Real cost ranges for Washington, DC, priced in USD. Every row is what homeowners actually spend across the scope spectrum — the low end is a pull-and-replace on the existing footprint, the high end is a full custom build with premium finishes.
~1 min readUpdated 19 Apr 2026
Cabinets, counters, appliances, and plumbing/electrical updates drive the range. The top of the band reflects full layout changes and premium finishes; the bottom holds for pull-and-replace scopes on the existing footprint.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCTile, fixtures, and waterproofing are the big drivers. Primary and ensuite bathrooms with walk-in showers or freestanding tubs sit near the top of the band; hall baths come in closer to the bottom.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCDetached units and garage conversions vary most by square footage, foundation type, and utility runs. Where local law does not recognize ADUs, this row maps to the nearest annex / granny-flat / laneway equivalent.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCWhole-home scope covers all trades plus permitting, structural, MEP, and finishes. Historic properties, listed buildings, and seismic-retrofit markets sit well above the median.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCMaterial choice (asphalt shingle, tile, standing-seam metal, membrane) dominates the range. Pitch, access, and city-specific wind/fire codes add the rest.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCComposite decking, hardwood, pavers, and concrete slab are the main price bands. Elevated decks and outdoor-kitchen integrations push the high end.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCFraming, insulation, egress windows, and waterproofing move together. Adding a bathroom or full kitchen pushes the cost well above the base finish scope.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCGunite, vinyl-liner, and fiberglass each have distinct price bands. Spa integration, water features, and decking lift the top of the range.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCPrep work (siding repair, pressure wash, priming) is the hidden driver. Coastal and high-UV markets use specialty coatings that cost more but last longer.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCHardwood, LVP, tile, and stone span a wide range. Subfloor repair and leveling for old construction add meaningful cost on top of the finish material.
Scope yours with Baily in Washington DCAsk Baily about your Washington DC remodel and you will not be passed around. The District of Columbia is the most historic-district-blanketed jurisdiction in the United States — more than 50 designated Historic Districts cover roughly 20 percent of the city, and the DC Historic Preservation Review Board holds concurrent jurisdiction with DC DOB on every Landmark-adjacent permit. Row-house party-wall engineering, the DC Green Building Act, and DC's specific contractor-endorsement regime further complicate what sites like Angi treat as a generic handyman market. A Federal-era row house in Georgetown, an Italianate on Capitol Hill, a Victorian in Dupont Circle and a new-construction condo in Navy Yard each answer to different rulebooks, different structural-engineering pathways and different energy-code obligations. Baily holds that context. We introduce one Baily-vetted DC builder who holds DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) Home Improvement Contractor registration and General Contractor/Construction Manager endorsement, who engages DC-licensed electricians and plumbers, and who has presented before the Historic Preservation Review Board. One pro per homeowner. No twelve strangers. The builder we introduce is the builder who walks the final inspection with you.
Read the full Washington DC guideCost ranges are only half the picture. See how one-builder scoping compares to a bid fan-out before you talk to either.
Tell Baily what you are planning. You will get one vetted local builder, not a pool of strangers. No lead auction, no resold contact details.
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