Home Renovation in Central Iowa: What Projects Actually Cost in 2026
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Des Moines homeowners live in one of Iowa’s most diverse housing markets. If your kitchen still has the original cabinets from a 1970s build, your bathrooms haven’t been updated since the Clinton era, or your basement sits unfinished while your family runs out of room, Busy Builders can help.
We handle home remodeling in Central Iowa from a single room to every floor. Every project starts with a full walkthrough, a written scope, honest pricing, and a registered general contractor on site from permit to final walkthrough. Call Today For A Free Estimate!
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ construction and remodeling projects across Central Iowa. A significant number of those projects are right here in Des Moines, where the housing stock spans 46 distinct neighborhoods , from historic infill homes built before 1950 to 1970s-1990s ranch-styles and two-stories that are now squarely in the remodel window.
We remodel homes for Des Moines homeowners who have outgrown their layout, purchased a home needing full modernization, or simply want every room to work the way they actually live. Whether it is a single bathroom remodeling project or a whole-house overhaul, we approach every project the same way: a full walkthrough first, a written plan second, and no surprises after that.
Honest pricing, a clear written plan, and no surprise charges on every home remodeling project in Des Moines and across Central Iowa.
We tell you exactly what your project requires before any work begins. We do not upsell scope your home does not need. That is how we have built a 99% satisfaction rate across 1,285+ completed projects.
We want to be the registered general contractor that homeowners in Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, Norwalk, and Grimes call first when it is time to remodel, and that they recommend to every neighbor who asks.
Every home remodeling project in Des Moines starts with a full walkthrough of every space being updated. We assess existing conditions, identify what is worth keeping, and flag every plumbing, electrical, structural, and moisture issue before any work is scoped or priced.
Des Moines homes built before 1980 frequently have undersized electrical panels, galvanized plumbing nearing the end of its service life, and insulation well below current Iowa energy standards. Homes across Des Moines’s 46 neighborhoods vary widely in age and condition. Catching these issues at the assessment stage keeps costs predictable and timelines on track.
You get a written scope of work, a fixed estimate, and a timeline before we touch anything. Learn how to prepare your Iowa home for a remodel before your first walkthrough.
Any remodeling project in Des Moines that involves structural changes, electrical work, plumbing modifications, or HVAC alterations requires a building permit. The Des Moines Permit and Development Center at 602 Robert D. Ray Drive processes a high volume of remodel permits, and review timelines typically run one to three weeks depending on project scope and workload.
We file all required permits, submit drawings where required, and schedule every inspection as part of the project scope. Unpermitted remodeling work creates serious problems at resale, with insurance carriers, and with mortgage lenders. We handle every permit so you never have to chase down an approval.
Understanding how long a whole house remodel takes in Iowa includes permit lead time. Plan for one to three weeks before demo can begin in Des Moines.
Demo reveals what is actually behind the walls. In Des Moines homes built before 1980, that frequently means water damage, outdated knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, corroded galvanized pipes, and moisture problems that were covered rather than fixed over the decades.
Any damage found during demo gets repaired before rebuilding begins. We do not cover up problems we find. Radon testing is strongly recommended at this stage. According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, 71.6% of Iowa homes test above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, and Des Moines is not exempt from Iowa’s statewide radon risk. Selective or full demo is performed based on project scope, and all debris is removed before new work begins.
Structural changes, wall removals, beam installations, and new partition walls all happen at this stage. Load-bearing walls, meaning walls that hold up the house, are identified and properly supported before any removal begins.
Headers and beams are sized to Iowa building code for the spans and loads involved. Pressure-treated lumber is used wherever wood contacts concrete, as required under the IRC. Structural inspections are scheduled and passed before mechanical work begins in jurisdictions that require them.
Getting structural work right determines whether every finish that follows looks and performs the way it should for the next 20 years. Des Moines homeowners frequently request open-plan kitchen and living room layouts, and that work starts at the framing stage.
Mechanical rough-in covers all plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work done while walls are open. This is the least expensive time to run new supply lines, drain lines, circuits, and ductwork because access is completely open.
Iowa NEC 2023 with state amendments under Iowa Administrative Code 481-404 governs all electrical work. All plumbing is inspected to Iowa code. HVAC ductwork changes are assessed against the existing system’s capacity before any extensions are made.
