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Homeowner guideUpdated November 2026
Whole-House Remodels, Additions and ADUs: A Guide for Vancouver and Portland-Area Homeowners
A whole-house remodel, an addition and an ADU are the biggest projects most homeowners ever take on. This guide puts the questions in the order you will meet them: first whether the project is right for your house and lot, then which way to do it, then how to choose who builds it.
For a first number, try the whole-home cost calculator: pick your home size, finish level and add-ons and see JDI's published planning range.
Planning one room, not the whole house? Our Kitchen Remodeling Guide and Bathroom Remodeling Guide go deeper on a single room.
24pages, from first idea to choosing a builder
3stages: learn, compare, decide
LocalVancouver, Clark County and Portland-area rules
Sourcedlegal and permit facts cite the agency
Learn: is this the right project?
Start here if you are still deciding what kind of project you need, or what your lot allows.
- Learn · Is this the right project?Signs Your House Needs a Whole-House Remodel, Not Another One-Room FixSigns your Vancouver or Portland house needs a whole-house remodel, not another one-room fix: aging systems, a layout that fights you, several rooms due at once.
- Learn · Whole houseRemodeling a mid-century Vancouver homeLead paint, asbestos, aluminum wiring and opening walls in a 1950s to 1970s house.
- Learn · ADUsADU rules in Vancouver, WAHow many ADUs a lot can have, size, setbacks, parking and the permit steps under the new zoning code.
- Learn · AdditionsDo you need a permit for a home addition?Every addition in Vancouver needs one. What the city's checklist asks for and how the process works.
- Learn · ADUsWhat is a mother-in-law suite?What an in-law suite is, and when it counts as an ADU under Vancouver's rules.
- Learn · ADUsZoning laws and permits for a granny flatWashington's ADU law, Vancouver's code and unincorporated Clark County, in one place.
- Learn · ADUsPre-approved ADU plansWhat pre-approved plans are, and why to ask the Permit Center before you buy a plan set.
Compare: which way should you go?
Weigh the options before you design: phasing, staying at home, paying for it, and which way to add space.
- Compare · Which way should you go?Whole-House Remodel: All at Once or Room by Room?Should you remodel the whole house in one build or room by room? Cost, disruption, permits, design and budget trade-offs for Vancouver and Portland homes.
- Compare · Which way should you go?Can You Live at Home During a Whole-House Remodel or Addition?Can you stay home during a whole-house remodel or addition? What decides it: kitchen and bathrooms, utilities, dust, lead paint, asbestos, kids, pets and phasing.
- Compare · Which way should you go?Paying for a Whole-House Remodel, Addition or ADUHow people pay for a whole-house remodel, addition or ADU in Washington, and what to budget beyond the contract: sales tax, permit and impact fees, property tax.
- Compare · AdditionsAdd on or move?A framework for deciding between an addition and buying a bigger house.
- Compare · AdditionsBump-out, room addition or second story?Foundation, roof, structure, cost and permits for each way to grow a house.
- Compare · ADUsGarage conversion costWhat drives the cost of turning a garage into living space or an ADU in Clark County and Portland.
- Compare · ADUsGarage conversion, detached ADU or attached ADU?How cost drivers, fire separation, utilities and permits compare in Vancouver.
- Compare · ADUsWhat drives the cost of an ADUImpact fees, permit fees, utility hookups, site work, size and design choices.
- Compare · Whole houseA whole-house remodel, phase by phaseDesign, estimate, contract, permits, demolition, inspections, finishes and warranty.
- Compare · Whole houseAging in place: the whole-house versionPlanning entries, doors, bathrooms, kitchen and lighting so you can stay.
- Compare · Which way should you go?Whole-House Remodel and Addition Checklist: From First Idea to Final WalkthroughA step-by-step checklist for a whole-house remodel or addition in Vancouver, WA, from first idea to final walkthrough, with a link to the page that covers each step.
Decide: choosing who builds it
Ready to talk to contractors? Price it, compare bids fairly, vet the builder and know what the first visit looks like.
- Decide · Whole houseHow much does a whole-house remodel cost?JDI's 2026 planning ranges by home size and finish level, plus add-ons, sales tax and permits.
- Decide · Choosing who builds itHow to Compare Whole-House Remodel and Addition Estimates Line by LineHow to compare whole-house remodel and addition estimates line by line: scope, allowances, permits, sales tax, exclusions, change orders and warranty.
- Decide · Choosing who builds itHow to Choose a Whole-House Remodeling Contractor in Vancouver, WAHow to vet a whole-house remodeling contractor in Vancouver, WA: registration lookup, Oregon CCB, contract, warranty, references, trades and change orders.
- Decide · Choosing who builds itDesign-Build or Architect Plus Contractor? Choosing for a Whole-House Remodel or AdditionDesign-build or architect plus contractor for a whole-house remodel or addition in Vancouver, WA: how each works, engineering and permits, and who each suits.
- Decide · Choosing who builds itYour First Whole-House, Addition or ADU Consultation: What to Bring and What HappensWhat to bring to a first whole-house, addition or ADU consultation with JDI in Vancouver or Portland, what we talk about, and what happens after the visit.
- Decide · ProofWhole-home remodels we have doneFinished whole-home projects in Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield and Portland, with photos.
Kitchen and bathroom guides
Remodeling one room, or including the kitchen and bathrooms in a bigger project? These two guides go deeper on each room, from planning and permits to cost and choosing a remodeler.
- Room guide · KitchenKitchen Remodeling GuideLayouts, cabinets, counters, appliances, permits, cost and hiring for a kitchen remodel in Vancouver and Portland.
- Kitchen · CostKitchen Remodel Cost in Vancouver, WAJDI's planning ranges by kitchen size and finish tier, add-ons, and what moves the price.
- Kitchen · HiringHow to Choose a Kitchen Remodeler in Vancouver, WAWhat to check before you hire someone for your kitchen.
- Room guide · BathroomBathroom Remodeling GuideShowers, tubs, tile, fixtures, permits, cost and hiring for a bathroom remodel in Vancouver and Portland.
- Bathroom · CostBathroom Remodel Cost in Vancouver, WAJDI's planning ranges by bathroom type and tier, add-ons, and permit fees and tax on top.
- Bathroom · HiringHow to Choose a Bathroom Remodeler in Vancouver, WAWhat to check before you hire someone for your bathroom.
Your protections in Washington
Before you sign with anyone, these pages from our kitchen guide apply to any remodel: how to check a contractor, what the contract should say, how liens work and what to do if a job goes wrong.
- Your protectionsCheck a contractor's Washington registrationHow to look up a contractor with L&I before you sign.
- Your protectionsContracts, deposits and change ordersWhat a remodeling contract should say in Washington.
- Your protectionsWashington lien law for homeownersHow liens work and how to avoid paying twice.
- Your protectionsIf something goes wrongComplaints, the contractor's bond and your other options.
Remodeling in Oregon? Our page on hiring a contractor in Portland explains how to check an Oregon CCB license and what notices and contract terms Oregon requires. It was written for kitchens, so skip its kitchen-permit parts.
Who writes this guide
Written by the JDI Construction team. Laws, permit rules and fees on these pages cite the City of Vancouver, Clark County, Washington State and federal sources listed at the bottom of each page, with the date we checked them.
JDI Construction NW LLC is registered as a contractor in Washington (JDICOCN932KZ) and licensed in Oregon (CCB #176101).
Ready to talk about your project?
JDI Construction is a family-owned design-build remodeler based at 1419 Broadway Street in Vancouver. Tell us about the house and what you want to change, and we will set up a time to visit.
