What is the cost of a basic renovation?
That is a bit of a trick question as it depends what you mean by "basic". In order to get a clear picture of what you are looking for, we need to know some specifics. Do you want a full renovation (these usually start at $100K+) or partial renovation ($10K-$100K)? Or do you possibly just want to have a service/repair done? Do you have the Airstream, van or vehicle, or do you need to get one (We have Pickers that can help you)? The best way to get an estimate would be to simply complete our Inquiry Form (click here) Some services can last just a day or two and won’t cost as much as a full/partial renovation. An example of a service like this would be “demolition”. Demolition will often cost between $50 to $70 a linear ft. All that being said, our typical Full Shell-Off Renovations start around $150K.
Why so much? We are building a high-end luxury home in a vintage vehicle. We don’t mean to brag but we are the best builders in the industry, and that is because of our experience and our attention to detail and quality. We spend a ton of hours and effort making sure that you get what you paid for. And we can’t tell you how often we’ve been hired to re-renovate projects that our “competitors” built… build with us and do it right the first time. Call us to discuss your project! (805) 628-3459
How long does a renovation take?
Similar to the cost question above– we can’t give a definitive time of completion until we have assessed your project individually. However, a full renovation usually takes between 9 months to a year. A partial renovation commonly takes between 3 months to 6 months. If you are looking to get a single service done then those usually take much less time; for example, a demolition won’t take more than a day or two.At Innovative Spaces we take pride in the client’s satisfaction and that includes providing certain guarantees that many renovation companies often will not provide. Once an assessment and a build plan is made we give you a target date and we always meet this project deadline. The only reason a deadline would be pushed back is if you (the client) decide to have an order or design changed that would add to the allotted construction time.
What is a Shell-off Renovation?
We’ve been restoring and renovating Airstreams, trailers, motorhomes and vans for a long time, and our process has evolved over the years to the point where we now recommend that every trailer project be a Shell-Off Renovation. The only times we suggest skipping the shell-off is if your trailer is newer, say around 2010 or newer depending on the condition of the trailer. Or if your project is a stationary project, which means that we will renovate it and then it will be a guest house or bar or food truck or some other use that would leave it at one location. The reason for this is that the condition of the trailer's chassis is not as critical since it will not be bouncing down highways and byways.
So what is a shell-off? By definition it means that we “unzip” the shell from the chassis at its base, we basically pop all the rivets and screws at the bottom of the shell (after having gutted the trailer) and lift the shell from the sub-frame and chassis. Why do we do that? Because you are paying us to build you a luxury living space in a vintage trailer, and we don’t like throwing good money at bad foundations! Prior to building your living or commercial space, we want to make sure that the chassis is restored and strengthened and ready for another lifetime of adventures. Once we restore the chassis and install all the sub-floor systems and tanks and wiring, we install your new subfloor and reattach the shell to get ready for build-out.
Do I need an Airstream or will you help me find one?
About half of our clients come to us without yet owning the Airstream we are going to renovate. Sometimes that is because the don't really know what size they want or need, or simply have yet to acquire one. While we don't do the actual searching or acquisition for our clients. we can connect you to some folks we call Airstream Pickers that will assist you in finding the perfect Airstream for your project.
Am interested in a Sprinter Van build, are you taking on new projects?
Yes we are! While we are best known for our Airstream renovations, we have a thriving van buildout department complete with it's own design team. We build all types of vans, and are ready to take you on as a client whenever you are ready. Builds cost on average between $80K and $150k, but there have been plenty of small projects that were much less, and a few epic projects that were much more.