--- title: "Our Work In Central Iowa | Busy Builders" description: "Real Busy Builders projects across Central Iowa: additions, decks, bathrooms, and interior remodels. 1,285+ completed projects since 2020." url: "https://busybuildersiowa.com/our-work/" --- # Our Work in Central Iowa Real projects, real photos, no stock images. Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ projects across Central Iowa since 2020. Here is a look at what that work actually looks like. [Get Your Free Estimate](https://busybuildersiowa.com/contact-us/) - Home Addition Builder ## What You Are Looking At These are our own projects, photographed on site, not stock photography or renderings. Some are caught mid build because the framing and envelope stage is where quality is decided, and some are finished so you can see how the work lands. Every service shown here has its own page with costs, timelines, and Iowa code details. Start with [home additions](https://busybuildersiowa.com/home-additions/), [deck building](https://busybuildersiowa.com/deck-building/), [bathroom remodeling](https://busybuildersiowa.com/bathroom-remodeling/), or the full [services overview](https://busybuildersiowa.com/our-services/). ### About Us Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed 1,285+ construction and remodeling projects across [Central Iowa](https://busybuildersiowa.com/service-area/). We build home additions for families who need more space and want it done right the first time. Every addition we build is designed to match the existing home’s structure, style, and systems so it feels like it was always there. ### Our Mission Honest pricing, a clear written plan, and no surprise charges on every home addition project we take on. We tell you what the project actually requires before a single permit is filed, and we do not upsell scope the addition doesn’t need. ### Our Vision We want to be the registered general contractor that homeowners in [Des Moines](https://busybuildersiowa.com/des-moines/), [West Des Moines](https://busybuildersiowa.com/west-des-moines/), [Ankeny](https://busybuildersiowa.com/ankeny/), [Waukee](https://busybuildersiowa.com/waukee/), [Johnston](https://busybuildersiowa.com/johnston/), and [Grimes](https://busybuildersiowa.com/grimes/) call first when the house isn’t big enough anymore. [Learn More About Us](https://busybuildersiowa.com/about-us/) - Frequently Asked Questions ## How We Work, Shown in the Photos ### Real Photos, Real Jobs Every image here is ours. No stock libraries, no renderings dressed up as finished work. ### Mid Build Matters We publish framing and envelope stages because that is where quality is decided, not at the paint stage. ### Matched to the Existing Home Rooflines, trim, and exterior finishes get planned to blend. Good additions do not announce themselves. ### Built for Iowa Weather Footings below the 42 inch frost line, sealed envelopes, and materials chosen for freeze and thaw. ### Licensed Trades on Trade Work Plumbing, electrical, and heating handled by licensed Iowa professionals we schedule and manage. ### 1,285+ Projects Since 2020 Volume is not the point. Repeatable results across Central Iowa are. - Home Additions Step By Step ## Recent Projects Step #1 ### SECOND STORY ADDITION, HOUSE WRAP STAGE This second story addition is caught mid build, with house wrap on and new windows set. The stage matters, because this is where an addition either matches the existing home or starts to look bolted on. Rooflines, window placement, and exterior finishes were planned to blend before framing ever started. - Full second story over existing structure - Windows set and envelope sealed - Rooflines matched to the original home Step #2 ### FINISHED TWO STORY REAR ELEVATION The same class of project, finished. trim, deck, and railings tie into the original house so the addition reads as part of the design. From the yard, there is no visible seam between old and new construction. ![Finished two story home addition with upper deck and metal railings on an Iowa property](https://busybuildersiowa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_2553-e1784603315103-1024x498.jpeg) - Exterior finishes blended end to end - Upper deck with metal railings - Reads as original construction Step #3 ### DECK WITH FULL STAIR RUN A raised deck off the back of a two story home with a long stair run down to grade. Stairs are where deck projects get complicated, because rise and run have to stay consistent and the landing has to work with the existing slope. - Raised deck with full stair descent - Railings at code height - Footings below the Iowa frost line [Get Your Free Estimate](https://busybuildersiowa.com/contact-us/) Step #4 ### COMPOSITE DECK, FINISHED AND FURNISHED Composite decking with black metal balusters, built for a wooded lot. Composite costs more up front than treated lumber and gives back the weekends you would have spent sanding and sealing, which is the tradeoff most homeowners are actually deciding between. - Composite surface, no staining or sealing - Metal balusters under 4 inches apart - Multi level layout on a sloped lot Step #5 ### BATHROOM REMODEL WITH MARBLE TILE SHOWER A full bathroom remodel with a marble look tile shower, glass enclosure, penny tile floor in the pan, and a new vanity with a stone top. Everything behind the tile matters as much as the tile itself, which is where waterproofing does the work you never see. - Tiled shower with glass enclosure - Waterproofing membrane behind tile - New vanity, stone top, and fixtures [Get Your Free Estimate](https://busybuildersiowa.com/contact-us/) Step #6 ### INTERIOR REMODEL WITH CUSTOM BUILT-INS Custom built-in cabinetry and shelving flanking a stone fireplace with a wood mantel. Built-ins are the kind of work that looks simple and is not, because everything has to sit level and plumb against walls that rarely are. - Custom cabinetry and open shelving - Stone surround with wood mantel - Trim and finish work throughout ## How We Document Projects Photos on this page are taken on our own jobsites in Central Iowa, and we publish mid build stages on purpose, because footings, framing, flashing, and waterproofing are where a project is actually won or lost. Where a photo shows an envelope or structural stage, that work was permitted and inspected through the local building department. We are registered with [Iowa DIAL](https://dial.iowa.gov/) and pull permits for every project that requires one. *Disclaimer: Photos on this page show completed and in progress Busy Builders projects and are provided to illustrate the type and quality of work we perform. They are not a guarantee that your project will match in scope, materials, cost, or outcome. Cost figures are planning estimates that vary by scope, materials, site conditions, and current pricing. Permit requirements vary by city and jurisdiction. No specific outcomes are guaranteed. Consult a registered contractor for guidance specific to your project.