FAQ

You can contact Pennings & Sons to begin the conversation. We will learn more about your project, answer initial questions, and explain the next step in our design and remodeling or building process.

It is helpful to have a general idea or wish list of what you want to change, what problems you are trying to solve, your desired timeline, and any inspiration photos or examples you like. It’s also sometimes helpful if you have an existing blueprint and survey of your home. You do not, however, need to have drawings or everything figured out before contacting us.

A good fit is usually a homeowner who values top quality, planning, communication, craftsmanship, and a guided process. If you are looking for help thinking through the design, schedule, and construction details, Pennings & Sons may be a strong fit for your project.

No. With both Pennings & Sons and Pennings Handyman, we are able to help with projects of any size.

Pennings & Sons typically handles design-build remodeling projects that require design, planning, project management, and a more involved construction process. Pennings Handyman is a great fit for smaller projects, repairs, updates, and improvements that do not require the same level of design or coordination.

Both divisions are built on the same foundation established by our founder, Wilbur Pennings: doing things right the first time. The quality, craftsmanship, and care are the same across both divisions. The project size, scope, and needs simply help determine which team is the best fit.

When you reach out, we will help guide you to the right division, so your project starts in the right place.

If you already have drawings or plans, we can review them to better understand your goals and the scope you have been considering. However, Pennings & Sons typically does not estimate or build directly from outside plans.

As a design-build remodeling company, our process depends on our design and construction teams working together from the beginning. This helps us evaluate budget, buildability, selections, scheduling, structural details, and overall project expectations before construction begins.

Because outside plans may not include the details or specifications needed for our team to price and build the project confidently, your project will likely still need to go through our design and planning process. This helps us provide a more accurate proposal, clearer expectations, and a better remodeling experience.

I would consider Pennings & Sons a general contractor. What makes us different is that we provide 3d modeling and design services and our employees perform our own carpentry labor.

Our passion is Helping People Love Where They Live with Creative and Outstanding Solutions! We do that by listening carefully, designing thoughtfully, and building spaces that improve the way our clients live in their homes.

Our niche is Building Character into Homes. We want each project to feel intentional, well-crafted, and connected to the home, not like a generic remodel.

What makes us different comes down to three things: Creative Designs, Great Solutions by Great Employees, and Welcoming Jobs of Any Size. Whether we are helping with a smaller improvement, a major remodel, an addition, or a select new home, our goal is to bring creativity, craftsmanship, and care to the process.

We also stand behind our guarantee: Amazing Client Care Through a Professional Experience. That means clear communication, respect for your home, organized project management, and a team that cares about both the finished result and the experience of getting there.

Yes, Pennings & Sons does build select new homes. If you are considering a new home build, we can discuss the scope, location, design needs, timeline, and whether the project is a good fit for our team.

Additions and whole-home remodels typically require a longer planning period than smaller projects. These projects may involve design development, structural considerations, engineering, permitting, extensive selections, and a longer construction schedule. The sooner you begin planning, the better.

A kitchen remodel should be planned well in advance because it often involves design, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, plumbing, electrical, flooring, lighting, and finish selections. Starting early allows enough time for design decisions, pricing, ordering materials, and scheduling the work properly.

Yes.  For projects that require permits, Pennings & Sons handles the permitting process. Permit requirements vary depending on the municipality and the scope of work. We will discuss permitting during the planning phase so it can be built into the project timeline.

Changes can often be made, but they may affect the project cost, schedule, materials, and trade coordination. When a change is requested, we will review what is involved and communicate the impact before proceeding.

Unexpected conditions can happen in remodeling, especially in older homes. Examples may include hidden water damage, insect infestation, outdated wiring, structural issues, plumbing concerns, or previous work that was not done properly. If something unexpected is discovered, we will communicate the issue, review the options, and discuss any impact on cost or schedule before moving forward.

Remodeling is disruptive by nature, but we make efforts to protect the home and manage the jobsite. This may include floor protection, dust control measures, jobsite cleanup, designated work areas, and communication about what to expect during different phases of construction.

In some cases, yes, but it depends on the type and size of the project. Some remodels create more disruption than others, especially kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and whole-home renovations. During planning, we can talk through what areas of the home will be affected, what access will be needed, and whether temporary living adjustments should be considered.

