Whole-home renovation, done right by DFW's remodeling team.
Granite Guyz renovates DFW homes from foundation to roofline — slab leveling, full rewires, replumbs, HVAC replacement, and complete finish-out, all under one contract.
Most DFW homes were built between 1970 and 1999. At 25 to 55 years old, their systems aren’t just outdated — they’re failing at once. We address everything while the walls are open, so every trade works in sequence without tearing into finished spaces.
What It Costs in DFW
Whole-home renovation pricing depends on scope, existing conditions, and finish selections — but there are realistic ranges based on the work Granite Guyz consistently delivers across DFW. The tiers below represent the three most common project configurations. Granite Guyz scopes every project, reviews foundation data, and defines the scope in writing before any commitment is made.
These are per-square-foot figures applied to the conditioned, renovated area of the home. They do not include land, the structure itself, or landscaping. Price per square foot tends to decrease slightly as home size increases due to fixed mobilization costs.
Full demo to studs, new 200-amp electrical with copper wiring, new PEX supply and PVC drains, new HVAC system with Manual J ductwork, spray foam and blown insulation, drywall, and all standard finishes.
Includes everything in Tier 1, plus load-bearing wall removal, new LVL or steel structural beams, foundation pier work or slab stabilization, and floor plan reconfiguration.
Includes everything in Tier 2, plus custom cabinetry, natural stone countertops throughout, large-format designer tile, smart home integration, and premium plumbing and lighting fixtures.
Aging Systems Are Failing Simultaneously
Most DFW homes were built 30 to 50 years ago. The electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and structural systems installed at that time are now beyond their service life — and they are all degrading at once. A whole-home renovation means gutting a house down to the studs and rebuilding from the inside out.
Electrical
Original 100-amp or 60-amp panels that cannot support modern loads. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels with documented breaker failure. Pre-1973 aluminum branch circuit wiring that oxidizes at connection points and creates arcing fire hazards invisible until it is too late.
Plumbing
Corroding cast iron drain lines under the slab that fracture and back up without warning. Polybutylene supply lines that degrade from the inside out due to chlorine reaction and are one pressure spike away from catastrophic failure.
HVAC
Undersized return grilles, disconnected duct boots dumping conditioned air into unconditioned attic space, and degraded R-8 flex duct at effective R-4. Original ductwork sized for a 1983 build — not modern efficiency standards or Manual J load calculations.
Layout
Closed-off galley kitchens, dark 36-inch hallways, and undersized openings that reflect 1970s and 1980s construction norms — not how families actually use homes today. Load-bearing walls block natural light and prevent open floor plans.
Whole-Home Renovation Services in DFW
Granite Guyz manages complete overhauls for aging Dallas-Fort Worth housing stock. Every project begins with an engineer-led foundation assessment to identify root structural issues before cosmetic work begins. The goal is a house rebuilt correctly from the inside out — not a cosmetic refresh layered over failing systems.
Foundation Assessment
A licensed structural engineer runs a complete floor elevation survey across the slab. Pier work or slab stabilization is scoped and completed as Phase 1 before any interior work begins. The foundation report dictates everything downstream.
Structural Modifications
Removal or re-headering of load-bearing walls, installing LVL or steel structural beams, and framing new walls to open closed-off 1970s and 1980s layouts. All structural modifications are engineered and permitted before framing begins.
Complete MEP Replacement
Installation of new 200-amp electrical panels, copper wiring, PVC drains, PEX supply lines, and new HVAC duct layouts per Manual J load calculations. Every system is replaced — not patched — while the walls are open and inspections are staged.
Energy Envelope Upgrades
Closed-cell spray foam in exterior walls at R-13, R-38 blown insulation in the attic, radiant barriers, and Low-E window installations. The entire building envelope insulated to current energy codes — eliminating the $400 summer electric bills common in aging North Texas homes.
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling
Complete layout redesigns, custom cabinetry, natural stone countertops, designer tile, and premium fixture installations for high-traffic spaces. Kitchen and bath work is sequenced after MEP rough-ins and inspections — not before.
Drywall & Turnkey Finishes
Hanging, taping, floating, and texturing all new drywall on leveled framing. Installing flooring on leveled subfloors, setting trim, doors, and hardware for project closeout. Nothing is finished until the structure underneath it is correct.
Why We Start Underground
North Texas sits on montmorillonite and bentonite clay — some of the most expansive soil in the country. This clay absorbs water and swells, then dries out and contracts. After 40 years of extreme weather swings and drought cycles, the slab moves. Sections heave. Others settle. The result is a foundation that is no longer level by 1 to 3 inches across the footprint, sometimes more.
There is no point installing level cabinets, setting tile, or hanging new drywall on an unlevel slab racked by foundation shift. Any finish work installed on a compromised slab will show cracking, misalignment, or racking within 12 to 24 months.
Bottom line: The foundation report from a licensed structural engineer dictates our entire renovation sequence — and that report is the first deliverable on every Granite Guyz project. No new cabinets on a moving slab.
8-Phase Construction Timeline
Every Granite Guyz renovation follows a strict 8-phase sequence. This is not a checklist — it is a construction management methodology that eliminates rework, prevents trade conflicts, and ensures each inspection is passed before the next phase begins.
