The short answer: There is no honest per-square-foot price for a whole-home renovation, because two homes of the same size can need completely different work. What sets the number is how much of the home’s structure, systems and layout change, whether the home sits in a flood zone, and how early the finishes are chosen. Nationally, Houzz reports that the top 10% of renovation projects in 2025 cost $150,000 or more. A full luxury renovation on the Treasure Coast usually lands well above that, which is why the budget conversation has to come before the design.
Why “per square foot” pricing misleads
A 3,000-square-foot home in Snug Harbor that keeps its floor plan, roof and windows and gets new kitchens, baths and finishes is a very different job from a 3,000-square-foot home in the same neighborhood that moves walls, raises floors, replaces the roof and rewires the house. Quoting both at one rate means one homeowner overpays and the other gets a number that will not survive demolition.
A better way to think about it: a whole-home renovation is a stack of decisions, and each one adds a layer of cost.
- Surfaces only. Flooring, paint, trim, fixtures, cabinetry refacing. The home’s bones stay as they are.
- Rooms rebuilt in place. Kitchens and baths gutted and rebuilt without moving plumbing walls.
- Layout changes. Walls come out, rooms move, plumbing and gas relocate. Load-bearing walls bring engineering and beams.
- Systems replaced. New electrical service, plumbing, HVAC and ductwork. Common in homes built 30 or more years ago.
- Envelope and structure. Roof, impact windows and doors, wall openings, additions. This is where wind code and permitting carry the most weight.
Most luxury renovations in Stuart, Palm City and Sewall’s Point reach layer 3 or 4. Knowing which layer your project lives in is the single most useful thing you can learn before you ask anyone for a price.
The rule that caps scope in a flood zone
If your home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the 50% rule may decide your budget for you. Martin County defines substantial improvement as improvements and repairs over a five-year period whose cumulative cost equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s market value. Cross that line and the whole home must be brought into compliance with current flood requirements, which in unincorporated Martin County means elevating the lowest floor to base flood elevation plus one foot.
That five-year look-back matters. A kitchen this year and a primary suite in two years are added together. The City of Stuart and the island towns run their own floodplain programs, so confirm how your jurisdiction counts it. We walk through the math, and how to plan around it, in our guide to the 50% rule in Martin County.
What drives the number on the Treasure Coast
Age of the home. Many Stuart and Jensen Beach homes were built in the 1970s and 1980s. Opening walls in those homes often reveals undersized electrical service, galvanized or polybutylene plumbing, or moisture damage. A good estimate carries a contingency for it.
Wind code. Replacing windows, doors or roofing means meeting current Florida Building Code wind requirements. The 9th Edition takes effect December 31, 2026, and permits applied for after that date are generally reviewed under it. See our 2026 building code guide.
Ceiling heights and floor levels. Step-down living rooms and low ceilings are common in older homes. Leveling a floor or raising a ceiling plane is structural work with a real price, and it often transforms the house more than any finish.
Finish level. Cabinetry, stone, plumbing fixtures, appliances and lighting can double the cost of the same layout. This is where selections discipline protects you.
Living in or moving out. Staying in the home during a full renovation adds phasing, protection and time. Most whole-home clients move out, and the schedule is better for it.
How we set a budget that holds
Years ago, a homeowner came to us holding a beautiful set of plans and a heavy heart. The design was a $900,000 build. Her budget was $600,000. No one had asked her what she could spend.
That is why our design/build process starts with the number, not the drawings. On a whole-home renovation we:
- Walk the home with you and decide, room by room, which layer of work it needs.
- Check flood zone status and the five-year improvement history before design starts.
- Lock what we call the Big Five selections early (cabinetry, flooring, lighting, appliances and plumbing fixtures) so pricing reflects what you actually chose.
- Carry a stated contingency for what is behind the walls, and show you how it is tracked.
- Price change orders in writing before the work happens.
Renovate, add on, or rebuild?
At a certain point, the math favors starting over. If a renovation would cross the 50% threshold anyway, require elevating the home, and replace most of the structure, a new home on the same lot may cost less per usable square foot and deliver a better result. We price both paths side by side when a client is close to that line. Our guide to what it costs to build a custom home in Martin County covers the new-build side of that comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a whole-home renovation cost in Stuart, FL?
It depends on how much of the structure, systems and layout change. Houzz reports the top 10% of U.S. renovations in 2025 cost $150,000 or more. Full luxury renovations on the Treasure Coast commonly exceed that. A builder should price your home room by room rather than by a per-square-foot rate.
Does the 50% rule apply to my renovation?
It applies if your home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Unincorporated Martin County adds up improvement and repair costs over five years and compares them to 50% of the building’s market value. Crossing it triggers full flood compliance.
Can I live in my home during a whole-home renovation?
Some clients do with careful phasing, but most move out. It shortens the schedule and reduces cost.
How long does a whole-home renovation take?
Timeline depends on scope, permitting and product lead times. Design and permitting often take as long as construction. See how long the design/build process takes in Florida.
Is it cheaper to renovate or rebuild?
Renovating is usually less expensive when the structure is sound and the home is outside a flood zone or well under the 50% threshold. When a renovation would require elevation and most of the structure is replaced, rebuilding can be the better value.
Start with your number
Masterpiece Design/Build has renovated and built more than 1,000 homes on the Treasure Coast since 1988. If you are weighing a whole-home renovation in Stuart, Palm City, Sewall’s Point or Hobe Sound, book a consultation. Bring your budget, and we will tell you plainly what it buys. See finished work on our renovations page and our whole-home renovation guide.
Sources
- Houzz & Home Study (2026, covering 2025 spending), via Kitchen & Bath Business
- Martin County Ordinance 1160 (flood damage prevention, substantial improvement)
- ICC Digital Codes, 2026 Florida Building Code, Residential, 9th Edition
{“@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [{“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How much does a whole-home renovation cost in Stuart, FL?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “It depends on how much of the structure, systems and layout change. Houzz reports the top 10% of U.S. renovations in 2025 cost $150,000 or more. Full luxury renovations on the Treasure Coast commonly exceed that. A builder should price your home room by room rather than by a per-square-foot rate.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Does the 50% rule apply to my renovation?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “It applies if your home is in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Unincorporated Martin County adds up improvement and repair costs over five years and compares them to 50% of the building’s market value. Crossing it triggers full flood compliance.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Can I live in my home during a whole-home renovation?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Some clients do with careful phasing, but most move out. It shortens the schedule and reduces cost.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How long does a whole-home renovation take?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Timeline depends on scope, permitting and product lead times. Design and permitting often take as long as construction. See how long the design/build process takes in Florida.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “Is it cheaper to renovate or rebuild?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Renovating is usually less expensive when the structure is sound and the home is outside a flood zone or well under the 50% threshold. When a renovation would require elevation and most of the structure is replaced, rebuilding can be the better value.”}}]}
