Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations is a licensed, bonded, and insured design-build remodeling company, and the home remodeling contractors Gulf Coast homeowners call when they know the house needs work but have not yet decided where to start.
We design and build kitchens, bathrooms, whole-house renovations, home additions, ADUs, and mother-in-law suites. Every project runs under one contract, so the same team that draws the plan pulls the permit, engineers the structure, and builds the room.
Every project also runs through one dedicated project manager. One point of contact. One transparent fixed price. One firm timeline, with an update on every active work day.
You get an Alabama HBLB licensed residential builder, a BBB-accredited team, a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and a 5.0 average across 160+ Google reviews. Call (251) 305-7282 for a free in-home design consultation anywhere in Mobile County, Baldwin County, or the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
★★★★★ 5.0 on Google · 160+ verified reviews · Free in-home consultation · Licensed, bonded & insured
Home remodeling is the redesign and reconstruction of the rooms, systems, and structure of the house you already own. Most homeowners who search for home remodeling contractors have a list, not a single room, so this page is the front door to every remodeling service we offer.
Pick the project closest to yours below. Each service page goes deeper on scope, cost tiers, timelines, and the code rules that apply to that kind of work on the Alabama coast.
Kitchen remodeling covers everything from a minor refresh in the existing footprint to a full custom kitchen with layout changes, custom cabinetry, quartz counters, and relocated plumbing and electrical. Company pricing runs $15,000 to $135,000 by tier, with 4 to 8 weeks on site for a large kitchen.
Explore kitchen remodeling and cost tiersBathroom remodeling ranges from a new vanity, tile, and fixtures to a full primary bath with a curbless walk-in shower, freestanding tub, and heated floors. Company pricing runs $6,800 to $62,000 by tier, with 3 to 6 weeks on site.
See bathroom remodeling options and pricingWhole-house remodeling reworks several rooms or the entire home at once: open-concept wall removals, new flooring throughout, kitchens and baths, systems, and exterior work under a single schedule. Most whole-home projects run 3 to 6 months on site and benefit most from one contractor owning every trade.
Plan a whole-house remodelA home addition adds permanent square footage, from a primary suite or screened porch to a second story, engineered for 160 mph design wind speeds and current flood rules. Company pricing runs $125 to $250 per square foot, or roughly $34,000 to $170,000 per project, over 2 to 5 months.
Learn about home additions and per-square-foot pricingAn accessory dwelling unit is a fully independent living space on your lot, detached or attached, with its own kitchen, bath, entrance, and address-ready utilities. We handle zoning review, design, permitting, and construction for rental income, family, or resale value.
Read about ADU construction on the Gulf CoastA mother-in-law suite is a private bedroom, bath, and living area, often with a kitchenette, built as an addition, a garage conversion, or a ground-floor reconfiguration for a parent moving in. We design them to universal design standards, with zero-step entries, 36-inch doorways, and grab-bar blocking from the start.
Design a mother-in-law suite"They made my old house into a beautiful home. I really appreciated the way they approached it, it is like they were working on their own home."
A home remodeling contractor is a licensed general contractor who takes responsibility for the design, permitting, structure, trades, and finish of a renovation from the first drawing to the final inspection. A handyman fixes what is there. A remodel contractor changes what is there, and the state of Alabama treats those two jobs very differently.
Wise Builders is a design-build home renovation contractor. That means you sign one contract with one company for design, engineering, permitting, and construction, instead of hiring an architect, then a builder, then refereeing between them when the drawings and the budget disagree.
The Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board requires a residential home builder license for any construction, remodeling, repair, or improvement of a residential structure where the cost of the undertaking exceeds $10,000 in labor and materials. In practice, that covers nearly every kitchen, bathroom, addition, or whole-house project on this page.
An HBLB license means the board has verified experience, financial responsibility, and a passing exam, and it gives you a formal complaint process if something goes wrong. Wise Builders holds Alabama HBLB residential builder license #28471. Ask any remodeling company for their license number and check it on the HBLB website before signing.
"The contract was clear and all work was performed on schedule. A certificate of compliance was issued by a third party after inspection. It is refreshing to find a company like this."
Our home remodeling clients come to us with different houses and different goals. The process scales to every one of them.
A residential renovation contractor earns the fee by holding every moving piece in one schedule. On a typical Wise Builders remodel, your project manager coordinates all of the following.
Design-build is a single-contract delivery method in which one company handles design, engineering, permitting, and construction. It reduces change orders because the people pricing the job are the same people who drew it, and it gives you one accountable name instead of three.
