Do you remodel homes in Cottage Grove?

Yes. Even though Cottage Grove sits across the Mississippi in Washington County, it is well within the area we serve from Farmington. We take on projects all over the city, from the original Thompson Grove streets to newer neighborhoods near East Ravine. Your first step is a free consultation: we come out, look at the space and talk honestly about what your project will involve.

What remodeling services do you offer in Cottage Grove?

We are a full-service remodeling contractor in Cottage Grove, covering kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, whole-home remodeling, home additions, and basement finishing and remodeling. Every project is planned and built by one design-build team, and you get one written price before construction begins, so you know the scope and the number up front.

What kinds of Cottage Grove homes do you remodel most?

A wide mix, because the city's housing covers so many decades. The late-1950s and '60s ramblers and split-levels around Thompson Grove usually need an opened-up kitchen and a rebuilt bath. The '70s and '80s split-entries benefit from a brighter lower level. Newer two-stories mostly call for upgraded builder-grade kitchens and primary baths, plus a finished basement.

Do I need a permit to remodel in Cottage Grove?

For most work beyond cosmetic updates, yes. Projects that remove walls, change plumbing or wiring, or turn a basement into living space generally need permits, and the City of Cottage Grove handles building permits and inspections. We take care of pulling the permits and scheduling inspections. Basement bedrooms need a code-compliant egress window. An addition also has to clear the zoning rules on setbacks, lot coverage and height, and a survey of your lot often comes first.

We own a 1960s rambler in Thompson Grove. What should we plan for?

Mostly what is behind the walls. Paint from before 1978 can contain lead, which is one reason our EPA Lead-Safe certification matters in this neighborhood. Original plumbing and wiring may need updating, and an older electrical panel may not handle a new kitchen. Basements of that age need moisture and radon checked before finishing. We look at all of it during design, so your written price reflects the real job.

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.

Cottage Grove Remodeling Contractor & Home Remodeler

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

Local Remodeling in Cottage Grove

Home remodeling in Cottage Grove, from 1950s ramblers to new builds

Cottage Grove stayed mostly farmland until the late 1950s, when the ramblers and split-levels of Thompson Grove began going up. Growth continued through the 1970s and '80s with split-entries and two-stories, then newer subdivisions through the 1990s and 2000s. Today the newest homes are rising in the East Ravine area. The Mississippi River runs along part of the city's edge, and on sloped lots some houses have walkout basements.

Every era comes with its own list. The 1950s and '60s homes often need the most behind-the-walls work: closed kitchens, original baths, and plumbing and wiring that have been patched for decades. The '70s and '80s split-entries tend to have a dark lower level and a kitchen that could open up. Homes from the 1990s on usually have workable layouts but builder-grade finishes, and many still have unfinished basements, which makes finishing the lower level one of the most useful projects in town.

The City of Cottage Grove issues building permits and inspects the work, with the Minnesota State Building Code as the standard. We pull the permits, then schedule the inspections as the work moves along. Any basement bedroom needs a code-compliant egress window. When you add on, the city's zoning review looks at setbacks, lot coverage and height, often measured against a property survey. Lots near the river can sit inside the state's Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area, with added rules for building near the bluffs.

Whatever the age of your house, it helps to have one remodeling contractor responsible from start to finish. MDR designs the project, gives you a single written price before construction, and builds it with the team that planned it. You always know who to call, and the plan you approved is the plan that gets built.

Book a Consultation 952-846-8115

Know Your Cottage Grove Home

Remodeling Cottage Grove homes from every decade

Cottage Grove's houses span more than sixty years of building. Here is what each era tends to ask for.

Thompson Grove ramblers and splits

Built from the late 1950s through the 1960s, these homes have compact kitchens, small baths and basements that were often left plain. Typical projects include taking down the kitchen wall, rebuilding the main bath and adding a family room or bathroom downstairs. Older wiring, plumbing and foundation moisture all get checked before anything is priced.

'70s and '80s split-entries

The split-entry layout puts the main living space upstairs and a partly buried level below, usually with bigger windows than a true basement. That lower level can become a family room, a guest bedroom with proper egress or a second bath. Upstairs, opening the kitchen to the dining area makes the whole floor feel larger.

Newer homes, unfinished basements

Many homes from the 1990s onward, including new builds around East Ravine, came with an unfinished lower level. That is often the most affordable living space you can add. Ballpark: $35k to $70k for open finished space, or $70k to $110k if you add a bath and wet bar. Test for radon first; about 2 in 5 Minnesota homes have levels that pose a significant health risk, according to the state Department of Health.

Our Services in Cottage Grove