Remodeling and Outdoor Projects in Shallowater, TX
Shallowater is a small town on US 84 with its own permit rules and new subdivisions going up next to the high school.
Shallowater is a small Lubbock County town on US 84. Our home base is southwest Lubbock (79424), and Giovanni Home Services serves Lubbock and surrounding communities with interior remodeling and outdoor design and build. If your house is in Shallowater, call (806) 853-7158 and tell us about the project.
Small town, steady growth
Shallowater sits on US 84 and the BNSF rail line in Lubbock County, at about 3,294 feet. The townsite land was bought in 1909, the railroad was finished in 1913, and the town incorporated in 1955.
It's still small. The 2020 census counted 2,964 people, up from 2,484 ten years before. Shallowater ISD serves the town, and a report for the district projected roughly 700 more students over ten years.
The new building is easy to spot. The Highland subdivisions cover 160 acres next to Shallowater High School. Highland Heights opened with a first phase of 69 homes on city utilities, and Highland Trails is planned for 293 more.
Old town lots and brand-new streets
Shallowater gives you two kinds of project. In the established part of town, houses have decades on them and the work is full remodeling: kitchens, baths, floors and exterior carpentry.
In the Highland area the homes are new, so the house is done and the lot isn't. Decks, patios and shade are the usual next step, and the open ground around a new subdivision lets the wind reach you.
- 1909 to 1913The townsite and railroad years. Any house surviving from early Shallowater is over a century old, so structure, wiring and plumbing get checked before finishes are chosen.
- 1955 and afterThe town incorporated in 1955. Houses from the decades that followed tend to have closed kitchens, small baths, and floors that are ready for replacement.
- 2020sHighland Heights and Highland Trails, beside the high school. New homes on city utilities. Outdoor living, storage and finish upgrades come long before any remodeling.
Shallowater's permit rules are its own
In Shallowater, the number to remember is 200 square feet.
The city runs permitting from City Hall at 801 Avenue G and lists the 2024 International Codes. Projects under 200 square feet need no permit, and over 200 you need a permit and inspection. Permits are good for 180 days.
Accessory buildings have an extra step. At 320 square feet or more, or with walls over 8 feet, the city requires a variance, and that means a public hearing before City Council. A large pavilion or shop may land in that group, so ask the city early.
Soil reports on tracts near town list Olton clay loam, Zita loam and Amarillo fine sandy loam on nearly level ground. Olton carries more clay and drains more slowly, so patio slope gets extra attention there.
- 200 sq ftProjects under this size need no city permit in Shallowater
- 320 sq ftAccessory buildings this size or larger also need a variance
- 180 daysHow long a Shallowater permit stays valid
Projects that fit old-town houses and new Highland lots
Older houses in town and new ones by the school need different things, so two of these are indoor jobs and two are outdoor.
- Kitchen remodelingIn the established part of town, the kitchen is usually the room most out of step with how you live. A kitchen job with us runs consultation, design, then build. Find out where Shallowater's permit rules land on your plan before work begins.
- Hardwood flooringReplacing worn carpet and old vinyl through the main rooms changes an older house fast. We install hardwood. In dry South Plains air, the boards have to adjust to the house before they're nailed down.
- Decks and exterior carpentrySiding, entries and decks take a beating from sun and wind on open lots. We build premium decks, timber framed entries, and siding that suits an older house or sharpens a new one.
- Patios and fire featuresA new home often comes with a small slab and a bare yard. A larger patio with a fire feature makes it usable. Holding a detached structure under the city's size limits can simplify permitting.
What to expect when you call us
Taylor Giovanni runs the company with what he calls the work ethic of a farmer. For you that means steady, careful work, and being told what a job involves before it starts.
You get a written proposal with real detail, then help with selections and design. We plan the schedule around city inspections and any Council hearing. Progress updates go to your client portal, and when the work is done we walk it with you. To begin, Book a Consultation or call (806) 853-7158.
How we run a projectQuestions from Shallowater homeowners
Do I need a permit for a patio cover or shed in Shallowater?
Size decides it. The city says projects under 200 square feet need no permit, and larger ones need a permit and inspection. Accessory buildings of 320 square feet or more, or with walls over 8 feet, also need a variance with a public hearing. Confirm your project with City Hall first, and ask what they want to see with the application.
My land is just outside Shallowater city limits. What changes?
City permit rules stop at the city limits, so the first step is confirming which rules apply to your address. Rural lots are often on septic systems and private wells, and their location matters when you place a patio, slab or outbuilding. Find your septic and any well before anything gets laid out. Verify county requirements directly before work begins.
Is the wind worse on a new lot at the edge of town?
It feels that way, because nothing blocks it. The regional average is about 12.4 mph, with March and April near 14.7 mph. On an open lot, seating and fire features belong where the south wind won't spoil them, and posts and footings have to be sized for the exposure. A solid screen wall on the windward side also cuts the gusts.
Do you work on older houses in Shallowater, or only new ones?
We work on both kinds of house. Giovanni Home Services serves Lubbock and surrounding communities, and Shallowater is nearby, so call (806) 853-7158 and we'll tell you if yours is a fit. An older house starts with a closer look at framing, wiring and plumbing, since those decide what a kitchen or bath remodel will involve. A new house usually skips that step. Either way you get the same process: consultation, detailed proposal, selections, a set schedule, and updates along the way.
Planning a project in Shallowater?
We serve Lubbock and surrounding communities from southwest Lubbock. Call (806) 853-7158, tell us about the house, and we'll let you know.