Trusted Home Addition and Remodeling Contractor in Boca Raton, FL

This is one of the most important questions a homeowner can ask. A renovation refreshes what's already there: new paint, fixtures, finishes, flooring, and surfaces in the existing layout — no structural changes. A remodel goes further: moving walls, reconfiguring floor plans, changing how rooms connect, or fundamentally transforming how a space functions. Why it matters: a renovation is typically faster and less expensive; a remodel is more transformative but requires permits, structural planning, and architect involvement. Choosing the wrong scope — spending on a renovation when your real problem is the layout — is one of the most common and costly homeowner mistakes. Bluestone's design-build team helps every client determine the right scope before any investment is made.

A Florida building permit specifies: the project address, permit type (building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing), scope of work, contractor's name and license number, permit number, issue date, and required inspections. Permits must be posted at the job site. For renovation projects, permits are typically issued for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work even if no structural changes occur. For remodel projects, a building permit covering structural work is also required. If your home is within the City of Boca Raton, you can look up any permit at Boca eHub using your property address. For other Palm Beach County locations, check with your local building department.

The Florida Building Code (FBC) is the statewide standard for construction quality, structural integrity, energy efficiency, and life safety. The current version is the 8th Edition (2023). In Palm Beach County, it includes enhanced wind load requirements — all structures must withstand South Florida's hurricane exposure. This affects both renovations (impact-resistant windows and doors are required in this wind-borne debris region) and remodels (structural elements must meet current code). Palm Beach County adopted additional local amendments in 2025. Bluestone builds to the FBC on every project without exception.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) licenses and regulates contractors statewide. A Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC) license is the highest classification — it authorizes the holder to contract for any construction work, pull permits, and manage any scope of residential renovation or remodel statewide. Under Florida Statutes § 489.103, any contractor performing work over $500 must hold a valid DBPR license. Hiring an unlicensed contractor means losing access to Florida's Construction Industries Recovery Fund if the project goes wrong. Verify any contractor's license at myfloridalicense.com before signing anything.

A design-build firm integrates design and construction under one team and one contract. At Bluestone, our in-house design team collaborates with licensed architects as part of our project team — they're involved from concept through construction. The traditional alternative: hire a separate architect, pay for design drawings, then separately bid out construction to a general contractor. Problems: the architect isn't accountable for construction cost or feasibility; the contractor may value-engineer your design without your knowledge; and when something goes wrong, everyone points at someone else. In the design-build model, one team is responsible for everything — from the first sketch to the final inspection, whether the project is a renovation, a remodel, or a new addition.