Ankeny Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Ankeny, Iowa.
Ankeny, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Ankeny and all of Polk County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. As Iowa’s fastest-growing city, Ankeny deserves contractors who deliver quality work and honest service to keep pace with community growth.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Ankeny 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 Polk County and beyond.
Full-Service Construction And Remodeling in Ankeny
Complete home remodeling in Ankeny, IA. With 56% of housing built after 2000 and only 1.7% built before 1940, Ankeny’s housing stock is predominantly newer. However, rapid growth means homes from the 1990s and early 2000s are now ready for updates. The Prairie Trail development and established neighborhoods offer diverse renovation opportunities. Whether you’re updating a starter home or adding luxury finishes, we understand modern construction methods.
We design and build kitchens in Ankeny, IA that balance function and style. Many Ankeny homes feature builder-grade finishes that homeowners want to upgrade to match their growing families’ needs. We customize solutions for your space, from cabinet refacing to complete renovations. Ankeny’s proximity to Des Moines provides excellent access to suppliers for competitive material pricing.
We remodel basements in Ankeny, IA to transform underutilized space into functional living areas. Polk County is in EPA Radon Zone 1, with predicted indoor screening levels above 4 pCi/L. Iowa has the highest percentage of homes above EPA action levels in the nation. Before any basement project, we recommend radon testing. Mitigation systems can be integrated into remodeling projects efficiently.
We remodel bathrooms in Ankeny, IA to improve function, style, and efficiency. From simple updates like new vanities and fixtures to complete gut renovations with custom tile and walk-in showers, we handle projects of all sizes. Many Ankeny homes have multiple bathrooms that benefit from coordinated updates.
We build home additions in Ankeny, IA for growing families who love their location but need more space. Adding square footage often costs less than buying new while keeping you in the neighborhood and school district you prefer. Ankeny Community School District is highly rated. We handle all aspects from design through permitting and construction.
We finish basements in Ankeny, IA to maximize your living space. Whether you want a family room, home office, guest suite, or entertainment space, we handle framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, flooring, and all finishing touches. Proper moisture control and ventilation are essential in Iowa basements.
We build custom decks in Ankeny, IA. With numerous parks, trails, and an active outdoor lifestyle, Ankeny residents value outdoor living spaces for family gatherings. We design and build decks using materials rated for Iowa’s freeze-thaw cycles and humid summers.
Building in Ankeny and the North Metro
Ankeny issues its own permits, and the rule is broad: you need one for any construction that physically changes or adds structure to a property. That catches decks and basement finishes homeowners often assume are exempt. The inspection line is 515-963-3533.
Ankeny also runs a cold weather concrete policy. Pours during an Iowa winter carry extra requirements. That is one reason we push foundation work earlier in the year when a project allows it.
Because Ankeny grew so fast, it has some of the newest housing stock in the metro. That shapes the work. Gut renovations are rare here. Most of our Ankeny work falls into three buckets. We finish basements builders left as bare block. We add a bedroom or a sunroom to a value-engineered plan, and we rebuild first-generation decks.
Fast growth also means tight lots and active covenants. We confirm setbacks and any association rules before we draw an addition.
We build across the north metro. Homeowners in Polk City, Bondurant, Johnston, and Grimes call us for the same work.
Planning a project in Ankeny? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will walk the site with you.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Ankeny before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Ankeny
Straight answers by service for Ankeny homeowners: the starting price, what the Building Department (inspection line 515-963-3533) needs before it issues a permit, and what the work looks like in the metro’s newest housing stock. Ankeny requires a permit for any construction that physically changes or adds structure, which catches decks and basement finishes people assume are exempt, and it runs a cold-weather concrete policy that shapes when we pour. Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor (DIAL C140184) with 1,285+ completed projects across Central Iowa since 2020; electrical, plumbing and HVAC are done by licensed subcontractors we coordinate.
Home Building in Ankeny
A custom home in Ankeny starts at about $150 per square foot with Busy Builders, before the lot. Ankeny passed 76,000 residents in the 2024 special census and is still platting, so lots exist, and so does a plan-review queue. Footings go below the 42-inch frost line, and the city’s cold-weather concrete policy adds requirements to winter pours, which is why we push foundations earlier in the year when the schedule allows. One of our new homes at the house-wrap stage is the milestone we plan the calendar around. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Home Remodeling in Ankeny
Home remodeling in Ankeny is rarely a gut renovation. The housing is young, so our Ankeny work falls into three buckets: finishing basements builders left as bare block, adding the bedroom or sunroom the original plan skipped, and replacing the first generation of decks. A permit is required for any of those. Busy Builders completes more than 100 projects a year, most of them additions, full remodels and basement finishes, and communication is what customers mention most in our reviews: a text before each trade day and a call the day anything unexpected shows up.
