Construction and Remodeling Blog

Real answers for Central Iowa homeowners. Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa, and this blog shares what those jobs teach: costs, permits, timelines, codes, and the mistakes worth avoiding. Every guide is written for Iowa conditions, from the 42 inch frost line to statewide radon levels.

1285+
Completed Projects
Since 2020
Serving Central Iowa
280+
Guides Written for Iowa Homes
May 25, 2026

Central Iowa homeowners ask two questions before building a deck: how much value will it actually add, and is it worth the cost? This

May 24, 2026

Three-car garage additions are one of the most common projects Central Iowa homeowners ask about. Two cars, a truck, a boat, or just more

May 23, 2026

Iowa ranks among the highest in the country for the percentage of its population age 65 and older, and the Iowa senior population grew

May 22, 2026

A composite deck in the Des Moines metro costs more than a pressure-treated wood deck up front, and a lot less over ten years

May 21, 2026

A primary suite bathroom is the most expensive single bathroom a Des Moines homeowner will ever remodel, and it is also the one where

May 20, 2026

A second story addition is one of the largest construction decisions an Iowa family can make. The cost runs well into six figures for

May 19, 2026

Most deck-versus-patio articles read the same everywhere in the country. This one is different because Iowa is different. Central Iowa has more than 100

May 18, 2026

Central Iowa homeowners pay an average of $220 per month in utilities, which comes to roughly $2,640 per year, though actual bills vary by

May 17, 2026

Building a custom home in Iowa is not the same as building one anywhere else. Central Iowa’s heavy clay soils, all-99-counties radon zone, deep