Code-Proof Your Remodel To Protect Your Home And Wallet

Why Should We Bring Things Up To Code?

Your home’s best upgrades aren’t the ones you can see. We unpack how modern building codes protect safety, strengthen insurance claims, cut energy bills, and boost resale value—and why tackling what’s behind the walls should come before picking tile. With Jeff Bass, a seasoned general contractor in the DFW area, we break down the real risks of outdated wiring and plumbing, explain GFCI outlets in plain English, and show how current standards turn everyday headaches into non-issues.

We get practical about what “up to code” actually means today, from grounded circuits and kitchen small-appliance loads to insulation, windows, and energy efficiency requirements that can shrink your summer electric bill. You’ll hear the difference between grandfathered features and true violations, plus when an update is optional and when it becomes mandatory the moment you touch a system. Along the way, we share the documentation that matters—permits, inspections, and close-out records that reassure buyers and keep insurers on your side.

If you’re planning a remodel, you’ll learn how to hire a licensed, insured contractor who pulls the right permits, sequences inspections, and helps you prioritize function over finishes. We talk ROI, timelines, and how focusing on wiring, plumbing, and ventilation sets you up for a smoother project and a stronger sale. Expect clear guidance, real-world examples, and a blueprint for upgrades that pay off now and later.

Subscribe for more practical remodeling insight, share this with a homeowner who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Got a question about code or permits? Send it our way—we might feature it next.

To learn more about Remodel Contracting visit:
https://www.RemodelContracting.net
Remodel Contracting
801 Alpha Rd, Ste 133
Richardson, TX 75081
469-831-5620

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_01 (00:03):
Welcome to the Remodel Contracting Podcast,
where outdated spaces meet theirmodern makeover destiny.
Hosted by Jeff Bass, generalcontractor, home renovation
expert, and guy who firmlybelieves your avocado green
bathroom has gotta go.
Based in the DFW Metro, RemodelContracting is here to help you

(00:24):
level up your living space.
Because hey, you updated yourwardrobe.
Now it's time to update yourhome.
Expect more.
Live better.
Let's remodel.

SPEAKER_02 (00:36):
Whether you're remodeling or selling, Jeff Bass
explains why updating to codeisn't just smart, it's
essential.
Welcome back, everyone.
I'm Sophia Yvette, co-host andproducer, back in the studio
with general contractor and homerenovation expert Jeff Bass.
Jeff, how's it going today?

SPEAKER_00 (00:54):
Doing great, Sophia.
Thanks for asking.
How are you?

SPEAKER_02 (00:57):
Great.
Now, Jeff, let's get into it.
Why should we bring things up tocode?

SPEAKER_00 (01:02):
You know, bringing things up to code really it
protects your investment,whether you're remodeling,
selling, or just maintainingyour home.
And what bringing up the codemeans, it means that the work
meets the minimum safety andconstruction standards and
effect today, not from when thehouse was built.
And so bringing things up tocode because we want to bring

(01:23):
things up to code becausebuilding codes evolve as we
learn more about materials, theweather, fire safety.
So even if your house was up tocode when it was built, it might
not be now.

SPEAKER_02 (01:34):
Now, Jeff, I have to ask, how does being out of code
affect insurance or resalevalue?

SPEAKER_00 (01:41):
If you've ever had an insurance claim and your
wiring or your structure isn'tup to code, they can actually
deny the claim.
And you know, noncompliant,unpermitted work that can uh
really haunt you when it comestime to renew your insurance.
For example, if you have anolder home built in the 60s, it

(02:03):
might have two wire outlets withno ground.
Whereas modern wiring, we haveGFCI outlets.
So there's a lot of code changesthat that happen related to the
uh electrical safety of yourhome.
And we definitely wouldn't wantto be in a situation where an
insurance claim is deniedbecause we did work in the home
and we didn't bring the home upto code.

SPEAKER_02 (02:24):
So, Jeff, for our homeowners who don't know what
the GFCI outlets are, do youmind getting into that a little
further?

SPEAKER_00 (02:32):
GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupt.
Basically, it's a little circuitbreaker built into the outlet.
So you don't have to rely juston the breaker panel in your
garage.
Uh outlets, uh appliances,especially small kitchen
appliances, they draw a lot ofamperage and they can quickly
over running two at a time canquickly overload a circuit.
Um, an example is if you've everbeen in an older home and

(02:55):
somebody is running a hairdryerand you put toast in the
toaster, all of a suddeneverything trips and turns off.
That's because the amperage hasbeen overloaded.
Outlets are designed to handleabout 15 amps.
When you plug in somethingthat's running 10 amps, you plug
in something else that's running10 amps, and there you there you
got 20, and uh you've tripped abreaker.
It's a lot simpler with a GFCIto just handle that one, that

(03:16):
one item on that circuit, andyou can take care of it while
you're in the house just bypushing the little button on the
GFCI.

