Do you remodel homes in Bloomington?

Yes. We count Bloomington among the 18 south-metro cities we serve, and its postwar homes suit a design-build approach well. We work on both sides of town, from East Bloomington ramblers to West Bloomington split-levels and the homes along the river bluffs. It begins with a free consultation at your house, where we talk through your goals and what your home can realistically do.

What remodeling services do you offer in Bloomington?

Bloomington homeowners can hire us for kitchen and bathroom remodeling, whole-home remodels, home additions, and basement finishing and remodeling. One MDR team handles the design and the build, and you get a written price before work starts. If your plans combine two, such as a new kitchen and a finished lower level, we can run them as one job.

What kinds of Bloomington homes do you remodel most?

Postwar ramblers and split-levels, mostly from the 1950s and '60s, which make up so much of the city, plus 1970s and '80s two-stories in West Bloomington. In the older homes, the usual goals are an open kitchen, a second or larger bathroom and more living space below or behind the house. If you plan to stay for the long haul, we can also build in bathroom features for aging in place.

Do I need a permit to remodel in Bloomington?

Yes, for most projects that go past cosmetic work. Removing walls, rerouting plumbing, adding circuits and finishing a basement all generally call for permits. Building permits and inspections come from the City of Bloomington, and our team pulls each permit and schedules the inspections for you. Any below-grade bedroom needs a code-compliant egress window. Additions also need zoning approval covering setbacks, lot coverage and height, and usually a survey.

Our Bloomington basement was finished decades ago. Is it worth redoing?

Usually, yes. A lower level finished in the '60s or '70s can hide thin insulation, dated wiring and old moisture damage behind the paneling. We strip it back, fix moisture first, then rebuild with better light and a layout that works. Test for radon too; state health officials estimate that about 2 in 5 homes in Minnesota have radon at a level that poses a significant health risk. For open finished space, the ballpark is $35k to $70k.

How do I get started?

Book a free consultation. We'll look at your space, talk through ideas, and put together a plan and budget that fit. Call 952-846-8115 or reach out online.

Bloomington Remodeling Contractor & Home Remodeler

Finished basement with a stone fireplace by MDR Design-Build-Remodel

Local Remodeling in Bloomington

Making Bloomington's 1950s and '60s homes work for today

Bloomington grew from about 10,000 residents in 1950 to more than 50,000 by 1960, and much of the city still reflects that rush. East Bloomington is full of 1950s ramblers on gridded blocks. West Bloomington filled in a little later with split-levels, larger two-stories and hillier lots, some of them out toward Hyland Lake Park Reserve. Along the river bluffs on the south side, sloping lots give some homes a walkout lower level.

Ramblers from that era were built small and simple: a closed kitchen, one bathroom and a basement meant for storage. The usual wish list today has three items: a kitchen open to the living room, a second bath or a real primary suite, and more space, either by finishing the basement or building an addition. In West Bloomington, the split-levels and two-stories mostly need kitchens, baths and lower levels brought forward from the 1970s and '80s.

The City of Bloomington handles building permits, and its inspectors sign off on the work at key stages under the Minnesota State Building Code. None of that paperwork lands on you: we pull the permits and put each inspection on the schedule. For additions, the city's zoning rules on setbacks, lot coverage and height come into play, and a property survey is often required. A large share of homes here were built before 1978, so lead paint is a real possibility, and as an EPA Lead-Safe certified remodeler we plan for it. Aging plumbing and wiring are common finds as well, so we budget for them up front.

Older houses are where a single design-build team pays off. When the same people design, price and build your remodel, whatever is likely hiding in a 1950s wall is part of the plan from the start. You get one written price before construction and one point of contact throughout. If you are comparing remodeling contractors in Bloomington, ask each one who owns the design, the permits and the build. With us, it is one team.

Book a Consultation 952-846-8115

Know Your Bloomington Home

What Bloomington's ramblers and split-levels usually need

Most Bloomington homes were built between the 1950s and the 1970s, and they tend to share the same few needs.

East Bloomington ramblers

Expect compact rooms, a kitchen walled off from the living room and often a single full bath. Opening the kitchen means checking whether the wall is load-bearing and rerouting whatever runs through it. A second bathroom can sometimes fit in the basement or a borrowed closet. Ballpark for a full mid-range kitchen: $45k to $85k.

Adding on to a one-story home

A rambler gives you several ways to grow: a bump-out for a bigger kitchen, a primary suite off the back, or a full second story. Zoning review, a survey and structural engineering come first, so you know what the lot and the house can handle. Ballpark: $90k to $180k for a bump-out or single room. Suites and second stories run $180k and up.

West Bloomington split-levels

Mostly built from the 1960s through the '80s, often on hillier lots, these homes have a lower family room and sometimes a walkout. Kitchens and baths are usually first on the list. Downstairs, moisture control, insulation and better light come before new finishes. Plan on a ballpark of $25k to $50k to redo a full or primary bath.

Our Services in Bloomington