Files

The files

Every project, priced item by item.

Real renovation bids, broken down so you can check your own. 4 files so far, and a new one every Sunday and Thursday.

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A hall coat closet opened to bare studs for a conversion, with a white drain pipe and red and blue supply lines between the studs, a stack of drywall sheets against the wall, an orange bucket and a utility knife on a plywood floor, and a drop cloth over the hallway carpet.

Bathroom · Hiring & bids$1,039General contractor fee in 2026: what $1,039 of a powder room bid buysNovember 8, 2026

A 1990s hall bathroom mid-renovation, with the tub removed to leave a bare alcove of exposed studs and a drain opening, an oak vanity with a marble-look top, a stack of blank tile boxes, an orange bucket and a utility knife on a vinyl floor.

Bathroom$10,644Bathroom remodel cost in 2026: where a $10,644 bid actually goesNovember 1, 2026

A beige outdoor air conditioner unit on a concrete pad beside a white vinyl-sided house on a frosty morning, with insulated refrigerant lines running into the wall, a gray electrical disconnect box, a coiled garden hose and a rust canvas tool bag.

Heating & energy$10,362Heat pump installation cost vs furnace plus AC: the 15-year mathOctober 25, 2026

A 1990s kitchen on the first day of a remodel: honey-oak cabinets with two doors removed, an opened drywall soffit above them, a laminate counter with a tape measure, an almond range and a vinyl floor in morning light.

Kitchen$33,6901990s kitchen remodel cost breakdown: where $33,690 actually goesOctober 18, 2026