Home Remodeling and Construction in Williams Bay, WI
Williams Bay is about 14 miles from Twin Lakes, and we plan remodels around lakeside lots, seasonal use and village rules.
Our work in Williams Bay
Remodeling and building in Williams Bay.
Williams Bay is a lake village, and the numbers show it. The 2020 Census counted 2,174 housing units, and about 794 of them were vacant units kept for seasonal, recreational or occasional use. Some of you live here year round and some of you head up for weekends. Pembroke Construction, owned by Kyle Pembroke, serves both with a free written estimate, a free design, and one crew from first measurement to final sweep.
Weather is part of the story here. A tornado crossed Williams Bay in June 2024, and the National Weather Service reported that many houses in a subdivision northwest of the village lost part or most of their roofs. Roofing, siding and windows deserve extra thought in a lake village. We explain the options, put the estimate in writing, and help you with the village permit.
The area
About Williams Bay.
Williams Bay is a village in Walworth County on Geneva Lake, with 2,953 residents in the 2020 Census. About four miles of the Geneva Lake Shore Path run through the village, and Edgewater Park, East Park and the 231-acre Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy are close to the village center. Yerkes Observatory, opened by the University of Chicago in 1897, is a local landmark. Wisconsin Highway 67 runs through the business district. Of 2,174 housing units, more than a third are seasonal or occasional-use homes, and about 78 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Projects
What we build in Williams Bay.
Local conditions shape the work. Here is what we pay attention to in Williams Bay.
Roof and storm repair
Strong storms can strip shingles and tear siding, as the June 2024 tornado showed near the village. Roofing, siding and window replacement are common after weather damage.
Kitchens and baths for busy weekends
A lake house with a full guest list works its kitchen hard. We plan layouts, surfaces and baths for heavy use by family and friends.
Decks, porches and multi-season rooms
Screened-in porches and multi-season rooms stretch lake season on both ends. Setbacks and any shoreland overlay shape where they can go, so we check early.
Basements and flooring
A finished basement gives guests room to spread out. Flooring and tile should handle wet feet, lake gear and seasonal humidity.
Every trade
Everything we do, in Williams Bay.
One crew handles the whole list, so a kitchen and a new roof can share one schedule.
Good to know
Permits and local details.
Every town has its own rules. Here is what we found for Williams Bay.
Permits and inspections
The Village of Williams Bay has a Building Inspector who issues permits for new construction, additions and alterations to one and two-family homes, and the village code has its own roofing permit provision. Work started without a permit costs double, and stop-work orders are possible. We walk you through the application and inspections.
Shoreland, floodplain and zoning
Village zoning includes a shoreland-wetland overlay and floodplain overlay districts. The Zoning Board of Appeals hears shoreland-wetland appeals and can grant variances for hardship, while the Zoning Administrator can approve only small dimensional changes. If your lot is near the lake or low ground, ask the village before you design an addition or deck.
Heavy rain and storms
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts expects more days with heavy rain in southern Wisconsin, and the 2024 tornado showed how quickly roofs can fail. Flashing, drainage and roof details matter more than they look. We explain what we recommend and why in your written estimate.
Questions
Williams Bay questions.
Things homeowners in Williams Bay ask before they start. Don't see yours? Just call.
Prefer to talk it through? Call and ask for a free estimate.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Williams Bay?
The village building code includes a roofing permit provision, so plan on a permit and confirm the details with the Building Inspector before work starts. Building permits are also required for additions and alterations to one and two-family homes. We handle the paperwork with you.
My lot is near Geneva Lake. Will shoreland rules apply?
Possibly. State shoreland zoning covers land within 1,000 feet of a lake, and cities and villages must adopt shoreland-wetland zoning for wetlands in that zone. Williams Bay's zoning code has a shoreland-wetland overlay and floodplain overlays. Ask the village which, if any, touches your lot, and share the answer with us so the design fits.
What should I know before building a deck near the lake?
Two things: footing depth and setbacks. Wisconsin's dwelling code calls for footings at least 48 inches below grade, and the village zoning code and any shoreland overlay set how close a deck can sit to lot lines or water. We check both before your free design is final.
Nearby
Towns close to Williams Bay.
We also work in these nearby towns, and about 45 minutes around Twin Lakes.
Where this information comes from
We checked the details on this page against public sources. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything specific with your local building office or with us.
- Village of Williams Bay Code, Building Construction chapter
- Village of Williams Bay Code, Zoning administration article
- SEWRPC, 2020 Census Profile of General Population and Housing, Williams Bay village
- National Weather Service Milwaukee, Late June 2024 Tornadoes and Severe Flooding
- Williams Bay, Wisconsin (geography, parks and history)
- Travel Wisconsin, Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy
- Wisconsin DNR, Shoreland Zoning Programs
- Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts, The Future of Wisconsin's Climate
- Fox Crossing Decks Brochure (summarizes SPS 321.16 footing depth)
Free estimate
Thinking about a project in Williams Bay?
Tell us what you've got in mind. We'll set up a time to look at it, and you'll get the scope and price in writing, with the design work on us.
- Free written estimates and free designs
- Discounts for military, seniors, teachers, 1st responders and people with disabilities
- Twin Lakes, WI and about 45 minutes around it