Madrid Iowa
Construction & Remodeling
Your One Call Solution for Home Building and Remodeling in Madrid, Iowa.
Madrid, Iowa General Contractor
About Us
Established in 2020, Busy Builders was founded to bring integrity and honesty back to remodeling and homebuilding. We serve Madrid and all of Boone County, from small bathroom updates to complete custom home builds. As Boone County’s oldest community with a proud coal mining and railroad heritage, Madrid deserves contractors who respect that history while bringing homes into the modern era.
Our Mission
Provide the most transparent and honest experience possible for any construction project. Madrid 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.
Building in Madrid and Southern Boone County
Madrid has roughly 2,800 residents and sits where Highway 17 meets Highway 210. City hall handles permits. Call 515-795-3930 before you set a start date.
Madrid’s coal mining history is the reason so many homes here date to the early 1900s. Mining-era houses were built quickly for working families, which means small rooms, low headroom in basements, and framing sized for a different era. None of that makes them bad houses. It does mean we open a small area and look before quoting a firm number.
Madrid also sits close to the High Trestle Trail, and trail proximity has pulled newer buyers into town. Those projects tend to be basements, decks, and additions rather than whole-house work.
Boone County reads high for radon. On a mining-era home with a low basement we treat testing and mitigation as part of the plan, not an upsell.
We work across Boone County and south. Homeowners in Boone, Ogden, Polk City, and Granger call us for the same work.
Remodeling a Madrid home? Call: 844-435-9800 and we will look at what is behind the walls.
Permit rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the City of Madrid before you commit to a budget or a timeline.
What each project costs and requires in Madrid
Madrid takes every permit application at City Hall, 304 S. Water Street, then hands plan review, fees and inspections to Safe Building, an outside firm. Decks, sheds and fences need permits here too, not just houses. Each card below gives a starting price where we can quote one, plus the Madrid rule that shapes the job.
Home Building in Madrid
New homes start at about $150 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Madrid’s permit application lists the inspections a new house passes through. They run from footing and foundation to sewer, water and storm lines, groundwork plumbing, framing, sidewalk and approach, and a final. Safe Building handles each one and asks for one business day of notice. Madrid had 1,227 housing units in the 2020 Census. What it costs to build a house in Iowa is the question homeowners search most on our site, so we start with a written number.
Home Remodeling in Madrid
Madrid’s permit page is blunt: any new construction, remodel or property addition inside city limits needs a building permit application. Repairs, conversions and alterations appear on the form’s list too. One detail catches people off guard. Once you turn the application in to City Hall, you owe every permitting fee, even if the project never happens. Settle scope and budget first, then apply. The town began as Swede Point, surveyed in 1851, before settler Charles Gaston gave it a Spanish name. Small remodels fit into our schedule quickly, and one customer said so, adding that the crew cleaned up before leaving.
Kitchen Remodeling in Madrid
Kitchen remodels start at about $250 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Madrid treats a kitchen as a remodel, so it needs a building permit, and City Hall keeps a separate trade permit form. Safe Building sets the fee once the building official decides the project’s value. A full kitchen with us runs about 6 to 12 weeks from approval through the final punch list. Once a kitchen is opened, the crew regularly finds mold in the wall behind the sink from a slow faucet leak.
Bathroom Remodeling in Madrid
Our bathroom quotes run from about $3,000 to $5,000 for a light refresh up to about $60,000 for a large primary bath. A typical three-quarter to full remodel without moving much lands near $15,000 to $20,000. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. In Madrid, groundwork plumbing, plumbing, electrical and final are separate items on the required inspection list. Licensed subcontractors we coordinate handle the trade work. Two full bathroom remodels we finished in 2026 drew reviews from the owners, and one came from a repeat customer.
Basement Finishing in Madrid
Madrid’s building permit application has a line just for basement finish square footage, so the city expects these projects. Plan on framing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and final inspections by Safe Building, each booked one business day ahead. A basement bedroom needs an egress window with 5.7 square feet of clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. About 5 in 7 Iowa homes test above the EPA radon action level of 4 pCi/L. Radon is very common on our basement jobs, so mitigation is part of the finish. Size, rooms and trade work set the price, which we put in a written estimate.
