Grimes Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Grimes, Iowa
Grimes, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa. We bring decades of combined trade experience to projects in Grimes and throughout the Des Moines metro. As Iowa-registered contractors, we understand the building codes, permit processes, and construction challenges specific to rapidly growing communities. From updating newer homes to renovating established properties, we deliver quality work with transparent communication.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. We provide detailed written estimates, explain permit requirements upfront, and maintain clear communication throughout your project.
Our Vision
To serve all of Central Iowa with dedicated construction services, building lasting relationships through quality workmanship and integrity.
Building in Grimes and the Northwest Metro
Grimes has grown to roughly 15,392 residents and shows no sign of slowing. City permits go through 515-986-3036.
Grimes is one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa, and that single fact defines the work. The housing here is young, so we are almost never rescuing a century home. We are finishing basements builders left as bare block, adding the bedroom or the sunroom a value-engineered plan skipped. Replacing the first generation of decks now aging out.
Growth also brings covenants and tight lot lines. In a newer Grimes subdivision the association rules and setbacks often govern an addition more tightly than the building code does. We confirm both before drawing.
New construction is not exempt from radon. Iowa reads among the highest in the country and a recent build is not automatically low, so we test before finishing below grade.
Footings still need 42 inches of depth to sit under the frost line.
We build across the northwest metro. Homeowners in Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, and Polk City call us for the same work.
Finishing a basement in Grimes? Call: 844-435-9800 for a written estimate.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Grimes before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Grimes
Grimes went from 8,246 people in 2010 to 15,392 in 2020, and the Census Bureau puts it at 17,405 for 2025. Its Development Services office reviews plans, books every inspection and confirms which residential code edition applies to your permit. Each card below gives a starting price where we can quote one, then what Grimes asks for before work begins.
Home Building in Grimes
New homes in Grimes start at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. The city’s new residential checklist asks for a building site plan, a stormwater pollution prevention plan, house plans, a utility sheet and energy manuals. Water and sewer hookups add $500 and $750 per housing unit under the current fee schedule. An R-1 lot must be at least 11,000 square feet and 75 feet wide. How long a new home takes is one of the top questions homeowners bring to our site. So the schedule comes in writing with the estimate.
Home Remodeling in Grimes
A Grimes remodel permit starts a clock the day it is issued. Under the city’s permit rules, a permit lapses if work does not begin within 90 days. It also lapses if no inspection is scheduled for 90 days. Start without a permit and Grimes charges double the fee. Residential electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits run $75 each, pulled by the licensed trade doing that work. The building permit itself is figured from the city’s 1996 fee worksheet. We line up those licensed subcontractors in order so nothing expires mid-job. Customers name communication in our reviews more than anything else.
Kitchen Remodeling in Grimes
Kitchen remodels start at about $250 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. A full kitchen with us runs about 6 to 12 weeks from approval to final punch list. Grimes requires separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for trade work, at $75 apiece for a house, and the licensed trade pulls each one. Every inspection needs 24 hours notice through Development Services. Tile, countertops, added outlets and moved plumbing are the lines owners most often underestimate, so we price them up front.
Bathroom Remodeling in Grimes
A hall bath facelift with us has run about $3,000 to $5,000. A typical full remodel lands near $15,000 to $20,000, and a large primary bath can reach about $60,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Grimes spells out bath basics in its basement handout: an exhaust fan vented outdoors, a dedicated 20 amp GFCI outlet, and vented plumbing fixtures. Valves and cleanouts hidden behind drywall need access panels. The most common reason a bath grows is wiring, plumbing or lighting added after the first estimate.
Basement Finishing in Grimes
Grimes wants a floor plan before the first basement wall is framed. It shows existing walls, windows, stairs and the mechanical room, plus new walls, room sizes and what each room will be used for. Ceilings need at least 7 feet. A bedroom needs an egress window, meaning at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. It also needs hardwired smoke alarms inside and outside the room. Rough-ins and framing can pass in one visit before drywall. Radon turns up on many of our Des Moines area basements, so mitigation is planned into the finish.
