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Common Questions

Everything we’re asked,In One Place.

The questions prospective clients ask most often. Anything missing? Send it our way.

Building & Renovation

Look for a licensed, insured contractor with direct experience in your project type and market. Ask for references, verify their license with the state (DBPR in Florida, CSLB in California), and make sure the principal — not just a project manager — will be involved in your build. A good GC should be transparent about budget, timeline, and subcontractor selection from the first conversation.

Construction costs vary significantly based on scope, finishes, site conditions, and market. A luxury kitchen renovation will differ from a ground-up custom home. We provide detailed pre-construction estimates so you understand exactly where every dollar goes before a shovel hits the ground. The best way to get an accurate number is to tell us about your project.

Timelines depend on the scope of work, permitting requirements, and design complexity. A full kitchen or bathroom renovation might take 8–16 weeks, while a ground-up home can range from 10 to 18 months. We build detailed construction schedules during pre-construction so there are no surprises — and we hold ourselves to them.

It starts with a consultation to understand your project, budget, and timeline. From there, we handle pre-construction planning, permitting, subcontractor selection, and scheduling. During construction, you get principal-led site management with regular progress updates. We finish with a thorough walkthrough, punch list completion, and certificate of occupancy.

Almost always, yes. In both California and Florida, most structural work, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical changes require permits from your local building department. Working without permits creates serious liability and can affect your property value, insurance, and ability to sell. We handle all permitting and entitlements in-house.

Commercial Construction

A commercial tenant improvement starts with understanding your lease requirements and TI allowance, then moves into space planning, design, permitting, and construction. The goal is to build out your space on time and on budget so you can open for business. We handle everything from pre-construction estimating through final inspection in both South Florida and Los Angeles.

Commercial projects involve different building codes, fire and life safety requirements, ADA compliance, and permitting processes. Schedules are often driven by lease commencement dates and business operations. The coordination is more complex — multiple stakeholders, stricter inspections, and tighter timelines. We bring the same principal-level oversight to commercial work that our residential clients expect.

Fire Rebuild & Insurance

Begin with your insurance claim and a licensed contractor who understands fire-damage reconstruction. The site needs to be assessed, debris cleared, and new plans drawn — often to current building codes including California's Chapter 7A fire-resistant construction standards. We help homeowners in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena, Malibu, and throughout Los Angeles navigate the full rebuild process from insurance coordination to keys in hand.

In many cases, rebuilding costs exceed the original policy limits — especially when current building codes require upgraded materials and systems. Review your policy for dwelling coverage, code-upgrade endorsements, and extended replacement cost provisions. We work closely with homeowners and their adjusters to document scope accurately and help bridge any coverage gaps.

A complete fire rebuild in Los Angeles typically takes 14 to 24 months from contract signing to certificate of occupancy. The process includes debris removal, site assessment, design and engineering, permitting (which can be expedited under LA fire-rebuild programs), and full reconstruction. Chapter 7A fire-resistant construction adds time but is required in high-risk areas. We help expedite permitting wherever possible and provide weekly progress updates throughout.

Chapter 7A of the California Building Code governs construction in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fire areas — including Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Malibu, and other high-risk zones. It requires fire-resistant materials and assemblies for roofing, siding, decks, vents, windows, and more. Rebuilding to Chapter 7A standards adds material and labor cost but significantly improves your home's resistance to future wildfires. We're experienced with the full range of compliant assemblies.

Specialty Services

An owner's representative acts as your advocate throughout the construction process — managing the general contractor, tracking the budget and schedule, coordinating with architects and engineers, and navigating permitting. If you're not in the industry yourself, an OR ensures your interests are protected and your project stays on track. We provide owner's representation across Southern California.

Engineered hardwood is typically the best choice for Southern California due to its stability in fluctuating temperatures and lower humidity. It resists warping better than solid hardwood and can be installed over concrete slabs and radiant heating systems. We hold a C-15 flooring specialty license and install, refinish, and restore hardwood flooring throughout Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood throughout, traditionally nailed to a wood subfloor. It can be sanded and refinished many times over decades. Engineered hardwood has a real-wood top layer bonded over plywood — more dimensionally stable in changing humidity and installable over concrete slabs and radiant heat. For most Southern California homes, engineered is the better long-term choice. We install, refinish, and repair both.

At most large general contractors, your project gets handed off to a project manager after the contract is signed. At Composite, the principal is involved from first call to final walkthrough — overseeing subcontractor selection, budget decisions, and on-site execution. You get senior-level attention on every detail, not just a name on the proposal.

Pricing & Engagement

We provide an initial scope-and-budget conversation at no charge. For projects we move forward with, we issue detailed pre-construction estimates and schedules — those are part of the formal engagement. Detailed estimating takes real time and discipline, which is why we do it as a paid pre-construction service rather than a free quote.

Tell us about your project through the contact form — scope, location, timeline, and anything else relevant. We'll respond personally within one business day to set up an introductory conversation. From there, if it's a good fit, we move into a paid pre-construction phase where we develop detailed estimates, schedules, and scope before any contract is signed.

We focus on projects where principal-led oversight delivers real value — typically full-scope renovations, ground-up builds, and commercial tenant improvements above $500K. For smaller scope or single-trade work like flooring-only, we engage selectively based on fit. The best way to find out is to send us your project details.

Every change order is documented in writing with a clear scope, cost impact, and schedule impact, then approved by you before any work proceeds. We design our pre-construction process to surface as many decisions as possible upfront — so change orders during construction are the exception, not the rule. When they're needed (often for client-driven scope changes or unforeseen site conditions), we handle them transparently.

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