approve it, we schedule the start date, pull permits if the job requires them, and kick off the work. During the project you get photo updates of the work before and after, a live arrival time for each crew day, and a digital invoice you can pay from the link. That's The Relay Standard, and it's how every project runs. At the end, we walk the finished space with you. Call (850) 801-8046 to start the process this week.
A typical Miami kitchen remodel runs four to eight weeks from demo to final walkthrough. Custom cabinetry adds time; stock cabinets shorten it. Permitting through the city or the county, depending on whether your home is in Coral Gables, Sweetwater, or unincorporated Miami-Dade, can add one to three weeks before work starts. Structural changes, like opening a load-bearing wall, add engineering review time. We'll give you a schedule in writing once the scope is set, and you'll get photo updates along the way so you always know where things stand. Call (850) 801-8046 for a project timeline tailored to your scope.
A bathroom remodel in Miami typically takes two to four weeks. A cosmetic update with new tile, vanity, and fixtures without moving plumbing lands on the shorter end. Moving a toilet or shower drain, or building a curbless shower with Schluter waterproofing, pushes toward the longer end. Condo buildings in Brickell and downtown Miami often require board approval and specific work-hour windows, which can extend the calendar even though the work itself doesn't change. We'll outline every step and timeline in your written estimate. Call (850) 801-8046 to talk through your bathroom.
Yes. We're familiar with the extra layers a Miami condo remodel involves: building insurance certificates, freight-elevator scheduling, work-hour restrictions, and HOA or board approvals. Buildings in Edgewater, Brickell, and along Biscayne Boulevard each have their own rules, and we've worked within most of them. We'll gather the required documents, schedule work inside the building's windows, and keep the project moving without creating friction between you and your association. Call (850) 801-8046 and tell us about your building, we'll tell you what the process will look like.
Yes. When the scope calls for it, we pull the permits and schedule the inspections. Miami-Dade County, plus the individual cities like Coral Gables and North Miami that run their own building departments, each have their own requirements, and we know which jobs need what. Unpermitted work in Miami creates problems at resale and can trigger fines, so we don't cut that corner. Permits are line items in your written estimate, and passing inspections means the job is done right. Call (850) 801-8046 to discuss your project's permit path.
Yes, and that's common in Miami. If you're working with an architect or designer, we'll coordinate directly with them on drawings, finishes, and timelines. If you don't have one, we can still handle standard remodels end to end, from layout through finish. We see a lot of designer-led projects in Coral Gables and Pinecrest-style homes, and our crews are used to working from full drawing sets and spec books. Either way, the written price and photo updates stay the same. Call (850) 801-8046 to tell us about your project team.
Brands & Parts FAQs
For toilets and faucets, we regularly install Delta and Toto. Delta gives you solid quality at a mid-range price, and its finishes hold up to Miami's salt air better than some competitors. Toto is our usual recommendation for toilets, especially in older Miami homes where drain performance matters; their flush engineering is the best in the industry. American Standard is another name we install when a homeowner wants a proven classic. For shower waterproofing, we use Schluter systems almost exclusively because Miami humidity demands a watertight substrate that doesn't rely on a contractor's caulk work. The right fixture for your home depends on your plumbing setup and style, and we'll spec that in your written estimate. Call (850) 801-8046 to talk fixtures.
We build showers using the Schluter system, which is a full membrane and drain assembly that waterproofs every surface before tile goes on. In Miami's humidity, a properly waterproofed shower is the difference between a bathroom that lasts 20 years and one that grows mold behind the walls. We've seen enough failed showers across Kendall, Opa-locka, and Miami Gardens to know that shortcut waterproofing is a costly mistake here. Schluter also lets us build curbless showers cleanly, which is a popular accessibility upgrade. You'll see the system named plainly in your written estimate. Call (850) 801-8046 to talk over your bathroom build.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires, and our Miami branch operates as a licensed Florida construction business. You should always verify a contractor's license before signing, and we're happy to point you to the state's license lookup so you can confirm ours yourself. Liability insurance and workers' compensation are in place, and your written estimate comes from a business that stands behind the work. Don't take any contractor's word on this; check it. Then call (850) 801-8046 and let's talk about your project.
