Frequently Asked Questions - Construction in Fort Myers, FL
We hear many of the same questions from homeowners across Fort Myers and the surrounding communities. Here are straight answers about pricing, process, and what it looks like when one contractor is accountable for the whole job.
Pricing & Cost FAQs
A full kitchen remodel in Fort Myers typically runs between $45,000 and $85,000 for a mid-range project, with upscale renovations moving well past $120,000. What drives the number is the scope: taking down a wall, moving plumbing, custom cabinetry, and the countertop material all shift the budget significantly. Our bids are fixed and itemized from the start. You will see an exact number on paper before you sign anything. Call (844) 638-7249 to schedule a free estimate and get real numbers for your kitchen.
A new asphalt shingle roof in Fort Myers generally falls between $11,000 and $19,000 for a standard single-family home, with metal roofing running higher. The final cost depends on square footage, pitch, tear-off complexity, and whether sheathing needs replacement. Florida wind code also affects fastener patterns and underlayment requirements, which a cut-rate bid may skip. Our price is the price you pay. It does not change after the handshake. Call (844) 638-7249 for a free, written estimate on your roof.
Home additions in Fort Myers start around $180 per square foot for a straightforward bump-out and can exceed $350 per square foot for a second-story addition or a space with plumbing, like a primary suite. Site conditions matter here: older homes in McGregor may need foundation upgrades, while properties in Palmona Park can raise septic or well considerations. We write one fixed bid that covers every trade. Call (844) 638-7249 to discuss what you want to build, and we will give you an honest range before we ever step foot on the property.
Yes. Every project starts with a free, no-obligation estimate. Derek Hollenbeck and our team walk the site, listen to what you want, and put a fixed, itemized bid in writing. That bid covers every trade under our license. There is no charge for the estimate and no pressure to sign. Call (844) 638-7249 to set one up.
No. That is the core of our S.O.L.I.D. values: square bids. The number we hand you is the number you pay. If we uncover rot behind a wall or a rafter that was never sistered right in a Whiskey Creek bungalow, we show you what we found and give you a separate, signed change order before any extra work starts. The original scope never moves without your approval. We put it in writing because your budget deserves the same respect as your home.
Kitchens and bathrooms nearly always top the list, largely because they concentrate licensed trades in a small footprint: plumbing, electrical, gas, and cabinetry. In Fort Myers, the second big cost driver is the structural work required by wind code. Impact windows, hurricane ties, and tie-downs are not optional here, and doing them right costs real money. We never cut corners on the stuff that keeps your house standing in a storm.
Service & Process FAQs
It begins with a phone call at (844) 638-7249. We come out for a free walk-through and talk about scope. From there you get a fixed, itemized bid. Once you sign, we pull the permits, order materials, and set a start date. During the build, one crew boss is on your job daily. You get that person's cell number. Inspections happen at the required stages, and we do not ask for the final check until you walk the finished space and sign off. The process is designed so you always know what happens next.
Every Groundwork Construction Co. of Fort Myers project has one accountable crew boss. That is the person you see on site, the person whose cell number you have, and the person who answers when you call. The crew works under our license, not a tangle of subcontractors. Derek Hollenbeck oversees the operation, and the crew boss reports to him. There is no finger-pointing because our name is on the whole job.
Expect dust, noise, and a stretch of time where you are washing dishes in a bathroom sink. Also expect a portable job trailer or a cordoned-off zone inside the house, daily cleanup, and a schedule you can see in writing. We protect flooring, seal off the rest of the home, and keep the jobsite broom-clean at the end of each day. In neighborhoods like Cypress Lake or Villas, where houses are close together, we are mindful of your neighbors too. A typical mid-sized kitchen takes six to ten weeks from demo to final walkthrough.
Most asphalt shingle roofs on single-family homes in Fort Myers are torn off and replaced in two to four days. Metal roofing, tile, or steep-pitch homes near the Caloosahatchee can take longer. Weather is the wildcard. Our crews watch the forecast carefully and will not open a roof if heavy rain is predicted. We will let you know exactly what to expect once we see the job. Call (844) 638-7249 and we will give you a timeline alongside the bid.
We handle every bit of it. We determine which permits your project requires, prepare the drawings or work with our draftsman, submit to the municipality, and post the permit on site. Lee County and the City of Fort Myers both require permits for structural work, electrical, plumbing, and roofing. We pull them under our license. You do not chase paper or spend an afternoon at the permit counter. That is on us.
