Interior Remodeling
Open floor plans, new flooring, drywall, painting, basements, and whole-home updates, planned and built by one team, with the permits handled for you.
Get Your Free Renovation Estimate
Tell us about your project. We'll call to confirm a time that works for you.
- Free in-home estimateWritten quote, no pressure
- One team, start to finishDesign, permits, and every trade
- Financing available$0 down on approved credit
- Licensed & insuredWA Lic. #DAWNCCW747K2
- Rated 4.9 on GoogleBy local homeowners
- Prefer to talk?Call (206) 672-1711
What's Included in an Interior Renovation
Interior Renovations in Seattle & the Puget Sound
Dawn Construction is a licensed Washington renovation contractor serving 45 cities across Greater Seattle and the Puget Sound. We open up floor plans, install flooring and drywall, paint, finish basements, and renovate whole homes, with the permits handled and every project backed by a one-year workmanship warranty.
Just wanted to say thank you to Eli and his dedicated crew of expert craftsman. They turned a nearly unusable shed into a clean, insulated work and storage space. They also redid the flooring in the entrance of our home which connected the front to back with a beautiful transition that made our home feel instantly nicer, like an entire class of home upgraded.
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Thanks Eli!
Our Interior Renovation Services
- Open floor plans: removing or moving walls to connect the kitchen, dining, and living areas.
- Flooring: new floors throughout, repairs, and transitions between rooms.
- Drywall: installation, repair, and finishing.
- Interior painting: walls, ceilings, trim, and doors.
- Basement finishing: new living space, including egress windows for bedrooms.
- Garage and shed conversions: insulated, finished spaces for work or storage.
- Interior doors and trim: doors, baseboards, and casing.
- Whole-home renovations: several rooms planned and built as one project, together with our kitchen and bathroom remodels.
Types of Interior Projects
Most interior work falls into one of three levels. The level decides the budget and which permits apply.
| Project Type | What Changes | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh | Paint, flooring, trim, and doors; the layout stays the same | Usually none for finish work |
| Room renovation | New drywall, lighting, and outlets, plus finishes | Usually an electrical permit |
| Layout change | Walls moved or removed, new openings, a finished basement | A building permit plus trade permits |
When Is It Time to Renovate?
- Closed-off rooms: walls that separate the kitchen and living areas.
- Worn or damaged floors: scratched, uneven, or water-damaged flooring.
- Unused space: a basement, garage, or shed that could be living or work space.
- Cracked or patched walls: drywall damage that paint alone won’t fix.
- Dated finishes: old trim, doors, and paint that make the home feel tired.
- You’re planning to sell: fresh floors and paint are the first things buyers notice.
Opening Up Walls: What to Know
Removing a wall is the most common way to make a home feel bigger, and the step that needs the most care. Some walls only divide rooms. Others hold up the floor or roof above them.
| Wall Type | What It Does | What Removing It Takes |
|---|---|---|
| Partition wall | Divides rooms only | Demolition, patching, and moving any wiring or vents inside it |
| Load-bearing wall | Carries weight from the floor or roof above | A properly sized beam, a building permit, and sometimes engineered plans |
In Seattle, any work on load-bearing supports needs a permit, no matter how small the project. We confirm whether a wall is load-bearing, from the attic or basement, before you plan around removing it.
Permits & Rules for Interior Renovations in Washington
Each city runs its own permit office, but a few rules apply across the region. We plan for all of them before work starts.
| Rule | When It Applies | What It Means for Your Project |
|---|---|---|
| Finish work | Paint, flooring, trim, and cabinets | Usually no building permit |
| Trade permits | New wiring, plumbing, or gas lines | Separate electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits |
| Structural work | Load-bearing walls, new windows, basement egress | A building permit, and sometimes engineered plans |
| Seattle small-project rule | Minor alterations of $6,000 or less in a 6-month period | No permit, except for structural, envelope, egress, light, or ventilation work |
| Basement bedrooms | Any bedroom in a basement | An emergency escape opening, such as an egress window |
Renovating an Older Home: Asbestos
Interior work disturbs old flooring, drywall compound, and textured ceilings. In the Puget Sound region, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and L&I rules require an asbestos survey before renovation or demolition, so the survey comes before any tear-out.
Our Renovation Process
Step 1: Free In-Home Estimate
We walk the space, talk through your goals and budget, and send a written quote.
Step 2: Design & Selections
You choose the layout, flooring, finishes, doors, and lighting.
Step 3: Survey & Permits
The asbestos survey comes first, then the permits your project needs.
Step 4: Demolition & Rough-In
Walls, framing, wiring, and plumbing are done and inspected.
Step 5: Install & Finish
Drywall, flooring, trim, doors, paint, and lighting.
Step 6: Final Walkthrough
We review every detail with you before the job closes.