* ## What These Projects Typically Cost Published starting rates for the work shown on this page. Every project gets a written estimate, and final numbers depend on scope, materials, and site conditions. Service Published starting rate Home building From $150 per square foot Home additions From $300 per square foot Kitchen remodeling From $250 per square foot Bathroom remodeling $8,000 to $60,000 or more by scope Basement finishing $25 to $75 per square foot Deck building $15 to $80 or more per square foot by material Based on our published Central Iowa pricing. Your written estimate sets the final numbers. ### Want Work Like This at Your House? Tell us what you are thinking about and we will walk the site, talk through what is realistic, and give you a clear written estimate with no surprises. Call: 844-435-9800. Or use the form above to request your free estimate. - Achievement ## Built by Busy Builders Across Central Iowa Every photo on this page is from a Busy Builders jobsite. We are a registered Iowa contractor, registration #C140184, serving Des Moines, West Des Moines, and the metro around them. You get honest pricing and a clear written plan before work starts. 1285+ Completed Projects​ 90+ Skilled Workers​ 99% Satisfaction Rate​ - Frequently Asked Questions ## FAQs About Our Work Are these your own projects? Yes. Every photo on this page is from a Busy Builders jobsite in Central Iowa. We do not use stock photography or vendor renderings to represent our work, because you deserve to see what our crews actually build. Why are some photos mid construction? Because that is where the work is decided. Footings, framing, flashing, and waterproofing all get covered up later. Showing only finished rooms hides the part of the job that determines whether it lasts. Can I see a project near me? Often, yes. We work across the Des Moines metro and out into Boone, Dallas, Story, Warren, Marshall, and Guthrie counties. Ask when we walk your site and we will tell you what we have built nearby. Will my project look like these? Your project will be designed around your home, your lot, and your budget, so it will not be a copy of any photo here. What carries over is the standard of work: proper structure, matched finishes, and licensed trades. How long do projects like these take? It depends heavily on the service. Decks run 1 to 3 weeks, bathrooms 3 to 8 weeks, basements 6 to 12 weeks, and additions 10 to 24 weeks. Each service page carries its own honest range. How do I get a quote for something similar? Call 844-435-9800 or use the form on this page. We walk the site, look at the structure, and give you a written scope and estimate before you commit to anything. - Home Addition Blogs ## Guides From Our Crews [Learn More About Home Additions](https://busybuildersiowa.com/category/home-additions-blogs/) [Aug 22, 2026By Blake Daniels ### Whole Home Remodel Cost in Ankeny: 2026 Planning Guide Read More Whole home remodels in Ankeny run $85,000 to $300,000+. Cost by level, the city's permit portal, and why doing it all at once costs less per room.Whole home remodels in Ankeny run $85,000 to $300,000+. Cost by level, the city's permit portal, and why doing it all at once costs less per room.Whole home remodels in Ankeny run $85,000 to $300,000+. Cost by level, the city's permit portal, and why doing it all at once costs less per room.](https://busybuildersiowa.com/whole-home-remodel-cost-ankeny-2026/)[Aug 21, 2026By Blake Daniels ### Basement Finishing Cost in New Virginia, Iowa: 2026 Guide Read More Most New Virginia basement projects run $29,000 to $74,000. Cost by scope, Iowa egress rules, and why septic sizing matters if you add a bedroom.Most New Virginia basement projects run $29,000 to $74,000. Cost by scope, Iowa egress rules, and why septic sizing matters if you add a bedroom.Most New Virginia basement projects run $29,000 to $74,000. Cost by scope, Iowa egress rules, and why septic sizing matters if you add a bedroom.](https://busybuildersiowa.com/basement-finishing-cost-new-virginia-iowa-2026/)[Aug 19, 2026By Blake Daniels ### Iowa Building Codes in 2026: Why Your City’s Rules Differ Read More Iowa adopted the 2024 IRC statewide in September 2025, but cities adopt their own editions on their own timelines. Here is how to find out what applies to your address.Iowa adopted the 2024 IRC statewide in September 2025, but cities adopt their own editions on their own timelines. Here is how to find out what applies to your address.Iowa adopted the 2024 IRC statewide in September 2025, but cities adopt their own editions on their own timelines. Here is how to find out what applies to your address.](https://busybuildersiowa.com/iowa-building-codes-2026-city-differences/) ```json [{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/busybuildersiowa.com\/our-work\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":"1","item":{"@id":"https:\/\/busybuildersiowa.com","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":"2","item":{"@id":"https:\/\/busybuildersiowa.com\/our-work\/","name":"Our Work in Central Iowa"}}]}]},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/busybuildersiowa.com\/our-work\/#webpage","name":"Our Work","url":"https:\/\/busybuildersiowa.com\/our-work\/","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/busybuildersiowa.com\/#website"},"about":{"@id":"https:\/\/busybuildersiowa.com\/#organization"}}]}] ```