Basement Remodeling in Grimes
Reworking a finished basement in Grimes follows the same city handout as a first finish. Its title says so: Information for Finish or Remodel of Basement. Strip the old wall or ceiling finishes and the city requires hardwired smoke detectors, not plug-in or battery units. Any room that becomes a bedroom needs an egress window and smoke alarms inside and outside the door.
The bottom plate on the slab must be treated lumber, and enclosed space under the stairs gets drywall. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need their own permit, pulled by a licensed trade. Inspectors check rough-ins and framing before insulation, often in one trip, then make a final visit before you use the space.
When our crews open older basement walls, we most often find mold, missing moisture barriers, thin insulation or unsafe wiring. We price that repair before new drywall goes up. We have also rebuilt basements other contractors botched, including walls that fell because they were never fastened.
Deck Building in Grimes
Every new or altered deck in Grimes needs a $75 city permit, no matter its size. Footings go at least 42 inches down, and the city checks them before framing, then again at completion. Grimes also counts a deck as impervious surface, and only half of a rear yard may be impervious. A big patio plus a big deck can hit that cap. We pull the permit and draw the plan sheet the city asks for. Deck prices depend on size, height, material and stairs, so we quote in writing after measuring.
Home Additions in Grimes
Additions start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. For a Grimes addition permit, the drawing must place the addition against the property lines. It also shows egress windows, doors, smoke and CO detectors, footings and wall sizes, and what each new room is for.
An R-1 lot keeps 35-foot front and rear yards. Side yards run 7 feet each for a 1 1/2 story house and 10 feet each for 2 or 3 stories. Footings go below the city’s 42-inch frost line. The metro cold weather concrete policy bars pouring on frozen ground, so winter starts need planning. A Grimes permit does not override neighborhood covenants, so we check both.
Iowa’s SF 592 allows an accessory dwelling unit up to 1,000 square feet or half the house, whichever is larger. Cities cannot require owner occupancy. Storm shelters, safe rooms and attached garages are built on request as part of addition work.
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 Grimes, IA
How do building permits work in Grimes?
The City of Grimes Development Services Department handles building permits at 410 SE Main Street, Suite 102, Grimes, IA 50111.
Contact (515) 986-4050 for information.
Permits are required for new buildings, additions, alterations, basement finishing, decks, sheds, egress windows, pools, hot tubs, and solar panels.
Applications can be submitted online or in person.
We handle all permit coordination for our clients.
Which school districts serve Grimes?
Most of Grimes is served by the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District (DCG), home of the Mustangs (red and white colors).
The district headquarters is in Grimes, with four elementary schools (Dallas Center Elementary, South Prairie, North Ridge, and Heritage), middle schools, and DCG High School (grades 9-12) in Grimes.
The eastern portion of Grimes along Highway 141 is served by Johnston Community School District.
What codes does Grimes use for construction?
Grimes trade work follows the state codes: the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code, the 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2024 International Mechanical Code.
The city’s new-home application lists the 2021 International Residential Code. Ask Development Services at (515) 986-4050 which edition applies before plans are drawn.
Permits expire if work is not started within 90 days.
How far is Grimes from Des Moines?
Grimes is approximately 11 miles northwest of downtown Des Moines (about 15-20 minutes via I-35/80 and Highway 141).
Johnston is 4.5 miles east, Dallas Center is 9 miles west, Urbandale is 3 miles southeast, and Waukee is 6.5 miles southwest.
Busy Builders serves Grimes from our West Des Moines base, typically within 20 minutes.
What makes Grimes unique for homeowners?
Grimes is one of the faster-growing cities in the metro. Most homes are newer, so the common jobs are basement finishes, decks and added bedrooms.
Every new or altered deck needs a $75 city permit, and a deck counts toward the limit on impervious rear-yard surface.
Residential electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits run $75 each, pulled by the licensed trade.
New homes pay $500 for water and $750 for sewer per housing unit.
What recreational amenities does Grimes offer?
Grimes features extensive parks, including Water Works Park with the metro’s best-rated splash pad (over 87,650 visitors in its first two years), South and North Sports Complexes, Autumn Park, Beaverbrooke Park, Heritage Park, and Lions Park.
All parks are smoke, tobacco, and alcohol-free with hours from 5:30am-10:00pm.
The city connects to the greater Des Moines trail system, and residents can access urban amenities within minutes.
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