Refine What's There.
Protect What Matters.
Renovation isn't demolition. It's the discipline of improving what exists while preserving what works — structure, character, and the investment you've already made.
Quick answer
What does a home renovation include?
A renovation reworks existing space — kitchens, baths, living areas, or whole-home updates — without necessarily expanding the footprint. Scope can range from finishes to structural changes, mechanical updates, and improved insulation or daylighting. Highlander renovates homes and cabins throughout Western North Carolina.
- Kitchen, bath, and whole-home scopes
- Structural and mechanical changes where needed
- Single team managing the full schedule
Renovation isn't about tearing things apart. It's the discipline of improving what exists while preserving what works — structure, character, and the investment you've already made.
Highlander approaches renovation the way we approach every project: with documented scope, defined materials, honest timelines, and the same crews and project managers who build our additions and install our roofs. The result is renovation work that feels intentional — not improvised.
The Real Reasons
Homeowners Renovate.
Not every renovation is about aesthetics. Most start with a functional problem that's gone unaddressed too long.
Improve How It Functions
Kitchens that don't work for how you cook. Bathrooms that fight you every morning. Layouts that waste space. Renovation starts with fixing what doesn't serve you anymore.
Update What's Worn
Outdated finishes, failing fixtures, and materials past their lifespan. Some renovations aren't about style — they're about replacing components that are no longer performing.
Address Hidden Problems
Water damage behind tile, insufficient insulation, outdated wiring, failing subfloors. Often the most important renovation work is what you can't see until demo day.
Protect Long-Term Value
A well-executed renovation increases your home's value, reduces maintenance costs, and extends the life of your largest asset. Done poorly, it does the opposite.
What We Renovate.
Kitchen Remodels
Complete kitchen transformations — layout reconfiguration, cabinetry, countertops, plumbing, electrical, and finish work. Designed for how you actually cook and live, not just how it photographs.
Bathroom Renovations
Master baths, guest baths, and powder rooms — tile work, vanities, plumbing relocation, ventilation upgrades, and waterproofing that prevents the hidden moisture damage we see constantly in WNC homes.
Living Space Transformations
Open-concept conversions, room reconfigurations, built-in cabinetry, and living area upgrades that change how your home flows and functions without adding square footage.
Basement Finishing
Converting unfinished basements into functional living space — framing, insulation, moisture management, electrical, plumbing, and finish work. Critical in WNC where basement moisture is a constant consideration.
Structural Modifications
Load-bearing wall removal, floor leveling, foundation repairs, and structural reinforcement. We involve a structural engineer on every modification that touches the home's skeleton.
Whole-Home Renovations
Coordinated multi-room or full-home renovation projects managed as a single scope — ensuring trades don't conflict, timelines stay integrated, and finishes are consistent throughout.
The Details You Live With
Every Day.
Renovation quality isn't about the big reveal — it's about what you notice six months later. Grout lines. Trim joints. How a drawer closes. We build for the long view.
Tile & Stone
Precise layout planning, consistent grout lines, proper waterproofing layers, and substrate preparation. Tile work that looks right in year one and stays right in year ten.
Cabinetry & Millwork
Plumb, level, and aligned — with consistent reveals, soft-close hardware, and finish carpentry that holds up to daily use. We don't accept gaps, misalignment, or shortcuts.
Material Transitions
Where flooring changes, where trim meets tile, where old wall meets new — these transition points define whether a renovation looks professional or improvised.
Paint & Surface Prep
Proper prep, proper primer, proper technique. Smooth walls, clean edges, and finish coats that last. Paint quality is directly proportional to preparation quality.
Renovation,
Systematized.
On-Site Assessment
We walk your home, discuss your goals, and identify structural, mechanical, and aesthetic considerations that will shape the scope.
Design & Scope Development
Detailed scope of work with material selections, layout options, and a fixed price. You see exactly what you're getting before work begins.
Permitting & Preparation
We handle all permitting, trade coordination, and material procurement so you're not managing logistics.
Material Sourcing & Scheduling
Materials ordered, delivery coordinated, and your project locked into the production calendar with a defined start date.
Execution
Professional renovation with daily quality checks, clean work zones, dust barriers, and proactive communication throughout.
Walk-Through & Completion
Final review, touch-ups, cleanup, and documentation. Your home, refined.
Ready to discuss your renovation?
We respond rapidly with a direct call — not a form email.
Renovation With
Roofing-Grade Standards.
Our heritage in high-elevation roofing built our construction discipline. The same documented process, the same in-house crews, the same material standards — now applied to every renovation we accept.
Same Planning Discipline
We scope renovation work with the same detail and documentation we bring to roofing — written proposals, material specifications, defined timelines, and no vague allowances.
Same Quality Standards
Our renovation crews are held to the same quality checkpoints, material handling standards, and supervision protocols as our roofing and construction teams.
Same In-House Crews
The same trained, employed craftsmen who build our additions and install our roofs handle renovation work.
Same Attention to Detail
Trim reveals, caulk lines, material transitions, and tile work matter. We treat visible details as quality indicators — because you'll notice them every day.
