“Lior is very personable and has many decades of construction experience. We appreciated his sincere evaluation of our project.”
Ann AnterasianHouzz · April 2019
Home remodeling · Encino, CA
Encino Home Remodeling,
Planned Around Your Lot
Estate blocks, hillside streets, and Valley-floor ranches each remodel differently — we scope foundation, drainage, and systems for the lot you actually own. CSLB #972213 — licensed and insured since 2010, and bonded.
Free Estimate · No Obligation
Get a Free Encino Home Remodel Estimate
A few details about the project — you'll hear from us within 24 hours.
CSLB LicensedLicense #972213
5.0 on Houzz17 verified reviews
Family-OwnedLicensed since 2010
24-Hour ResponseFree in-home estimate
Encino PermitsLADBS Valley · in-house
Local conditions
Encino Lots Are Not Interchangeable
The estate housing along the Boulevard, much of it built in the 1970s and '80s, came with generous floor plans and undersized systems by current code. The hillside streets add engineering on top. That gap between what the house has and what code now requires is the real scope of a serious rebuild here.
One permit office: LADBS
Encino has no city hall of its own — it is City of Los Angeles territory, and the LADBS Van Nuys office issues every home-remodel permit, from plan check and trade permits through the final inspection. A multi-room remodel or addition runs the complete plan-check pathway; any wall removal adds structural review.
Systems first, finishes second
The 1970s–'80s estate properties often still run on their original electrical and plumbing — undersized branch circuits, aging gas service, cast-iron drains, copper supply. We price the full service upgrade and the partial repipe in the quote itself. Mature oaks commonly bring LA's protected-tree ordinance into play, so arborist review is routed during design. And if the project started with a warm spot on the floor or a jump in the water bill, our guide to slab leak detection and repair shows how the source gets found before any concrete is cut.
Hillside and energy-code triggers
Serious scope crosses compliance thresholds: the California Energy Code (Title 24) sets performance targets for envelope and HVAC when the work qualifies; qualifying alterations bring accessibility considerations; and structural changes bring shear-panel plus lateral-load updates wherever current code applies. Hillside Encino parcels take the LA Baseline Hillside Ordinance pathway, and parcels classified inside California Fire Hazard Severity Zones take Chapter 7A WUI assemblies whenever the envelope is touched.
Why Hillstar
Why Encino Homeowners Bring Hillstar In
Encino homeowners check the license and the bond before the serious conversation starts. Ours: CSLB #972213, insured, bonded, workers' comp in place — and a 5.0 rating across 17 Houzz reviews.
Held to a Calendar
The schedule is fixed with you at design and tracked milestone by milestone until the punch list closes.
Pricing With Line Items
You see an itemized written quote before demolition, and any change in scope gets documented and priced first.
Materials Chosen to Last
Custom millwork, imported stone, and luxury fixture lines from vendors we have worked with for years.
Encino, Street by Street
The LADBS Valley branch, the Encino Hills hillside-ordinance pathway, Royal Oaks Estates CC&Rs, the mid-century streets, and Hayvenhurst-corridor traditionals — familiar ground for our crew.
Workmanship, Guaranteed on Paper
A written workmanship warranty comes with every Encino project — and we stand behind it.
Design to Final, One Team
No general-to-sub handoffs to chase. Our in-house crew and a single point of contact run the whole job.
Our process
From First Visit to Final Inspection
Every Encino remodel moves through the same four checkpoints.
1
Free In-Home Consultation
We walk the property with you — rooms, lot, slope, access — and listen before we suggest anything.
2
Design & Permits
Plans, samples, and engineering come together in-house, then the package goes to LADBS for plan check.
3
Build & Inspections
One crew handles demolition, framing, rough-in, and finishes; we meet each LADBS inspector on site.
4
Walkthrough & Warranty
The project closes with a joint walkthrough, a completed punch list, and the warranty in your hand.
Design examples
Home Remodel Design Examples
Examples of whole-home remodel styles and layouts.
Reviews
What Encino-Area Homeowners Are Saying
Verified Houzz feedback from Hillstar clients.
“Lior is a fantastic general contractor. He has tremendous work ethic and strong attention to detail.”
J. GlaserHouzz · June 2017
“Hillstar's crew was courteous, prompt, and worked hard to make every detail exactly what we wanted.”
Hillstar ClientHouzz · Verified
5.0 · 17 verified reviews on Houzz
FAQ
Encino Home Remodel — FAQ
The questions Encino homeowners actually ask before a whole-home remodel.
Is there an Encino permit office, or does everything go through LADBS?
Everything goes through LADBS. Encino is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, not its own city, so plan check, permits, and inspections for an Encino remodel all run through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. Hillstar prepares the submittal and coordinates the inspections directly.
Which parts of a whole-home remodel trigger LADBS plan check?
Moving plumbing, adding electrical circuits, altering load-bearing elements, or changing the exterior footprint — any of those pulls the project into plan check. Purely cosmetic work such as cabinets and counters inside the existing footprint can sometimes proceed without a building permit. We map the scope to the right pathway at the first visit and carry the package through to final sign-off.
What changes when the lot is hillside instead of flat?
Engineering, mostly. Hillside Encino lots sit under LA's Baseline Hillside Ordinance, so exterior-footprint changes face added grading, height, cut-and-fill, and design-standard requirements beyond the standard permit — and slope drives foundation engineering cost. An interior-only remodel usually escapes hillside-specific review; decks, window additions, siding changes, or roof replacement do not. We walk every hillside lot before quoting so those costs are in the number from day one.
Can Hillstar work with an older Encino home — original panel, aging plumbing?
That is the typical Encino project. Much of the estate housing here dates to the 1970s and '80s and still runs on undersized branch circuits, aging gas service, cast-iron drains, and original supply lines. On a full rebuild we plan the electrical service upgrade and partial repipe from the quote stage instead of discovering them mid-build.
Do we need to move out during the remodel?
Not always. When the work is phased — one wing, one floor, kitchen plus primary suite — dust barriers, sealed work zones, and end-of-day cleanup keep the rest of the house livable. A true down-to-the-studs scope that opens every room is different: most Encino families relocate while the house is open, or set up a livable-wing sequence with us up front. Both options get laid out at the consultation.
How is an Encino whole-home remodel priced?
By its specifics: project size, design, the property's condition, permit scope, materials, and finish level. After the consultation you receive an itemized written cost breakdown, so every number is visible and the design can be tuned to your priorities before work begins.
Hillstar services in Encino
Home remodeling in nearby areas
Start With an Honest Walkthrough
Tell us what you're imagining for the house. We'll bring measurements, questions, and a written estimate — free, and without pressure.