Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
Construction in North Highlands, CA
Kitchen remodeling in North Highlands typically runs $14,000 to $45,000 for a full renovation of one of the 1950s-1960s slab ranch homes that define this unincorporated Sacramento County community. That range reflects the real conditions here: older concrete-slab foundations, original wiring and plumbing, and a climate that cycles between 105°F summers and saturated winters. Before you commit to any contractor, call (470) 298-9650 for a written estimate that names the price in dollars before any tool gets picked up.
Why North Highlands Homes Are Different
North Highlands is defined by two overlapping construction realities: a dense stock of 1950s-1960s tract homes built to house McClellan Air Force Base workers and military families, and the ongoing redevelopment of the former base itself, now McClellan Park. Contractors here must fluently serve both aging residential rehab and large adaptive-reuse projects, a dual demand that separates North Highlands from nearby Carmichael or Citrus Heights.
The residential core sits on post-WWII concrete-slab ranch homes built quickly and economically. Most of those original homes still have 100-amp electrical panels, galvanized or early copper plumbing, and minimal insulation. Decades of deferred maintenance combined with Sacramento County’s expansive clay soils have left a high share of these slabs cracked and unlevel. Sacramento Valley summers regularly exceed 105°F and winters bring sustained rain. The heavy montmorillonite clay beneath much of North Highlands shrinks dramatically in the dry season and swells when wet, producing seasonal foundation movement that shows up as stucco cracking, door-frame racking, and concrete flatwork failure. On older slab homes, we see this cycle accelerate every year it goes unaddressed.
Because North Highlands is unincorporated Sacramento County, all permits and inspections run through Sacramento County’s Department of Community Development rather than any municipal building department. County plan-check timelines, fee schedules, and inspector workflows differ meaningfully from the City of Sacramento’s system just a mile or two to the south. A contractor who normally works inside city limits can get caught off guard by this jurisdictional distinction, which is why the documentation and permit record on any North Highlands job matters as much as the framing.
Our Main North Highlands Services
Fence installation and driveway work are the two services North Highlands homeowners call about most, largely because the clay soil and slab-era lots create specific challenges for both.
Fence Installation in North Highlands
Fence installation in North Highlands means digging into clay that swells hard in winter and bakes dry and rock-like in summer. Posts set too shallow or in poorly drained sections of a backyard will tilt within two seasons. We survey the actual soil at the post line, set posts below the movement zone, and use concrete rated for expansive conditions. A written quote covers the full run, dig, and backfill before any hole is opened. For specific pricing and local details, see our dedicated page for Fence Installation in North Highlands.

Driveway & Pavers in North Highlands
Driveways and paver patios in North Highlands fail most often from the same seasonal clay movement that racks door frames. Flatwork poured over an unprepared or undersupported base will crack along the joint lines. We compact a structural base that accounts for the shrink-swell cycle, then lay pavers or pour concrete to a slope that moves water away from the foundation. For a full breakdown of paver and concrete pricing in this market, review our page for Driveway & Pavers in North Highlands.

What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in North Highlands


Kitchen remodeling in North Highlands is usually a full-gut job rather than a cosmetic refresh. The 1950s-1960s ranch homes that fill the neighborhood have original 100-amp panels, galvanized or early copper plumbing, and floor plans built before islands and open sightlines existed. When we open one of these kitchens, we’re almost always correcting slab unevenness, rewiring circuits, and relocating plumbing before the first cabinet box gets set. That’s why our written quote includes the discovery work as a named line item instead of a surprise. For a larger view of our process and finish standards, visit our Kitchen Remodeling hub.
Full Kitchen Remodeling
Signs you need it
Your galley layout can’t support a second cook, your electrical panel trips when the microwave and dishwasher run together, or the slab under the floor has cracked enough to tilt cabinet boxes off level.
What it costs in North Highlands
A full kitchen remodel in North Highlands typically runs $14,000 to $45,000 depending on cabinet grade, countertop material, and the amount of electrical and plumbing relocation the original slab home requires.
How we do it
We open the walls to document what’s actually behind them, level or repair the slab where cabinets will sit, rerun circuits from the panel, set the cabinet boxes, and install finishes to a written scope with photo documentation at every stage.
Cabinets & Countertops
Signs you need it
Drawer faces are separating at the joints, cabinet boxes have water damage along the sink base, or the countertop is a laminate that’s delaminating at the seams.
What it costs in North Highlands
Cabinet installation runs $4,000 to $13,000 while countertop installation runs $2,000 to $6,500, with the spread driven by whether you’re using stock boxes or semi-custom and laminate versus natural stone.
How we do it
We measure the actual cabinet run, order to the wall’s true dimensions rather than a blueprint assumption, dry-fit the boxes on a level line, and template the countertop after the cabinets are set.
What Kitchen Remodeling Costs in North Highlands
| Item | Typical range in North Highlands |
|---|---|
| Full kitchen remodel | $14,000 - $45,000 |
| Small kitchen remodel | $9,000 - $20,000 |
| Cabinets & countertops | $6,000 - $19,500 |
The combined cabinet and countertop figure reflects that these two jobs usually happen together in a slab-home kitchen remodel, though each is quoted as its own line item on your written estimate.
How much should a full kitchen remodel cost in North Highlands?
$14,000 to $45,000 is the honest range for the slab-era homes here. The low end covers stock cabinets and laminate counters in a small galley; the high end covers custom boxes, stone tops, and full electrical rewiring. Call (470) 298-9650 for a written quote.
Will the price change once my North Highlands kitchen is opened up?
Only if we find something the written scope didn’t anticipate, and even then we don’t proceed until you sign a change order with the new number on it. That’s Clause 1 of the Haven Standard. Call (470) 298-9650 to get your first scope in writing.
Bathroom Remodeling in North Highlands


