Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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Before
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Before
AfterHow Much Does Construction Cost in Santa Ana?
Most construction projects in Santa Ana fall between $14,000 and $45,000 for a kitchen remodel and $9,000 to $28,000 for a bathroom, while larger work like a home addition runs $45,000 – $130,000. An ADU (accessory dwelling unit, a secondary home on your lot) typically costs $90,000 – $220,000 depending on size and site conditions. The single biggest driver of your final number is scope: what’s being built, what’s being moved, and what the permit office requires before we can start.
We’re Penhallow Remodeling, and we work on homes across Santa Ana – from the older bungalows near French Park to mid-century houses off Bristol and new builds out toward South Coast Metro. Before any work starts, you get a written price. Not a range, not a verbal ballpark. A number you can hold us to. That’s the Kingswell standard, and it’s been the way we operate since 2004.
Key Takeaways
- Kitchen remodels: $14,000 – $45,000. Small kitchens: $9,000 – $20,000.
- Bathroom remodels: $9,000 – $28,000. Small bathrooms: $5,000 – $12,000.
- Additions: $45,000 – $130,000. ADUs: $90,000 – $220,000.
- Santa Ana’s older housing stock (much of it built before 1960) often hides plumbing, wiring, or foundation surprises behind the walls.
- Every Penhallow project comes with a written price before work begins and our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Construction Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what homeowners in Santa Ana are actually paying for the projects we handle most. These ranges reflect real market pricing for 2026, including labor, standard materials, and typical permit costs.
| Project | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Small Kitchen Remodel | $9,000 – $20,000 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $14,000 – $45,000 |
| Cabinet Installation | $4,000 – $13,000 |
| Countertop Installation | $2,000 – $6,500 |
| Backsplash Installation | $800 – $2,500 |
| Kitchen Island Installation | $3,000 – $10,000 |
| Small Bathroom Remodel | $5,000 – $12,000 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $9,000 – $28,000 |
| Walk-In Shower Installation | $4,500 – $12,000 |
| Tub-to-Shower Conversion | $3,500 – $10,000 |
| Shower Replacement | $3,000 – $8,500 |
| Bathroom Vanity Installation | $800 – $3,000 |
| Home Addition | $45,000 – $130,000 |
| ADU Construction | $90,000 – $220,000 |
| Garage Conversion | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Roof Replacement | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| Roof Repair | $400 – $1,800 |
| Metal Roof Installation | $15,000 – $40,000 |
| Tile Roof Repair | $600 – $2,500 |
| Window Replacement | $4,500 – $15,000 |
| Impact Window Installation | $8,000 – $25,000 |
| Concrete Driveway Installation | $4,500 – $12,000 |
| Paver Driveway Installation | $7,000 – $18,000 |
| Asphalt Driveway Paving | $3,500 – $9,000 |
| Driveway Replacement | $5,000 – $14,000 |
| Driveway Sealing | $250 – $700 |
| Paver Patio Installation | $3,500 – $11,000 |
| Vinyl Fence Installation | $3,500 – $9,000 |
| Aluminum Fence Installation | $4,000 – $10,000 |
What pushes a project toward the top of its range? Three things, mostly. First, the condition behind the walls. In Santa Ana, a lot of homes were built between the 1920s and 1950s, and we regularly find galvanized steel plumbing that’s corroded shut or two-prong outlets with no ground wire. That’s not a surprise we spring on you mid-job; it’s part of what we assess before the written price goes out. Second, material choices. KraftMaid or Wellborn cabinetry, Cambria quartz versus a basic laminate, Kohler versus a builder-grade fixture – each step up changes the number. Third, whether we’re moving walls, sinks, or gas lines, since relocating anything rough-in costs more than replacing it in place.
One thing worth saying plainly: a kitchen at the bottom of the range and a kitchen at the top can look similar in photos. The difference is what’s underneath. Cement board substrate (the moisture-resistant layer behind your tile), proper waterproofing in a shower, real ventilation behind a range – these add cost and they’re the reason a cheap job fails six weeks after the check clears.
