Skip to main content

How condo remodels differ

Condo remodels in St. Pete run on a different rulebook than houses. The HOA controls more than the city does. The service elevator decides your delivery schedule. Concrete ceilings limit where can lights can go. And the plumbing stack runs through twenty units above and below yours, so it doesn't move.

We've worked condos across Downtown St. Petersburg high-rises (Beach Drive towers, Central Avenue mid-rises), Snell Isle waterfront buildings, Old Northeast mid-rise conversions, Shore Acres ground-floor flood-zone units, Tierra Verde, Old Southeast, and the beach condos up through Indian Rocks Beach and Reddington Shores. The logistics differ by building, but the core constraints are the same: HOA approval before permit, COI naming the association as additional insured, elevator reservations for every material delivery and debris haul, quiet-hour windows that compress your productive day, post-tension cable scans before any slab penetration, and common-area protection that has to be installed before the first piece of demo leaves your unit.

The four pain points below are the ones every St. Pete condo owner runs into. We handle each as a line item on your weekly budget report — not a hidden cost dropped on you mid-project.

Condo penthouse under construction with waterfront view in St. Petersburg

“The HOA Is Going to Be a Nightmare”

Every St. Pete board runs on a different cadence. One missing form restarts the clock. We manage the entire submittal end-to-end.

Material staging and delivery boxes inside high-rise condo unit during remodel

“How Do I Get Materials to the 12th Floor?”

Miss a service elevator slot and the project sits idle a week. We reserve, pad, and stage every load — with logistics billed as line items.

Revolution Contractors crew framing ceiling in downtown St. Pete high-rise condo

“I Don't Want to Be the Neighbor Everyone Hates”

Quiet hours, zip-wall dust containment, common-area protection. One complaint shuts the day down. Our supers notify neighbors before any loud work.

Condo kitchen mid-install with cabinets and countertop being fitted

“Why Does This Cost as Much as a House?”

Elevator fees, HOA insurance riders, and engineer-stamped slab work push condos to $200–$400/sqft. We run T&M open-book so every logistics cost shows up as its own line item.

Condo penthouse during drywall phase with waterfront viewBefore
Finished penthouse condo with open plan kitchen, bar, and living roomAfter
Downtown St. Pete condo unit — full renovation with open-book pricing

What HOA approval looks like

Every St. Pete condo association has a different review process, but the document set is consistent. Boards want stamped construction plans, finish schedules with model numbers and SKUs, contractor documentation including state license and proof of workers' comp, condo declaration review confirming your scope doesn't violate the building's rules, certificate of insurance naming the association as additional insured, waiver of subrogation, and hold-harmless rider. Some buildings require all of that before they'll schedule the board review. Others release the docket in stages.

Approval timeline runs 2 to 6 weeks in most St. Pete buildings. Board meeting cadence is the gating factor — associations that meet monthly take longer than associations that meet weekly. Architectural review committees often pre-screen packages before the full board sees them, which can compress or extend the timeline depending on whether your scope triggers special review. We submit, track every comment, and re-issue documents when the COI expires mid-process. You don't field calls from the property manager.

For the full anatomy of a St. Pete condo HOA submittal — declaration review specifics, board meeting cadence patterns, COI naming rules, and the elevator reservation process — read our HOA and elevator logistics guide. Permits go through the St. Petersburg Building Department after HOA approval is in hand.

Our Condo Remodel Process

Typical Condo Remodel Timelines

Timeline depends on scope, building access restrictions, and HOA approval duration:

Kitchen or Bathroom

Single-room scope, standard finishes

6-10 weeks

Full Unit Renovation

Multiple rooms, upgraded finishes, moderate structural work

10-16 weeks

High-End Full Renovation

Premium finishes, custom cabinetry, extensive reconfiguration

16-24 weeks

From First Call to Final Walkthrough

1

Consultation + Building Assessment

We visit your unit and assess the space, building rules, and structural constraints.

2

HOA Approval

Revolution submits all plans, specifications, and documentation to your HOA board. Typical approval takes 2-6 weeks.

3

Design + Selections

We work within your condo constraints. Our selections coordinator helps navigate vendor choices.

4

Pre-Construction + Budgeting

Multiple budget-sharpening rotations lock hard bids from subs and vendors. By the time construction starts, three out of four line items are confirmed at fixed price — bringing total budget certainty to 90-95% before any work begins.

5

Permitting

Revolution pulls all required permits through the City of St. Petersburg.

6

Construction

20+ W-2 carpenters on Revolution’s payroll handle finish work. A dedicated superintendent manages daily logistics. Weekly budget reports throughout.

