The kitchen is the room that gets used the hardest and the one most homeowners want to change first. A good kitchen remodel is mostly decided before demolition: where the sink, range and refrigerator go, what the cabinets and counters will be, which walls stay and what the city needs to review. Ramos General Building plans and builds kitchen remodels across Oakland and the Bay Area, and remodeling work we complete is covered by our 2-year warranty.
What our kitchen remodeling work covers
We handle the full rebuild, coordinating each trade in the right order:
- Layout. Reworking the work triangle, opening a wall or adding an island. Load-bearing changes are designed by an engineer.
- Cabinets and counters. Installation of stock, semi-custom or custom cabinetry, followed by countertops measured from the installed boxes.
- Tile and flooring. Backsplashes, floor tile, wood or resilient flooring installed over a flat, sound subfloor.
- Lighting and power. Coordination of new circuits, under-cabinet and ceiling lighting and outlets where you actually need them.
- Plumbing and appliances. Coordination of sink, dishwasher and appliance connections, including relocations.
- Finishes. Drywall, trim, paint and a full cleanup before the walkthrough.
Planning a kitchen remodel in Oakland
Oakland requires a building permit for every kitchen remodel, and the permit has to be issued before work begins. The path depends on what changes:
- Same walls and windows. A building permit applied for through the city’s online permit center.
- New wall openings or window sizes. Zoning review is added, and some projects need small project design review.
- Every permit. Oakland requires an approved construction waste recycling plan before any building permit is issued.
Older kitchens often hide outdated wiring, undersized circuits and worn plumbing behind the cabinets. We plan for what we are likely to find, so surprises become line items instead of delays.
Our kitchen remodel sequence
- Estimate and measurements. We visit, measure and talk through how you use the kitchen. The estimate is free.
- Selections and scope. You choose cabinets, counters, tile and fixtures; we write the scope and order long-lead items early.
- Permit. The permit is in place before any demolition.
- Demolition and rough-in. Old finishes come out, framing changes are made and plumbing and electrical rough-ins are completed and inspected.
- Close-up and install. Insulation and drywall, then cabinets, counters, backsplash, fixtures and appliances.
- Walkthrough. We review every drawer, door and fixture with you and close the punch list.
Kitchen ideas that work in Bay Area homes
Many East Bay kitchens are compact, so smart planning beats square footage: tall cabinets to the ceiling, a pantry wall in place of a soffit, a peninsula instead of an island, and lighting layered for cooking and for gathering. If the kitchen simply does not have room to grow, a home addition can extend it.
Remodeling the bathroom too? See our bathroom remodeling page, or read about our full process.