All rough-in work is performed by licensed electricians and licensed plumbers, pulled with permits, and inspected before drywall closes the walls. Kitchen and bathroom remodels in Des Moines almost always require updated rough-in work, especially in homes that have not been touched since original construction decades ago.
Insulation and air sealing upgrades during a remodel improve comfort, cut energy bills, and protect the finished work that follows. Iowa’s temperature range from below 0°F in winter to above 90°F in summer demands proper R-values in walls, ceilings, and rim joists throughout Des Moines homes.
Spray foam is used at rim joists and all penetrations where air sealing is the priority. Batt or blown-in insulation fills wall and ceiling cavities to current Iowa energy code requirements. Sound insulation between floors and between rooms is also available and is most cost-effective to install before walls close.
Reviewing Iowa flooring options including LVP, hardwood, and tile is worth doing at this stage too. Flooring decisions connect directly to how subfloor and transition work gets planned before finishes begin.
Drywall goes up after all mechanical inspections pass and insulation is complete.
We hang, tape, mud, and sand every surface to a paint-ready finish. Moisture-resistant drywall is used in all bathrooms, kitchens, and wet areas throughout your Des Moines home.
Mold-resistant drywall is the right call for basement applications and any wall that faces Iowa’s seasonal humidity. Des Moines homes built before 1990 often have framing cavities that need proper barrier treatment before drywall goes in , especially in older neighborhoods like Beaverdale, Drake, and the South Side.
Ceiling options include smooth drywall, textured finishes, and coffered or tray ceiling details depending on your design direction.
Every surface is primed before paint so the finish coat applies evenly and lasts. Read our guide on how to prepare your Iowa home for a remodel to understand what daily life looks like during the drywall phase.
Flooring goes in after drywall is complete and painted so finished surfaces stay protected from other trades.
Subfloor condition is assessed and repaired before any new flooring goes down. Iowa’s clay soil creates moisture pressure from below in basement and slab-on-grade applications. A proper vapor barrier is installed under all below-grade flooring in every Des Moines project.
Hardwood, luxury vinyl plank, tile, and carpet are all available depending on the room, the budget, and your preferences. LVP outperforms solid hardwood in Central Iowa basements and main floors because it handles Iowa’s humidity swings and freeze-thaw cycles better over time.
Transition strips between rooms and flooring types are installed cleanly so every connection looks intentional. See our guide on Iowa flooring options: LVP, hardwood, or tile for a full material comparison.
Cabinets and countertops go in after paint is complete in kitchens and bathrooms.
We install semi-custom and custom cabinetry, quartz and granite countertops, and tile backsplashes. Des Moines homeowners across established neighborhoods like Beaverdale, Merle Hay, and Sherman Hill often pair quality cabinetry with high-durability countertops that hold up through Iowa’s temperature and humidity swings.
All plumbing fixtures are connected and tested after countertops are set. Light fixtures, outlets, switches, and hardware are installed and connected during this step across every room in the remodel scope.
Fixture selection is coordinated during the planning phase so lead times don’t stall the project mid-build. This is the step where your remodel starts looking like the finished product rather than a construction site.
See our kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling service pages for finish-level detail on cabinets and fixtures.
Paint is applied after cabinets and tile so every wall edge is cut in cleanly against finished surfaces.
We use moisture-resistant paint in all bathrooms and kitchens, and standard interior paint in dry living areas.
Trim, baseboards, door casings, window trim, and stair components are installed after drywall and before paint so every edge is sharp and clean. Des Moines buyers in neighborhoods like Beaverdale and Waveland Park notice finish quality, and a remodel that looks intentional throughout supports stronger resale value in this market.
Hardware, towel bars, toilet paper holders, robe hooks, outlet covers, switch plates, and mirrors are all installed at this stage. These details are what separate a remodel that looks done from one that looks considered throughout.
The final walkthrough is where we go through every room of the remodel together before calling the project complete.
Every plumbing fixture, electrical outlet, light switch, HVAC register, appliance, and GFCI circuit is tested before the walkthrough begins. GFCI outlets are required by Iowa code in kitchens and bathrooms, and we confirm every circuit is working correctly before handoff.
Every surface, connection, hardware piece, and finish detail is reviewed side by side with you.
If anything doesn’t meet the standard we set at the start of the project, we fix it before handoff. The crew removes all tools, materials, debris, and protective coverings so every remodeled room is clean and ready to use from day one.