Documented Everything
Written scope, transparent cost groupings, specified materials, confirmed timeline. You receive a complete proposal — not an estimate with vague allowances and vague 'to be determined' items.
WNC Material Knowledge
Mountain humidity, temperature swings, and elevation affect material performance. We specify products rated for WNC conditions — not what's cheapest at the supply house.
Renovation Projects.
Each project was scoped, documented, and executed with the same discipline we bring to every build.
Kitchen Remodel
Complete Transformation, Asheville
Master Bath
Custom Tile & Vanity, Sylva
Open Concept Conversion
Wall Removal & Refinish, Franklin
Whole-Home Renovation
Multi-Room Scope, Fairview
Add Daylight to Your Remodel
Browse the VELUX skylight and Sun Tunnel lineup for renovations — then tell us which rooms you want brightened.
Luke Smith
Owner & Founder
Kristy Smith
Owner & Financial Manager
Who shows up at your property.
Highlander Building Services is owned and operated by Luke and Kristy Smith. Every project gets a single named point of contact from inspection through completion — backed by Western NC-based crews and a Franklin office that answers the phone.
One named contact
Same person from quote to final walkthrough.
Western NC crews
Based in Franklin, not a traveling subcontractor network.
Owner-led
Luke and Kristy set the standards the team follows.
Pick the next step that fits
Some people need someone on the roof this week. Others are six months out and still gathering information. Both are welcome — start wherever you actually are.
Get eyes on it and a number in writing
On-site look, photo documentation, and a written scope you can compare line by line.
- 4.8★ Google · 158 reviews
- Licensed and insured
- Crews based in Franklin, serving Western North Carolina
NC GC #87668
Licensed NC General Contractor · fully insured
Family-owned in Franklin since 2017
Showrooms in Franklin & Sylva
4.8★ · 158 Google reviews (as of September 2026)
Google Business Profile reviews
19 WNC towns served
Across 10 mountain counties
Recent: Metal Roofing
Highlands, NC · 3,200 sq ft roof replacement
Common Questions.
We handle kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, basement finishing, open-concept conversions, structural modifications, and whole-home renovation projects. We focus on work that involves structural, plumbing, or electrical systems — not cosmetic painting or flooring-only projects.
A full kitchen remodel typically takes 6–10 weeks depending on scope. Layout changes, plumbing relocation, and custom cabinetry add time. We provide a specific timeline during the proposal phase and update you weekly on progress.
In most cases, yes — with some inconvenience. Kitchen renovations are the most disruptive. We'll discuss staging, temporary solutions, and phasing options during planning to minimize daily-life impact.
It's common — especially in older WNC homes. When we find hidden water damage, outdated wiring, or structural issues behind walls, we stop, document, discuss scope and cost with you, and proceed only after approval. No surprise charges.
We manage the construction scope, including layout and material recommendations. For complex design work, we collaborate with local project planners and designers and manage the construction coordination so you don't have to.
A written scope with transparent cost groupings, material specifications, timeline, and payment schedule. Every element is defined before work begins — no vague allowances or vague 'to be determined' items.
Dust barriers, floor protection, dedicated entry/exit routes for crews, and daily cleanup are standard. We treat the non-renovation areas of your home with the same care we'd want in our own.
Yes. Many mountain homes built before 2000 have unique framing methods, non-standard electrical, plaster instead of drywall, and moisture issues specific to elevation and terrain. We assess these factors before scoping work.
Related reading and local coverage for Renovations
- What a Western North Carolina Storm Season Does to Your Roof
Wind breaks the sealant bond before it takes a shingle away, and hail either fractures the mat or it does not. A plain a
- Western North Carolina Roofing Guide: Best Roofs, Costs and Mountain Home Maintenance
Which roofing materials perform best in the Western North Carolina mountains, what replacement costs in 2026, and how to
- Gutter Season Is Coming: The Pre-Fall Checklist for Mountain Homeowners
A practical guide to clearing debris, testing drainage, spotting roof-edge problems, and preparing a Western North Carol
- Renovations in Franklin
Franklin, NC · Macon County · 2,119 ft
- Renovations in Highlands
Highlands, NC · Macon County · 4,118 ft
- Renovations in Cashiers
Cashiers, NC · Jackson County · 3,484 ft
- Renovations in Sylva
Sylva, NC · Jackson County · 2,037 ft
- All Service Areas
Every Western North Carolina town we cover.
- Get My Project Scoped
A working session on scope, feasibility, and budget range — 828-524-7773.
Serious Renovations Start With a Design Phase.
Whole-home and multi-room renovations need a coordinated plan, not decisions made on the fly. Our paid Design & Consultation Agreement scopes, draws, and documents the renovation before construction pricing is finalized.
- Phase 1Discovery & Scope
Site review, goals, constraints, and a written scope of work. We define what the project really is — before anyone draws or prices it.
- Phase 2Plans, 3D Views & Material Direction
Our in-house design team produces layouts, 3D views, and material direction so you can see, refine, and approve the build before it starts.