Yes, while Pennings & Sons employees perform most of the carpentry work like demolition, framing and trim work, certain specialized trades may be completed by trusted trade partners, such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, roofing, or other specialty work. Pennings & Sons coordinates and manages the work so that the project stays aligned with the overall plan, schedule, and quality expectations.

Yes. Depending on the project, our design process may include drawings, layouts, renderings, finish selections, or other planning tools to help you understand the direction of the project before construction begins.

In some cases, yes, but this should be discussed early. Owner-provided materials can affect warranty, scheduling, installation, quality control, and fit. We prefer to review those items before the project begins so expectations are clear.

Yes. Our team can help guide selections such as cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, plumbing fixtures, lighting, paint colors, hardware, and other finishes. Making selections through a guided process helps keep the project organized and reduces delays during construction.

That is very common. Many homeowners come to us with a general idea, a problem they want to solve, or inspiration photos rather than a finished plan. Our design team can help you sort through ideas, understand options, and make decisions that fit your home, lifestyle, and investment range.

Our design and construction teams work together during the planning phase so that the design is being developed with investment range awareness. As selections are made and the scope becomes clearer, we will continue to review costs and help homeowners make informed decisions before construction begins.

The goal is to avoid designing a project that does not match the homeowner’s investment range.

We can usually discuss general investment ranges early in the conversation based on past experience, but accurate pricing requires a clear scope of work. The more details that are selected and defined, the more accurate the pricing can be.

Items such as cabinetry, countertops, flooring, fixtures, tile, windows, doors, layout changes, structural work, and finish level can all significantly affect the final cost.

Good planning helps create a better remodeling experience. The design and planning phase allows us together to define the scope of your unique remodel or home, develop drawings, discuss materials, review investment expectations, make selections, and prepare for construction.

Taking time upfront can help reduce confusion, avoid rushed decisions, and minimize unexpected changes once work begins.

Every project is different. A bathroom remodel, kitchen remodel, addition, or whole-home renovation will each have different timelines. The full timeline includes more than just construction. It also includes design, estimating, selections, permitting, scheduling, ordering materials, and then the actual build.

During the planning process, we will help establish a realistic schedule based on the scope of work, product selections, permit requirements, and current production schedule.

After contacting our office to establish a meeting, the first step is usually an initial conversation where we learn more about your home, your goals, your timeline, and the type of project you are considering. From there, we can determine whether the project is a good fit and explain the next steps in our design and planning process.

The earlier, the better. Even if you are not ready to start construction right away, early conversations help us understand your goals, investment range, timeline, and priorities. This also gives us time to properly plan the design, selections, permitting, scheduling, and construction phases. We may also be able to give you some suggestions on areas you can work on prior to the design starting such as getting surveys, exploring financing, etc.

No. The best time to contact Pennings & Sons is before plans have been created.

We are a design-build remodeling company, which means our process is built around designing and building the project through one coordinated team. Because of that, we typically only build projects that have gone through our own design process. We do not generally estimate or build from drawings created by outside architects, designers, or other firms.

This approach allows our design team and construction team to work together from the beginning. It helps us design with real construction costs, scheduling, material selections, structural considerations, and buildability in mind. It also gives you one accountable team from the first conversation through the final walkthrough.

If you already have drawings, we are happy to have a conversation and review where you are in the process. However, we may still need to bring the project through our own design and planning process before we can provide accurate pricing or move toward construction.

Yes. Pennings & Sons has an in-house design department that helps homeowners develop the look, layout, function, and details of their remodeling project. Our design includes 3d modeling so you can experience virtual walk-throughs and walk-arounds, not simply see 2D drawings. Our design team works closely with our construction team so that design ideas are reviewed with real-world building considerations in mind.

Design-build means the design and construction of your project are handled through one coordinated team. Instead of hiring a designer or architect separately and then trying to find a builder afterward, Pennings & Sons brings design, planning, estimating, project management, and construction together in one process.

This helps improve communication, align the design with the investment range, and create a smoother transition from concept to construction.

Pennings & Sons is primarily a remodeling company. We work on projects such as kitchens, bathrooms, additions, whole-home remodels, exterior updates, custom cabinetry, finished basements, outdoor living spaces, and other major residential improvements. We also take on select new home builds when the project is the right fit for our team and process.