Every Wise Builders remodel follows the same six steps. Your dedicated project manager owns all of them.
We measure the space, look at the existing structure, and listen to how you actually live in the house before we talk numbers. On older homes we also note the foundation type, the roof condition, and any signs of moisture or termite activity, because those shape the budget more than the tile does.
You receive a written scope of work that defines every task, material, allowance, and exclusion, plus a fixed price and schedule. The scope of work is what makes two bids comparable, so keep ours next to any other bid you collect and compare line by line.
We finalize drawings and guide cabinetry, counters, tile, flooring, windows, and fixtures to fit your budget and the coast. Any beam sizing, foundation change, or wind-load design goes to a licensed structural engineer for a PE-stamped drawing, which Mobile and Baldwin County both require on structural work.
Your project manager files the permit with the office that has jurisdiction over your address. Inside Mobile city limits that is the Build Mobile Department (City of Mobile Permitting and Inspections). Unincorporated Mobile County addresses like Theodore go through Mobile County Building Inspection Services.
Unincorporated Baldwin County goes through the Baldwin County Building Inspection Department, and incorporated cities run their own building departments. Historic-district properties inside Mobile need a Certificate of Appropriateness before the permit can be issued, and flood-zone properties may need an Elevation Certificate first.
Demolition starts only after the permit is posted. Your project manager coordinates every trade, schedules every inspection, protects the rest of your home with dust barriers and floor protection, and sends you an update on every active work day.
If demolition uncovers termite damage, rot, or outdated wiring, the fix becomes a written change order you approve before the work happens. The price never moves any other way.
We walk the finished project with you, build the punch list together, complete it, and call for the final inspection. The final milestone payment follows your sign-off, not the other way around, and the 100% satisfaction guarantee stands behind the work.
"Great people, great work and great experience. Great communication by William Fields. Work was done on schedule and exactly as stated. I will use these guys again!"
A remodel is a team sport. These are the roles you will hear from, and what each one is responsible for.
Jim Brock, Graham Brock, Nathan Ivy, John Hagan, and William Fields each own their projects from the first drawing to the final walkthrough. Your project manager writes the schedule, runs the trades, files the permits, and answers the phone.
Any load-bearing wall removal, addition foundation, or roof tie-in needs a stamped engineering drawing. We bring in a licensed Alabama PE for beam sizing, hold-downs, and wind-load design, and we build the engineering cost into the fixed price so it never shows up as a surprise.
Owner Cody stays hands-on with the company he founded in 2022. The office team tracks selections, milestone payments, and change orders.
"Jim Brock is the best project manager ever! He constantly communicated with me about the materials, build and timeline. No stones were unturned! Exceptional work by his team."
A Gulf Coast remodel is a remodel that has to survive 160 mph design wind speeds, mapped flood zones, a hot-humid climate, and the most aggressive termite in North America. A contractor from an inland market can build a beautiful kitchen here and still get the structure, the moisture, and the permit wrong.
This is the section most home remodeling companies leave out. It is also the part of the job that decides whether the work is still sound in fifteen years.
Mobile County publishes an ASCE 7 ultimate design wind speed of 160 mph for Risk Category II homes, and the City of Mobile's Table R301.2 uses 159 mph. That number sets the fastener schedule, the header sizing, and the window ratings on every addition and structural remodel we build.
The City of Mobile enforces the 2021 International Residential Code with a local amendment called the Coastal Construction Code Supplement (CCCS). The CCCS requires sealed roof decks, enhanced shingle attachment, gable-end bracing, a continuous load path, and impact glazing in windborne debris regions.
A continuous load path is the chain of hurricane straps, hold-downs, and anchor bolts that ties the roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation. Inspectors look for Simpson Strong-Tie connectors the moment framing is opened, and any addition or wall removal on the coast has to complete that chain rather than break it.
Because Wise Builders is also a FORTIFIED roofing contractor, a whole-house remodel or addition is the natural time to bring the roof to the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof, Silver, or Gold standard.
Alabama insurers reward FORTIFIED homes with wind premium discounts of up to 35% in coastal counties, which is why we bring it up on almost every consultation.
An Elevation Certificate is a FEMA form a licensed surveyor completes documenting the height of your lowest floor against the base flood elevation. Mobile County and Baldwin County both ask for one on many flood-zone renovations, and we order it early so it never holds up the permit.