Sawyer Remodel Miami is a local branch of Sawyer Remodeling, part of the Relay Home Co. family of brands. Each location is independently owned and operated, which means this branch is run by people who live and work in the Miami area, but it carries the standards and the guarantee that come from the larger brand. The name puts the craft up front: a sawyer is the tradesperson who cuts the lumber. Luca Romano leads the Miami team, and every project here runs to The Relay Standard regardless of what city the brand's other branches call home. Call (850) 801-8046 and you'll reach a live coordinator who connects you with the local team.
Yes, liability coverage is in place for every project, and every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. If you want to see proof, ask; a legitimate contractor in Miami should never balk at providing a certificate of insurance. High-risk work, like anything involving electrical panels or gas lines, is only handled by the trade professionals qualified and licensed to do it. Call (850) 801-8046 and we'll answer any credential questions directly.
Emergency & Response FAQs
We're not an emergency-response contractor, and we won't pretend to be. If a storm damages your roof or a pipe floods your home in the middle of the night, you need a restoration crew that runs true 24/7 response, and we're happy to be honest that's not us. For construction work that isn't a life-safety emergency but needs to happen on a firm schedule, we handle it during our operating hours: Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Sunday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. We're closed Saturdays. Call (850) 801-8046 during those hours and we'll get your project moving.
It depends on the calendar and the permit path. Once you approve your written estimate, we'll give you a firm start date in writing. If permits are involved, the city's review time shapes the start date, and that varies between Coral Gables, North Miami, and Miami-Dade County. Small scopes without permits can usually start sooner. We'll always give you a real date, not a vague window, because a live schedule is part of The Relay Standard. Call (850) 801-8046 and we'll check current availability for your project type.
We serve the Miami area, including Coral Gables, Miami Gardens, Hialeah Gardens, North Miami, Kendall, Miami Shores, Opa-locka, Fountainebleau, Country Club, Coral Terrace, and Sweetwater. If you're in Miami-Dade near these communities, call and ask. We know the local building departments, the common house types in each neighborhood, and the quirks that come with them. Call (850) 801-8046 to confirm your address is in our service area.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
The Relay Visibility Guarantee is the promise every Relay Home Co. brand works to: total visibility on your project. You get a live arrival time you can track, photo updates of the work before and after, a written price before anything starts, and a digital invoice you can pay from the link. You always know who is coming, when they will be there, and what it will cost. That's the standard every Sawyer Remodeling branch, including the Miami team, works to on every job. Call (850) 801-8046 and experience the difference on your project.
Yes, workmanship on our projects is covered by the warranty that comes with a Sawyer Remodeling project. The specific term depends on the scope of the work, and it's outlined in your written estimate before you sign. Materials from manufacturers like Delta and Toto carry their own warranties, and we'll point you to what those cover as part of your project documentation. We don't do vague handshake promises; the coverage is written. Call (850) 801-8046 and ask us to walk you through what your project's warranty looks like.
Call us. The workmanship warranty that comes with your Sawyer Remodeling project outlines exactly what's covered and for how long, and you'll have that in writing from day one. If something isn't right and it's within warranty, we fix it. That's the point of working with an established brand backed by the Relay Home Co. guarantee rather than a crew that disappears after the final check clears. We're still in the Miami market and we answer the phone. Call (850) 801-8046 and we'll get it handled.
Most Miami homeowners should hire a general contractor. Acting as your own GC means pulling permits, scheduling and supervising every trade, verifying each one's license and insurance, and being on-site when issues come up. It's a second job, and mistakes get expensive fast, especially in Miami's older housing stock where a small plumbing issue can become a wall-to-wall mold problem in months. A licensed GC carries the permitting, the coordination, and the warranty. We'll give you one written price and one point of contact. Call (850) 801-8046 to discuss whether your project needs a GC.
Look for a written price before any work starts, clear communication, and proper licensing. Confirm the license through the state's lookup tool, ask for proof of insurance, and read the warranty terms before you sign. Beware any contractor in Miami who won't put the price in writing or pushes you to start without permits. The Relay Standard exists because homeowners got tired of phone tag, vague windows, and prices that changed at the door. We work to that standard on every job. Call (850) 801-8046 and ask us anything, we'll answer straight.
Written by Luca Romano, Owner at Sawyer Remodel Miami, serving Miami since 2005.
Still Have Questions?
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