RENOVATIONS AND REMODELLING
Renovation Work That Starts With a Survey
Renovation is a different discipline from new build. You are working with decisions someone else made, often decades ago, and in Jamaica that usually means uncovering what the drawings never showed: spalling concrete and corroded reinforcement in coastal properties, roof structures fixed below current wind standards, and electrical installations that were extended rather than designed.
We survey the property before quoting, so the scope you agree reflects the building you actually own.
✓ Full house and apartment renovation
✓ Kitchen and bathroom remodelling
✓ Structural alterations and extensions
✓ Roof replacement and re-strapping
✓ Rewiring and plumbing replacement
✓ Restoration of older properties
WHY CHOOSE US
Why Renovate With Duke Sterling
We Survey Before We Quote
A condition survey first: structure, roof, damp, reinforcement and services. You get a scope based on what is there, not an estimate that moves the moment work starts.
Upgraded to Current Standards
Older Jamaican properties often predate current wind and seismic provisions. Renovation is the natural moment to bring roof fixing and structure up to the National Building Code.
Live-In Renovations Handled
Where you need to stay in the property, we phase the work, seal off active zones, and keep water and power running.
SCOPE
What We Renovate
From a single room through to stripping a property back to structure and rebuilding it to current standards.
✓ Full residential renovation
✓ Kitchens and bathrooms
✓ Structural alterations and new openings
✓ Extensions and additional storeys
✓ Roof replacement and strapping upgrade
✓ Complete rewiring and re-plumbing
✓ Spalling and concrete repair
✓ External render, painting and waterproofing
BEFORE YOU COMMIT
What Renovation in Jamaica Usually Uncovers
These are the six findings that most often change a renovation scope on this island. We look for all of them at survey stage, price them openly, and tell you which are urgent and which can wait.
Spalling concrete and corroded reinforcement
Roofs fixed below current wind standards
Electrical circuits extended beyond safe capacity
Galvanised plumbing near the end of its life
Termite damage to timber elements
Drainage that no longer copes with rainfall
FAQS
Renovation in Jamaica: Common Questions
Is it cheaper to renovate or rebuild in Jamaica?
It depends almost entirely on the condition of the structure. Where foundations, columns and beams are sound, renovation is usually the cheaper route. Where reinforcement has corroded through or the frame needs substantial strengthening, rebuilding often costs less than repairing. Our survey gives you both figures so the decision is informed.
Do I need approval to renovate?
Cosmetic work generally does not require approval. Anything structural — removing or forming openings in load-bearing walls, adding a storey, extending the footprint, or changing the roof structure — needs Municipal Corporation approval. We tell you which category your project falls into at survey stage.
Can I stay in the house during the work?
Often, yes. We phase the work room by room, dust-seal the active area, and maintain water and power. Full rewiring or roof replacement usually needs a short period out of the property, which we schedule in advance so you can plan around it.
How do you handle spalling concrete?
Spalling is treated properly rather than covered over: break out to sound concrete, clean and treat the exposed reinforcement, replace steel where section loss is significant, then reinstate with a bonding agent and repair mortar. Rendering over spalling without treating the steel simply hides it for a year or two.
How long does a full renovation take?
A single-room remodel typically runs two to four weeks. A full house renovation usually takes three to six months depending on whether structure, roof and services are involved. We issue a programme with the quotation so you can see the phasing before committing.
RELATED SERVICES
Services That Pair With Renovation Work
Renovation projects commonly extend into one or more of these.
Roofing
Replacement roofs with hurricane fixing brought up to standard.
Interior Design
Specification and finishes for tropical, coastal conditions.
Hurricane-Resistant Construction
Retrofitting older buildings to current wind standards.
Residential Construction
When rebuilding turns out to be the better option.
Thinking About Renovating?
Start with a condition survey. You will get an honest picture of the building, a priced scope, and a clear view of whether renovating or rebuilding makes more sense.
Talk to Duke Sterling