What Affects Construction Pricing in Santa Ana
- Age of the home. Santa Ana has a deep inventory of pre-1960 houses, especially in neighborhoods like Wilshire Square and Lacy. Older homes mean knob-and-tube wiring, original cast iron drains, and sometimes unpermitted past work that has to be corrected before we can pull a new permit.
- Permit and plan check requirements. The City of Santa Ana requires permits for structural changes, additions, electrical panel upgrades, and most plumbing relocations. Additions and ADUs go through plan check, which adds time and a fee. We handle the paperwork, but it’s a real cost line on any project that changes the footprint.
- Soil and site access. Parts of Santa Ana sit on expansive clay soil that moves with our wet-dry seasons. Foundations for additions in those areas need deeper footings or post-tension slabs, which adds cost. Tight alley access behind some downtown-adjacent lots also means smaller equipment and more hand labor.
- Coastal influence on materials. Even six miles inland, the marine layer carries salt and moisture that punish cheap exterior finishes. James Hardie siding and properly flashed windows hold up here in a way that builder-grade wood trim simply doesn’t.
- Scope of the rough-in. Moving a kitchen sink across the room or relocating a bathroom drain changes the plumbing scope entirely. Keeping fixtures in place is the single easiest way to control cost.
- Material grade. Quartz countertops from Cambria or Silestone, Toto or Grohe fixtures, and semi-custom cabinetry all sit at a higher price point than stock alternatives – and they carry their own manufacturer warranties alongside ours.
If you want a sense of how these factors play out across the region, our home page walks through the full range of remodel services we offer and how we approach each one.
How to Save on Construction Without Cutting Corners
There are honest ways to bring a Santa Ana project down and dishonest ways. Here are the ones that don’t come back to bite you.
- Keep the plumbing and gas where they are. Relocating a sink, toilet, or range means new supply lines, new drains, and often a permit. Keeping fixtures in place can save thousands on a kitchen or bath.
- Choose semi-custom cabinets over full custom. KraftMaid and Wellborn both offer semi-custom lines that fit standard and slightly irregular spaces without the custom price tag. The difference in lead time and cost is real.
- Phase the work. If you’re planning a kitchen and a bathroom, doing one now and one next year spreads the cost and lets you live in the house while it happens. We write separate prices for each phase.
- Handle the permit yourself if you’re comfortable. We’ll pull permits when you want us to, but some homeowners prefer to file directly with the City of Santa Ana. It saves the markup, though it does put the timeline in your hands.
- Get the written price before demo day. This is the biggest one. A verbal estimate that grows after the walls come down is where budgets actually break. We give you a written number up front, and if we find something unexpected behind the walls, we show you before we touch it.
Free estimates are always available. Call (936) 259-2607 and a real person answers – day or night, no voicemail maze, no callback window.
Why Santa Ana Homeowners Choose a Written Price
Most of the homeowners we meet have been burned before. A contractor who never showed. A price that ballooned after demo. A shower that started leaking a month after the crew left. We hear these stories every week, and they’re the reason we operate the way we do.
Every Penhallow project comes with a written price before any work starts. Not an estimate range, not a verbal ballpark – a written number you can hold us to. Every job also comes with our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work fails inside that year, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s in writing on every project. If a repair fails, the second visit is free – no service call fee, no re-inspection charge.
Our technicians are background-checked and arrive in uniform, so you know exactly who’s walking into your home. And we source materials from brands that stand behind their products – KraftMaid and Wellborn cabinetry, Cambria, Silestone, and Caesarstone countertops, Kohler and Moen fixtures, James Hardie siding. Those manufacturers carry their own warranties, which stack on top of ours. Two layers of protection instead of one.
We’re part of the Kingswell family of companies, operating to The Kingswell Way since 2004: say the price before the work, show up in the window we gave, and leave the place cleaner than we found it. Each location is independently owned and operated. Trevor Nash leads our team, and he’s the one whose name is on the guarantee.
