Design-Build Condo Remodeling
Condo Kitchen Remodeling in Portland, OR
HOA approvals, building rules, permits & construction, one team owns all of it. We remodel condo kitchens the building will approve and the neighbors will forgive.
Woman-led design-build firm run by Deb Zsarko, remodeling Portland condos and homes for over 30 years.
Condo Kitchens Are a Different Job Than House Kitchens
Remodeling a kitchen inside a condo building adds a second client to the project: the HOA. Before a cabinet moves, the association wants drawings, contractor insurance certificates, and proof the work follows the building's rules on plumbing, flooring, and work hours. Z Squared Holdings has remodeled condo kitchens and baths across Portland, and we handle that paperwork as part of the job, not as your homework.
The building itself pushes back too. Shared plumbing stacks limit where the sink can go, panel capacity limits appliances, and everything you demo has to travel through a lobby or elevator the association expects back in perfect shape. We plan the kitchen around those constraints from the first sketch, so the design the HOA approves is the design that gets built.
What a Portland Condo Kitchen Remodel Involves
Most condo kitchens run $35,000–$75,000, depending on scope & building
HOA & Building Approval
We prepare the drawings, scope, and insurance documents your association requires, and we answer the HOA's questions directly so approval doesn't stall your start date.
Layout & Design
Condo kitchens are usually tight and often closed off. We open galley layouts where structure and plumbing allow, and design storage that earns back every square foot.
Permits & Inspections
City of Portland permits still apply inside a condo whenever plumbing or electrical moves. We pull them and coordinate inspections with building management.
Occupied-Building Logistics
Elevator reservations, floor protection, quiet hours, daily cleanup. Working in an occupied building without complaints is a skill, and our crews have it.
Our Condo & Kitchen Work
Portland kitchen projects by Z Squared
We Speak HOA
Most remodel horror stories in condos start the same way: work began before the association signed off, or a sub ignored the building's rules and the project got shut down mid-demo. Repeat condo clients hire us because that never happens on our jobs.
One client had us renovate two bathrooms and a kitchen in his condo, then brought us back for more. That kind of trust comes from leaving the building manager as happy as the owner.
Before Demo Day, We Have Already
Submitted plans and insurance certificates to your HOA for approval
Pulled City of Portland permits for plumbing and electrical work
Reserved elevator time and agreed on work hours with building management
Priced your selections into a fixed proposal, so approval equals final cost
Licensed in Oregon (CCB #252663) & Washington
Our Condo Remodel Process
One team, one contract, HOA to final walkthrough
Free Estimate
We walk your unit, note the building constraints, and give you a straight answer on scope and cost.
Design & HOA Approval
You pick materials at fixed decision points while we package the drawings and documents your association needs.
Permitting
City permits pulled and inspections scheduled around building rules. Permitting is our job, not your homework.
Construction
Protected hallways, respected quiet hours, daily cleanup, and a finished kitchen from the team that designed it.
Small Kitchens, Honest Numbers
Condo kitchens cost less than house kitchens on average, but building logistics add labor a house never needs. Most Portland condo kitchens land between $35,000 and $75,000, and we tell you where yours sits at the first meeting.
Because design and construction live under one contract, your selections are priced into the proposal before demolition starts, not discovered halfway through the job.
Portland Condo Remodeling FAQs
Common questions answered
How much does a condo kitchen remodel cost in Portland?
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Most condo kitchen remodels in Portland run $35,000 to $75,000. The unit is usually smaller than a house kitchen, but HOA requirements, building access, and shared-system constraints add labor. Layout changes and custom cabinetry push the number up; a same-footprint refresh keeps it down. We confirm a realistic range during your free estimate.
Do I need HOA approval to remodel my condo kitchen?
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Almost always, yes. Most Portland associations require submitted plans, contractor license and insurance certificates, and adherence to building rules on work hours and common-area protection before any work starts. We prepare and submit that package for you and deal with the HOA's questions directly.
Do condo kitchen remodels need City of Portland permits?
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Yes, whenever the work touches plumbing, electrical, or structure, which covers nearly every full kitchen remodel. HOA approval does not replace a city permit; you need both. We pull the permits, schedule the inspections, and coordinate inspector access with your building.
Can the plumbing or sink location move in a condo kitchen?
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Sometimes. Condo plumbing ties into shared stacks, so moving a sink or dishwasher depends on where those stacks run and what your association allows. We map the building systems during design and tell you what can move, what it costs, and what is better left in place.
Can I live in my condo during the remodel?
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Most owners do. A kitchen remodel typically leaves bedrooms and bathrooms untouched, and we set up a temporary kitchen space where the unit allows. Expect three to six weeks of construction for a typical condo kitchen once demolition starts, with dust protection up and the unit cleaned daily.
How do you keep the building and neighbors happy during construction?
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We reserve elevator time, protect hallways and lobbies, keep to posted building work hours, and remove debris daily. The crew works in an occupied building the way they would in an occupied home, because for your neighbors, it is one. Our repeat condo clients are the proof it works.
Get a Free Condo Kitchen Estimate
Tell us about your unit and the kitchen you want. We'll walk the space, flag what your building's rules mean for the project, and give you an honest number. No pressure, no obligation.
Reach out today to get your free estimate on the calendar.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD
Tamar Feinkind
Home Owner
I worked with Deb Zsarko twice, first to renovate a 1 bedroom condo – kitchen, flooring, and paint – and the second time to completely gut a 1500 sq ft house. Five years on, we feel lucky to have worked with Deb to redo our 1940 house. The work she does lasts, and she considered things in terms of aesthetics that we had never thought of. She works with top of the line people, as well. Mostly, she's a person of her word! And that's rare in this business.
Mae-Fay Koenig
Home Owner
Deb did an incredible job with our master bathroom and walk in closet remodel! She's pretty accurate with her estimates and timeline which is a rare thing to find. Deb has a wealth of knowledge and experience with all things related to home construction and remodels. If she was still local to us, we would have had her tackle our kitchen remodel as well. Highly recommend Deb to anyone who wants a stress free remodel!