Our Condo Remodel Projects

Condo remodel project in St. Petersburg
Condo remodel project in St. Petersburg
Condo remodel project in St. Petersburg
Condo remodel project in St. Petersburg
Condo remodel project in St. Petersburg
Open-concept condo living and dining room remodel in St. Petersburg

Living Situation

A single bathroom or kitchen remodel is disruptive but livable. A full unit renovation typically requires you to vacate. For snowbird owners, timing the project while you are away is often the best approach.

What a St. Pete condo remodel actually costs

Condo remodels in St. Pete run $200-$400 per square foot for most projects, with the band driven by scope, finish tier, building access restrictions, FEMA flood-zone classification (AE zone ground-floor units in Shore Acres or Snell Isle waterfront buildings trigger elevation-certificate review on any substantial-improvement work), and how much structural review your scope triggers. Per-square-foot cost lands close to a comparable house remodel — you save on foundation and roofing, but elevator fees, HOA application fees, association insurance riders, structural engineer stamps for slab penetrations, impact window compliance under Florida Building Code Section 1620 wind-borne debris requirements, and FEMA 50% Rule elevation-certificate work on flood-zone ground-floor units add logistics premium that can run $20,000 to $60,000 on a full-unit renovation. The bands below are calibrated to St. Pete projects we've actually closed.

Kitchen or Bathroom

$200-$300/sqft

Single-room scope, standard finishes

Full Unit Renovation

$250-$350/sqft

Multiple rooms, upgraded finishes, moderate structural work

High-End

$300-$400+/sqft

Premium finishes, custom cabinetry, extensive reconfiguration

What You Save On (vs. Houses)

  • No roof work: Building handles exterior maintenance
  • No foundation work: Structure is what it is

Unique Condo Costs

  • Elevator fees: Reservations for every delivery and debris haul
  • HOA compliance: Application fees, insurance requirements, documentation
  • Limited work hours: Noise restrictions reduce productive days
  • Material waste: Elevator size constraints mean cutting in the garage
  • Structural engineer review: Any slab penetration, core drill, or saw cut through a concrete slab needs a stamped engineer letter to avoid cutting a post-tension cable
  • Association insurance rider: HOA typically requires COI naming the association as additional insured with waiver of subrogation
  • Impact window compliance: Downtown high-rises in hurricane wind zones require impact-rated glazing that meets Florida Building Code HVHZ-adjacent specs
  • Kerdi/Schluter waterproofing: Over-slab bathroom remodels on concrete need a Schluter Kerdi membrane tied into the drain — a leak in a high-rise condo damages three units

For a deeper breakdown of what drives pricing — cast-iron plumbing stack condition, Schluter Kerdi waterproofing on concrete slabs, structural engineer review for slab penetrations, impact window compliance under Florida Building Code, association insurance riders, and HOA COI re-issuance fees — read our condo renovation cost guide. For HOA approval and elevator reservation logistics specifically, see our condo HOA and elevator guide. For how unit-level upgrades interact with Florida wind mitigation credits on your premium, read how renovating lowers your Florida insurance premium.

How Revolution Prices This

Time and Materials, open book. We charge a 30% markup on materials and labor, stated up front, with weekly budget reports that show actual spend against budget every Friday. Elevator fees, HOA COI fees, structural engineer stamps, Schluter Kerdi membrane, dust containment — each runs as its own line item, not buried in a lump-sum allowance. You see every invoice. Not a summary, the actual receipts. If a sub-trade comes in under bid, the savings are yours; if a wall opens up and reveals an unexpected cast-iron plumbing stack failure, we cost-out the repair and you decide whether to fold it into scope before any work proceeds.

Ready to Discuss Your Condo Remodel Project?

Get expert guidance from a contractor who understands high-rise logistics and HOA navigation.

Downtown high-rise vs. beach condo

Not every condo project runs the same playbook. A 25-story tower on Central Avenue runs different logistics than a 3-story walk-up on St. Pete Beach. Different building age, different HOA culture, different code requirements, different elevator constraints. We've worked both ends — see our downtown St. Pete condo remodel guide for what high-rise owners specifically need to know about elevator reservations, quiet hours, and the commercial-license requirement.

Downtown High-Rises

  • Elevator scheduling for every delivery and debris haul
  • Stricter noise windows often 9 AM-5 PM weekdays only
  • Building management that tracks every contractor on-site
  • Requires a commercial unlimited GC license
  • Concrete ceilings limit overhead lighting — we drop a sleeper system for thin wafer can lights and fans where surface-mounting won't work

See our downtown St. Pete condo renovation page for building-era breakdowns, HOA timelines, and cost ranges by construction type.