Bathroom remodeling in North Highlands usually means working around a concrete slab, cast-iron drain lines, and a floor plan cut small in the tract-home era. The slab complicates drain relocation, which is why a shower move often costs more here than it would in a newer home on a raised foundation. Before any demo starts, we document what’s behind the walls and under the floor, then write the scope against what we found. For a complete look at our finish and waterproofing standards, see our Bathroom Remodeling hub.
Walk-In Showers & Shower Remodeling
Signs you need it
Your shower pan leaks into the slab, the tile grout has failed along the pan line, or the original 1960s shower is down to cracked tile and a corroded valve.
What it costs in North Highlands
Walk-in shower installation in North Highlands runs $4,500 to $12,000, depending on whether we’re replacing a pan on the slab or relocating a drain to reshape the whole shower.
How we do it
We pop the old pan, expose the drain assembly, install a bonded waterproofing membrane, slope the pan to the original slab drain, and hardie-board the walls before tile.
Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Signs you need it
The old tub has rust creeping at the overflow, the tub surround grout fails every time the slab moves, or you want a lower step-over height for aging in place.
What it costs in North Highlands
Tub-to-shower conversion in North Highlands runs $3,500 to $10,000, with the larger number covering drain relocation and full-wall waterproofing on a slab bathroom.
How we do it
We pull the tub, test the cast-iron drain for wall thickness, replace the waste assembly if the pipe is thinned, build a sloped shower base within the old tub footprint, and waterproof the surround to the wet wall.
What Bathroom Remodeling Costs in North Highlands
| Item | Typical range in North Highlands |
|---|---|
| Full bathroom remodel | $9,000 - $28,000 |
| Walk-in shower | $4,500 - $12,000 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion | $3,500 - $10,000 |
The full bathroom range includes linoleum-era floor replacement, vanity, toilet, fixture trim, and tile. A slab drain move pushes the number toward the top of the range.
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in North Highlands?
$9,000 to $28,000 for a full bathroom, $5,000 to $12,000 for a small bathroom. Slab drain work and waterproofing are the two big variables here. Call (470) 298-9650 for a line-item quote.
Do you pull the permits for a North Highlands bathroom remodel?
Yes. North Highlands runs through Sacramento County’s Department of Community Development, and we pull the permit, schedule the inspections, and deliver the signed record. Call (470) 298-9650 for a written scope that includes the permit line.
Roofing in North Highlands


