Lake Forest Homes
Home Builder in Lake Forest, CA for Kitchens and Additions
Hardey Builds is a home builder in Lake Forest, CA for homes from the lakeside neighborhoods to the foothill communities, with kitchens, additions and ADUs. Call (562) 257-8121 to schedule a consultation.
From El Toro to the Foothills
Working as a Home Builder in Lake Forest, CA Communities
Lake Forest became a city on December 20, 1991. Before that, the area was called El Toro. Residents voted on the new name, which comes from two man made lakes. Condos and custom homes line their shores, near the Beach and Tennis Club and the Sun and Sail Club.
Even the forest was planted. Dwight Whiting set out eucalyptus groves near Serrano Creek in the early 1900s. Homes were built among the trees in the late 1960s.
In 2000, voters added Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills, two planned communities on the northeast edge. That gives a home builder in Lake Forest, CA a wide range of houses. Some are older homes near the lakes. Others are newer homes in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.
Kitchen Remodeling in Lake Forest and Whole Home Updates
Kitchen remodeling in Lake Forest often means replacing a builder grade kitchen from the original tract or planned community with one composed for the way you cook and entertain. Our kitchen remodeling service plans the layout, cabinets, counters and lighting together, so the room works as one design instead of a set of separate upgrades. A hand-set tile backsplash and layered lighting finish the space.
For larger changes, our home remodeling work can rework an entire floor plan. Families who need more space can add a primary suite or a home office with a home addition, or build an ADU for a parent, a grown child or rental income. The northeast end of the city rises into the foothills, and a sloped lot affects where an addition or ADU can go, so we study the site before any design begins.
Since 2005
Permits
Lake Forest Building and Safety Permits for Remodels
The Lake Forest Building and Safety Services Division reviews construction plans, issues building permits and inspects new construction and remodeling across the city. A building permit is required for any project that alters a structure, and plumbing, electrical, mechanical and demolition work fall under building permits as well.
Grading is separate. Work covered by the city's grading chapter needs its own grading permit, which can apply on sloped foothill lots or when an addition changes how water drains. Inspections are requested through the city's online portal or by calling Building and Safety. Eligible rooftop solar systems can be approved through SolarAPP+, an online review open only to licensed contractors.
As a contractor in Lake Forest, Hardey Builds holds California Contractor License #864044 and handles both permits and inspections. Our permit assistance prepares the submittal, responds to plan check comments and schedules each visit, so the project moves without you chasing paperwork.
Home Remodeling in Lake Forest Planned Communities
Home remodeling in Lake Forest often starts with two sets of rules, not one. Many homes sit in planned communities with a homeowners association, and an association may have its own design guidelines for exterior colors, windows, roofs and additions. The city's permit comes after those are met.
We plan for both from the start. During your private consultation, we ask about your association and look at what its guidelines may require. Then we prepare drawings that suit the association and the city, so neither review sends the design back to the start.
Inside the house, the work is about how you live now. We open kitchens to family rooms, update baths, add storage and replace worn floors and finishes. Our roots in tile and finish work show in the details, from a clean backsplash to a well set shower floor. Energy saving upgrades, such as better windows and insulation, can also make an older home more comfortable year round.
South County Towns Near Lake Forest We Serve
Lake Forest sits in the Saddleback Valley, with Interstate 5 along its western border and State Route 241 passing through Foothill Ranch. El Toro Road crosses the whole city, and Heritage Hill Historical Park keeps the Serrano Adobe from 1863.
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park lies in the eastern part of the city, and the freeways make the coast and the rest of Orange County an easy drive. As a home builder in Lake Forest, CA, we bring the same planning and care to each of these nearby cities. Each one runs its own building department, and we learn its steps before the first drawing goes in.
Lake Forest Building and Remodeling Questions
Monday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
(562) 257-8121Does a Lake Forest remodel need a separate grading permit?
Sometimes. A building permit covers work that alters a structure, but grading covered by the city's grading chapter needs its own permit. That can apply when an addition or ADU on a sloped lot near the foothills moves soil or changes drainage. Hardey Builds reviews the site early and applies for both permits when needed.
How are inspections scheduled for a Lake Forest permit?
Lake Forest inspections are requested through the city's online portal or by calling Building and Safety. On projects Hardey Builds manages, we request each inspection when the work is ready, meet the inspector at the house and handle any corrections. That keeps the job moving and spares you from tracking each step yourself.
Can a condo near the Lake Forest lakes be remodeled?
Yes. Condos and custom homes near the two lakes can be remodeled with the right permits. A condo often needs approval from its homeowners association before work begins, especially for changes to walls, plumbing or windows. We help gather the plans and details the association asks for, then submit to the city once that approval is in place.
Start in Lake Forest
Plan Your Lake Forest Kitchen or Addition With Hardey Builds
Whether your home looks out on a lake or up at the Santa Ana Mountains, a well planned remodel can make it fit the way your family lives today. Our line is open daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM for anyone ready to schedule a private consultation, or explore the other cities on our service areas list.