If the cost of a remodel reaches 50% of the home's market value in a flood zone, FEMA and NFIP rules require the whole home to be brought up to base flood elevation plus local freeboard. That can turn a $90,000 renovation into a house-lifting project, so we run the substantial improvement math during the estimate, not after demolition.
Raised Gulf Coast homes on pier foundations breathe humid air through a vented crawl space all summer. Crawl space encapsulation, sealing the floor and walls and conditioning the air, controls the mold, rot, and cupped hardwood floors we see on nearly every older raised home we open up.
We plan for it. Every estimate on an older coastal home carries a contingency line, and we inspect sills, rim joists, and bottom plates the day the drywall comes off so you hear about it that afternoon.
Many of those homes are Creole cottages and raised cottages, with pier foundations, deep porches, and hipped roofs. They call for a different renovation approach than a slab ranch: leveling piers, sistering joists, and matching original trim profiles instead of replacing everything with new stock.
Pre-1980s homes can also hide asbestos in 9-inch floor tile, tile mastic, popcorn ceilings, and cement siding. Those materials are tested and, if positive, abated by a licensed abatement contractor before our demolition crew touches the room.
"Wise Builders recently renovated our bathroom (floor, walls, ceiling, trim, vanity, vent, outlets) and did a fantastic job! Not one time did I have to ask them to go back and fix something that was not right. They were also very helpful in finding the best solution when we encountered some unforeseen issues."
The most common remodeling request on the Alabama coast is opening a closed floor plan, followed by aging-in-place bathrooms, primary suite additions, and screened outdoor living. Here is how each one usually goes, and what it takes structurally.
| Project | What It Usually Involves | Permit and Engineering | Typical On-Site Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open-concept floor plan | Removing one or two load-bearing walls, new LVL beam, relocated electrical, new flooring to blend rooms | Building permit, PE-stamped beam design, framing inspection | 3 to 8 weeks |
| Mid-century brick ranch update | Galley kitchen opened, windows replaced, baths reworked, electrical panel and plumbing brought to code | Building, electrical, plumbing permits | 2 to 4 months |
| Aging-in-place bathroom | Curbless shower, 36-inch doorway, grab-bar blocking, comfort-height toilet, lever handles | Plumbing and building permit | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Primary suite addition | New bedroom, bath, and closet on a new foundation tied into the existing roofline | Building permit, stamped foundation and wind-load engineering, flood review | 2 to 5 months |
| Screened porch or covered lanai | Engineered roof tie-in, screened enclosure, fans, outdoor kitchen rough-ins | Building permit, roof connection engineering | 3 to 8 weeks |
| Mother-in-law suite or ADU | Separate bed, bath, kitchen or kitchenette, own entrance, zoning review | Building permit plus zoning and utility review | 2 to 6 months |
That combination is what separates a licensed remodeler from a handyman. An LVL beam sized by a structural engineer, set on properly bearing posts with a load path to the foundation, is a permanent change to the structure. A sagging ceiling two years later is the alternative.
The curbless walk-in shower is the most requested bathroom feature on the coast and the core aging-in-place upgrade. It depends on a precisely sloped subfloor, a linear drain, and a fully waterproofed pan, which is why it belongs with a licensed contractor rather than a tile-only crew.
Wise Builders is a registered VA Specially Adapted Housing and Special Housing Adaptation grant contractor. Eligible veterans use those grants for ramps, roll-in showers, widened doorways, and ground-floor bedroom and bath additions.
"We have worked with many contractors and this is the first company where work went smooth and there was no issues with the workmanship. Repaired everything the way it should be, no cutting corners."
"Wise Builders recently completed a major renovation on my home through a VA Special Adaptive Housing grant, including ramps, a roll-in shower, and expanded doorways. From the very beginning, Jim Brock, the project manager, was outstanding."
The right material for a coastal remodel is the one that tolerates humidity, salt air, wind, and the occasional wet floor without complaint. Style still matters, but on this coast durability is the first filter and looks are the second.
