# Dollhouse Construction FAQ

- Business: Dollhouse Construction Inc (CSLB #1045801)
- Phone: (626) 991-8219
- Page: https://dollhouseconstruction.com/faq/
- Last updated: 2026-10-09 (generated from the live site copy at build time)

> Straight answers on remodel permits, timelines, estimates, payments and what to expect, from a San Dimas kitchen and bath remodeler. CSLB #1045801.

## Do I need a plan or a budget before I call?

No. Call with a question or a rough idea. Dallas will help you shape it. A question isn't a commitment.

## What's in your quote?

It's written, itemized and fixed-price: the work by phase, the materials, what's included and what isn't, and the payment schedule.

## Who will get back to me?

Dallas or his team will reach out to you directly, at the phone number you give us. When you call, you reach the owner.

## How much does a kitchen or bathroom remodel cost?

It depends on layout, materials and what's behind the walls, so we don't post prices. After seeing your project, you get one fixed price in writing.

## How much of a down payment can a contractor ask for?

California generally limits a down payment on a home improvement contract to $1,000 or 10% of the contract amount, whichever is less (Business and Professions Code section 7159.5).

## Why is the down payment so small?

California generally limits a down payment on a home improvement contract to $1,000 or 10% of the contract amount, whichever is less (Business and Professions Code section 7159.5). The limit protects you from paying a big deposit up front. After that, payments follow finished work.

## When do I pay the rest?

Payments are tied to work completed, not the calendar. Your written contract lays out the payment schedule before you sign.

## Will there be surprise fees?

The quote is fixed. It changes only when the job changes, and only in writing with your OK first.

## What is a change order?

A written change to your contract: what's changing, the price and the schedule effect. California requires signed change orders. No changed work starts until you sign.

## What if you open a wall and find a problem?

We stop, photograph it, show you, and give you options with prices. Whatever you pick is written up as a change order before we act.

## Can I change my mind in the middle?

Yes, through a change order: written, priced and signed by you before the work.

## Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen or bathroom?

Often yes. In San Dimas you need one to add or remove walls, install or replace windows, or do plumbing or electrical work (minor fixture repairs excepted). Swapping switches and outlets doesn't need one. Check your city.

## Do all cities work the same way?

Roughly. Cosmetic swaps are usually exempt, while moving plumbing, adding circuits or changing walls needs a permit. Each city decides its own rules.

## Is lead paint a problem in my older house?

Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint. Federal EPA rules require a certified firm for paid work that disturbs it.

## What delays a remodel?

Hidden conditions behind walls, permit and inspection timing, and special-order materials are the usual causes.

## Do you do the design?

Yes. Design is in-house, so the layout, the structure and the permits are one coordinated plan.

## Can I see looks before I commit?

Yes. The mood-board builder lets you pick looks for a kitchen or bath and email the board to yourself. It's not a quote: the written quote is.

## Are you licensed?

Yes. Dollhouse Construction Inc., California license #1045801. You can check it yourself at cslb.ca.gov.

## Do I need a licensed contractor at all?

In California, home improvement work over $1,000 in labor and materials requires a licensed contractor. Check any contractor at cslb.ca.gov before you sign.

## Who do I actually talk to?

Dallas, the owner. Call (626) 991-8219.

## Where do you work?

Based in San Dimas, we take projects up to about 100 miles out depending on the scope. Not sure if we reach your address? Ask.

## What other work do you do besides kitchens and baths?

Whole-home remodeling, ADUs and additions, outdoor living spaces, custom cabinets and millwork, flooring and tile, and exteriors.

## Next step

- Free estimate: https://dollhouseconstruction.com/free-estimate/
- Call (626) 991-8219 (Dallas, the owner)
- All files for AI assistants: https://dollhouseconstruction.com/llms.txt