- 16493 Bodman Rd Mt. Orab, OH 45154
- info@empirehome.solutions
- Deck Division: 513-513-DECK(3325)
- Office: (513) 773-1567
Home Remodeling & Construction Services in Cincinnati, Ohio
Empire Home Solutions builds decks, roofs, basements, gutters, siding, and concrete projects for homeowners across Cincinnati’s neighborhoods. Here’s the local detail that catches many homeowners off guard: if your property sits in one of the city’s designated historic districts, exterior work needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Conservation Office — a separate approval from your building permit, and required even for projects that would otherwise be permit-exempt. So on every Cincinnati project, checking historic-district status is our first step, not an afterthought. Because a COA requirement discovered mid-project means redesigning already-planned work, we confirm it upfront. As a result, your project moves forward cleanly and carries our lifetime craftsmanship warranty.
By Chris Kestel, Founder & Owner · Last Updated August 2026
A+ BBB Accredited · Historic-District Experienced · Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty
Signs Your Cincinnati Home Needs Attention
Cincinnati’s neighborhoods each bring their own conditions. Here’s when to call.
- Your home is in a local historic district or is a landmark property. Neighborhoods like Mt. Adams and parts of Clifton require a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work — separate from the building permit, and required even when the project is otherwise permit-exempt.
- You’re on a hillside lot. Common across Price Hill, Mt. Adams, and parts of Clifton, where grade change drives deck, foundation, and drainage decisions more than flat suburban ground does.
- Your home is older urban housing stock. Narrower lots and different structural conditions affect everything from basement work to siding replacement.
- You want a straightforward deck, fence, or roofing project. Cincinnati offers a dedicated Walk-Through review service for exactly these smaller residential alterations.
- Your gutters deal with heavy tree canopy. Established neighborhoods like Hyde Park and Oakley have mature shade that loads gutters with debris.
- You want a contractor who checks historic status before designing. So your project isn’t redesigned mid-process after a COA review flags an issue.
Recognize any of these? We handle both the construction and the neighborhood-specific approvals behind it.
Our Process for Cincinnati Projects
We plan every Cincinnati project around historic-district status and terrain. Here is how it runs.
1. Historic District & Site Assessment
First, we confirm whether your property is within a designated local historic district or landmark before finalizing any exterior design.
2. Certificate of Appropriateness (If Applicable)
Next, for historic-district properties, we prepare the COA application alongside the standard building permit, since both are required for most exterior work.
3. Building Permit Submittal
Then we handle submittal through the City of Cincinnati’s Department of Buildings and Inspections, using the dedicated Walk-Through review available for smaller residential projects like decks, fences, and roofing.
4. Fixed-Price Quote
After that, you get one number, in writing, before construction begins.
5. Construction & Inspections
Finally, we build to code and schedule inspections through the City as your specific project requires.
Decks & Patios
Roofing
Cincinnati’s older housing stock, especially in historic neighborhoods, often needs roofing material and style choices that satisfy Historic Conservation Office guidelines, not just standard permit requirements.
Basement Finishing & Remodeling
Cincinnati’s older urban homes frequently have basement conditions — stone foundations, different moisture patterns, older mechanical layouts — that differ meaningfully from newer suburban construction. We finish and waterproof each on its own assessment.
Gutters & Siding
Exterior work in historic districts requires COA review, which weighs siding material and color against neighborhood conservation guidelines. We also handle seamless gutters for the city’s heavy tree canopy.
Concrete
Home Additions & Remodeling
For homes needing more space, we build additions and manage full remodels as your single general contractor coordinating COA and permit review from the design stage.
Brands We Build With
Fully Insured & Bonded
Flat lot or steep hillside, your Cincinnati project is covered the same way.
A+ BBB Accredited Materials That Satisfy Conservation Guidelines
For historic properties, we select materials that pass COA review and still perform against Ohio weather.
Historic Status Checked First
We confirm COA requirements before finalizing design, a detail that catches homeowners off guard when a contractor doesn't check upfront.
Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty
Every Cincinnati project carries the same lifetime coverage, whatever the neighborhood or designation.
Hillside & Urban-Lot Experience
We design around real grade change and older urban structural conditions, not a flat suburban template.
Local Code & Permit Knowledge
We know Cincinnati requires a COA for exterior work on historic and landmark properties, even when otherwise permit-exempt.
Cincinnati Neighborhoods & Surrounding Service Area
We serve Cincinnati neighborhoods including Hyde Park, Oakley, Clifton, Mt. Adams, and Price Hill, along with the broader Hamilton County area and nearby communities like Norwood, Loveland, and Milford. Because we work across the city’s varied neighborhoods regularly, we’re responsive for both new projects and warranty support. full service area.
Cincinnati FAQs
Do I need a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work in Cincinnati?
If your property is a designated Local Landmark or within a Local Historic District, yes. A Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Conservation Office is required for most exterior work, demolition, and new construction — and it’s required even when the work itself would otherwise be exempt from a standard building permit.
How do I know if my Cincinnati property is in a historic district?
The City’s Historic Conservation Office can confirm this, and it’s a standard part of our site assessment before we finalize any exterior design for a Cincinnati project.
Does Cincinnati have a faster review process for smaller residential projects?
Yes. The City offers a dedicated Walk-Through review service for smaller residential alterations including decks, retaining walls, fences, and roofing, plus a same-day Tier 1 plan review option for certain permit types.
How does Cincinnati's hillside terrain affect deck and construction planning?
Neighborhoods like Price Hill, Mt. Adams, and parts of Clifton sit on genuinely steep terrain, which often calls for multi-level deck designs, additional grading, and more careful foundation planning than a flat suburban lot requires.
What kinds of projects do you handle in Cincinnati?
Decks and patios, roofing, basement finishing and waterproofing, gutters and siding, and concrete, plus additions and remodels. As a general contractor, we can manage larger multi-trade Cincinnati projects end to end.
Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
Yes. We’re fully insured and bonded, hold an A+ BBB rating, and handle both the COA and building-permit process for Cincinnati projects.
Historic District or Not — Let's Confirm Before We Design Anything.
Certificate of Appropriateness requirement discovered mid-project means redesigning work that’s already been planned. We check historic-district status as the very first step on every Cincinnati project, so nothing gets built twice.
Call (513) 773-1567 for a Cincinnati project consultation, or send your details online and we’ll schedule a site visit.
Save 10% off, up to $1,000, when you sign on your first visit.