Beach Condos

  • Salt air considerations for materials and finishes
  • Different municipality permitting St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach each have their own building department
  • HOA cultures that vary widely from building to building
  • May overlap with FEMA flood zone regulations depending on elevation — VE zone and AE zone beach buildings trigger different ground-floor build-out rules, and any substantial-improvement work on a flood-zone unit requires elevation-certificate review under the FEMA 50% Rule
  • Smaller HOAs with less professional management — board-member-as-property-manager is common, and approval timelines are less predictable as a result

Waterfront condo: salt air + impact glass

Waterfront condo work in St. Pete and the beaches — Snell Isle, the Vinoy waterfront, Old Northeast riverfront, Shore Acres canal-front, Tierra Verde, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Reddington Shores — runs different than dry downtown towers. Salt-air corrosion is the constant, and FEMA flood-zone classification (AE zone is the dominant designation across Snell Isle and Shore Acres waterfront condos per Pinellas County flood maps) adds elevation-certificate and substantial-improvement review on top of standard scope. Standard plumbing valves, brushed-nickel fixtures, and builder-grade hinges pit and stain inside 18 months on a unit that opens to the Gulf or Tampa Bay. We spec marine-grade stainless, solid-brass fixtures, PVD-coated hardware, and closed-cell sealants at every envelope penetration.

Impact-glass replacement runs different here than in Miami-Dade — Pinellas is not an HVHZ county, but Florida Building Code Section 1620 wind-borne debris requirements apply to any unit within one mile of the coast, and the association architectural review committee controls anything facade-visible. We coordinate impact-glazing specs with the building's master spec sheet so unit-level replacement matches the envelope rather than fighting it. Elevator coordination on a beach-condo install often gets harder than downtown — smaller HOAs without professional management often run a single shared service elevator with no reservation system, compressing every delivery window. Building-engineer signoff is required for any structural modification, including slab penetrations and balcony tie-ins.

"There are a lot of small condo buildings on the beaches that require interacting with HOAs that are smaller and so a little bit more difficult to work with. The beaches are likely to be in the higher velocity zones requiring heavier-duty materials and finishes." — Jeremy, Owner

What Can and Cannot Change in Your Condo

Cannot Change

  • Load-bearing walls
  • Unit footprint
  • Plumbing stack locations
  • Concrete ceiling structure
  • Post-tension cables inside the concrete slab (cutting one is catastrophic and requires a structural engineer review before any slab penetration)
  • Building-wide plumbing stacks, vent stacks, and cast iron riser locations
  • Impact window frames and exterior glazing (association controls the building envelope)
  • Building-envelope elevation on flood-zone ground-floor units (FEMA AE zone and VE zone buildings have envelope rules controlled by the association + FEMA NFIP — unit-level work can't change the building's flood-zone footprint)

Can Change

  • Reconfigure layouts within the unit
  • Update every finish surface
  • Replace plumbing fixtures within existing stack locations
  • Upgrade electrical to modern standards
  • Open sightlines by removing non-structural walls
  • Install aging-in-place modifications — accessible bathroom retrofits, no-step thresholds, wider doorways — common on downtown condos as owners stay put through retirement

The design constraints in a condo are real you cant move plumbing stacks, you cant change the footprint, and concrete ceilings limit what you can do overhead. But thats where creativity comes in. We work within those constraints and the results dont compromise. Jeremy, Owner

Why commercial GC license matters here

Most residential general contractors in Florida hold a residential license — limited to buildings of 3 stories or fewer. Revolution holds a commercial unlimited license. We can legally pull permits on buildings of any height, any complexity. For St. Pete condo owners in Downtown St. Pete high-rises (Beach Drive, Central Avenue towers), Snell Isle waterfront towers, Old Northeast mid-rise conversions over four stories, Shore Acres flood-zone buildings, and the larger Tierra Verde buildings, that's not a nice-to-have. It's a legal requirement — Jeremy puts it directly: "you need a commercial unlimited GC license for buildings over four stories." If your contractor doesn't hold the right license class, the St. Petersburg Building Department won't let them pull permits, and the HOA won't approve them on the submittal.

The license matters in another way that's harder to see from the outside: most newer contractors operate as paper contractors who sub out every trade — including basic patch work and finish carpentry. We don't. We have 20+ W-2 carpenters and apprentices on payroll, four supervisors managing day-to-day jobsite logistics, and the pace of work that comes with not having to schedule a sub for every can-light patch or trim repair. On a condo where elevator slots are scarce and your day is compressed to a 7-hour productive window, that pace is the difference between a 10-week project and a 14-week project.