Roofing in North Highlands is governed by 110°F summer attic temperatures and winter rains that find every failed flashing point on a tract roof from the 1960s. The original lightweight composition shingles on most of these homes are well past their rated life, and the seasonal wet-dry cycle has worked nails loose at the eaves and ridge. A roof that looks tired from the street usually has worse problems at the penetrations. For the full material and inspection discussion, see our Roofing hub.
Roof Replacement & Installation
Signs you need it
Granules in the gutter, shingles lifting at the south and west exposures, or curling that accelerates after consecutive 100°F-plus weeks.
What it costs in North Highlands
Roof replacement in North Highlands runs $8,000 to $20,000 for a typical ranch, driven by the number of layers torn off first, decking repair, and whether you choose architectural shingle or standing seam.
How we do it
We tear the old layers down to decking, document the deck condition with photos, repair or replace sheathing as the written scope permits, install underlayment and flashings, and ridge-vent to break the attic heat load.
Roof Repair
Signs you need it
A water stain appears on the ceiling after a prolonged winter rain, or you find a shingle in the yard after a wind event.
What it costs in North Highlands
Roof repair in North Highlands runs $400 to $1,800, depending on whether the fix is a single shingle replacement or a full flashing rebuild around a vent or valley.
How we do it
We locate the actual leak source using a water test, replace the damaged shingles or flashing, seal the penetration, and photograph the repair before we come off the roof.
What Roofing Costs in North Highlands
| Item | Typical range in North Highlands |
|---|---|
| Roof replacement | $8,000 - $20,000 |
| Roof repair | $400 - $1,800 |
| Metal roof installation | $15,000 - $40,000 |
Metal roofs cost more up front because they require standing seam panels, concealed clips, and a different underlayment system than the original composition roof on a tract home. The number is quoted in writing before any tear-off.
How much does a roof replacement cost in North Highlands?
$8,000 to $20,000 for a full replacement on a typical ranch home. Tear-off layers and decking condition push the price up. Call (470) 298-9650 for a written line-item estimate.
Do you repair or replace roofs on North Highlands slab homes?
Both. We repair when the decking and framing are sound, and we replace when the deck has rotted at the eaves or the shingle count has exceeded the rated load. Call (470) 298-9650 and we’ll document what we find before quoting.
Windows & Doors in North Highlands


Windows and doors in North Highlands take abuse from those Sacramento Valley heat spikes and the seasonal push of clay movement against the frames. The original single-pane aluminum sliders from the tract era are condensation engines in winter and heat conductors all summer. Racked frames from foundation movement then bind the doors, which is why a replacement here usually starts with checking the rough opening for square before the new unit goes in. For the full material comparison across brands, start with our Windows & Doors hub.
Window Replacement
Signs you need it
Frames are racked enough that the sash won’t lock, the single-pane glass frosts or runs with condensation every winter, or the original aluminum thermally bridges heat straight into the living room.
What it costs in North Highlands
Window replacement in North Highlands runs $4,500 to $15,000 for a typical ranch home, depending on the number of units, whether the frames are replacement or new-construction, and glass package chosen.
How we do it
We measure each rough opening, shim to square, flash the rough opening, set the new unit so it operates with full travel, and insulate the perimeter before trim.
Door Installation
Signs you need it
Your exterior door drags along the top of the jamb after a wet winter, or the original wood door has swelled enough that it doesn’t close without a shoulder push.
What it costs in North Highlands
Exterior door installation in North Highlands runs $800 to $3,000 per opening for the frame, slab, hardware, and threshold, with the higher number covering a full pre-hung replacement on a racked rough opening.
How we do it
We remove the old door, inspect the rough opening for rack, plane or shim the jamb to plumb and level, set the new slab in a weather-sealed frame, and adjust hardware for a clean latch.
What Windows & Doors Costs in North Highlands
| Item | Typical range in North Highlands |
|---|---|
| Window replacement | $4,500 - $15,000 |
| Impact window installation | $8,000 - $25,000 |
| Exterior door installation | $800 - $3,000 |
Impact windows carry a premium because they require laminated glass, a heavier frame, and a different anchoring schedule. They’re often requested on the west and south elevations where afternoon heat is most punishing.
How much does window replacement cost in North Highlands?
$4,500 to $15,000 for a typical ranch, based on unit count and frame style. Call (470) 298-9650 with your approximate number of windows and we’ll write the quote.
Do you install impact windows in North Highlands slab homes?
Yes. The original wood frames on these homes often need full-replacement rather than insert work, which is what pushes the cost toward the $8,000 to $25,000 range. Call (470) 298-9650 for a written line-item estimate.
Home Additions & ADU in North Highlands

