Answers
Straight answers for Delaware homeowners
Permits, licensing, timelines, insurance claims and budgets — the questions we answer on the phone every week, written down so you can read them before you call anyone.
- Permits & CodeDo I need a permit to remodel in Delaware?Yes for most projects. In Delaware, any work that changes structure, electrical, plumbing, mechanical systems or the building envelope requires a permit from your local authority — the City of Newark, New Castle County, the City of Dover, Kent County or your town. Cosmetic work such as painting, flooring, or replacing a fixture in the same location generally does not.Read the answer
- Hiring a ContractorHow do I check a Delaware contractor's license and insurance?Delaware requires contractors to hold a State of Delaware business license and to register with the Division of Revenue. Ask for the license number, a certificate of general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage sent directly from the insurance agent, and confirm the business name on those documents matches the name on your contract.Read the answer
- ProcessHow long does a remodel take in Delaware?Once construction starts, a bathroom typically takes three to five weeks, a kitchen six to ten weeks, a finished basement four to twelve weeks, and a roof one to three days. Add four to twelve weeks before that for design, permits and material lead times, which is where most schedules are actually won or lost.Read the answer
- RestorationWhat should I do first after water damage?Stop the water at the source or the main shutoff, cut power to affected areas if it is safe to reach the panel, move belongings out of the water, photograph and video everything before touching anything, then call your insurer and a restoration contractor. Drying should begin within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.Read the answer
- RestorationHow does a fire damage insurance claim work?After the fire department releases the property, notify your insurer immediately, secure the structure against weather and entry, document everything before cleanup, and let your contractor write a detailed scope of loss for the adjuster. Most policies also pay additional living expenses while your home is uninhabitable.Read the answer
- BudgetHow do people pay for remodeling in Delaware?Most Delaware remodels are funded through contractor financing, a home equity loan or HELOC, a cash-out refinance, or savings. Dream Craft Builders offers flexible financing on projects of all sizes, which lets homeowners do the structural and waterproofing work correctly rather than deferring it.Read the answer
- ProcessWhat is a design-build contractor?A design-build contractor handles both the design and the construction under one contract, so one company is accountable for the drawings, the budget and the finished work. The traditional alternative splits those roles between an architect and a separately hired builder.Read the answer
- ProcessWhen is the best time of year to remodel in Delaware?Interior projects — kitchens, bathrooms and basements — can run any month, and winter is often the easiest time to get on a Delaware contractor's schedule. Exterior work such as roofing, additions and siding is best from late spring through fall, and spring is the most heavily booked season of the year.Read the answer
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