Why We Renovate

When we started Douglas & Company back in 2018, we made the conscious decision to focus primarily on a sector of the building industry in our area that was seriously lacking, which was large-scale renovations and remodeling.

Though there is an explosion of growth in terms of new residential developments within the last 10 years or so, Coastal Delaware is also home to a number of historic towns with houses dating back to the turn of the 20th century and earlier. There are also many neighborhoods that sprang up in the 70s, 80s and 90s as people began moving outward into Sussex County from the small towns and new residents began discovering this area. All of these homes eventually need upgrades, refurbishing, remodeling and renovations.

Most contractors with even the slightest experience in this industry can build a new home…it is a linear, predictible process with the order of operation being essentially the same with every build, even if each home varies in scale and complexity.

Large scale renovations, especially of older homes, are a much different beast than new construction and not all construction companies are qualifed to take on the challenges that may arise, such as unforeseen structural issues, rot, sub-par construction, settlement, outdated electrical and plumbing, just to name a few. There is also the challenge of making sure newly designed spaces meld aesthically with the existing structure.

Douglas & Company has brought together a team of qualified Designers, Engineers, Project Managers, Carpenters, Office Support and Trade Partners who have the experience, patience, imagination and drive to tackle the complexities renovations and remodels can bring. Are these projects harder to handle than new construction? Absolutely…but they are also more rewarding in the end! We are drawn to these projects because we like a challenge. Whether is entails saving an old house from demolition, making upgrades to a house that will allow a growing family to remain in a home they love rather than sell and move into a new home or simply refreshing a dated design to bring it into the 21st century, we get great satisfaction in these challenges and take pleasure in the teamwork it takes for the success of each project.