| Category | Common Choice Inland | What We Recommend on the Coast | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Standard double-pane | Impact-resistant windows rated to Miami-Dade or ASTM E1996 | Required by Mobile's CCCS in windborne debris regions; earns FORTIFIED Gold credit |
| Flooring | Site-finished hardwood | Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or porcelain tile | Tolerates humidity swings and minor flooding; hardwood cups in unconditioned crawl-space homes |
| Countertops | Laminate or granite | Quartz (Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone) | Leads NKBA surveys as the most-specified countertop; nonporous, no sealing |
| Siding | Vinyl or wood lap | James Hardie fiber cement, HZ10 product line | Engineered for hot-humid, hurricane-prone climates; resists termites, rot, and moisture |
| Framing connectors | Toe-nailed rafters | Simpson Strong-Tie hurricane straps, clips, and hold-downs | Completes the continuous load path inspectors check |
| Insulation and vapor control | Interior vapor barrier | Zone 2A detailing with exterior moisture control and closed-cell foam where needed | Keeps moisture out of the wall in a hot-humid climate |
| Fixtures | Whatever the supply house stocks | Kohler, Moen, and Delta within a written allowance | Brands you can research by name and price against your allowance |
Home remodeling costs on the Gulf Coast run from about $6,800 for a minor bathroom to well over $135,000 for a full custom kitchen, with additions priced by the square foot. The figures below are Wise Builders company ranges, followed by national benchmarks for context. Your free in-home consultation replaces both with one fixed number.
| Project | Typical Range | On-Site Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel (full range) | $15,000 to $135,000 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Kitchen remodel (minor) | $15,000 to $25,000 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kitchen remodel (mid-range) | $16,000 to $30,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Kitchen remodel (major) | $42,000 to $62,000 | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Kitchen remodel (luxury, full custom) | $62,000 to $135,000 | 8 weeks or more |
| Bathroom remodel (full range) | $6,800 to $62,000 | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Bathroom remodel (minor) | $6,800 to $12,200 | 3 weeks |
| Bathroom remodel (mid-range) | $16,000 to $32,000 | 4 weeks |
| Bathroom remodel (major) | $42,000 to $62,000 | 6 weeks |
| Home addition (per square foot) | $125 to $250 per sq ft | 2 to 5 months |
| Home addition (typical project) | $34,000 to $170,000 | 2 to 5 months |
| Whole-house remodel | Scope-based, quoted after consultation | 3 to 6 months |
Zonda's 2025 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report tracks the national average cost of common projects and how much of that cost a home recoups at resale. The projects with the highest return are almost all exterior, which is worth knowing before you set a whole-house budget.
| Project (National, Zonda 2025) | National Average Cost | Cost Recouped at Resale |
|---|---|---|
| Garage door replacement | $4,672 | 267.7% |
| Steel entry door replacement | $2,435 | 216.4% |
| Manufactured stone veneer | $11,702 | 207.9% |
| Minor kitchen remodel (midrange) | $28,458 | 112.9% |
| Curbless shower, aging-in-place bath | National sources: HomeGuide and Angi place mid-range bathrooms near $10,000 to $30,000 | Varies by market |
The minor kitchen remodel is the only interior project in Zonda's top five. Zonda defines it as cabinet refacing, new counters, appliances, flooring, and paint within the existing footprint, which lines up with our $15,000 to $25,000 minor kitchen tier.
Three line items explain most of the gap between a remodeling bid and the final invoice. We put all three in writing before demolition.
A contingency budget is a reserve, usually 10 to 20% of the project cost, held for unforeseen conditions. On a 1965 raised cottage near the bay we recommend the high end, because termite damage, rot, and cloth wiring are likely rather than possible.
A bid built on low allowances looks cheaper on paper and costs more in the showroom. Our scope of work states each allowance in dollars, and you can convert any allowance to a fixed selection before signing.
A change order is a written amendment to the scope and price that you approve before the work happens. The most common triggers on the coast are hidden termite damage, rot, and outdated wiring found during demolition, and every one of them is priced and signed before a nail goes in.
"Wise Builders stand by their work! My husband and I had a two car garage addition and patio added to our home by another contractor. We called Wise Builders to remediate the problem, and the owner Cody came out personally to check things out. We were very happy with the work. I would not hesitate to call Wise Builders again."
Financing a remodel means matching the project to the funding tool that fits your equity, your timeline, and your home. Wise Builders offers financing, and we also help homeowners line up the outside programs below.