Home additions and ADUs in North Highlands run straight into two realities: concrete-slab foundations that need structural review before any new square footage is tied in, and Sacramento County permitting that runs through the County’s Department of Community Development rather than a city counter. The 1950s-1960s lots here are typically deep enough for a detached ADU, but drainage and clay movement have to be engineered into the base plan, not discovered after the slab is poured. For the full process and material discussion, see our Home Additions & ADU hub.
ADU Design & Permitting
Signs you need it
You want a rentable unit or a place for family on a North Highlands lot, and you need the permit record and engineered drawings to satisfy the County on the first submittal.
What it costs in North Highlands
ADU construction in North Highlands runs $90,000 to $220,000 all-in, with design, engineering, permits, site work, and construction combined into the written scope.
How we do it
We survey the lot, run the drainage and soil review, submit County plans, pull permits, and hold the project to a written scope with a signed change order on any deviation.
Garage Conversion ADU
Signs you need it
The original attached garage is a single-car space that hasn’t held a modern vehicle in years, and the slab and roof structure are worth saving for a conversion.
What it costs in North Highlands
Garage conversion in North Highlands runs $30,000 to $80,000, depending on whether the original slab is reused and how much of the original electrical service must be upgraded from the 100-amp panel.
How we do it
We inspect the slab and roof framing, seal the vehicle door opening, run new circuits and plumbing, insulate to current Title 24 levels, and finish the interior to match the main house.
What Home Additions & ADU Costs in North Highlands
| Item | Typical range in North Highlands |
|---|---|
| Home addition | $45,000 - $130,000 |
| ADU construction | $90,000 - $220,000 |
| Garage conversion | $30,000 - $80,000 |
A home addition typically costs less than a detached ADU because it ties into the existing house systems, but slab and drainage work on North Highlands lots can move either number up. Every number is written before work begins.
How much does an ADU cost in North Highlands?
$90,000 to $220,000 for a new detached ADU. Design, engineering, County permits, and utility connections are all in that range. Call (470) 298-9650 for a written line-by-line quote.
Do you handle the North Highlands County permits for an ADU?
Yes. Sacramento County’s Department of Community Development handles all North Highlands permits, and we pull them, manage the plan check, and pass the inspections. Call (470) 298-9650 to start the written estimate.
Brands We Service in North Highlands

We install and stand behind our brands including Sakrete for slab and footing mixes, Abodu and Dvele for factory-built ADU systems, and Cover for panelized building components. Parts for common repair jobs are stocked locally, which keeps typical North Highlands turnaround under a week for ordinary work.
Pricing for Construction in North Highlands, CA
| Service | Typical range in North Highlands |
|---|---|
| Full kitchen remodel | $14,000 - $45,000 |
| Full bathroom remodel | $9,000 - $28,000 |
| Roof replacement | $8,000 - $20,000 |
| Window replacement | $4,500 - $15,000 |
| Home addition | $45,000 - $130,000 |
| ADU construction | $90,000 - $220,000 |
| Garage conversion | $30,000 - $80,000 |
| Concrete driveway installation | $4,500 - $12,000 |
| Vinyl fence installation | $3,500 - $9,000 |
| Paver patio installation | $3,500 - $11,000 |
Prices in North Highlands push upward when the original slab needs leveling, when the 100-amp panel requires an upgrade, or when the Sacramento County plan check stretches the schedule. Our price is written before work starts, and no change proceeds until you sign the change order with the new number on it.
Neighborhoods We Serve in North Highlands

We work across the core residential grid and the redeveloping neighborhoods near the old McClellan base. Typical response time for an initial visit in North Highlands is within a few business days depending on the permit load at Sacramento County.
- Old North Highlands
- McClellan Park area
- Highlands of Roseville corridor
- Watt Avenue corridor
- Karl Drive and Main Avenue districts
Service Area - Cities Near North Highlands
Our crews cover North Highlands and the surrounding Sacramento County communities. If you’re in Antelope, CA, Carmichael, CA, Citrus Heights, CA, or Fair Oaks, CA, we can schedule a written estimate on the same calendar. The pricing ranges on this page apply across the region, though each city has its own permit authority and soil conditions.
Serving North Highlands, CA - Our Local Coverage Area

We’re based in the North Highlands area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Construction in North Highlands
Yes. North Highlands is unincorporated Sacramento County, so all permits and inspections run through Sacramento County’s Department of Community Development rather than any city building department. Contractors who normally work inside city limits often misjudge the plan-check timelines and fee schedules. We pull the permits and carry the inspection record on every job.
Initial site visits in North Highlands typically happen within a few business days based on the County permit calendar and our current schedule. We document the home, write the price, and return the written scope without delay. Call (470) 298-9650 to schedule the first visit.
We work throughout the residential core of North Highlands, including the neighborhoods near the old McClellan base and the Watt Avenue corridor. If you’re at the edges of the service area, we’ll tell you straight whether the scheduling works. Call (470) 298-9650 and ask for the written estimate.
Call (470) 298-9650 to get a free written estimate for your North Highlands construction project. Grant Rowan and the Rowan Construction Group team will put the number in writing before any work begins.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local construction pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What North Highlands Customers Say
"Final invoice was within two percent of the contract. Every change was priced and signed before anyone picked up a tool."
- Malcolm T."Fence and retaining wall along a sloped boundary. They photographed the footing depth at each post, which mattered when the county inspector came."
- Iona F."Talked us out of the larger scope we came in asking for, because it would not have added the value we thought."
- Emil R.







Before
After
Before
After