Basement Remodeling in Madrid
Reworking a finished basement in Madrid still takes a building permit. The city’s form names remodels, repairs, conversions and alterations, so moving a wall or adding a bedroom counts. Apply at City Hall with a scalable set of plans. Remember that the fees are yours once the form is in, even if you cancel.
Safe Building inspects for the city. For this kind of job, its required list usually means framing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and a final, each with one business day of notice. A new bedroom needs an egress window with 5.7 square feet of clear opening and a sill no higher than 44 inches. When we open old basement walls in Central Iowa, we most often find mold, missing moisture barriers, weak insulation and old or unsafe wiring. Some basements we have redone had finished walls that collapsed because no one fastened them properly. A Madrid permit stays valid for one year, and work must start within 180 days. Licensed subcontractors we coordinate handle the trade work.
Deck Building in Madrid
Madrid’s application names decks outright, alongside fences, signs and sheds, as projects that need a building permit. It asks for the deck’s square footage and whether it will be covered or uncovered. Attach a site plan with measurements from the deck to each property line and nearby structure. Safe Building checks the footings, framing and final. Each inspection needs one business day of notice to Safe Building. We build in composite and pressure-treated wood and price each deck in a written estimate.
Home Additions in Madrid
Additions start at about $300 per square foot. Final costs vary by scope, materials, complexity and location within our service area. Madrid requires a permit for any property addition. Submit a scalable set of plans and a site plan showing distances to each property line and existing structure. Setbacks come from Madrid’s zoning code, so ask City Hall at (515) 795-3930 for your lot’s numbers before design.
If a plan needs relief from those rules, the Board of Adjustment hears variance requests. Other zoning questions go to the Planning and Zoning Board on its own request form. Expect footing, foundation, framing and final inspections from Safe Building. Iowa’s SF 592 allows an accessory dwelling unit up to 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the house, whichever is larger. Cities cannot require owner occupancy. We have built two-story additions matched to the original exterior, and we add storm shelters and attached garages on request. Work must begin within 180 days of the permit.
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 Madrid, IA
How do building permits work in Madrid?
The City of Madrid handles building permits through City Hall at 304 S. Water St. (515-795-3930).
Permits are required for most construction projects including additions, structural changes, and significant remodeling.
We handle all permit applications, coordinate inspections, and ensure your project meets city codes.
For properties outside city limits, permits go through Boone County Planning & Development.
What's the housing market like in Madrid?
Madrid has approximately 1,200 housing units with median home values around $150,000-$175,000.
The town is experiencing steady growth, with population increasing about 10% since 2010.
Proximity to Des Moines (30 miles), the High Trestle Trail, and quality schools make Madrid attractive to families.
Many homes date to the mining era, so we look before we quote a firm number.
Do older Madrid homes have specific challenges?
Yes.
Madrid’s coal mining heritage means many homes date to the early 1900s when the town’s population peaked during the mining boom.
Common issues include outdated electrical systems, older plumbing (galvanized pipes), original single-pane windows, and foundations that may need attention.
Italian and Croatian immigrant families who worked the mines built many of these homes, often with solid construction but dated systems.
Is radon a concern in Madrid basements?
Yes.
Boone County has elevated radon levels, with many areas exceeding 4 pCi/L (the EPA action level).
Before finishing any basement, we recommend professional radon testing.
If levels are high, we can install mitigation systems as part of your project.
This protects your family’s health.
How does Madrid's location affect construction?
Madrid sits along Highway 17 with Highway 210 providing east-west access.
This gives good access to suppliers in Boone (10 miles north) and the Des Moines metro (30 miles south).
The High Trestle Trail has brought increased visibility and tourism to Madrid, boosting property values and renovation activity in recent years.
How far do you travel for projects in Madrid?
Busy Builders is based in West Des Moines and regularly serves all of Boone County, including Madrid.
At roughly 35 miles from our office, Madrid is well within our service area.
We also serve nearby Woodward, Luther, Granger, and other communities along the Highway 17 corridor.
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