Home Remodeling in University Park, TX

Homes in University Park

University Park shares a lot with its neighbor Highland Park, but its lots are generally smaller. Many blocks are lined with mature trees, and houses sit close to their neighbors. Much of the city was built out in the first half of the twentieth century, with brick and stone cottages, Tudors and traditional two-story homes. Over time, a large number of those older houses have been replaced by bigger new homes on the same lots.

That leaves two kinds of remodeling. In the older houses, space is the constraint: bathrooms are small, kitchens are narrow and closets are few. Floors are often original oak, and many houses sit on pier-and-beam foundations, which affects how tile is installed and how level a new floor can be made.

In the newer houses, space is rarely the issue. The questions are about finish quality, wear and taste, since a home built to sell may have finishes that do not match how you want to live. Replacing builder-selected tile, light fixtures and paint colors is a common starting point, and it can be done room by room.

What University Park homeowners ask us for

In University Park's older homes, the most valuable projects often recover space. Replacing an unused tub with a walk-in shower behind frameless glass makes a small bath feel larger, and custom closets and built-ins make up for storage the original plan never had, under stairs, in bedrooms and along narrow hallways. Tile that suits the age of the house, such as small hex or subway patterns, keeps the bath consistent with the rest of the home.

Flooring is the other common need. Original oak can often stay, and when new wood is added to match an extension or a remodeled room, species, board width and stain all need careful matching. If the original floor is in good shape, keeping it and spending the budget elsewhere is often the better call.

In newer homes, painting and kitchen finish updates lead. Upgrading hardware, lighting and the backsplash is a quick way to make a builder's choices your own without reworking the layout. Accent walls in an office or dining room are another low-disruption change.