Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
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Home remodeling in Malibu runs $45,000 – $130,000 for whole-home projects, with most substantial jobs falling between $60,000 and $90,000 once Coastal Commission permitting and WUI fire-code compliance are factored in. We’re Penhallow Remodeling, and we handle home remodeling across Malibu’s uniquely challenging terrain, from post-Woolsey Fire rebuilds on hillside pads to full-gut renovations of 1960s beach cottages on piling foundations. Our crews serve Malibu locally, with dispatch and scheduling coordinated from our Los Angeles office. Call (936) 259-2607 to schedule your free estimate.
Why Malibu Homes Are Different
Virtually all of Malibu falls within the California Coastal Commission’s jurisdiction, meaning nearly every construction project, from a deck addition to a complete teardown-rebuild, requires a Coastal Development Permit layered on top of standard permits. This bureaucratic hurdle can add months and tens of thousands of dollars to a job. Simultaneously, the entire city sits in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, forcing contractors to satisfy strict Wildland-Urban Interface fire-resistant construction codes. These two regulatory regimes frequently conflict, as defensible-space clearing the fire marshal demands can clash with native-vegetation protections the Coastal Commission enforces.
Malibu’s housing stock runs from 1940s – 60s beach cottages in close-knit enclaves like the Malibu Colony, many on piling or post foundations directly over sand, to steep-lot custom homes cantilevered into the Santa Monica Mountains on engineered hillside pads. The Woolsey Fire incinerated roughly 500 Malibu structures in 2018, so a significant share of current work involves rebuilding to modern WUI and seismic codes on lots where original infrastructure was also destroyed. Seasonal Santa Ana wind events drove the city to adopt some of the strictest ember-resistant vent, Class A roofing, and non-combustible cladding requirements in California. Beachfront and bluff-edge properties additionally contend with salt-spray corrosion, coastal bluff retreat, and wave uprush, requiring marine-grade fasteners, treated lumber, and sometimes re-engineered foundations as bluff faces erode.
Large portions of Malibu, including Point Dume, Topanga Canyon, and hillside neighborhoods above PCH, have no municipal sewer connection. Adding even one bedroom or expanding livable square footage can legally trigger a full Title 5-equivalent septic system evaluation and potentially a costly system upgrade or relocation, a constraint that doesn’t exist for contractors doing equivalent work just a few miles east in Pacific Palisades or Santa Monica.
Our Main Malibu Services
Malibu homeowners call us most often for full-project oversight and the two rooms that drive resale value in this market. Here’s what each service involves locally.
General Contractor in Malibu
We coordinate permitting, subcontractor scheduling, and inspections for Malibu projects where the Coastal Development Permit process alone can stretch six to fourteen months. Our team navigates the dual-track approval system, fire marshal inspections, and septic evaluations that hillside and canyon properties require. We pull every permit and pass every inspection before final payment is due. General Contractor in Malibu
Bathroom Remodeling in Malibu
Coastal humidity and salt air corrode standard fixtures faster here than inland, so we specify Kohler and Moen marine-grade finishes and cement board substrate behind every tile installation. On properties without sewer service, we assess septic capacity before expanding bathroom square footage or adding fixtures. Our written price covers permit-ready drawings, material selection, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise. Bathroom Remodeling in Malibu
Kitchen Remodeling in Malibu
We replace fire-damaged kitchens from the Woolsey Fire rebuilds and update original 1960s galley layouts in Malibu Colony cottages where space is tight and ventilation must meet WUI standards. Our cabinet lines include KraftMaid and Wellborn, with Cambria, Silestone, and Caesarstone countertops specified for heat resistance and low maintenance in coastal conditions. Every kitchen gets a written price before demolition starts. Kitchen Remodeling in Malibu
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Home Remodeling in Malibu
Home remodeling in Malibu demands contractors who understand the intersection of Coastal Commission oversight, WUI fire codes, and seismic retrofit requirements that don’t apply to standard suburban renovation. We rebuild fire-damaged structures to current code, update 1940s – 60s cottages on compromised piling foundations, and expand hillside homes where septic capacity, not just square footage, determines what’s legally possible. Our home remodeling process starts with a written assessment of your property’s specific constraints, followed by a fixed price that accounts for permit timelines, material lead times, and the specialized labor coastal conditions require.
Whole House Remodel
Signs you need it
Your home has unreinforced masonry from the pre-1970s building era, sustained structural damage in the Woolsey Fire, or you’re combining a fire rebuild with a layout reconfiguration that triggers full current-code compliance.
What it costs in Malibu
Whole house remodels in Malibu typically run $45,000 – $130,000, with most comprehensive projects landing between $60,000 and $90,000 after Coastal Commission fees, WUI-compliant materials, and septic engineering are included.
How we do it
We begin with geotechnical and septic assessments where needed, file the Coastal Development Permit concurrently with city plans, then sequence structural, MEP, and finish work around inspection milestones that keep the project on its written timeline.
