Fraser, Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Fraser, Iowa.
Fraser, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Fraser and all of Boone County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. This small rural community deserves contractors who deliver quality work and honest service, even for projects in towns where some contractors won’t travel.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Fraser 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 Boone County and beyond.
Full-Service Construction And Remodeling in Fraser
New home construction in Fraser starts underground. The town was platted in 1893 by the Fraser Coal Company. The mines were exhausted within about two decades. Old workings are a real consideration for foundation work here. We want the site evaluated before a footing plan gets drawn. We would rather slow the start than guess at the ground. Fraser publishes no code edition online, so we confirm the standard with the city clerk and put it in writing. Building starts around $150 per square foot.
Home remodeling in Fraser is nearly all owner work. Owner occupancy runs about 97.5 percent in this town of 101 people. We are almost always talking to the person who will live with the result. That shapes our advice. We push for the repair that lasts twenty years over the finish that shows well for two. We also tell you plainly which one you are buying. Fraser is small enough that word travels, and we like it that way.
Kitchen remodeling in Fraser runs through Boone. The town shares the 50036 ZIP code with Boone just to the south. City mail goes to a post office box. Deliveries and paperwork need a plan before demolition day. We stage cabinets and appliances rather than trusting same-week delivery to a town of 101. Nothing about this job should wait on a delivery truck. Kitchen work starts around $250 per square foot, and layout changes drive the number.
Basement remodeling in Fraser starts with water and ground. The town sits along the Des Moines River. Old mine workings from the Fraser Coal Company years matter around here too. Drainage and structure come before drywall, every time. We look at grading, gutters and the path water takes around the house first. If a basement should not be finished yet, we will say so before you spend. That answer is free and it saves people real money.
Bathroom remodeling in Fraser often happens in houses that go back to the coal years. The town dates to an 1893 plat. Houses that old have usually been updated in pieces by different hands. So we open the wall first and look at what is behind the tile. Then we price from what we actually find. Surprises behind old tile are normal here, not a reason to panic. In pre-1978 homes we follow lead-safe renovation practice.
Home additions in Fraser begin with two phone calls, not a drawing. Nothing about the permit process is published here. We start with City Clerk Leah Porter at 515-298-0720. The clerk confirms setbacks and any county or contracted review. Boone County Planning and Development zones only rural land outside town. Only after that do we design. Additions start around $300 per square foot. On ground with mining history, foundation work can move that number, and we say so early.
Basement finishing in Fraser starts with a call to the city clerk about permits and inspection. The city publishes no permit process online, which raises our burden rather than lowering it. We photograph the framing, insulation and egress work so you own a real record. State electrical permit and inspection rules still apply to new wiring. Radon comes first: the Iowa average is 8.5 picocuries per liter against 1.3 nationally. A basement bedroom needs 5.7 square feet of egress opening and a seven foot ceiling.
Deck building in Fraser suits a river town where the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad still runs through. Posts go 42 inches down, the Iowa frost line. Fraser publishes no local frost depth online, so we build to that standard and confirm it with the clerk. We put the depth in the contract. On river valley lots we also check how water moves across the site. A deck on the wrong grade collects the runoff. That check happens before we set a footprint.
Building in Fraser and Boone County
Fraser is a town of 101 people in Boone County, about 50 miles from Des Moines. It sits just north of Boone along the Des Moines River. It shares the 50036 ZIP code with Boone.Here is the plain truth about permits. Fraser publishes very little. The city has no website, and no permit process, fee schedule or code edition is posted online. That does not mean no rules apply. Iowa’s energy code, plumbing code and electrical rules apply in every town. Start with City Clerk Leah Porter at 515-298-0720, or by mail at PO Box 380. The clerk confirms the permit path and any county or contracted review. Boone County Planning and Development zones only rural land outside city limits.The ground here deserves more attention than the paperwork. Fraser was platted in 1893 by the Fraser Coal Company. The mines were exhausted within about two decades. Old workings are a real consideration for foundation work in this town. We want the site looked at before anyone draws a footing plan. River valley lots also deserve a flood check with the county.The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad still runs through town. Owner occupancy sits near 97.5 percent, so these are houses people keep. Southeast Valley Community School District serves the area following a 2023 merger.Call Busy Builders at 844-435-9800. Permit rules and fees change, and Fraser publishes none of them, so confirm current requirements before you commit to a budget.
Our Building Partners.
- Achievement
Your Project, Our Passion.
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa.
Quality Construction at the Right Price.
Additions
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Additional Story
- Tornado Shelter
- Living Room
- Bedroom
- Sunroom
- Bathroom
- Garage
- ADU
Kitchen Remodeling
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Cabinetry
- Backsplash
- Islands
- Lights
Home Building
Busy Builders starting rate. Your written estimate sets the final price.
- Custom Build
- Multi-Family
- Tiny Home
- Spec Build
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Home Construction & Remodeling in Fraser, IA
Does Fraser issue building permits?
Fraser publishes nothing about a permit process online, and the city has no website. Start with City Clerk Leah Porter at 515-298-0720 or PO Box 380. The clerk confirms whether your project needs a permit and any county or contracted review. Boone County Planning and Development zones only rural land outside town.
Who should I call first about a Fraser project?
Call the city clerk before you call anyone for a bid. Leah Porter can be reached at 515-298-0720. Boone County Planning and Development handles zoning only for rural land outside city limits. We are glad to make those calls alongside you. Reach us at 844-435-9800.
Do the old coal mines really affect building here?
They can. Fraser was platted in 1893 by the Fraser Coal Company. The mines were exhausted within about two decades. Old workings are a real consideration for foundation work in this town. We want a site evaluation before we design a foundation. We will not design one for ground nobody has looked at.
What building code applies in Fraser?
Fraser publishes no local code edition online, so ask the city clerk which building code the city has adopted. Iowa’s energy code, plumbing code and electrical rules apply in every town. We write the confirmed standard into the contract. It covers footing depth, egress sizes and insulation, so there is something concrete to hold us to.
Which school district serves Fraser?
Southeast Valley Community School District, following a 2023 merger. District lines shift with mergers more often than people expect in small Iowa towns. Confirm current boundaries with the district if schooling is driving your building decision. We would rather you check than take our word for it.
Are you registered to work in Fraser?
Iowa registers general contractors rather than licensing them. We carry Iowa contractor registration through the Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. It is required of anyone earning $2,000 or more a year from construction. Electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians hold separate state licenses. The tradespeople on our jobs carry theirs.
- Our Articles