Interior Renovation Cost – What to Expect
Every project is priced individually, because the scope decides the cost. You get a written quote after a free in-home estimate, before any work begins.
| Price Factor | Effect on Cost | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Structural changes | Removing a load-bearing wall adds a beam, permits, and sometimes engineering | The single biggest swing in most budgets |
| Size | One room versus a full floor or basement | More area means more material and labor |
| Finishes | Flooring material, trim style, and doors | Material choices change the total widely |
| Electrical and plumbing | New lighting, outlets, or plumbing add trades and permits | Each trade has its own permit and inspection |
| Older homes | An asbestos survey comes before tear-out | Required by Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and L&I rules |
Want to spread the cost? See our financing options.
What Makes Our Renovations Different
- Licensed and verifiable: WA Lic. #DAWNCCW747K2. You can check any contractor on L&I’s Verify tool.
- One team, start to finish: design, permits, and every trade under one roof.
- Walls checked first: we confirm what’s load-bearing before anything comes down.
- Permits handled: we file and schedule what your city requires.
- Clear pricing: a written quote after a free in-home estimate.
- One-year workmanship warranty: on every completed project.
Ready to Renovate?
Get a free in-home estimate and a written quote. No pressure, no obligation.
FAQ – Interior Renovations
How much does an interior renovation cost?
It depends on the scope: the size of the space, whether walls move, the finishes you choose, and any electrical or plumbing work. Every project gets a written quote after a free in-home estimate, and financing is available.
Do I need a permit for an interior renovation in Washington?
It depends on the work and your city. Paint, flooring, and other finish work usually don’t need a building permit. Moving walls, adding windows, or new wiring, plumbing, or gas lines do. Seattle also exempts small alterations of $6,000 or less in a 6-month period, but never work on load-bearing walls.
Can I remove a wall to open up my floor plan?
Often, yes. If the wall is load-bearing, it needs a properly sized beam and a building permit, and some cities may require plans stamped by a Washington-licensed engineer or architect. We check the wall before you plan around removing it.
How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
You can’t tell for sure from the room side. Walls that run across the ceiling joists, sit over a beam or another wall below, or support the floor above are often load-bearing. We inspect from the attic or basement and confirm before any demolition.
Is an asbestos survey required before an interior remodel?
In the Puget Sound region, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and Washington L&I rules require an asbestos survey before renovation or demolition. Older flooring, drywall compound, and textured ceilings are checked before tear-out.
Can I add a bedroom in my basement?
Often, yes, but a basement bedroom needs an emergency escape opening, such as an egress window. Cutting or enlarging a window changes the outside wall, which needs a building permit.
Can you convert a shed or garage into usable space?
Yes. We turn garages and sheds into insulated, finished spaces such as workshops, offices, or storage, with new flooring, drywall, and lighting. Permits depend on the size and use of the space.
Which areas do you serve for interior renovations?
Dawn Construction renovates home interiors in 45 cities across King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap, Thurston, Island, Skagit, Whatcom, and Mason counties, from Bellingham to Olympia.
Do you offer free estimates and financing?
Yes. Every project starts with a free in-home estimate and a written quote, and financing is available.
Other Services We Provide
Interior Renovations Across 9 Western Washington Counties
From our offices in Renton and Mukilteo, we renovate home interiors in 45 cities, from Bellingham to Olympia. See the full service area.
King County
- Renton
- Seattle
- Bellevue
- Kent
- Federal Way
- Redmond
- Issaquah
- Bothell
- Kirkland
- Sammamish
- Mercer Island
- Newcastle
- Auburn
- Tukwila
- SeaTac
- Burien
- Shoreline
- Kenmore
- Covington
- Maple Valley
Snohomish County
- Mukilteo
- Everett
- Lynnwood
- Marysville
- Arlington
- Monroe
- Snohomish
Pierce County
- Tacoma
- Puyallup
- Lakewood
- Gig Harbor
- Eatonville
Kitsap County
- Bremerton
- Silverdale
- Poulsbo
- Kingston
Thurston County
- Olympia
- Yelm
Island County
- Oak Harbor
- Coupeville
Skagit County
- Mount Vernon
- Burlington
- Sedro-Woolley
Whatcom County
- Bellingham
Mason County
- Shelton
Don't see your city? Contact us or call (206) 672-1711.
Sources
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, Do You Need a Permit?
- City of Renton, Residential Interior Remodels (asbestos survey requirement, PSCAA and L&I)
Why Dawn Construction
Licensed & Insured
Fully credentialed for your peace of mind and protection on every project.
Full Team, Real People
Call Sunday–Friday, 8am–10pm and a real person from our team will answer.
Transparent Pricing
No hidden fees or surprise costs. We respect your budget.
Start Your Interior Renovation
Ready to transform your living space? Reach out for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Ready to Get Started?
Call or email us directly — we're available Sunday–Friday, 8am–10pm and respond fast.
Call (206) 672-1711