We also handle design through our network of architects and designers we've worked with for years. We're a hybrid — not technically a design-build firm (we don't keep designers on salary) but we run a design-build process and your designer's intellectual property remains yours. For full-unit renovations that need architectural drawings — moving non-bearing walls, opening up living-dining sightlines, reconfiguring kitchens around the existing plumbing stack — we coordinate the design team, manage drawing reviews, and run the construction handoff so you have one point of contact through the project.

Commercial Unlimited GC License

Any height. Any complexity. No partnering with a commercial contractor required.

THE DIFFERENCE

WHY CHOOSE REVOLUTION FOR YOUR CONDO REMODEL

What sets us apart from other contractors in St. Petersburg.

COMMERCIAL UNLIMITED GC LICENSE

Revolution can legally work on buildings of any height. Most residential contractors cannot pull permits for 4+ story buildings.

IN-HOUSE LABOR FOR CONDO LOGISTICS

20+ W-2 carpenters who understand elevator scheduling, tight staging, and noise-conscious work. Not subs juggling three other jobs.

T&M TRANSPARENCY FOR EVERY LOGISTICS COST

Elevator fees, HOA compliance costs, noise restriction accommodations — each shown as a line item with weekly budget reports.

DOWNTOWN ST. PETE BUILDING EXPERTISE

Years of working in downtown St. Pete condos across multiple buildings and HOA boards. We know the buildings and the management companies.

Who We Build For

Downtown St. Pete high-rise condo remodel

Downtown Condo Owners Who Don't Want to Manage the HOA

Affluent owners in St. Pete's downtown condo market who don't want to spend evenings reading HOA bylaws. Elevator reservations, freight schedules, noise windows, neighbor relations, building management approvals — Revolution handles the building-side logistics so you don't have to. Our 20+ in-house W-2 carpenters matter more in a condo than anywhere else: when a sub cancels and the elevator slot is gone, your project doesn't lose a week. We've worked on condos at every level the building's GC license allows, and we're upfront when a project is outside that scope.

High-net-worth St. Pete homeowners reviewing budget reports

High-Net-Worth Owners Done with Fixed-Bid Surprises

Late-career owners of $750K+ homes who have been through one fixed-bid renovation and rejected the change-order shell game. They want open-book T&M, weekly budget reports, and a single point of accountability — Revolution coordinates design and construction under one contract through independent design partners. Most of our work is on Old Northeast, Snell Isle, and Shore Acres homes for owners who want to know where every dollar went.

Condo Remodel Frequently Asked Questions

How does HOA approval work for a condo remodel?

We submit a complete package to your association — stamped plans, finish specifications, contractor documentation, condo declaration review, certificate of insurance naming the association as additional insured, waiver of subrogation, and hold-harmless rider — then track every board comment until approval. Most St. Petersburg buildings approve in 2 to 6 weeks. Board meeting cadence drives the timeline. Some associations only review applications at monthly meetings, which sets the floor.

Does a condo remodel cost more than a house remodel?

Per square foot, condo cost runs comparable to a house — $200 to $400 depending on scope and finish tier. You save on foundation and roofing because the building owns those. But elevator fees, HOA application fees, association insurance riders, structural engineer stamps for slab penetrations, and impact window compliance add logistics premium that can total $20,000 to $60,000 on a full-unit renovation. We show every logistics cost as a line item, not buried in lump sum.

How do you handle elevator scheduling and material delivery?

We coordinate service elevator reservations for every material delivery and debris haul, install quilted padding before every load, route through the freight elevator on a separate window from material in, and protect hallways and common areas with corner guards and floor runners. One detail to know: if your service elevator is 10 feet long, 12-foot baseboards and casing get cut in the garage and lose about 15 percent of trim to the geometry. We bill the loss as a line item.

What can and cannot be changed in a condo remodel?

Concrete ceilings, plumbing stacks, vent stacks, post-tension cables inside the slab, and the unit footprint are constraints you work within. Cutting through a slab requires a structural engineer review to avoid hitting a post-tension cable. You can reconfigure non-structural layouts, replace every finish surface, swap plumbing fixtures within the existing stack location, upgrade electrical, install Schluter Kerdi waterproofing in bathrooms, and open sightlines by removing non-bearing walls.

How long does a typical condo remodel take?

