Remodeling, additions and controlled demolition

Reconfiguring what already exists is harder than building from scratch: you are working on top of someone else’s decisions, usually without drawings. That is why we always start with a survey.

Survey firstStructural reinforcementWork in occupied homes

ArquiVal remodels and extends houses, bungalows and condos in Banderas Bay and Puerto Vallarta: controlled demolition, structural reinforcement, space reconfiguration, systems upgrades and finishes. Every project starts with a survey of the existing building, because most houses in the area have no surviving drawings.

Remodeling, additions and controlled demolition

The survey is the first cost and the most profitable

Before touching a wall we survey the building: real dimensions, structural system, routing of services and slab condition. In a house without drawings, that survey is what separates a reliable budget from a list of surprises. It is also where the load-bearing walls nobody wanted to find turn up.

What we handle

Controlled demolition, with shoring where the structure calls for it.
Structural reinforcement: columns, beams, extended footings.
Opening up walls and removing partitions.
Extensions in plan or in height, with load capacity review.
Complete plumbing and electrical upgrades.
Bathroom and kitchen renovation, carpentry included.
New finishes over existing surfaces.

Working in an occupied house

When the client is still living there, the project gets sectioned: the work area is isolated, a site access is defined and hours are agreed. It is slower and costs more, and it is the only honest way to put it. Promising a full remodel that disrupts nobody is selling something that does not exist.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remodel?

It depends on scope. Work that touches neither structure nor façade usually does not; opening bearing walls, extending in plan or altering the façade does. On the first visit we tell you which case you are in, and if a permit is needed, we handle it.

Can any house be extended upward?

No. It depends on the existing foundation and structure. Some 1980s houses in Vallarta take another storey with no trouble; others would need reinforcement whose cost kills the project. That is determined in the survey, not in the quote.