FAQs – Construction Cost in Santa Ana
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Santa Ana?
A full kitchen remodel in Santa Ana runs $14,000 – $45,000, while a small kitchen typically costs $9,000 – $20,000. Cabinet installation alone is $4,000 – $13,000, countertops $2,000 – $6,500, and a backsplash $800 – $2,500. The range depends mostly on whether you’re moving plumbing and what cabinet and countertop lines you choose. Call (936) 259-2607 for a written price on your specific kitchen – estimates are free.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a roof in Santa Ana?
Repair is almost always cheaper in the short term: a roof repair in Santa Ana runs $400 – $1,800, while a full replacement is $8,000 – $20,000. If the damage is isolated to a few tiles or shingles after a wind event, repair makes sense. If the roof is past 20 years old or leaking in multiple spots, replacement is the better long-term call. A metal roof runs $15,000 – $40,000 and lasts far longer. Call (936) 259-2607 and we’ll tell you honestly which one you need.
Can you build an ADU or garage conversion in Santa Ana?
Yes. ADU construction in Santa Ana typically costs $90,000 – $220,000, and a garage conversion runs $30,000 – $80,000. The wide range comes down to size, whether you’re adding a full kitchen and bathroom, and site conditions like soil and utility access. ADUs require plan check through the City of Santa Ana, and we handle that process. Call (936) 259-2607 for a written estimate.
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Santa Ana?
A full bathroom remodel in Santa Ana ranges from $9,000 to $28,000, and a small bathroom runs $5,000 – $12,000. A walk-in shower installation is $4,500 – $12,000, a tub-to-shower conversion $3,500 – $10,000, and a new vanity $800 – $3,000. The biggest cost swing comes from whether you’re moving the drain and supply lines. Call (936) 259-2607 for an exact number before any tile gets set.
How much does a home addition cost in Santa Ana?
A home addition in Santa Ana costs $45,000 – $130,000 depending on square footage, foundation requirements, and how much of the existing structure has to be opened up. Additions always require permits and plan check with the City of Santa Ana, and homes on expansive clay soil may need deeper footings. Call (936) 259-2607 for a free estimate and a written price before work starts.
Get Your Written Price Before Work Starts
If you’re planning a kitchen, bathroom, addition, or ADU in Santa Ana, the number you want is the number you can hold us to. We’ll come out, look at the actual conditions of your home, and put a written price in your hands before a single cabinet is pulled or tile is set. A live person answers the phone 24/7, so you’re never stuck in a voicemail loop waiting on a callback.
Call (936) 259-2607 for a free estimate. We’ll tell you what your project costs in Santa Ana, in writing, and back it with the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Related Services
Most Santa Ana construction projects touch more than one trade, so here are the guides homeowners ask us for most. If you’re weighing a kitchen against a bath, start with our Santa Ana kitchen remodel page or our bathroom remodel guide. For exterior work, see roof replacement in Santa Ana, window replacement, and driveway installation. If you’re expanding your footprint, look at home additions, ADU construction, and garage conversions. For adjacent markets, we serve homeowners in Irvine, Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Tustin. And for a closer look at cabinet and countertop choices, see our guides to cabinet installation and countertop installation.
Pricing reflects the Santa Ana market as of 2026. Penhallow Remodeling offers free estimates – call (936) 259-2607. Written by Trevor Nash, Owner at Penhallow Remodeling, serving Santa Ana homeowners under the Kingswell standard since 2004.
What Our Customers Say
"Did our whole kitchen. The written estimate held, which after reading remodel nightmares online I did not take for granted. Showed up every morning on time and the crew was clean and polite."
- Warren Updike"We'd been burned by a contractor before who disappeared halfway. Penhallow finished on time and stood behind everything. The written price gave me peace of mind the whole way."
- Simone Clarke"Gutted and redid the master bath. They gave me a schedule and actually stuck to it. Any time there was a choice to make they called me instead of guessing. Love the result."
- Kayla Benton