Home Renovation
Signs you need it
Your kitchen and bathrooms function but feel dated, your floor plan wastes square footage on a narrow beachfront lot, or you’re preparing a rental property for Malibu’s competitive seasonal market.
What it costs in Malibu
Targeted home renovations in Malibu typically range from $25,000 to $75,000 depending on which systems stay in place, with kitchen and bathroom renovations representing the largest single components at $14,000 – $45,000 and $9,000 – $28,000 respectively.
How we do it
We identify which walls are structural versus cosmetic, specify materials that meet coastal corrosion and fire-resistance standards, and phase construction to keep critical rooms functional for owners who remain in residence during work.
What Home Remodeling Costs in Malibu
| Item | Typical range in Malibu |
|---|---|
| Kitchen Remodel | $14,000 – $45,000 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $9,000 – $28,000 |
| Home Addition | $45,000 – $130,000 |
How long does a whole house remodel take in Malibu?
Most whole house remodels take 8 to 14 months in Malibu, with 3 to 6 months of that consumed by Coastal Development Permit and city plan-check processes before construction can begin. We file permits immediately after you approve our written price, and we don’t start demolition until every approval is in hand. Call (936) 259-2607 for a timeline specific to your property.
Will the price change once work starts?
No. Our written price is fixed. The only way the number changes is if you request a change order in writing, and even then we quote the revision before any additional work proceeds. This is The Kingswell Way: say the price before the work, show up in the window we gave, leave the place cleaner than we found it.
Brands We Service in Malibu
We install and service products from Abodu, Cover, and Mighty Buildings for Malibu homeowners exploring prefabricated and modular additions that can reduce on-site construction time in fire-rebuild scenarios. Our warehouse stocks Kohler, Moen, and James Hardie materials for faster turnaround on warranty calls. our brands
Pricing for Remodeling Company in Malibu, CA
| Service | Typical range in Malibu |
|---|---|
| Kitchen Remodel | $14,000 – $45,000 |
| Small Kitchen Remodel | $9,000 – $20,000 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $9,000 – $28,000 |
| Small Bathroom Remodel | $5,000 – $12,000 |
| Walk-In Shower Installation | $4,500 – $12,000 |
| Tub-to-Shower Conversion | $3,500 – $10,000 |
| Home Addition | $45,000 – $130,000 |
| ADU Construction | $90,000 – $220,000 |
| Garage Conversion | $30,000 – $80,000 |
| Roof Replacement | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| Impact Window Installation | $8,000 – $25,000 |
| Window Replacement | $4,500 – $15,000 |
Prices in Malibu run higher than Los Angeles Basin averages because of Coastal Commission permit fees, WUI-compliant material upgrades, marine-grade hardware specifications, and septic engineering that flatland projects don’t require. Every homeowner receives a written price before any work starts, so the number on day one is the number on the invoice.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Malibu
Our crews work across Malibu’s full length, from the Colony to Point Dume, with scheduling coordinated to minimize PCH transit delays during peak hours. Most Malibu properties receive an initial site visit within two business days of calling.
- Malibu Colony
- Point Dume
- Topanga Canyon
- Carbon Beach
- Big Rock Drive area
Service Area – Cities Near Malibu
We also serve homeowners in Agoura Hills, CA, Westlake Village, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA, and Calabasas, CA. These inland communities share Malibu’s hillside terrain and WUI fire-code requirements but typically avoid Coastal Commission permitting, which can shorten project timelines for equivalent scope.
Serving Malibu, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Malibu area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Remodeling Company in Malibu
Yes. We file and track every permit, including the Coastal Development Permit that most Malibu projects require, and we don’t start work until approvals are in hand. Our written price includes permit fees for standard city review; Coastal Commission fees are quoted separately based on project scope.
If your home is in Point Dume, Topanga Canyon, or hillside neighborhoods above PCH, you likely have no sewer connection. Adding bedrooms or habitable square footage triggers a Title 5-equivalent septic evaluation. We arrange this assessment during our initial site visit and include any required system upgrade in your written price.
Yes. We’ve rebuilt multiple Woolsey Fire-damaged homes where owners wanted the original beach-cottage or mid-century aesthetic preserved. We specify James Hardie non-combustible siding finished to match historical profiles, and we engineer modern seismic and fire-resistant structure behind familiar facades. The result looks like your home, but it’s built to survive what the original couldn’t.
Call (936) 259-2607 to schedule your free estimate. We’ll walk your property, identify the permits and code requirements that apply to your specific lot, and give you a written price before any work starts, backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local construction pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Malibu Customers Say
"Kitchen and dining room opened up into one space. They were honest about which wall could come down and which couldn't, no sugarcoating. Dust was kept way down with plastic everywhere."
- Oscar Benitez"Redid two bathrooms at once. The crew protected the floors and cleaned up every single day before leaving. Quote was detailed and there were no mystery charges at the end."
- Tricia Dawson"Full home refresh before we sold. They were straight about what was worth doing and what wasn't to get our money back. On time, on budget, and it sold in a week."
- Monica Vaughn