Gilbert, Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Gilbert, Iowa.
Gilbert, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Gilbert and all of Story 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. Gilbert 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 Story County and beyond.
Full-Service Construction And Remodeling in Gilbert
New home construction in Gilbert, IA. New builds are the exception here, not the rule, because the town is small and largely built out. When a lot does open up, the Gilbert Community School District is usually the reason a family wants it. We confirm the permit process and the fee with City Hall and Safe Building first. Building starts around $150 per square foot.
Home remodeling in Gilbert, IA. The housing stock skews to 1960 through 1979, and owner occupancy runs 86.8 percent against 55.5 percent for Story County. People here stay put, so remodeling beats moving for most of them. Those houses have solid framing, tired finishes and closed floor plans. We open sight lines, rebuild the worn parts, and leave alone the structure that is still doing its job. That is a different job than chasing failures in a much older town.
Kitchen remodeling in Gilbert, IA. A 1970s Gilbert kitchen usually has soffits over the cabinets, a single doorway to the dining room, and limited counter space. Pulling the soffits and widening that opening changes the whole floor. We check the header and the duct run above that soffit before we promise a flat ceiling. With median household income at $122,656, Gilbert budgets often support a full remodel instead of a partial one. Kitchen work starts around $250 per square foot.
Basement remodeling in Gilbert, IA. Basements in the 1960 to 1979 stock here often carry a first finish in paneling, carpet tile and a dropped ceiling. We strip it back, look honestly at the walls and the slab, and handle drainage before framing. That order matters more than any finish choice. Safe Building serves Gilbert, so we confirm the inspection steps before we schedule the framing walkthrough.
Bathroom remodeling in Gilbert, IA. Houses built between 1960 and 1979 typically got one full bath upstairs and maybe a half bath below. Families who plan to stay for the Gilbert school run want a second full bath, and there is usually room to find one. We check joist direction and the stack location before we promise a spot. City Hall confirms whether the change needs a permit, and we make that call.
Home additions in Gilbert, IA. When a family will not leave a school district, the house has to grow instead. That is the Gilbert pattern. It is why additions are common in a town of 1,211 that grew 11.9 percent between 2010 and 2020. We match the framing lines, the trim and the floor height so the work does not read as an add-on. Additions typically start around $300 per square foot.
Basement finishing in Gilbert, IA. Iowa indoor radon averages 8.5 pCi/L against 1.3 nationally, and as many as 5 in 7 Iowa homes test above the EPA action level. In a town where 86.8 percent of people own their home, that test is worth running before you spend on finishes. A basement bedroom also needs a 7 foot ceiling and an egress window with 5.7 square feet of net clear opening.
Deck building in Gilbert, IA. Most Gilbert deck jobs are replacements, because a deck on a 1970s house has usually been rebuilt once and patched twice. We pull a board and look at the ledger and the flashing before we quote anything. Footings go 42 inches down to clear Iowa frost. The city publishes a permit application, so we confirm the current fee and review path with City Hall before we file.
Building in Gilbert and Story County
Gilbert is a small, settled town of 1,211 people, about 41 road miles from Des Moines. Two numbers explain the work here. Median household income is $122,656 against $69,685 for Story County as a whole. Owner occupancy runs 86.8 percent against 55.5 percent countywide.People buy in Gilbert for the Gilbert Community School District, and then they stay. Add a housing stock that skews to 1960 through 1979 and you get a remodeling and addition market rather than a new construction one. Population still grew 11.9 percent between 2010 and 2020.Here is how permits work. Safe Building serves Gilbert and posts the city’s building and trade permit applications. We confirm the fee, the adopted code edition and the inspection steps with City Hall or Safe Building in writing, then price the job.That call is part of our job, not the homeowner’s.Iowa fundamentals still apply on every Gilbert project. Footings go below the 42 inch frost line. Iowa registers general contractors rather than licensing them, and Busy Builders is registered.Call 844-435-9800 and we will start with that City Hall conversation. Permit rules and fees change, so confirm both with Gilbert 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 Gilbert, IA
What does a building permit cost in Gilbert, and who inspects?
Safe Building serves Gilbert and posts the city’s building and trade permit applications. We confirm the current fee and inspection steps with City Hall or Safe Building in writing. We do not quote a Gilbert fee from memory. Then we build the budget on real numbers.
Why is Gilbert mostly a remodeling town?
The housing stock skews to 1960 through 1979, and the town holds just 1,211 people. Population grew 11.9 percent between 2010 and 2020, but open ground inside the city is limited. So the work here runs to remodeling and additions far more often than to new construction. The good news is those houses are worth the investment.
Does an addition make sense in Gilbert instead of moving?
Often it does. Owner occupancy runs 86.8 percent against 55.5 percent for Story County, and median household income is $122,656 against $69,685 countywide. Families buy for the Gilbert Community School District and stay. Nobody can promise a return on an addition. Owners with a ten year horizon usually get more from the space than from a move.
Which building code applies in Gilbert?
Ask City Hall or Safe Building which code edition Gilbert has adopted. We confirm the current standard with the building official before we draw plans, and we say that plainly instead of pretending to know. Iowa fundamentals still apply either way. Footings go below the 42 inch frost line on every project.
Gilbert is 41 miles out. Does that change your schedule?
It changes how we schedule, not whether we come. Gilbert runs about 41 road miles from Des Moines, so we work it in longer blocks rather than short daily visits. Crews stay on site and the job keeps moving. We also stage materials on site instead of running back for them. You get fewer, longer work days and a tighter overall timeline.
Should we test for radon before finishing a basement in Gilbert?
Yes, and do it before you spend on finishes. Iowa homes average 8.5 pCi/L of indoor radon against 1.3 nationally. As many as 5 in 7 sit above the EPA action level. A test costs very little next to opening a finished ceiling later. When the number comes back high, we plan the fix during design.
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