Marshalltown, Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Marshalltown, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Marshalltown and all of Marshall County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. As the region’s largest city and a hub for manufacturing, healthcare, and education, Marshalltown deserves contractors who deliver quality work and honest service.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Marshalltown homeowners deserve contractors who show up when promised, communicate clearly, and deliver quality work at fair prices.
Our Vision
To serve all of Central Iowa with dedicated construction services, from West Des Moines through Marshall County and beyond.
Full-Service Construction And Remodeling in Marshalltown
New home construction in Marshalltown, IA. As the county seat of Marshall County and Iowa’s 16th largest city with approximately 27,600 residents, Marshalltown offers diverse neighborhoods and housing opportunities. Located about 55 miles northeast of Des Moines along Highway 30, this historic city was founded in 1851 and has grown into a regional center for manufacturing and healthcare. We build custom homes designed for Iowa’s climate with proper foundations, energy-efficient systems, and quality finishes.
Complete home remodeling in Marshalltown, IA. With over a third of housing stock built before 1940, Marshalltown offers unique renovation opportunities in established neighborhoods. The city has shown resilience, rebuilding after both an EF3 tornado in 2018 that damaged downtown and a powerful derecho in 2020. Whether you’re restoring a historic home or modernizing a mid-century property, we understand how to work with older construction while bringing homes up to current standards.
We design and build kitchens in Marshalltown, IA that balance function and style. Older homes often have compartmentalized kitchens that benefit from modern open-concept layouts. We customize solutions for your space, from cabinet refacing to complete renovations. As Marshall County’s largest city, Marshalltown offers good access to suppliers and materials, helping keep project costs competitive.
We remodel basements in Marshalltown, IA to maximize your living space. Marshall County has elevated radon levels, with predicted indoor screening levels greater than 4 pCi/L, making proper testing and mitigation essential for any basement project. We assess existing conditions, address radon and moisture concerns, and transform underused basement space into functional living areas.
In Marshalltown, IA we transform bathrooms into functional, comfortable spaces. Older homes often have original bathrooms with dated fixtures, inadequate ventilation, and outdated plumbing. We handle complete renovations that bring bathrooms up to modern standards while working within the constraints of existing framing and plumbing runs.
We build home additions in Marshalltown, IA that blend with your existing structure. The City of Marshalltown Building Division handles permits at 24 N. Center Street. The city contracts with Veenstra & Kimm, now part of Kleinfelder (515-850-2980) for building inspections. Submit permit applications in person, by mail, or via email to bldginsp@marshalltown-ia.gov. We manage the entire permit process for our clients.
We finish basements in Marshalltown, IA that add valuable living space. Given Marshall County’s high radon levels, we recommend testing as part of any finishing project. We install proper vapor barriers, insulation, and ventilation to create comfortable, healthy living spaces that effectively expand your home’s usable square footage.
We build decks in Marshalltown, IA designed for Iowa’s weather extremes. Whether you want outdoor space for family gatherings or a deck to enjoy your backyard, we construct outdoor living spaces built to last. From composite decking that handles freeze-thaw cycles to traditional wood with proper sealing, we build for Central Iowa’s climate.
Building in Marshalltown and Marshall County
Marshalltown is the Marshall County seat with about 27,600 residents, and it is the largest city we serve outside the metro. It sits on Highway 30 with straightforward access from every direction.
Marshalltown carries something most Iowa towns do not: a recent history of severe storm damage. The 2018 tornado and the 2020 derecho both hit here. That shapes the work. We see repair-driven remodels, roof-structure questions on homes that took wind load. Clients who reasonably want to know how a new addition will be tied down.
We answer that with fastening and bracing details rather than reassurance. If a client wants an addition built to handle what the last decade delivered, that is a design conversation worth having at the start.
The housing itself spans a century, from courthouse-square era homes to postwar neighborhoods to newer edges. The older stock hides the usual: cast iron, galvanized supply, and undersized panels.
Footings go 42 inches down at minimum to sit under Iowa’s frost line.
We build across Marshall County. Homeowners in State Center, Melbourne, Haverhill, and Ferguson call us for the same work.
Rebuilding or adding on in Marshalltown? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will look at the structure first.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Marshalltown before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
Our Building Partners.
- Achievement
Your Dream, Our Passion.
Since 2020, more than 1,285 Central Iowa homeowners have trusted us with their projects, and it shows.
Quality Construction at the Right Price.
Additions
Based on Average Pricing in Marshalltown.
- Additional Story
- Tornado Shelter
- Living Room
- Bedroom
- Sunroom
- Bathroom
- Garage
- ADU
Kitchen Remodeling
Based on Average Pricing in Marshalltown.
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Cabinetry
- Windows
- Islands
- Lights
Home Building
Based on Average Pricing in Marshalltown.
- Dream Build
- Multi-Family
- Tiny Home
- Spec Build
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Construction & Remodeling in Marshalltown, IA
How do building permits work in Marshalltown?
The City of Marshalltown Building Division handles permits at 24 N. Center Street.
The city requires building permits, demolition permits, and trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) for alterations, additions, and new construction.
Submit applications in person, by mail, or email to bldginsp@marshalltown-ia.gov.
The city contracts with Veenstra & Kimm, now part of Kleinfelder (515-850-2980) for inspections.
We coordinate all permits and inspections for our clients.
What building codes does Marshalltown follow?
Marshalltown operates under the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), and related energy and accessibility codes.
The Building Division administers these codes, reviews construction plans, issues permits, and coordinates inspections.
The city uses the ICC Building Valuation Data table to establish permit fees.
How has Marshalltown recovered from recent storms?
Marshalltown has shown remarkable resilience after an EF3 tornado in July 2018 that damaged over 1,000 structures downtown and a powerful derecho in August 2020.
Significant rebuilding and renovation has occurred throughout the city.
Many homeowners have used these events as opportunities to modernize their homes while rebuilding.
What's the housing market like in Marshalltown?
Marshalltown has approximately 11,000 housing units with about 65% owner-occupied.
About 35% of homes were built before 1940, presenting renovation opportunities.
Median home values are lower than Des Moines metro, making Marshalltown attractive for affordable homeownership.
The city has seen modest population growth, reaching its peak population of approximately 27,600.
Which school district serves Marshalltown?
Marshalltown Community School District serves the city.
The city is also home to Marshalltown Community College and the Iowa Veterans Home.
Educational and healthcare institutions are significant employers in the community.
How far is Marshalltown from Des Moines?
Marshalltown is approximately 55 miles northeast of Des Moines via Highway 30, about an hour’s drive.
The city sits in central Iowa with neighboring counties including Hardin and Grundy to the north, Tama to the east, Jasper to the south, and Story to the west.
Busy Builders regularly serves the Marshalltown area from our West Des Moines base.
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