Single-room scope (kitchen or bathroom only): 6 to 10 weeks of construction after HOA approval and permit. Full unit renovation: 10 to 16 weeks. High-end full renovation with custom cabinetry and extensive reconfiguration: 16 to 24 weeks. Add 2 to 6 weeks of HOA approval before construction starts, plus permit lead time through the St. Petersburg Building Department. We provide a detailed schedule during pre-construction once HOA approval is in hand.

Do I need permits for a condo remodel?

Yes for any work involving structural changes, plumbing stack modifications, electrical, mechanical, or impact window replacement. Cosmetic-only refinishing typically doesn't trigger permits but still requires HOA approval and architectural review committee signoff. We handle all permitting through the St. Petersburg Building Department, schedule milestone inspections — rough-in, framing, drywall, final — and coordinate with the building's property manager so the inspector can access your unit.

Can you remodel a condo while I am living in it?

Single bathroom or kitchen-only scope: disruptive but livable with planning around your kitchen-out window. Full unit renovation: typically requires you to vacate. For snowbird owners, timing the project while you're up north between November and April is often the cleanest approach. We can work around occupancy when scope allows, but full-unit renovations with HVAC and electrical reconfiguration are difficult to live through safely.

What is your warranty on condo remodel work?

1-year bumper-to-bumper warranty on all workmanship. We carry insurance — general liability and workers' comp — that covers the work after handoff. The Schluter Kerdi waterproofing system used in our condo bathroom work carries a separate lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. For long-term clients, informal support extends well past the 1-year window — we still answer calls from owners we worked with 8 years ago.

Who is the best condo remodel contractor in St. Petersburg?

Revolution Contractors is a family-owned condo remodel contractor in St. Petersburg, licensed CRC1331628 and BC005541 — a commercial unlimited general contractor license that lets us legally pull permits on buildings of any height, including downtown St. Pete high-rises that most residential GCs can't touch. 20+ W-2 carpenters on payroll, four full-time supervisors, and direct experience across Downtown high-rises, Snell Isle waterfront, Old Northeast mid-rise conversions, Shore Acres, and Tierra Verde. Open-book Time and Materials with weekly budget reports. Free written estimate within 48 hours.

How much does a condo bathroom remodel cost in St. Petersburg?

A condo bathroom remodel in St. Petersburg typically runs $35,000 to $90,000 depending on finish tier, fixture replacement scope, and whether you're working over a concrete slab (which adds Schluter Kerdi waterproofing and structural engineer review on any slab penetration). High-rise units in Downtown St. Pete and Snell Isle waterfront buildings add HOA application fees, COI naming the association as additional insured, elevator reservations for every delivery, and impact-glazing review under Florida Building Code Section 1620 if the bathroom touches an exterior wall. Open-book Time and Materials with weekly budget reports — every cost as its own line item.

How does the condo board approval process work in St. Petersburg?

Most St. Pete condo boards approve a remodel package in 2 to 6 weeks. The package they require is consistent: stamped construction plans, finish schedule with model numbers, contractor license documentation, certificate of insurance naming the association as additional insured, waiver of subrogation, hold-harmless rider, and condo declaration review confirming the scope doesn't violate the building's rules. Some Downtown buildings pre-screen through an architectural review committee before the full board sees it; smaller Old Northeast or Shore Acres associations review the whole packet at one monthly meeting. We track every comment until approval — you don't field calls from the property manager.

How does Revolution Contractors price a condo remodel?

Open-book Time and Materials — every condo-specific logistics premium shows as its own line item on the weekly budget report, never buried in a lump-sum allowance. That means elevator fees, HOA application fees, structural engineer stamps for slab penetrations, Schluter Kerdi waterproofing in bathrooms, and Florida Building Code Section 1620 impact-glazing compliance each get a dedicated line. Full pricing-model mechanics — 30% markup on labor, 15% on materials, weekly reports, 90-95% budget certainty before construction — on our homepage pricing section (/services/home-remodel).

What are good condo living room remodel ideas in St. Petersburg?

The highest-impact moves for a St. Pete condo living room: open sightlines by removing non-bearing walls between living and dining (requires structural engineer review if the wall is questionable), drop a sleeper system into the concrete ceiling for thin-profile wafer can lights and fans where the slab won't accept standard surface-mount, run continuous flooring across the unit so the space reads larger, and reframe the kitchen-to-living transition for visual continuity. For waterfront units in Snell Isle, Old Northeast riverfront, or downtown Beach Drive towers, position the seating to the Gulf or Tampa Bay view first, then back-design lighting and millwork around the sightline.

How long does HOA approval take before condo construction can start?