It depends on the scope. A kitchen remodel or a one-room addition is uncomfortable but livable in most cases. A whole-house renovation where we are gutting multiple rooms, opening walls, or turning off water for extended periods may call for temporary relocation. We tell you upfront during the estimate. We have worked on homes in North Fort Myers and Lochmoor Waterway Estates where a family stayed through a kitchen reno with a temporary cook station, and others where the smart move was to vacate for a month. We will be honest about what your specific project requires.
Brands & Materials FAQs
We install Belgard and Tremron pavers regularly in Fort Myers. Both hold up in our climate, handle the summer rain, and come in styles that suit everything from a Pine Manor rancher to a Cape Coral waterfront home. The choice between them typically comes down to color and texture preference. We bring samples to the estimate so you can see them against your existing hardscape and in natural light. Call (844) 638-7249 to set that up.
Yes. We order ActiveYards aluminum and steel fencing for Fort Myers homeowners who want something that will not warp in the humidity or rust out after a few hurricane seasons. The brand makes a clean, low-maintenance product that works well for pool enclosures, property lines, and garden fencing. Lead times vary, and we factor that into your timeline when we write the bid.
Always where code and safety demand it. Fort Myers sits in a high-velocity hurricane zone, which means impact windows, rated doors, and proper tie-downs are not upsells: they are code requirements. We source rated products and anchor them to structure, not stucco. The brands we buy from meet Florida Product Approval and Miami-Dade NOA standards. We do not gamble on materials that might save a few dollars and fail when the wind picks up.
Licensing & Insurance FAQs
Yes. We operate as a licensed general contractor in the state of Florida. Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their trade and the state require. Permits are pulled under our license. Inspections are scheduled and passed before we call a phase complete. If you want to verify anything before you sign, we are happy to point you to the right state database. Call (844) 638-7249 and ask.
We carry the insurance a Florida general contractor is required to carry, including general liability and workers' compensation. Before a single tool comes off the truck, we are covered. We encourage every Fort Myers homeowner to ask any contractor they are considering to produce a certificate of insurance. It is a thirty-second request that separates pros from gamblers. We have no problem furnishing ours.
We tell you immediately. Construction uncovers surprises: a corroded pipe in a Tice mid-century, a rafter that was sistered wrong twenty years ago. We stop, we show you what we found, and we present a solution and a cost before we touch it. The goal is zero surprises on your invoice. If we make a mistake, we own it and fix it. That is what the Built-Right Project Guarantee is for.
Emergency & Response FAQs
Yes. If a summer storm tears off shingles, drops a limb through a carport, or blows out a window, we can assess the damage and get a repair plan in motion. We pull permits for structural repair and work with your insurer on scope and documentation where that helps. Call (844) 638-7249 and a live coordinator will get your information to our local team. The phone is answered 24/7.
The lead time depends on the scope, the permit queue in Lee County or the City of Fort Myers, and material availability. A smaller project like a fence or a driveway might start in a few weeks. A full kitchen or an addition will take longer for permits, engineered drawings, and product lead times. What we promise is a start date in writing before you sign, not a vague "soon." You will know the exact week we mobilize.
Warranty & Guarantees FAQs
Every project we complete carries the Built-Right Project Guarantee: 730 days, two full years, on all workmanship, across every trade. If something we built is not right, one phone call brings a Groundwork crew back to make it right. No claim form. No subcontractor pointing at another subcontractor. Our name is on the whole job, so the fix stays on us. This covers kitchens, roofs, additions, driveways - anything we build.
Because problems do not always show up by month eleven. A small foundation settlement crack, a cabinet door that loosens, a flashing detail that leaks only in monsoon rain: two full wet seasons in Southwest Florida give the work a real test. We want you calling us in year two with confidence, not crossing your fingers that the phone still works. That timeline is part of our promise: done right, or we make it right.
That depends on the specific contract terms for your project, and we are glad to walk you through what applies in your case. In general, the Guarantee is written for the homeowner who signs the contract, but we have worked with sellers in Cape Coral and Suncoast Estates to document the warranty in a way that gives a buyer peace of mind. Ask us about it during the estimate, and we will put the answer in writing.
Call (844) 638-7249. A live coordinator answers and gets the details to Derek Hollenbeck and the team. We will have someone out to look at the issue, diagnose what happened, and schedule the fix. The number does not change after the final check clears. It is the same phone number that was on your original bid.
Written by Derek Hollenbeck, Owner at Groundwork Construction Co. of Fort Myers, serving Fort Myers and Lee County since 2014.
Still Have Questions?
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(844) 638-7249