Certified Building Contractor CBC1265305 · Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1334811
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling in Washington Park, FL
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling for homes in Washington Park and the surrounding area — permitted, inspected and closed out. Free estimate.
Start a kitchen or bath project in Washington Park by sorting out the permit path. In Florida, a permit is typically required when plumbing is relocated or added, when electrical circuits or devices are added or moved, when mechanical or exhaust changes are made, or when walls are altered — while a strict like-for-like fixture swap or a straight cabinet replacement often is not permitted. The local city or county building department issues those permits and schedules the inspections, so confirm your scope with the Broward County building department before anyone opens a wall.
We handle kitchen and bathroom remodels here as a single managed project: layout changes, tub-to-shower conversions, shower waterproofing and accessibility upgrades, with the permits for plumbing, electrical and wall changes handled as part of the job. Final Touch Builders contracts the work under Florida Certified Building Contractor license CBC1265305, a state certification verifiable on the Florida DBPR website. Under s. 489.113(3), Florida Statutes, a building contractor subcontracts plumbing work to licensed trade contractors, so the plumbing itself is performed by our Florida-licensed plumbing subcontractors, who pull that trade's permit.
Washington Park's housing is predominantly modest single-family homes built from the 1950s through the 1970s, largely concrete block with stucco. In block homes of that age, supply and drain lines have been in service for decades, and a bathroom a few miles inland from the Atlantic lives in high year-round humidity, so hidden water damage and mold can sit behind old tile until the tile comes off. That is why demolition day, not design day, is when a realistic scope gets written.
Permits, inspections and close-out in Washington Park
Here is the order it normally runs. First, scope: permits are typically required when plumbing is relocated or added, when electrical circuits or devices are added or moved, when exhaust or mechanical changes are made, or when walls are altered — licensed plumbing and electrical contractors handle those trade portions, both licensed through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which oversees the Construction Industry Licensing Board and the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board. Second, inspections: a permitted job usually goes application by the licensed contractor, then work, then in-progress inspections where the code requires them — framing or rough plumbing and electrical while still visible — then a final inspection. Exact inspections vary by city, so verify with the building department. Third, products: Broward County is in the Florida Building Code's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so if the remodel includes a new or changed window or exterior door, those products need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). Fourth, close-out: the permit gets closed after the final inspection, because open or unpermitted work can resurface at sale, refinance or insurance renewal and may be cited by code enforcement. Work in Washington Park is generally handled through the Broward County building department — confirm scope, fees and inspection details with them and with DBPR.
Problems to watch for in Washington Park
Water damage behind old tile
Mid-century bathrooms here were built long before current waterproofing practice, and in Washington Park's constant humidity a failed shower pan or grout line can rot framing and feed mildew out of sight. The extent is usually only visible once tile is removed.
Aging plumbing in 1950s–1970s homes
With most of the housing stock dating from the 1950s through the 1970s, original drain and supply lines are often at the end of their useful life. Moving a fixture typically triggers a plumbing permit, which is a good moment to address what is behind the wall.
Open or unpermitted past work
Unpermitted or open permits can surface at sale, refinance or insurance renewal, and may be cited by code enforcement. Older remodels in a small unincorporated community are worth checking against the county's records before you add to them.
Ventilation and moisture control
Freezes are essentially nonexistent in this part of Broward County, so the year-round issue is moisture rather than cold-weather failure. The Florida Building Code's ventilation and moisture-control provisions matter in a bathroom that never really dries out.
Electrical that predates current requirements
Kitchens and baths in homes of this era often lack the GFCI/AFCI and dedicated bathroom circuit provisions in the National Electrical Code as adopted by Florida. Adding or moving circuits and devices is permit work and calls for a licensed electrical contractor.
Corrosion on hardware and fasteners
Salt-laden air still reaches Washington Park from the Atlantic and corrodes hardware faster than in dry climates. That argues for corrosion-conscious fasteners and hardware choices in a bath that also runs humid.
Window or exterior door changes in the room
Replacing a kitchen or bath window, or changing an exterior door opening, moves the job into wind-pressure and product-approval territory. In Broward County that means the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone rules apply.
What we do
- Full kitchen and bathroom remodelsCabinets, counters, tile and finishes through to a working room, with a written scope before work starts. Purely cosmetic work such as cabinet and countertop replacement, tile and painting may not require a state license, though local registration or a business tax receipt is often required.
- Layout changes and wall alterationsAltering walls typically requires a permit, and structural changes such as removing a wall call for a general, building or residential contractor. We contract that work under our Florida Certified Building Contractor license.
- Tub-to-shower conversionsConverting a tub to a shower usually means relocating or adding plumbing, which is permit work. Our Florida-licensed plumbing subcontractor performs the plumbing and pulls that trade's permit.
- Shower waterproofingPans, curbs and wall assemblies are built to shed water rather than hold it, which matters in a climate with near-constant humidity and daily summer thunderstorms. Waterproofing is inspected or documented before tile goes on.
- Accessibility upgradesCurbless entries, grab bar blocking and reachable fixture layouts, designed around accessibility requirements where they apply. These often combine wall and plumbing changes, so they are planned as permitted work from the start.
- Permits and close-outPermits are pulled under our own certification when the work needs one, inspections are scheduled and passed, and the permit is closed at the end. A job is finished when it is permitted, inspected and closed out.
When to call
Across Broward County, remodeling activity picks up in the drier winter months with snowbird-season occupancy, while May through November brings hurricane season and a push toward storm-related work; statewide, demand can also slow when post-hurricane repairs pull trades and materials toward damaged areas. Planning a kitchen or bath for the winter window usually gives a calmer schedule. For a free estimate, call (954) 620-7812 or request a quote with the form on this page.
We serve Washington Park and nearby areas including Boulevard Gardens, Roosevelt Gardens, Franklin Park, Lauderdale Manors, Rock Island, Dorsey-Riverbend, Golden Heights, Melrose Park, Broadview Park and Sunland Park.
Kitchens & Baths in Washington Park: questions we hear
- Do I need a permit to redo my bathroom in Washington Park?
- It depends on scope. Relocating or adding plumbing, adding or moving electrical circuits or devices, changing exhaust, or altering a wall typically requires a permit, while a strict like-for-like fixture swap or cabinet replacement often does not. Confirm your specific scope with the Broward County building department.
- Does the HVHZ affect a kitchen remodel?
- It applies if you change an exterior opening. Miami-Dade and Broward counties make up the Florida Building Code's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so a new kitchen window or exterior door needs a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. Interior cabinetry and tile do not carry that requirement.
- Who does the plumbing work?
- Under s. 489.113(3), Florida Statutes, a building contractor subcontracts plumbing work to licensed trade contractors. We contract and manage the project under Florida Certified Building Contractor license CBC1265305, and our Florida-licensed plumbing subcontractor performs the plumbing and pulls that trade's permit.
- What if an earlier remodel in my house was never permitted?
- It is worth checking before you build on top of it. Unpermitted or open permits can surface at sale, refinance or insurance renewal, and may be cited by code enforcement. The local building department can tell you what is on record for the property.
- Why do older Washington Park homes need extra inspection during demo?
- Most of the housing here dates from the 1950s through the 1970s in concrete block with stucco, so plumbing and framing have had decades of South Florida humidity. Hidden water damage and mold behind old tile often only appear once demolition starts, and the scope is adjusted in writing if they do.
Kitchens & Baths in nearby cities
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