HOA approval alone typically runs 2 to 6 weeks in most St. Petersburg buildings, separate from the 6 to 24 weeks of construction itself. Board meeting cadence is the gating factor — associations that meet monthly take longer than associations that meet weekly. Architectural review committees often pre-screen packages before the full board sees them, which can compress or extend the timeline depending on whether your scope triggers special review. After HOA approval is in hand, permits go through the St. Petersburg Building Department, which adds 2 to 4 weeks of lead time before construction can begin.

What should I look for in a condo remodel contractor?

For a St. Petersburg condo: a Florida commercial unlimited GC license (CRC or CBC class — residential-only contractors can't pull permits on buildings over 3 stories), in-house carpentry labor not just subcontractors, direct experience with HOA submittals at downtown towers and waterfront buildings, open-book pricing rather than lump-sum allowances, and proof of insurance that can name the association as additional insured with waiver of subrogation. Revolution Contractors meets all of it: CRC1331628 + BC005541, 20+ W-2 carpenters on payroll, family-owned since 2016 with nearly 20 years of combined construction and real estate experience across leadership, open-book Time and Materials with weekly budget reports.

Do you need a demo permit before condo remodel construction starts?

Yes for most St. Petersburg condo remodels — any work touching plumbing stacks, electrical service, mechanical systems, structural elements, or impact glazing triggers a demolition or alteration permit through the St. Petersburg Building Department, pulled in addition to the trade-specific permits for construction itself. Pre-demo, the building also typically requires HOA signoff on the demo plan, photographic documentation of common-area protection before debris moves, and elevator reservations for the demo phase separate from the construction phase. We handle all permitting and HOA coordination through pre-construction so the demo crew doesn't sit waiting on paperwork.

How does the HOA approval process work for a condo remodel in St. Pete?

Most St. Pete condo HOA approvals follow a consistent document set: stamped construction plans, finish schedule with model numbers, contractor license documentation, certificate of insurance naming the association as additional insured, waiver of subrogation, and hold-harmless rider. Approval timeline runs 2 to 6 weeks depending on whether the building has an architectural review committee pre-screen before the full board sees it. Board meeting cadence is the gating factor — monthly-meeting associations take longer than weekly ones. Revolution submits the complete package and tracks every comment until approval. You don't field calls from the property manager.

How much does a condo remodel cost in St. Petersburg?

Condo remodels in St. Petersburg run $200 to $400 per square foot depending on scope and finish tier. Single-room scope (kitchen or bathroom) typically runs $35,000 to $120,000 total. Full unit renovations run $250,000 to $600,000+. Condo-specific logistics add $20,000 to $60,000 in costs a house remodel doesn't carry: HOA application fees, elevator reservations, structural engineer stamps for any slab penetration, association COI requirements, and impact-glazing compliance under FBC Section 1620. Revolution prices every project on open-book Time and Materials — 30% markup on labor, 15% on materials — every logistics cost as its own line item on weekly budget reports. Free written estimate within 48 hours.

What does downtown St. Petersburg condo renovation actually involve?

Downtown St. Pete condo renovation involves layers a house project doesn't: a commercial unlimited GC license (required for buildings over 4 stories — most residential GCs can't pull permits in Beach Drive and Central Avenue towers), HOA board submittal and approval before permits can be issued, service elevator reservations for every material delivery and debris haul, noise-hour compliance (typically 9 AM to 5 PM weekdays only in most downtown buildings), common-area protection from your unit to the freight elevator, and post-tension cable scanning before any slab penetration. Revolution has worked across multiple downtown buildings and management companies. We know the timelines and the paperwork.

Do you do waterfront condo remodels in Pinellas County?

Yes — waterfront condo remodels are a significant part of Revolution's work. Snell Isle waterfront buildings, Shore Acres canal-front and AE-zone ground-floor units, Tierra Verde, Old Northeast riverfront, Vinoy waterfront, and the beach condos from St. Pete Beach through Indian Rocks Beach and Reddington Shores. Waterfront condo work adds salt-air material considerations (marine-grade stainless, PVD-coated hardware, closed-cell sealants at every envelope penetration), Florida Building Code Section 1620 impact-glazing requirements within one mile of coast, and FEMA AE-zone or VE-zone elevation-certificate review on any substantial-improvement work on ground-floor flood-zone units. Licensed CRC1331628 + BC005541. Free written estimate within 48 hours.

Do you do condo remodels in Snell Isle?

