Capitol Hill Remodeling & Construction
Capitol Hill is Seattle at its densest and most architecturally layered — early-1900s mansions on Millionaire's Row, blocks of vintage brick apartments, and Craftsman homes long ago split into units. With land scarce and ceilings high, the defining project here isn't a backyard cottage — it's the basement ADU conversion.
Building in Capitol Hill: the housing stock, the projects, the site notes
The Hill's housing stock is older and denser than almost anywhere in Seattle: 1900–1930 is the dominant era, from the landmark mansions north of Roy Street to the wood-frame and brick apartment buildings and the many large single-family homes that have been informally carved into flats over the decades. Lots are small, side yards are tight, and street parking is precious — which is exactly why detached backyard cottages are rare here and interior conversions are king.
Most Capitol Hill homes have something the rest of Seattle envies for an ADU: a tall, full-footprint basement under an old house. Converting that into a legal attached ADU (AADU) is the neighborhood's signature value play, and it's a genuinely technical job. The three things that make or break a basement conversion are ceiling height, light-and-egress, and a code-compliant separate entrance. We routinely lower slabs or underpin to gain headroom, cut and waterproof egress window wells, and carve a private entry out of a side or rear grade — all while keeping the upstairs home livable.
Working in a century-old, densely-built structure means surprises behind every wall: knob-and-tube wiring, undersized electrical service, galvanized supply lines, asbestos-era materials and, almost always, lead paint. We plan Capitol Hill remodels assuming we'll find these, work to EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) standards on the pre-1978 fabric, and bring electrical and plumbing up to code as part of the scope rather than as a surprise change-order. For owners of the grand older homes, we also do sensitive whole-home and kitchen-and-bath remodels that respect the original detailing.
Density also shapes the build itself. Tight lots, shared walls and limited staging mean we plan parking, material delivery and noise around close neighbors, and we know which Capitol Hill blocks carry landmark or conservation considerations that affect exterior work. SDCI permitting for an ADU conversion — egress, ceiling height, fire-separation and a separate kitchen — is detailed, and we manage the full set so your basement becomes legal, rentable square footage rather than an un-permitted gamble.
Design-build services for Capitol Hill homes
Design, permitting and craftsmanship under one accountable roof.
Honest Seattle budget ranges
Construction is custom, but you deserve real numbers up front. These are typical Seattle ranges; your fixed bid comes after a free in-home consult in Capitol Hill.
| Project | Typical Seattle range |
|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | $25,000 – $60,000 |
| Kitchen remodel | $45,000 – $120,000 |
| Home addition | from $95,000 |
| Whole-home remodel | from $120,000 |
| DADU / backyard cottage | $250,000 – $450,000 |
| Seismic retrofit | $5,000 – $15,000 |
Prices in USD. Every Capitol Hill project gets a written, fixed-scope estimate after a free in-home consultation. Financing available.
Your Capitol Hill questions, answered
Can I turn my Capitol Hill basement into a legal ADU?
Very often, yes — it's the most common high-value project here. The three gating issues are ceiling height, egress/light, and a code-compliant separate entrance. We assess all three, lower the slab or underpin for headroom where needed, and handle the SDCI permitting so it's a legal, rentable unit.
Why is a backyard DADU less common on Capitol Hill?
Capitol Hill lots are small and densely built, with little usable back-yard space, so a detached cottage rarely fits. The Hill's advantage is its tall, full-footprint old basements — which is why interior AADU conversions are the smarter play here.
What surprises come up in old Capitol Hill buildings?
Knob-and-tube wiring, undersized electrical service, galvanized plumbing, asbestos-era materials and lead paint are all common in this pre-1930 stock. We plan for them, work lead-safe to EPA RRP standards, and fold the electrical and plumbing upgrades into the scope so they don't become change-orders.
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