Renovating in Saco, ME
Saco prices just under the Greater Portland average and shares a labor pool with Biddeford across the river. Access is easy on most lots, which keeps site costs down compared with peninsula work in Portland.
Typical Saco project costs
| Project | Low | Likely | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel150 sq ft, mid-range finish | $46k | $62k | $83k |
| Bathroom remodel60 sq ft, mid-range finish | $23k | $32k | $43k |
| Roof replacement1,600 sq ft, mid-range finish | $75k | $125k | $200k |
| Home addition400 sq ft, mid-range finish | $122k | $167k | $222k |
| Basement finishing600 sq ft, mid-range finish | $37k | $57k | $83k |
| Whole-home renovation1,600 sq ft, mid-range finish | $231k | $320k | $444k |
| Deck building300 sq ft, mid-range finish | $15k | $25k | $40k |
| Siding replacement1,800 sq ft, mid-range finish | $75k | $125k | $200k |
| Garage addition480 sq ft, mid-range finish | $147k | $200k | $267k |
| Sunroom addition200 sq ft, mid-range finish | $61k | $83k | $111k |
Maine regional index with a 0.99× Saco metro factor, 10% contingency included. Budgeting estimates, not quotes.
Estimated range — based on BLS OEWS national average wages and BLS PPI material indexes applied to Our Haus baseline unit costs, as of June 2026. Estimates are shown as a range and help set expectations. They are not a quote, a verified price, or an appraisal of what a contractor will charge.
Housing stock and what it means for cost
Federal and Victorian homes along Main Street and Beach Street, post-war neighborhoods inland, and seasonal cottages toward Camp Ellis and Bay View. The older Main Street stock carries plaster, original windows, and pre-1978 lead paint; the shorefront stock carries flood-zone and erosion considerations, especially near Camp Ellis.
Neighborhoods: Downtown Saco, Beach Street, Camp Ellis, Bay View, North Street.
Permits and contract rules
Authority: City of Saco Code Enforcement Office
Building permit plus zoning review for additions and structural work. Shoreland zoning applies along the Saco River and the shorefront, and FEMA flood-zone rules at Camp Ellis and Bay View can dictate elevation and foundation type. Historic Main Street properties may carry additional exterior review.
Maine requires a written contract for home-construction or repair work over $3,000. The contract must include the contractor's name and address, the work and materials, the total price, a payment schedule, start and completion dates, a warranty statement, and notice of the state's contractor-dispute mediation program. Maine does not license general contractors, so verify insurance directly with the carrier.
Season and scheduling
Building season runs April through November. Summer beach traffic slows deliveries on the shorefront side of town, and foundations should be in before the ground freezes.
Check a Saco quote