SPEAKER_02 (03:23):
Amazing.
Now, are there common areas inolder homes that tend to be out
of compliance?

SPEAKER_00 (03:30):
Electrical is probably the easiest one to find
that comes out of compliance.
Um, because like I said, 50, 50,60 years ago, we did things a
lot differently.
You know, and now a lot of codechanges now have to do with
energy efficiency, um, moreenergy efficient insulation,
more energy efficient windows.
You know, if you were to go buya brand new house right now in

(03:53):
the summer in Texas, you mightfind your electric bill is a
quarter of what it was in yourprevious 50-year-old home
because they're built so muchmore energy efficiently.
And that's that's because ofcode, that's code regulations
doing that.
That's not the builder lookingout for your best interest,
right?
That's because themunicipalities have elected to
require things to be more energyefficient.

(04:15):
So um currently that's probablywhere the biggest changes come
in.

SPEAKER_02 (04:19):
Now, Jeff, what's the difference between
grandfathered features and codeviolations?

SPEAKER_00 (04:26):
So that's a great, great question.
And that's you know, related toit's related to when you have to
bring your home up with code.
Older homes are grandfathered inand don't have to be fully
updated unless you're doingmajor remodels or additions or
system replacements.
But if you're touching it,whether it be wiring, plumbing,

(04:47):
framing, whatever you're workingon has to be has to meet current
standards.
Um, for example, if you'reworking on your kitchen, you
don't have to rewire the entirehouse.
But the circuits serving thekitchen would be required to
meet current code.

SPEAKER_02 (05:03):
What's your advice for homeowners planning a
remodel with outdated systems?

SPEAKER_00 (05:09):
That's a great question.
Um, first thing would be to behire, um, hire a general
contractor uh who's insured andbonded and understands your
local municipal codes, um, notjust you know, chucking a truck
and a Facebook page.
Um, you know, ask yourcontractor about the permits

(05:29):
that are being pulled, uh, keepyour inspection records.
Um, you know, that's gonna helpwhen you sell your home, you
know.
One thing we haven't talkedabout is resale value or selling
a home, right?
Um, if your home is not up tocode, it could affect your
home's resale value.
Um, because the people who arepurchasing your home now have in

(05:52):
the back of their mind they'regonna need to do these
improvements.
If your home is up to code andyou've done these improvements,
whether they be plumbing,electrical, if energy
efficiency, whatever, if you'vealready done those and you've
kept good records, then when yougo to sell your home, you can
use that as evidence that thework has been done, that the
home is up to code, and you can,you know, get more money for

(06:13):
your home and the people buyingit have a better, um, you know,
better sense of comfort inpurchasing your home.

SPEAKER_02 (06:19):
Financially speaking, Jeff, how big can that
difference be with the updatedcodes versus not updating the
codes and that resale value?

SPEAKER_00 (06:29):
Well, you know, and in selling a home, your resale
value is actually related to twothings, right?
You have we have time and money.
So the better your home comparesto like homes, the more money
you're gonna get for it and thefaster it's going to sell.
I can't say exactly what thosenumbers are.
I'm I'm not a realtor, but I cantell you when we go in to um

(06:51):
remodel homes, usually in estatesituations, um, now we're not
just going in and updating thewiring, right?
We're remodeling the entirehome.
But our uh it's been ourexperience that people tend to
get$2 back for every dollar thatthey spend.
And one thing that I do focuson, you know, when people call
in the contractor, they'recalling them in because, you

(07:12):
know, they want a new bathroom,they want a new kitchen, they're
looking at the things on thesurface.
They're not looking behind thesheetrock.
Well, when I come in and I lookbehind the sheetrock, I'm seeing
the utility, I'm seeing thefunction.
And those are the things that Iimpress upon the homeowner that
need to be done first.
If we're going in, we need toupdate the wiring, we need to
update the plumbing.
Those things are more importantto me, they're more important to

(07:33):
put your dollars there than itis to put in new tile or new
flooring because those thingsaffect the function of the home.
They need to be addressed first.
And the homeowner needs to havethat in mind when they're making
their budget for a remote.

SPEAKER_02 (07:46):
Wow, Jeff.
Thanks again.
That was packed with insight.
Can't wait for the next one.

SPEAKER_00 (07:51):
Awesome.
Thank you, Sophia.

SPEAKER_01 (07:56):
That's a wrap for this episode of Remodel
Contracting Podcast.
Ready to kick that 90s kitchento the curb?
For a free in home consultation,call 469 831 5620 or visit
Remodelcontracting.net.
Expect more because your homedeserves better.
And honestly, so do you.