Home Remodeling in Durham NC
Home remodeling in Durham, NC, is a dynamic and personalized process, reflecting the city’s blend of historic charm and modern growth. Residents often seek renovations that enhance both functionality and aesthetic appeal, whether it’s updating kitchens and bathrooms to meet contemporary needs, preserving the character of historic homes, or expanding living spaces to accommodate evolving lifestyles. With access to a rich array of local resources and experienced professionals, Durham homeowners can transform their properties into spaces that perfectly suit their unique tastes and requirements, contributing to the city’s vibrant and ever-evolving residential landscape.
Transform Your Durham Home
- Kitchen Remodeling: Focuses on optimizing functionality and aesthetics through custom cabinetry, countertop upgrades, modern appliance installation, and strategic layout adjustments to create a central hub for cooking and gathering.
- Bathroom Remodeling: Emphasizes creating spa-like retreats with features like walk-in showers, freestanding tubs, updated fixtures, and tile work, prioritizing both relaxation and accessibility.
- Living Room Remodeling: Aims to enhance comfort and flow through strategic lighting, flooring upgrades, fireplace renovations, and custom built-ins, creating a welcoming space for relaxation and entertainment.
- Basement Remodeling: Transforms underutilized spaces into functional living areas, including home theaters, gyms, or guest suites, by addressing moisture control, lighting, and layout to maximize usable square footage.
Scott Riley Builders has been creating dream homes in Durham since 1997.
Our local home remodeling business has been creating dream homes in Durham since 1997. Our experienced design team will work closely with you to understand your vision, lifestyle, and budget. We offer a wide range of options, from classic elegance to modern trends, ensuring your home reflects your unique style.
Here are some popular home remodeling projects we can tackle in Durham:
1
Bathroom to Spa Upgrades
Transform your outdated bathroom into a personal oasis that you will love.
2
Kitchen Revamp and Upgrade
Increase storage, update cabinetry, add a new island, new tile backsplash or a complete redesign.
3
Living Room Revisions
Brighten the area with larger windows or skylights, add a custom fireplace, add built-in shelving or update the flooring.
4
Basement Renovations
Create a home theater, add a fully equipped home gym, a child’s playroom, home office or additional guest quarters.
Ready to level up your Durham area home?
Contact Scott Riley Builders today for a free consultation. We’ll discuss your vision, answer your questions, and provide you with a detailed estimate. Let’s transform your Durham home into a happy, comfortable space that your family will cherish!
Durham Home Renovation Process

Home Review and Assessment
Prior to any remodeling work, Scott Riley Builders conducts a thorough home review and assessment. This process begins with a detailed consultation to understand the homeowner’s vision, needs, and budget. We carefully evaluate the existing space, noting its dimensions, layout, plumbing and electrical configurations, ventilation, and any existing structural issues. We discuss potential design options, material selections, and fixture choices, offering expert advice and recommendations based on our experience. Finally, we take precise measurements and create detailed plans, ensuring that every aspect of the home renovation project is accounted for before any construction begins, allowing us to provide an accurate estimate and a clear roadmap for the project.

Home Renovation Design
Our design process is a collaborative journey, beginning with a deep dive into the homeowner’s vision and lifestyle. We translate these ideas into functional and aesthetically pleasing designs, considering factors like traffic flow, storage needs, and accessibility. Our designers incorporate the homeowner’s preferred style, whether it be modern, traditional, or something unique. We guide clients through the selection of materials offering expert advice on durability, maintenance, and aesthetics. Throughout the design phase, we prioritize open communication, ensuring that the final design reflects the homeowner’s personal style and meets their specific requirements, resulting in a remodeled home that is both beautiful and functional.

