Kitchen Remodel in Tampa, FL
Honest price. Clear timeline. No vanishing act. Cosmetic refreshes to full gut remodels with one licensed contractor managing every detail.
The most common Tampa kitchen remodel scenario plays out in South Tampa and Hyde Park, where the original cast iron drain stack runs horizontally under the slab and a kitchen island cannot drain without cutting into concrete. In neighborhoods like Bayshore Beautiful and Hyde Park Village, the water table sits 1 to 3 feet below grade — which means any under-slab plumbing work requires temporary dewatering equipment before a saw ever touches the slab. In Carrollwood, the 1970s colonials routinely have load-bearing walls separating the kitchen from the family room; removing them requires an engineered steel or LVL beam, but the opened floor plan adds immediate appraised value that outpaces the beam cost. Drome Contracting scopes drain line condition with a camera before the design is finalized so the plumbing layout reflects what is actually under the slab rather than a 1950s permit drawing. All permits through City of Tampa Development Services Department via Tampa eTRAKiT under license CGC1515971.
What Affects Your Cost
- — Kitchen size and layout complexity
- — Cabinet quality (stock vs. semi-custom vs. custom)
- — Countertop material (laminate vs. quartz vs. granite)
- — Whether layout changes are needed (plumbing and electrical rerouting)
- — Appliance upgrades
- — Backsplash and flooring selections
What You Get
What's Included
Permits for Plumbing and Electrical
Any kitchen remodel involving plumbing, electrical, or structural changes requires permits in Hillsborough County. We pull them all under CGC1515971.
Full Demo and Rough-In
Existing cabinets, countertops, and flooring removed. New plumbing runs, outlet relocations, and lighting changes roughed in before any finish work starts.
Cabinetry and Countertops
Cabinet installation, countertop fabrication and install, backsplash. Selections you chose, installed by our team with all trades under one roof.
Appliance Coordination
We coordinate delivery, placement, and hookup of your appliances as part of the project — not something you have to schedule separately.
County Inspection Sign-Off
Hillsborough County inspection passed before the job is complete. You receive a copy of all permits and certificate of completion for your records.
Our Process
How We Work
Kitchen Assessment
We measure your kitchen, discuss layout options, and understand your priorities. Cabinets, countertops, appliances, workflow.
Design and Estimate
Detailed scope with line-item pricing. Cabinet layout, countertop selections, fixture choices. No surprises.
Permits
Required for plumbing, electrical, or structural changes. We handle all permit applications and inspections.
Demo
Controlled removal of existing cabinets, countertops, flooring, and fixtures. Dust containment to protect your home.
Rough-In
New plumbing and electrical runs for updated layout. Island additions, outlet relocations, lighting changes.
Installation
Cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, fixtures, appliance hookups. Every detail finished to spec.
Final Inspection
County inspection passed. Walkthrough with you. Every drawer, every outlet, every finish checked.
Local Expertise
What We Know About Building Here
Permit Authority
City of Tampa Development Services Department
Online portal: Tampa eTRAKiT
City of Tampa Development Services Department processes permits via Tampa eTRAKiT; plumbing and electrical changes require permit
South Tampa and Hyde Park: water table 1-3 ft below grade — under-slab plumbing relocation requires dewatering before excavation
Pre-1960s homes: original cast iron drain stacks often undersized for modern kitchen island drains; camera scope before design is required
Carrollwood 1970s-80s colonials: kitchen-to-family-room wall typically load-bearing; engineered beam required for open floor plan conversion
Historic district kitchen windows visible from street require THPC design review before permit
Service Area
Kitchen Remodel Across Tampa Neighborhoods
Drome Contracting serves homeowners throughout Tampa — from South Tampa to Channel District and every neighborhood in between. As a Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC1515971) based in Odessa, we know Hillsborough County permitting, soil conditions, and local code requirements.
Free Estimate · No Obligation
Ready to start your kitchen remodel in Tampa?
Why Drome
Credentials That Matter
Florida Certified General Contractor
General liability insurance coverage
Full workers compensation coverage
Same person from estimate to final walkthrough
Why Drome
Built for Tampa Homeowners
No Sub-Coordination Headaches in Tampa
One contract, one contractor. Your plumber, electrician, and cabinet installer all work under our supervision. You make one call.
Florida Humidity, Handled Correctly
Cabinet boxes, countertop edges, and backsplash installations in Tampa require materials and methods designed for Florida humidity. We spec for the climate, not just the showroom.
Permits in Hillsborough County — Always
Unpermitted kitchen work affects resale and insurance. We pull every permit required for your project scope. No shortcuts.
Fixed-Price or Line-Item — Your Choice
For well-defined scopes we offer fixed-price contracts. For complex remodels with unknowns, line-item transparency so you see every cost and change order.
Investment
Kitchen Remodel Pricing in Tampa
Ranges based on typical Hillsborough County projects. Your itemized estimate reflects your exact scope.
Cosmetic Refresh
$18,000 – $60,000
Cabinets, countertops, fixtures, paint. Existing layout stays.
- ✓ Cabinet refacing or painting
- ✓ New countertops
- ✓ Updated backsplash
- ✓ New fixtures and hardware
Full Gut Remodel
$40,000 – $140,000
New layout, plumbing, electrical, everything replaced.
- ✓ Full cabinet replacement
- ✓ Countertop fabrication and install
- ✓ New plumbing and electrical
- ✓ Layout changes and island additions
FAQ
Common Questions
Why do so many South Tampa kitchen remodels involve cutting the slab?
In South Tampa and Hyde Park homes built before 1965, the kitchen drain lines run through horizontal cast iron pipes embedded in or just below the slab. Moving the sink, adding a kitchen island with a drain, or changing the dishwasher location all require cutting and jackhammering into that slab. The water table in South Tampa sits 1 to 3 feet below grade, so excavation requires temporary dewatering — Drome Contracting includes this in the scope and cost estimate before work begins.
Can you open up the wall between my Tampa kitchen and family room?
In most Carrollwood and mid-century Tampa ranch homes, the kitchen-to-family-room wall is load-bearing. Removing it requires an engineered steel beam or LVL header sized by a structural engineer to carry the roof load. Drome Contracting arranges the structural engineer analysis as part of the design phase and pulls the required permit for the structural modification through Tampa eTRAKiT.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Tampa?
If the remodel involves plumbing relocation, electrical panel upgrades or circuit additions, gas line work, or structural wall removal, yes — permits go through City of Tampa Development Services Department via Tampa eTRAKiT. A cosmetic refresh limited to cabinets, countertops, backsplash, and appliances that does not alter plumbing or electrical circuits does not require a permit. Drome Contracting identifies permit requirements during the pre-construction assessment.
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Tampa?
Cosmetic refreshes take 2-4 weeks. Full gut remodels take 6-10 weeks depending on scope, material lead times, and Hillsborough County inspection scheduling.
Can I use my kitchen during a remodel?
For cosmetic refreshes, partial use is sometimes possible. For full remodels, plan on setting up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in your home for 4-8 weeks.
Do kitchen remodels require permits in Hillsborough County?
Yes, if the project involves plumbing, electrical, or structural changes. Cosmetic-only work (paint, hardware, countertop replacement without plumbing changes) typically does not require a permit.
Licensed and Insured
Serving Tampa and Hillsborough County
Describe your project in a few sentences. We call you back within one business day with honest answers and a clear next step. No sales pitch. No obligation.
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