We hand over all permit documentation and inspection records at project close to protect your investment at resale and with your insurance carrier.
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa, earning a 99% satisfaction rate from homeowners in Des Moines and throughout the metro.
Home remodeling costs in Des Moines vary based on scope, room type, and finish level. Des Moines has 46 distinct neighborhoods, and housing age ranges from pre-1940 bungalows to 2000s infill builds , each with different cost profiles.
A single bathroom refresh runs $6,500 to $35,000 depending on size and materials. A kitchen remodel runs $30,000 to $70,000 or more depending on layout changes and finish quality. A whole house remodel covering multiple rooms typically runs $60,000 to $300,000 depending on home size and depth of scope.
The biggest cost variables are structural changes, plumbing and electrical updates, and hidden damage found during demo. Budget 15 to 20% above your base estimate. Busy Builders provides a fixed written estimate before any work begins.
See our full breakdown of whole house remodeling costs in Des Moines for a complete picture.
Yes, for any work involving structural changes, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC modifications in your Des Moines home.
Cosmetic updates like paint, hardware swaps, and fixture replacements that don’t touch supply lines typically don’t require permits. But any remodel that moves a wall, adds a circuit, relocates plumbing, or modifies HVAC does require a permit.
Des Moines operates its own Permit and Development Center at 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, which handles one of the highest remodel permit volumes in Central Iowa. Unpermitted remodeling work creates serious problems at resale, with insurance carriers, and with mortgage lenders.
Busy Builders files all required permits and schedules all inspections as part of every project scope in Des Moines. You can verify our registration at Iowa DIAL before signing any contract.
Timeline depends entirely on scope. A single bathroom remodel in Des Moines typically runs 3 to 8 weeks of active work.
A kitchen remodel runs 4 to 10 weeks. A whole house remodel covering multiple rooms and systems runs 3 to 12 months depending on size and complexity.
Permit processing time through the Des Moines Permit and Development Center adds 1 to 3 weeks at the start of most projects. Cabinet lead times, often 8 to 16 weeks, are the longest single variable in kitchen and whole house remodels. Busy Builders builds a realistic project schedule into the written estimate before work begins.
See our detailed breakdown of the whole house remodeling timeline in Iowa for a phase-by-phase picture of what to expect.
Both approaches work, and the right choice depends on your budget, timeline, and how much disruption your household can handle at once.
A whole house remodel is 10 to 20% more cost-efficient per room because trades can be coordinated simultaneously across the full project scope. A room-by-room approach spreads cost over time and keeps the household functioning with less disruption during each phase.
In Des Moines, where pre-1980 homes in neighborhoods like Beaverdale, Drake, and the South Side often need full kitchen and bath modernization alongside electrical and plumbing updates, a phased whole-house plan often makes the most financial sense. The key is designing the phased approach with the whole house in mind from the start so each room connects seamlessly when work continues.
See our full comparison of whole house vs. room-by-room remodeling before making the decision.
A cosmetic refresh covers new paint, hardware, fixtures, and flooring and is the right call when the bones of the space are solid and the systems are current.
A gut remodel is necessary when there is water damage behind the walls, outdated electrical or plumbing, structural issues, or a layout that fundamentally doesn’t work. In Des Moines, homes built before 1980 often hit all three triggers at once: original kitchens, original baths, and systems approaching the end of their service life. Pre-1940 and mid-century homes in the Drake and Beaverdale areas frequently surface asbestos, lead paint, and undersized electrical panels once demo begins.
The clearest signal you need more than a cosmetic refresh is any evidence of moisture, mold, or systems that haven’t been updated since before 1990.
Read our guide on gut renovation vs. cosmetic refresh to understand which category your home falls into.
We seal off work areas with plastic barriers to contain dust and debris from the rest of your home.
Floors and hallways leading to the work area are protected throughout the project. Crews clean up at the end of every workday so your home stays livable during the remodel.
For whole-house remodels in Des Moines, we phase the work to keep at least one bathroom and the kitchen functional at all times, wherever the scope allows. Des Moines homes with open floor plans and older layouts may require more creative phasing to maintain daily function during demo and rough-in.
A remodel happens inside your home and we treat it that way from day one to final walkthrough.
Read our full guide on how to prepare your Iowa home for a remodel so you know exactly what to expect before work begins.
Get inspired by busy builders! Our home renovation experts provide innovative solutions and stunning designs for your dream space. Transform your home today!
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