Cost Guides

Marcus got a $980 quote to take down the oak leaning over his garage in Charlotte. The real number, once someone looked at the lean, was $2,750.

Renee’s quotes for a 320-square-foot deck in Columbus ranged from $9,800 to $19,100. The gap wasn’t the contractor. It was the material, the railing, and eight footings her sloped lot required.

Tom got two gutter quotes $450 apart on the same 165 feet of aluminum. The gap was fifteen feet of rotted fascia one bid never mentioned.

Priya’s 40 square foot hall bath came in at $7,370 with the layout untouched. Sliding the toilet three feet would have pushed it past $9,000.

Ray had two bids on the same insulated double door, $470 apart. The difference was not the door. It was whether new springs were sized to carry it.

A storm cracked two windows, so she priced replacing all 14 at once. Buying in bulk cut the per-window price by a third. Here is what window replacement really costs.

Three bids to re-side the same house came back $18,700 apart. Material choice drove almost all of it. Here is what siding really costs and how to read the quotes.

One homeowner’s three kitchen quotes ranged $22,000 for the same layout. Here is exactly what drives a kitchen remodel cost, and how to read a bid so you pay for the right scope.

One homeowner’s three roof quotes ranged from $11,000 to $19,000 for the same house. Here is exactly what moves the number, and how to read a roofing quote so you pay for the right scope.

One homeowner’s three patio quotes ranged from $4,200 to $9,800 for the same square footage. Here is exactly what moves the number, and how to read a patio quote so you pay for the right things.