Plenty of McCall homes were built decades ago as simple cabins and lake places. Owners who love the location but not the house eventually face a question: remodel what's there, add on, or start over? There's no single right answer, but there is a sensible way to decide.
Start with what you can't change
The location is usually the reason you're asking. Lakefront frontage, a view, a lot in town, or a spot in an established community can be worth more than the house on it. Before you pick a direction, find out what the rules allow:
- Setbacks and footprint. Some older homes sit closer to the water or property lines than current rules allow. Depending on the jurisdiction, keeping part of the existing structure may preserve a footprint a new home couldn't have. Confirm this with the city or county before assuming either way.
- Shoreline rules. On Payette Lake, docks and work near the shore involve state and local permits. See Payette Lake shoreline permits explained.
- Community guidelines. In planned communities, design review applies to remodels and additions too.
Then look hard at the bones
A remodel makes sense when the structure is sound. Before you commit, get these checked:
- Foundation. Cracking, settling, and water intrusion are expensive to fix.
- Framing and roof structure. Older roofs often weren't built for today's snow load standards. See snow load, ice dams, and roof design.
- Septic and well. An undersized or failing system may need replacement either way, and a bigger home may need a bigger system. See septic and well in Valley County.
- Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. Old wiring, galvanized pipes, and tired heating systems often need full replacement in a major remodel.
- Insulation and windows. Upgrading an old envelope to modern comfort levels is possible, but it's real work.
When remodeling usually wins
- The structure is sound and the layout mostly works.
- The footprint or setbacks would be hard to get again.
- You want to keep the character of an older home.
- The changes you want are focused: kitchen, baths, a primary suite, an addition, a new exterior.
When rebuilding usually wins
- The foundation or structure has serious problems.
- You'd be replacing nearly every system and finish anyway.
- The layout fights how you want to live, and fixing it means moving most walls.
- The home can't be brought up to modern snow loads and energy performance without rebuilding most of it.
At that point, a remodel can cost close to a new home while still leaving you with old compromises. A new custom home designed for the site may be the better investment.
The middle path
Many projects land in between: keep the foundation and some structure, and rebuild the rest. Or keep the main house and add a well-designed addition. A builder who does both remodels and new homes can price the options side by side so you're comparing real numbers.
How we help you decide
We walk the home with you, look at the structure and systems, talk through the rules that apply to the lot, and give you an honest read on which path makes sense. We do both remodels and custom homes, so we don't have a reason to push you toward one. See our lakefront remodeling guide for more on lake homes.
Tell us about the home or call (208) 630-4492.