Yes. Snell Isle waterfront condo buildings are part of Revolution's regular work geography in St. Petersburg. Snell Isle waterfront units sit in FEMA AE flood zone per Pinellas County flood maps, which triggers elevation-certificate review on substantial-improvement work on ground-floor units. The HOA culture at Snell Isle waterfront buildings runs professional — formal board processes, architectural review committee pre-screening, and COI naming requirements consistent with larger downtown buildings. Salt-air corrosion is a constant on Snell Isle: we spec marine-grade stainless, solid-brass fixtures, and PVD-coated hardware on any unit that opens to the water. 20+ W-2 carpenters on payroll. Open-book Time and Materials with weekly budget reports.

What are the logistics challenges of a high-rise condo renovation?

High-rise condo renovation in St. Petersburg compresses every construction task through a narrow logistics window: service elevator reservations for every delivery and debris haul (missing a slot in a Downtown tower means a project sits idle a week), noise-hour restrictions that often limit productive time to 9 AM to 5 PM weekdays, common-area protection with quilted elevator pads and hallway runners from your unit to the freight elevator, post-tension cable scanning before any slab penetration (cutting a post-tension cable in a concrete high-rise is catastrophic and requires a structural engineer review first), and building management that tracks every contractor on-site and can stop work for a single noise complaint. Revolution runs a dedicated superintendent on every project to manage these layers. 20+ W-2 carpenters on payroll means the crew shows up every day without sub-scheduling gaps.

What are the elevator restrictions for condo remodel materials?

Service elevator size determines what can enter your unit without modification. If the elevator's longest interior dimension is 10 feet, 12-foot baseboards and casing have to be cut in the garage before loading — plan for roughly 15 percent material waste on long trim pieces, billed as a line item. Revolution coordinates service elevator reservations for every material delivery and debris haul, installs quilted padding before every load, and routes debris on a separate elevator window from material in. Most downtown St. Pete buildings require a separate reservation window for demo debris versus finish-material delivery. Scheduling gaps in the elevator reservation system — especially in larger buildings with multiple active remodels — can compress a productive day to a few hours. We account for this in the project schedule during pre-construction.

Does my condo HOA have to approve the remodel before work starts?

Yes. Every St. Petersburg condo building requires HOA or condo board approval before any permitted work begins — no exceptions across Downtown high-rises, Snell Isle waterfront, Old Northeast mid-rise conversions, Shore Acres, or Tierra Verde. The approval package includes stamped construction plans, finish schedule with model numbers, contractor license documentation, certificate of insurance naming the association as additional insured, waiver of subrogation, and hold-harmless rider. Revolution Contractors prepares and submits the entire package, tracks every board comment until approval, and coordinates with the property manager and architectural review committee. You don't field calls or push paperwork through the board.

Can Revolution handle all the condo association coordination for me?

Yes. Revolution submits the complete HOA package, tracks every board comment, and stays in direct contact with the property manager and architectural review committee until approval. During construction, we handle elevator reservations, common-area protection, noise-window compliance with the building's posted hours, neighbor notification before any jackhammering or impact-noise work, and weekly status reports to building management on scope and schedule. The owner doesn't drive board meetings, field property-manager calls, or sit in pre-screening reviews. Family-owned since 2016 with 20+ W-2 carpenters on payroll — one supervisor per project owns the building-side communication.

What are the noise and work-hour restrictions in St. Petersburg condo buildings?

Most St. Petersburg condo buildings restrict construction work to 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays only — no evenings, no weekends, no federal holidays — with high-impact work (jackhammering, slab cutting, demo) often limited to 9 AM to 4 PM and requiring written neighbor notification 24 to 48 hours in advance. Downtown St. Pete towers along Beach Drive and Central Avenue generally run the strictest schedules; smaller Old Northeast and Shore Acres buildings are typically more flexible. A single noise complaint can stop work for the day in larger downtown buildings. Revolution builds these windows into the construction schedule during pre-construction so the project doesn't lose productive days to the property manager.

Do you handle high-rise vs garden-condo remodels differently?

Yes — the work scope is similar but the logistics layer is different. High-rise condo remodels (Downtown St. Pete towers, Beach Drive, Central Avenue, taller Snell Isle waterfront buildings) require service elevator reservations for every delivery, post-tension cable scanning before any slab penetration, common-area protection from your unit to the freight elevator, and noise-window compliance that often limits productive time to 9 AM to 5 PM weekdays. Garden-condo and mid-rise remodels (older Old Northeast conversions, Shore Acres ground-floor, smaller Tierra Verde buildings) typically skip the elevator-reservation layer and the post-tension scan but still require HOA approval, COI naming the association, and quiet-hour compliance. Revolution's commercial unlimited GC license (CRC1331628 + BC005541) covers both — most residential contractors cannot pull permits on buildings over 4 stories.

