Major Renovations and Full Home Remodels in the Texas Hill Country
We take on large-scale renovations and full home remodels that improve flow, function, finish quality, and everyday comfort without losing sight of the home's character.
Last updated August 15, 2026
Whole-Home Transformations with Lasting Value
Riverbend Hill Country Homes takes on major renovations, full home remodels, and larger additions for homeowners in Austin, Dripping Springs, and surrounding Texas Hill Country communities. We improve flow, function, finish quality, and everyday comfort while respecting the character of the home. Our featured project, a whole-home transformation in San Marcos rebuilt from the slab and studs upward, shows the standard.
The Renovation Work We Take On
Our focus is substantial residential work: whole-home remodels, major single-area renovations, and additions that feel fully integrated with the original home.
Full Home Remodels
Whole-home transformations that rework flow, systems, and finishes together, so the finished home feels complete rather than patched.
See the San Marcos project →Kitchens, Suites, and Targeted Remodels
Concentrated, finish-heavy remodels of the rooms that matter most, planned and executed with the same care as a whole-home project.
See our process →Large Additions
Expanded living space that feels like it belongs to the original home, with architectural continuity and honest structural integration.
Book a feasibility call →
Remodeling Is Surgery, Not Assembly
Building new starts from a clean site. Remodeling integrates new work into an existing structure while parts of the home keep functioning, which is closer to surgery than assembly. It rewards planning, structural honesty, and a builder who tells the truth about what demolition may reveal.
- Selective demolition that protects everything staying in place.
- Structural changes engineered and integrated into the existing load paths.
- New systems joined cleanly to existing plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.
- Honest contingency planning: at least 20 percent on top of base scope.
Why Homeowners Choose to Transform Rather Than Move
For most Hill Country homeowners, the remodel-versus-move decision is not really a construction cost question. It is a question about location. Mature live oaks, ridge views, creek frontage, an established neighborhood, and the years a family has put into a property are often the highest-value assets they own, and none of them can be rebuilt somewhere else.
That is why so many homeowners on irreplaceable properties choose the remodel path even when the construction math looks unfavorable on paper. The comparison is not building cost against building cost. It is the cost of preserving an irreplaceable asset against the cost of trying to recreate one.
When the structure genuinely fights every change, we say so, because building new is sometimes the wiser path. Our job in the first conversation is to give you a straight read on which category your home is in.
What a Major Renovation Costs
In our published planning ranges for the Dripping Springs and broader Hill Country market, a substantial whole-home luxury remodel typically runs $400 to $800 per square foot of remodeled area, depending on finish level, structural work, and the complexity of integrating new systems. Ultra-luxury work with imported finishes and bespoke millwork can exceed $1,000 per square foot.
Targeted single-area remodels, such as kitchens and primary baths, typically run $500 to $1,200 per square foot because the work is concentrated and finish-heavy. Substantial additions typically run $450 to $750 per square foot, sitting between new-construction and full-remodel pricing.
Remodels also deserve honest contingency planning, because even the most thorough inspection cannot see behind finished walls. We recommend at least a 20 percent contingency on top of base scope, and 25 to 30 percent for homes built before 1990. The contingency belongs to the project and to you, and any unused portion stays yours.
How We Run a Remodel
A substantial whole-home remodel typically runs 12 to 24 months, and a targeted single-area remodel usually runs 4 to 9 months. We build the schedule from your actual project and keep it honest as the work proceeds.
When demolition reveals a hidden condition, and on older homes it usually reveals something, we document it before touching it, give you a written assessment with real options, and pause related work until you have chosen a path. No verbal change agreements, and no surprises absorbed silently into a monthly bill.
Our featured San Marcos project shows what this approach produces: a 3,100 square foot home rebuilt from the foundation upward over sixteen months, with the foundation professionally leveled, the rear elevation reengineered for expansive glass, all-new mechanical systems, and finish work carried through every room.
"The quality of work, professionalism, reliability, communication, and attention to detail has been incredible."
Questions About Renovations and Remodels
Do you handle full home remodels?
Yes. Major renovations and full home remodels are a core part of our work, alongside custom homes, guest houses, casitas, and larger additions. Our featured portfolio project is a whole-home transformation in San Marcos, Texas.
How much does a whole-home remodel cost in the Hill Country?
In our published planning ranges, a substantial whole-home remodel typically runs $400 to $800 per square foot of remodeled area, and ultra-luxury work can exceed $1,000. Targeted single-area remodels typically run $500 to $1,200 per square foot. The scope and finish level decide the real number.
How long does a major renovation take?
A substantial whole-home remodel typically runs 12 to 24 months, and targeted single-area remodels usually run 4 to 9 months, depending on scope, conditions, and selections.
How much contingency should I plan for?
At least 20 percent on top of base scope, and 25 to 30 percent for homes built before 1990. Hidden conditions such as foundation movement, aging plumbing, and undersized electrical are common discoveries, and honest contingency protects the finish quality.
Is it cheaper to remodel or build new?
On pure construction cost, building new is often slightly less expensive per square foot than a substantial remodel. But the full cost of moving includes selling costs, land, and the impossibility of replacing mature trees, views, and an established location. For most homeowners on irreplaceable properties, remodeling protects more value than moving creates.
How do you handle surprises during construction?
We document the condition before touching it, give you a written assessment with real options and costs, and pause related work until you choose a path. Changes are agreed in writing before the work happens.
Do you build additions?
Yes. We build larger additions designed to feel fully integrated with the original home, maintaining architectural continuity while improving usability and square footage.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Austin, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood, and surrounding Texas Hill Country communities.
Considering a Major Renovation?
If you are working through what your home will and will not support, we are glad to walk the property and talk through scope without a pitch attached. Most of these conversations start with coffee and a tape measure.