| Option | Best For | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Wise Builders financing | Kitchens, baths, and additions that should start this season | Ask about current terms during your free consultation |
| HELOC or home equity loan | Mid-size remodels for owners with equity | Most common funding source; interest may be deductible when the loan substantially improves the home (confirm with your tax advisor) |
| FHA 203(k) renovation loan | Buying or refinancing a fixer-upper | Rolls remodel costs into the mortgage; requires a licensed contractor and a detailed, itemized bid |
| Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation | Conventional borrowers renovating at purchase or refinance | Similar to 203(k) with conventional underwriting; luxury items and additions allowed |
| Strengthen Alabama Homes grant | Owner-occupied single-family homes needing a FORTIFIED Roof | Alabama Department of Insurance pays up to $10,000 toward a FORTIFIED Roof; no income limit; application windows open by county, and Mobile and Baldwin have been included |
| VA SAH and SHA grants | Eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities | Funds accessibility modifications; Wise Builders is a registered grant contractor |
| FORTIFIED insurance discount | Any home reaching FORTIFIED Roof, Silver, or Gold | Alabama insurers offer wind premium discounts up to 35% in coastal counties |
A home equity line of credit lets you draw funds as milestones come due, which matches the way a remodel is actually paid for. Interest on home equity debt may be deductible when the money is used to buy, build, or substantially improve the home securing the loan, so keep your scope of work and invoices for your tax preparer.
An FHA 203(k) loan finances the purchase or refinance of a home plus the cost of renovating it in one mortgage. Lenders require a licensed contractor and a detailed bid, and our written scope of work is built to satisfy a 203(k) consultant on the first pass. Fannie Mae's HomeStyle Renovation loan does the same job on the conventional side.
The Strengthen Alabama Homes program, run by the Alabama Department of Insurance, pays up to $10,000 toward a FORTIFIED Roof on an owner-occupied single-family home, with no income limit. Grants open in application windows by county, and Mobile and Baldwin homeowners have been eligible in past rounds.
Pair the grant with the insurer wind discount and the roof often pays for itself inside a few premium cycles.
Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations was established in 2022 around one observation: the remodeling was rarely the hard part for homeowners. The not knowing was. So we built the company backward from that problem.
You get the same dedicated project manager from the first drawing to the final walkthrough. Jim Brock, Graham Brock, Nathan Ivy, John Hagan, and William Fields handle the scheduling, the trades, and the paperwork, and you get an update on every active work day.
Your estimate is a firm number locked before demolition, with scope, materials, allowances, and schedule settled first. We collect a 50% deposit tied in writing to specific work and materials, and the balance follows written milestones you approve as the work is completed.
You know your start date, your milestones, and your finish date on day one, with permit review time already built in. Then we run a comprehensive final walkthrough and keep working until you sign off.
"Graham Brock and Wise Builders are incredible! Truly some of the most honest, caring, and professional people I have encountered. Highly recommend."
Trust in remodeling is earned with paperwork, not promises. Here is what stands behind the Wise Builders name.
| Credential | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Alabama HBLB Residential Builder License #28471 | State-verified experience and financial responsibility, plus a formal complaint process |
| Bonded and Insured GC | General liability and workers' compensation certificates available on request |
| BBB Accredited | Verified track record and formal complaint resolution |
| Atlas Pro Certified | Manufacturer-backed material and workmanship standards |
| FORTIFIED Roofing Contractor | Roof upgrades that qualify for Alabama insurer wind discounts |
| VA SAH / SHA Contractor | Registered to complete VA accessibility grant work |
| Two Local Offices | Physical addresses in Theodore and Foley, not a truck that leaves after storm season |
| 5.0 Rating, 160+ Reviews | Real, verifiable proof across Google, Facebook, and Nextdoor |
| 100% Satisfaction Guarantee | We make it right before we call the job done |
An HBLB license does not guarantee a contractor is insured. Before you sign with anyone, including us, ask for the following and read every page.
You will see industry credentials on many remodeling company websites, and they are worth understanding. NARI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, issues the Certified Remodeler and CKBR designations. NAHB Remodelers issues the CGR and CAPS designations, and the Home Builders Association of Alabama is an NAHB affiliate.
The NKBA publishes kitchen and bath planning guidelines and annual trend reports. Wise Builders builds to the NKBA planning guidelines and the CAPS universal design framework, and holds the state license, bond, insurance, and BBB accreditation listed above.
"I highly recommend Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations for their extremely professional service from start to finish. If I could give six stars I would."
Wise Builders holds a 5.0 average rating across 160+ Google reviews, plus 5-star ratings on Facebook, Nextdoor, and Trust Index. The reviews are real, named, and verifiable, and we place them beside the work they describe throughout this page.
"Nathan was timely and very communicative. Definitely listens, understands and is the most helpful and knowledgeable for your needs or project."
"Wise Builders, a great business and even better people. They were a godsend, and I will be forever grateful."