- Phase 3Permit Set & Construction Documents
Permit-ready drawings and construction documents your crew can actually build from — and your county will actually approve.
What kind of project are you planning?
Pick the closest fit. We'll start the consultation there — you can change it at any point.
How long this actually takes
Construction runs on a slower clock than a roof repair, and pretending otherwise helps nobody. Here is the realistic pace of a Highlander project in Western North Carolina.
Week 1
Consultation
A working conversation about goals, constraints, and feasibility — on site where it matters. No pressure to commit.
Weeks 2–6
Planning and design
Existing conditions measured, concepts developed, scope written down. Length depends on how much design the project needs.
Varies by county
Permitting and scheduling
Applications submitted, materials ordered, and your project placed on the production calendar with a confirmed start.
Scope dependent
Construction
Daily oversight, milestone checkpoints, and proactive communication when weather or conditions change the sequence.
Final week
Walkthrough and closeout
Punch list resolved, site restored, documentation handed over, and a final walkthrough before we call it done.
Where your project likely lands
We don't publish a price per square foot for renovations — it would be a guess, and guesses cost homeowners money. Instead, here is how we talk about scope and what actually drives the number, so the first consultation starts from a realistic place.
Focused scope
A single room, a detail-level upgrade, or one exterior element. Shortest planning cycle and the fewest trades on site.
Mid scope
A porch, a modest addition, or a significant renovation. Design coordination, permitting, and multiple trades in sequence.
Large scope
Multi-room work, a guest suite, or structural changes. Engineering input, longer lead times, phased scheduling.
Estate level
Whole-home or complex builds. Full design documentation, long procurement windows, and a dedicated project schedule.
What moves the budget
Site and access
Slope, driveway access, and staging room change labor hours more than most homeowners expect in Western North Carolina.
Structural work
Foundations, load changes, and engineering review move a project into a different planning and cost tier.
Finish level
Materials and detailing carry a wide range. The same footprint can land in very different places depending on selections.
Permitting and design
Drawings, county review, and inspection sequencing add real calendar time and belong in the budget conversation early.
What actually drives renovation cost here
We do not publish a headline price, because a number pulled off a chart is not an estimate — and in Western North Carolina, two properties on the same street can price very differently. What we can do is show you every variable that moves the number, then put a written scope in your hands.
Size, layout, and structure
Square footage matters less than what the structure has to do. Load-bearing changes, roof tie-ins, and foundation work drive far more cost than added floor area.
Site access
Narrow gravel drives, steep grades, and tight tree lines change how materials get staged and how debris comes off the property — sometimes by hand instead of by truck.
Finish level
The same footprint can double in price between builder-grade and custom millwork, tile, and cabinetry. Selections are where budgets move most.
Site and terrain
Mountain lots bring grade changes, rock, drainage, and septic and well constraints. Sitework is priced from what the lot actually is, not an average.
Permits and existing conditions
County review, engineering when required, and whatever we find behind older walls — wiring, plumbing, framing — are scoped honestly rather than buried in an allowance.
What your written estimate includes
- On-site walkthrough with measurements and photo documentation
- Line-item scope by phase: sitework, structure, envelope, mechanicals, finishes
- Named selections and allowances stated in dollars, not vague placeholders
- What is excluded, spelled out, so bids can be compared honestly
- Projected schedule with the sequencing and inspection points behind it
Want a real number?
Tell us what you are planning and where. We walk the property with you, talk through the variables above, and put a written phase-by-phase scope in your hands before anyone commits.
Common concerns, answered straight
The five questions we hear most often — and exactly what we do about each one.
"I don't know what this will cost."
We measure your roof on site and send a written, grouped-cost scope that names materials, quantities, and labor line by line. You see what drives the number before you decide anything, and nothing is added later without a signed change order.
"I don't want to fight my insurance company."
We document the damage with dated photos and a written condition report you can submit with your claim, and we can meet the adjuster on site so everyone is reading the same roof. We do not decide your claim, but we make sure the evidence is complete and the scope language is clear.
"Contractors always run behind."
Mountain weather moves schedules, so we build the calendar around real weather windows and tell you the plan in writing before materials are ordered. If a date shifts, you hear it from your project contact the same day rather than finding out from an empty driveway.
"Who is actually showing up at my house?"
Our crews are Franklin-based and led by a foreman you meet before work starts, not a rotating pool of day labor. You get one named point of contact for the whole project and daily progress updates while the crew is on your property.
"I'll be cleaning up nails for a year."
We tarp landscaping and staging areas, keep debris moving to the dumpster through the day, and run magnetic sweeps of the drive and lawn before we leave each evening. The final walkthrough is done with you, and anything you spot gets handled before we call it complete.
Your Home Deserves Better Than 'Good Enough.'
Whether it's a kitchen that finally works, a bathroom that lasts, or a whole-home renovation done right — let's have a straightforward conversation about what's possible.
- 4.8★ Google · 158 reviews
- Licensed & insured · family-owned since 2017
- Franklin-based crews across 9 WNC counties