What restrictions do most St. Petersburg HOAs impose on condo remodels?

The most common restrictions across St. Petersburg condo HOAs: work-hour limits (typically 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays, no weekends or holidays), flooring underlayment requirements above the unit below (acoustic underlayment specs vary by building), no relocating plumbing stacks or vent stacks, no penetrations through post-tension slab without structural engineer review, mandatory COI naming the association as additional insured with waiver of subrogation, architectural review committee pre-screening of finish selections in larger buildings, and elevator reservations booked through property management. Some Downtown towers also require pre-approved subcontractor lists and on-site superintendent presence whenever trades are working. Revolution reviews the building's specific declaration and house rules during pre-construction so nothing surprises the schedule mid-project.

Can you remodel a Downtown St. Petersburg condo on Beach Drive or Central Avenue?

Yes. Downtown St. Petersburg condo remodels — Beach Drive towers, Central Avenue mid-rises, the Vinoy area, and the taller Snell Isle waterfront buildings — are core work for Revolution. The licensing prerequisite is a commercial unlimited GC license, which covers buildings of any height; most residential-only contractors cannot legally pull permits in 4+ story buildings. Revolution holds CRC1331628 and BC005541. The work sequence: HOA approval package (2 to 6 weeks), permit through the St. Petersburg Building Department (3 to 6 weeks), demo phase with elevator reservations and common-area protection, construction within posted noise windows, milestone inspections with property-manager coordination so the inspector can access the unit, and final board sign-off before close-out. Direct experience across multiple downtown buildings and management companies.

How does Revolution bill condo-specific logistics costs that house remodels don't have?

Every logistics premium appears as its own line item on the weekly budget report — elevator fees, HOA application fees, neighbor-notification administrative time, structural engineer stamps for slab penetrations, parking permits, and common-area protection materials. When something the building causes adds time to the project, that time is billed as a line item, not absorbed in lump-sum overhead. As Jeremy Wharton, Revolution's owner, puts it: "If the elevator's longest dimension is 10 feet, we can't take 12-foot baseboards and casing without cutting them in the garage and losing 15 percent of materials — as long as we communicate that it's the best way logistically, it is what it is." Open-book Time and Materials with weekly budget reports means the owner sees the full picture before the line item compounds.

TESTIMONIALS

LOVED BY OUR CUSTOMERS

Nothing means more to us than making our clients happy, unless perhaps it is making them so happy they come back to us or refer us to their friends and family!

"We had multiple contractors tell us that our 100-year old bungalow in Old Southeast should be torn down instead of remodeled. Revolution worked with us on an extensive plan to rebuild structural components and remodel the entire house. Now we have the best house in the block!"

Sean K.
Old Southeast

"The guys at Revolution have done projects for us in two houses now. They added a master bathroom for us in northeast St Pete and then remodeled every square inch of a 4500-sq. ft house in Pinellas Pt. Through every challenge over two years of construction they have been there pushing our projects forward. We wouldn't use anybody else!"

Adlai G.
Pinellas Point

"Awesome company! I had Revolution Contractors do some work on my house and did an amazing job!!! The guys there are great to work with and very professional and knowledgeable on there work. I am very happy they way there work came out and will be getting more work done on my house from them."

Jason Shelton

"Find them to be very professional, provide sufficient info for bidding, easy to contact, and most importantly they pay good. All and all NuTrend really enjoys a very productive and lucrative relationship with Revolution Contractors would recommend them and do often"

David Silvia

"On a challenging structural project for an investment property Revolution saw me through all sorts of headaches with the building department and were able to carry off multiple layout changes with gorgeous results. They've done multiple projects for my family as well as my group of closest friends and are now working on my primary residence!"

Jan S.

"Revolution Contractors have helped my family on numerous projects, providing guidance and honesty throughout all projects. The crew is hardworking and reliable. The owners are quick to respond and very honest. Definitely would recommend!"

Rachel Webb
50 Five-Star Reviews
FL #CRC1331628 | #BC005541
20+ Years Combined Leadership
Licensed & Insured
Licensed carpenter installing a custom door - Contractors on Call small project service

SMALL JOBS. BIG STANDARDS.

Too Big for a Handyman. Too Small for Most Contractors.

Licensed carpenters for the repairs and small projects that are too important to trust to an unlicensed handyman. Same crew, same standards, smaller scope.

$75
Per Hour
2hr
Response Time
LEARN MORE
Interior view — condo remodel — completed project — downtown St. Petersburg — Revolution Contractors

SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION!