Hours vary Portland (207) 544-3126
Woodhouse Builders LLC
New Construction and Remodeling Built the Right Way

Portland Local

New Construction and Remodeling Built the Right Way

Woodhouse Builders LLC handles everything from ground-up new builds to full home renovations across Greater Cumberland County.

Call now(207) 544-3126
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New Builds and Remodeling From One Contractor

Choosing between buying and building a home is a real question right now, and the honest answer depends on what you actually want out of a property. A new build gives you control over layout, materials, and systems from day one. A full renovation lets you stay in a neighborhood you already know while getting a house that works the way you need it to. Woodhouse Builders LLC handles both, and Scotty Woodhouse is the contractor on your job either way. No handoffs, no guessing who's responsible. Call (207) 544-3126 and we'll talk through which direction makes sense for your situation.

New construction and remodeling are related work, but they price and plan differently. A new build starts with site prep, permitting, framing, and systems rough-ins before a single finish detail gets chosen. A full home remodeling project works around existing structure, which means the condition of what's already there drives the scope. Older homes in Maine's housing stock often have surprises behind the walls: outdated wiring, subfloor rot, insulation that hasn't done its job in twenty years. The cost range on projects this size is wide by nature, and any contractor who quotes you a firm number on a remodel before seeing what's under the surface is guessing. Every job is different. Contact Woodhouse Builders LLC for an accurate estimate.

Residential Construction Scotty Woodhouse Actually Handles

01

New Builds

Ground-up residential construction from permitting through final walkthrough. We manage framing, systems coordination, and finish work without handing the job off partway through.

02

Full Home Remodeling

Gut renovations and large-scale home renovations that change how a house functions, not just how it looks. Layout changes, structural work, and full finish packages handled under one contract.

03

Kitchen Remodeling

High-ticket, high-use space. Cabinets, counters, layout, plumbing rough-in, tile, and lighting all have to work together. We plan the sequence so finish work isn't undone by a trade that should have run first.

04

Basement Remodeling

Converting unfinished basement space into livable square footage is one of the highest-return projects in Maine's older homes. Basement remodeling starts with moisture and then moves to framing, insulation, and finish.

05

Deck Installation

Maine summers are short. A deck installation that drags past August is a problem. We permit, build, and finish decks on a schedule that gives you the season you paid for.

06

Carpentry and Finish Work

Built-ins, trim, doors, and detail work that separate a construction project from a finished home. Scotty's background in carpentry shows up in the stuff most builders skip or rush.

How We Work

How a Residential Construction Project Runs

New builds and major renovations follow the same three-phase logic, regardless of scope.

  1. 01

    Scope and Permit

    We review the project, pull permits where required, and set a realistic timeline before any work starts. No surprises on scope, no starting without the right approvals.

  2. 02

    Structural and Systems

    Framing, rough-ins, and any structural changes happen before finish work begins. This is where the condition of the existing structure matters most on renovation projects.

  3. 03

    Finish and Walkthrough

    Flooring, tile installation, trim, paint, and final fixtures. We walk through the completed work with you before the job is closed out.

Maine Specifics

What Maine Homes Actually Require

  1. 01

    Older Framing and Systems

    Homes built before 1980 in this region regularly have knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized supply lines, and balloon framing. A remodel that doesn't account for that isn't a real remodel. We flag these before they become change orders.

  2. 02

    Moisture and Insulation

    Maine winters drive moisture into walls and attic spaces in ways that southern contractors don't plan for. Insulation spec and vapor management aren't optional on a project that has to perform here.

  3. 03

    Permit and Code

    Code requirements differ between municipalities in Cumberland County. We've worked across Scarborough, Falmouth, Westbrook, and surrounding towns. We know what each town's building department expects and we pull the right permits.

What Drives Cost on a New Build or Major Renovation

Scope is everything. These four factors move the number more than anything else.

  1. 01

    Square Footage and Layout Complexity

    A straightforward rectangular footprint costs less per square foot than an addition with multiple rooflines, bump-outs, or a basement that has to be excavated.

  2. 02

    Existing Condition

    On renovations, the condition behind walls, under floors, and in the attic determines how much demo and remediation runs before finish work can begin. This is the hardest line item to estimate without opening things up.

  3. 03

    Finish Level and Materials

    Finish choices matter more on residential construction than most homeowners expect.

  4. 04

    Permit and Site Requirements

    Engineered plans, soil studies, and municipal review add real cost and real time on larger projects. Every job is different. Contact Woodhouse Builders LLC for an accurate estimate.

Serving Greater Cumberland County

Woodhouse Builders LLC works on residential construction and remodeling projects throughout Greater Cumberland County and the surrounding region. We cover the full project, not just the easy parts.

Talk to Scotty About Your Project

New build or full renovation, the first conversation costs nothing.

Call now (207) 544-3126 Call Scotty Now

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to buy or build a home in Greater Cumberland County right now?
It depends on what you're comparing. New construction gives you no deferred maintenance, current code compliance, and the layout you actually want. Buying existing means faster occupancy and lower upfront cost, but older Maine homes often carry five to fifteen years of deferred maintenance that shows up in your first two winters. If you're looking at a lot in Cumberland County, call us before you decide. We can walk through what a new build on that lot would realistically cost versus a renovation on a comparable existing property.
What types of residential construction does Woodhouse Builders handle?
Ground-up new construction, full gut renovations, additions, major kitchen and bathroom remodels, basement finishing, deck construction, and exterior work including siding. We don't subcontract the core work to crews we don't supervise. Scotty manages the project from framing through finish. If a trade requires a licensed sub, that sub is vetted and coordinated by us, not handed off.
How long does a full home renovation take in Maine?
A full gut renovation on a 1,500 to 2,000 square foot home typically runs four to six months from permit approval to final walkthrough. That timeline shifts based on the condition of the existing structure, the finish level you choose, and how quickly decisions on materials get made. Permitting in Cumberland County municipalities adds two to six weeks before construction can start on larger projects. We give you a realistic schedule before work begins, not an optimistic one.
What do you find most often inside older Maine homes that changes a renovation scope?
Knob-and-tube wiring is the most common issue in homes built before 1950. After that, galvanized steel supply lines that are either already failing or need replacing before walls close, and subfloor rot in bathrooms and exterior wall connections. Asbestos wrap on heating pipes shows up in homes from the 1940s through the 1970s. None of these are reasons to avoid a renovation. They are reasons to budget for them before the demo starts, not after.
Do I need an architect before hiring a general contractor for new construction?
For a simple residential new build, a set of engineered drawings is typically required for permit, but a full architectural engagement is often not. We can work from your concept plans and coordinate the engineering needed for permit submission. On more complex custom builds or projects with significant site constraints, bringing an architect in early saves rework. We'll tell you on the first call whether your project scope requires that step.
Can one contractor handle both the structural work and the finish work, or should I hire separately?
We handle both. Splitting structural and finish work between contractors creates coordination gaps that almost always produce problems: a plumber runs a line in the wrong chase, finish flooring goes down before a structural fix is completed, or no one owns the punch list at the end. Woodhouse Builders carries the project from framing through flooring and drywall repair to final trim. One contract, one point of contact, one person accountable for the whole job.

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