Where it stands, October 22, 2026
- The new European oak floors are in across the main level.
- The 60-inch gas fireplace is set in its framed wall. The stone surround and oak mantle come next.
- The primary bath floor tile is laid and ready for grout. The shower and tub walls are prepped for tile.
- Kitchen countertops were set this week.
- The front patio was repoured, and the deck and its stairs are framed.
What is next
- Fireplace stone and mantle.
- Shower and tub wall tile, then shower glass.
- The big exterior door, about three weeks out.
- Plumbing and light fixtures, interior paint, final clean and the walkthrough.
Chapter 1
Open it up and fix what is under the floor.
The main floor came down to studs where the kitchen, pantry and bath are. Old subfloor was repaired before anything new went over it. A squeaky floor under new hardwood is a problem you fix once, before the planks go down, not after.
The old front patio had sunk, so it was broken out by hand and repoured on compacted road base with rebar.
Chapter 2
Floors first, then everything that sits on them.
About 1,700 square feet of engineered European oak went down across the main level, glued plank to plank. In the bath, the floor got a waterproof uncoupling membrane before tile, which is what keeps grout from cracking over a wood subfloor.
Floors go in before cabinets and the fireplace so the heights all land right. Get that order wrong and you chase it for the rest of the job.
Chapter 3
The fireplace wall.
The owners wanted the fireplace to sit flush with the wall, and partway through they chose a 60-inch unit over the 47-inch one first planned. That meant reframing the wall and a change order for the bigger unit. They approved it in writing, and the unit was set in mid October.
The stacked stone surround and an oak mantle, stained to match a plank table the cabinet shop is building for them, come next.
Chapter 4
Outside: a new deck and stairs.
A new composite deck with stairs on three sides went on the back of the house, along with a concrete pad in the yard. The deck stairs were added mid-job as a change order, priced by the foot so the owners could see exactly what each run cost.
What we learned
Nothing is decided until it is in writing.
On this job we made a rule with the owners: a decision counts when it is signed off in our project software by both sides. Anything said on site and not written down is treated as never said. It sounds strict. It is also why the fireplace change went smoothly and the schedule held.
Common questions
What does a main-floor remodel like this cost?+
This one was signed at a fixed price of $327,261 in June 2026 for the kitchen and pantry, the primary bath, new floors and doors, the fireplace and a new deck. The owners added about $37,000 in change orders along the way, like a bigger fireplace, a living room door, deck stairs and a backyard pad.
What is a fixed-price remodel?+
One number for the scope we agreed on, with allowances for the things you pick later, like tile and lights. If you change the scope, it is a written change order you approve first. Nothing moves on its own.
How long does a remodel this size take?+
This job was signed in June 2026, started that summer, and the final walkthrough is set for early November. Cabinets, the big exterior door and the fireplace unit each had lead times of three weeks or more, so the order dates set the schedule.
Why did the fireplace change?+
The owners started with a 47-inch unit and decided they wanted a 60-inch one. We wrote a change order for the difference and the restocking fee, they approved it, and the bigger unit went in. That is how a change should work: on paper, with a price, before the work.
Do you work in Utah County?+
Yes. We serve Pleasant Grove, Lehi, Alpine, Highland, Eagle Mountain and nearby towns from our office in Bluffdale, along with Park City and the Wasatch Back.
Next Step
Planning a main-floor remodel?
We will walk the house with you and give you one fixed number with a list of what is in it, and a list of what is not.
Schedule a ConsultationOr call 435-214-1669