Kitchen Remodeling in Ankeny
Kitchen remodeling in Ankeny starts at about $250 per square foot with Busy Builders, and a full kitchen runs about 6 to 12 weeks from estimate and approval through final punch. The 1990s two-story kitchen with a peninsula and a wall to the family room is the common Ankeny job, and in a two-story that wall is usually bearing, so the plan includes an engineered beam and a framing inspection. The lines homeowners underestimate most are tile, countertops, added outlets and plumbing moves. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Bathroom Remodeling in Ankeny
Busy Builders has quoted bathrooms from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light hall-bath facelift up to about $60,000 for a large primary bath; a typical full remodel without moving fixtures lands around $15,000 to $20,000. In Ankeny the usual job is upgrading a builder-grade primary bath to a tiled walk-in shower and a real vanity. A permit is needed when plumbing or wiring moves. Estimates are set up front, and the most common reason a bathroom grows is scope added after the first number. Two full bathroom remodels we completed in 2026 were reviewed by the homeowners.
Basement Finishing in Ankeny
Ankeny requires a permit for a basement finish, and a bedroom needs an egress window with a 5.7-square-foot net clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. Radon is very common on our basement jobs in the Des Moines area, and mitigation is part of the finish, not an add-on. Newer foundations hide fewer surprises, but we still check the sump, the grading and the slab-to-wall joint before framing, and we have redone basements other contractors got wrong, including walls that were never fastened. Plan about $35,000 to $75,000 for a full finish with a bedroom and bath; costs vary by scope and site conditions.
Deck Building in Ankeny
A deck in Ankeny needs a permit, full stop: the city’s rule covers any construction that adds structure to a property. Footings go at least 42 inches deep, and the cold-weather concrete policy applies to winter footing pours. First-generation Ankeny decks framed to the minimum are now being replaced on the same footprint. Busy Builders builds composite and treated-wood decks; a composite deck we built in spring 2026 was reviewed by the homeowner, who singled out communication and the finished result. Our elevated decks are framed on treated posts, beams and joists sized for Iowa snow load. Plan about $45 to $85 per square foot depending on material and height.
Home Additions in Ankeny
Home additions in Ankeny start at about $300 per square foot with Busy Builders. The Building Department wants a site plan with setbacks, construction drawings and the trade permits, and newer subdivisions add covenant review. Fourth bedrooms, sunrooms and attached garages are the common asks on plans that were value-engineered when built; storm shelters and safe rooms are built to the spec of the job as part of additions work. One of our finished two-story additions carries an upper deck and exterior finishes matched to the original house. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area.
Our Building Partners.
- Achievement
Your Project, 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 Ankeny.
- Additional Story
- Tornado Shelter
- Living Room
- Bedroom
- Sunroom
- Bathroom
- Garage
- ADU
Kitchen Remodeling
Based on Average Pricing in Ankeny.
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Cabinetry
- Windows
- Islands
- Lights
Home Building
Based on Average Pricing in Ankeny.
- Dream Build
- Multi-Family
- Tiny Home
- Spec Build
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Construction & Remodeling in Ankeny, IA
How do building permits work in Ankeny?
The City of Ankeny handles building permits through their Building Department.
Visit ankenyiowa.gov for permit applications and information.
Building permits are required for new construction, additions, and most remodeling projects.
We coordinate all permits and inspections for our clients.
What building codes does Ankeny follow?
Ankeny operates under the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), and related codes.
The Building Department reviews plans, issues permits, and coordinates inspections to ensure compliance with adopted standards.
What's the housing market like in Ankeny?
Ankeny is Iowa’s fastest-growing city, ranked 4th fastest-growing in the US (population 50,000+) in 2018.
The median household income exceeds $106,000, with median home values around $197,500.
New construction continues at a rapid pace.
The city conducted a special census in 2024, confirming a population of 76,207, a 12.25% increase since 2020.
What school district serves Ankeny?
Most of Ankeny is served by Ankeny Community School District, one of Iowa’s largest and highest-rated districts.
Parts of southern Ankeny are in the Saydel Community School District, and northern areas are in the North Polk Community School District.
Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) has its main campus in Ankeny.
How far is Ankeny from Des Moines?
Ankeny is located immediately north of Des Moines, approximately 10 miles from downtown via I-35.
The commute takes about 15-20 minutes.
Busy Builders regularly serves Ankeny from our West Des Moines base, approximately 15 miles away.
What makes Ankeny unique for homeowners?
Ankeny offers Iowa’s lowest city tax rate in the Des Moines metro.
The city has been ranked the fastest-growing city in the Midwest.
Prairie Trail, a master-planned mixed-use development on former Iowa State research land, offers walkable neighborhoods.
The city has excellent parks, trails, and the DMACC campus.
John Deere Des Moines Works is a major employer.
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