"I recently used Wise Builders and had such a fantastic experience! William went above and beyond to ensure all of my expectations were met and timely. I will be recommending them to everyone I know and using them for all future projects!"
Wise Builders runs the same process, the same project managers, and the same fixed-price contract out of two offices. Whichever side of the bay you live on, you get a local address and a team that has worked this coast since 2022.
From Theodore we cover the west side of the bay to the Mississippi line, with the same project managers and the same process as the Foley office.
Service areas include Mobile, Theodore, Tillmans Corner, Dawes, Irvington, St. Elmo, Semmes, Eight Mile, Prichard, Chickasaw, Saraland, Grand Bay, Coden, Satsuma, Creola, Wilmer, Axis, Mount Vernon, Citronelle, Bayou La Batre, and Dauphin Island.
We also serve the Mississippi Gulf Coast: Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Biloxi, and Gulfport.
From Foley we cover the Eastern Shore and South Baldwin County with the same project managers and the same process.
Service areas include Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Elberta, Summerdale, Robertsdale, Loxley, Silverhill, Magnolia Springs, Bon Secour, Fairhope, Point Clear, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Lillian, Perdido Beach, Josephine, Fort Morgan, Ono Island, and Seminole.
Not sure which office is closer? Call either number and we will route your consultation to the right project manager in one conversation.
Yes, on any project over $10,000. The Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board requires a residential home builder license for construction, remodeling, repair, or improvement of a residential structure when the cost of the undertaking exceeds $10,000 in labor and materials. Wise Builders holds HBLB license #28471.
Wise Builders kitchen remodels run $15,000 to $135,000 by tier, bathrooms $6,800 to $62,000, and additions $125 to $250 per square foot, or roughly $34,000 to $170,000 per project. Nationally, Zonda's 2025 report puts a minor kitchen remodel at $28,458. Your free in-home consultation replaces every range with one fixed number.
A large kitchen takes 4 to 8 weeks on site, a full bathroom 3 to 6 weeks, an addition 2 to 5 months, and a whole-house remodel 3 to 6 months. Your project manager gives you a firm timeline in writing with permit review already built in.
We do. Inside Mobile city limits the permit goes through Build Mobile. Unincorporated Mobile County addresses go through Mobile County Building Inspection Services, unincorporated Baldwin County through the Baldwin County Building Inspection Department, and incorporated cities through their own building departments.
Baldwin County adopted the 2024 IRC, IBC, IPC, and IMC and the 2023 NEC by Resolution 2025-067 in March 2025, so Baldwin remodels are inspected against newer code editions than the 2021 IRC the City of Mobile enforces. Your project manager designs to whichever edition applies.
A remodel in a FEMA Zone AE or VE lot may need an Elevation Certificate before permitting. If the remodel cost reaches 50% of the home's market value, the substantial improvement rule requires the whole home to be brought to base flood elevation plus freeboard, so we run that math during the estimate.
If your home is inside one of Mobile's seven locally designated historic districts, any exterior change needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from Mobile Historic Development Commission staff or the Architectural Review Board before a permit can be issued. We prepare and file that application as part of the permitting step.
Compare the scope of work, not the total. Check that both bids include the same tasks, the same allowance figures in dollars, engineering, permits, and a contingency, and that both contractors are HBLB licensed and insured. Most large gaps come from one bid carrying lower allowances or leaving engineering and permits out.
A change order is a written amendment to scope and price that you approve before the work happens. On the coast the usual triggers are termite damage, rot, or outdated wiring found during demolition. We inspect for those the day the walls open, price the fix, and get your signature before proceeding.
In most cases, yes. We remodel occupied homes every week using phased sequencing, zippered dust barriers, floor protection, and daily cleanup, so your family keeps living at home while the work moves forward.
Your remodel starts with one free conversation and one written, fixed estimate. There is nothing to pay and nothing to sign to find out what your kitchen, bathroom, addition, ADU, or whole-house project would really take.
Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations brings a dedicated project manager, an Alabama HBLB license, and a 5.0 rating across 160+ reviews to every project on both sides of the bay.
Call our Mobile headquarters at (251) 305-7282 or our Foley office at (251) 270-5270, or request your free in-home design consultation below.
Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations, 6215 Rangeline Rd #105, Theodore, AL 36582 and 105 W Camphor Ave #100A, Foley, AL 36535, serving the Alabama Gulf Coast since 2022.
"William is great to work with. Wise Builders are extremely thorough and professional. Everything was done exactly how and when they said it would be. A++++"