Remodeling the Home
The home remodeling process, whether focusing on kitchens, bathrooms, basements, or living rooms follows our methodical process. Regardless of the space, the process includes detailed planning, material selection, permitting, and skilled craftsmanship, all while maintaining open communication with the homeowner to ensure the final result aligns with their expectations.
Client Testimonials
Your Neighbors Loved Our
Work – You Will Too!
EXCELLENT Based on 7 reviews thoa finkelstein2024-06-23Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Scott remodeled two bathrooms in my newly purchased home that was built in 1995. He was one of 3 contractors that came highly recommended from a carpet vendor that I used. I spoke to all 3 who were equally skilled and had decades of experience but I chose Scott since he was the most genuine, honest to his word and incredibly responsive. He returned my call while he was on vacation and that kind of responsiveness continued throughout the entire 3 month renovation process. He arrived exactly at the time he promised and always arrived before his subcontractors. He cleaned up after himself which seems like an obvious ask but I've hired other contractors who left mountains of trash for me to dispose and when you're dealing with heavy materials, it's not an easy task for a petite woman. Scott has a long relationship with all subcontractors he uses who were also fantastic. I had a minor issue with one of the new toilets which could've waited until Monday since there was another toilet in the house, but it was unacceptable for Scott who insisted his plumber come back to my place in the height of Friday night traffic. The plumber arrived with a smile and an apology which was a testament that both Scott and his contractors stand by their work and will do whatever needed to deliver a quality end. If you've ever remodeled a place, you'll know that unexpected issues arise but Scott de-escalated all issues by taking control and responsibility even if it was unavoidable or unforeseen. On one occasion, we had to pivot quickly and buy an entirely new shower system since what they found behind the drywall was not what they expected for that age of home. Scott volunteered to drive from Chapel Hill to Raleigh to buy a new shower system so that it would be at the house before his plumber arrived later that day. He refused to let me pay extra for his time or for the additional cost in buying a more expensive shower system. Scott's quote started extremely fair and competitive and ended in the same manner. Unlike other contractors, the cost did not creep higher with every minor modification and i did not feel insecure about whether there were going to be hidden charges at the end of the process. He was extremely transparent and honest about his pricing. When you work with a contractor for 3 months, you inevitably get to know them as an individual. Scott is a humble husband, son and father who also plays an active role in raising his grandchildren. He extends the same kind of heart to his demolition team who has been with him for more than a decade and when one of his team sustained a major injury that limited his work contributions, Scott kept him on the payroll so that he could feed his family. That kind of character is what I heard on my first phone call with him and will be the same reason why I will choose Scott again for my kitchen and master bath remodel at the end of the year. You can also infer from the other reviews that people have taken the time to write lengthy reviews because he deserves it, and if you work with him, you will come to appreciate him as a contractor and a good human. Joseph Precythe2024-06-04Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our house, built in 1987, was in desperate need of an update. Our project would encompass a new kitchen, new bathrooms, lighting, flooring, and general cosmetic upgrades. Being in the business, as a flooring subcontractor, I had many builders as customers to select from. One builder, Scott Riley (Scott Riley Builders) was at the top of my list. I was impressed with his work ethics and appreciated his honest and upfront communication with me and his clients about the construction process. Several factors directed us to choose Sott as our builder. Most important, Scott likes to work on one job at a time. Initially, he will set up a face-to-face meeting at the job site to discuss the scope of the project. Once decisions are made, Scott provides a detailed quote in a timely manner and will also provide the client with a construction schedule, with a starting date and more importantly a completion date. As most people are aware, there will be design changes and unexpected surprises. Scott is very knowledgeable when these situations arise and is more than happy to explain and guide you to make the best-informed decisions and avoid potential costly pitfalls. Most impressive is Scott's relationship with his cabinetry, countertop, plumbing, electrical, and painting subcontractors. Having worked together for many years, they work in sync to keep the construction schedule on track. They were reliable, professional, and constantly delivering quality work. Now that I've had the pleasure to work with Scott Riley on a personal level, I feel even more strongly that we made the right choice! Furthermore, in the future, we have planned additional construction projects and Scott will be our contractor. Thank you, Scott Riley. J and J JO Tarheel2024-03-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Scott Riley Builders did a great job up-fitting my bathroom. Scott worked with me and my wife throughout the process to give us the bathroom we wanted. We love our new tile shower! Pam Weaver2023-10-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Scott Riley Builders did a superb job in remolding the master bath in my home. Converting a bathtub into a walk-in shower. Removing the tub and old tile and replacing it with an oversized shower,new plumbing, beautiful white subway tile with neutral mosaic tile on the floor and accented in the niche that was an added decorative accent. The workers were all polite, punctual and displayed an excellent skill in their workmanship. All of the areas were covered from the entry to the project area in order to maintain a clean work area. I am extremely pleased with Scott Riley Builders and would highly recommend him for any home remodeling. Donald R Teeter Sr2023-10-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My wife and I highly recommend Scott Riley Builders without reservation. The multiple-part project Scott did for us in our home involved the complete renovation of our master bath, the complete renovation of our laundry room, the partial renovation of the remaining bath and half-bath, and the removal of a wall that separated our kitchen dining area from the adjoining den. That wall contained a sewer line and the wall’s removal also required seamless integration with existing work. Scott was punctual, employed uniformly excellent and experienced sub-contractors with whom he has worked for years, and the quality of the all the work was first class. We interviewed and got estimates from several other contractors. While Scott’s estimate was one of the lower ones, what attracted us most was his obvious knowledge and his plain-spoken sincerity. As the project proceeded, he made dedicated efforts to assure that the work proceeded as expeditiously as possible, and he dealt with the few inevitable but minor problems that occurred in a calm, fair and reasonable way. If you want a contractor that uses computer-based project control software like that needed to build a nuclear plant, Scott is not your guy. If you want a contractor that will shoot straight with you from planning to completion and will use years of experience dealing with subcontractors, government inspectors, suppliers and with all the aggravations of every construction project, all to get your project done cooperatively, for a reasonable sum and without undue delay, you will have to look a long time to find somebody better than Scott Riley. Of course, Scott has done only the one involved project for us, but in my legal career I have spent more than 40 years mostly litigating about and otherwise dealing with thousands of construction contracts, contractors and disputes. From that long experience as well as from on our home project, I can tell you without any doubt that Scott Riley is the best kind of real pro. Most certainly we will call him in if we ever decide to do another project. Gena Overbey2023-10-18Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What a joy to meet and work with someone who’s honest, hard working, listens and offers solutions, takes pride in a job well done, professional, dependable, and respectful. Highly recommend Scott Riley Builders! Nancy Hester2023-09-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Scott Riley Builders is a professional group that does quality work. We had a major renovation done which included remodeling 2 bathrooms and the kitchen. In addition they installed an elevator for us. The best part was they stayed on schedule throughout the project and communicated with us during the entire renovation! This group is exceptional and their work is quality.