Foundation Assessment & Repair
Engineer elevation survey, pier work or slab stabilization before any interior work begins. The foundation report dictates everything downstream.
Selective Demolition
Demo down to studs. All existing MEP systems removed and catalogued. Structure exposed for full assessment.
Structural Modifications
Load-bearing wall removal, beam installation, new framing per engineered drawings. All structural work permitted and inspected.
MEP Rough-In
New electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-in with all permit inspections staged. 200-amp panel, copper wiring, PEX supply, PVC drains, Manual J ductwork.
Insulation & Envelope
Spray foam, blown insulation, radiant barrier, and Low-E windows installed. Full thermal envelope to current IECC energy codes.
Drywall & Interior Finishe
Hang, tape, float, texture. Flooring on leveled subfloors. All interior surfaces installed on structurally correct framing.
Fixture Installation & Commissioning
Cabinets, countertops, plumbing trim-out, electrical trim-out, hardware. All systems tested and commissioned.
Final Inspections & Punch List
Final inspection, Certificate of Occupancy issuance, and documented punch list closeout. Nothing is signed off until the homeowner is satisfied.
Rebuilding the Thermal Envelope
When every wall is open, Granite Guyz insulates the entire building envelope to current IECC energy codes. This eliminates the $300–$400 summer electric bills common in aging North Texas homes — and that savings compounds every year the homeowner stays in the house.
Homeowners who upgrade HVAC equipment without addressing ductwork or insulation rarely see the efficiency gains they expect. A full renovation is the only opportunity to solve the envelope problem completely.
What Gets Installed
- Closed-cell spray foam in all exterior walls to R-13
- Blown insulation in attic to R-38
- Radiant barriers between roof deck and attic floor
- Low-E double-pane windows with low solar heat gain coefficients
- ACH50 air exchange targets per IECC standards
- 35% to 50% reduction in summer cooling costs vs. original construction
Outdated Systems Granite Guyz Replaces
Granite Guyz diagnoses and replaces failing infrastructure hidden behind the walls of aging DFW properties. These are not upgrade conversations — they are safety and habitability conversations. Each system below is replaced as a matter of code compliance and long-term structural integrity, not aesthetics.
Electrical Panels and Wiring
Homes built before 2000 frequently feature original 100-amp or 60-amp panels that cannot support modern appliance loads. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels — common in Texas homes built from 1950 to 1990 — have documented breaker failures and are an active fire risk that most insurers will not cover without remediation. Additionally, homes built before 1973 often feature aluminum branch circuit wiring, which oxidizes at connection points and creates arcing hazards that are invisible to the homeowner until a fire starts inside the wall. Granite Guyz replaces the entire system: new 200-amp panel, copper branch circuit wiring, updated breakers, and AFCI protection throughout.
Cast Iron and Polybutylene Plumbing
Cast iron drain lines were standard in DFW homes through the mid-1980s. After 40 years, these lines corrode from the inside out, develop bellies and blockages, and eventually crack — sometimes catastrophically — under the slab where they cannot be accessed without cutting concrete. Polybutylene supply lines, installed widely from 1978 to 1995, degrade when exposed to chlorinated municipal water, developing micro-fractures on the interior surface that eventually cause catastrophic failure without any external warning signs. Granite Guyz replaces both: PVC or ABS for drains, PEX-A for supply lines, with all work performed during demo when access costs nothing extra.
Undersized and Degraded HVAC Systems
Original ductwork sized for a 1983 build often features undersized return grilles, disconnected duct boots in the attic that dump conditioned air into unconditioned space, and R-8 flex duct that has degraded to effective R-4 or below. A full renovation recalculates the HVAC load using Manual J methodology — accounting for the new envelope R-values, updated fenestration, and actual conditioned square footage — and redesigns the duct system from scratch. Homeowners who upgrade HVAC equipment without addressing ductwork or insulation rarely see the efficiency gains they expect.
Closed-Off Layouts and Undersized Openings
Floor plans with closed-off galley kitchens, dark 36-inch hallways, and 5-foot vanities reflected 1970s and 1980s construction norms — not how homes are actually lived in today. A full renovation is the only opportunity to remove load-bearing walls cost-effectively, because the structure is already open. Beam sizing, post placement, and header design are all engineered before framing begins, and the cost of the structural work is a fraction of what it would be on a closed house.
Failing Systems to Look For
- Pre-1978: 100-amp or 60-amp panels and aluminum wiring fire risks at oxidized connection points.
- 1970s–1990s: Corroding cast iron drain lines under slabs that fracture and back up without warning.
- 1980s–1990s: Polybutylene supply lines that degrade from the inside out due to chlorine reaction.
- Original HVAC: Undersized returns, disconnected duct boots, and R-11 insulation that bleeds conditioned air.
- Original Windows: Single-pane or early double-pane windows with failed seals driving summer heat gain.
Permit & Inspection Process
- Foundation inspection before framing begins
- Framing inspection for structural connections and beam bearing
- Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-in inspections
- Insulation R-value and air barrier verification
- Final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy issuance
Granite Guyz pulls all permits before work begins and manages the inspection schedule as part of the project timeline. Homeowners never need to coordinate with the municipality.