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ALL COST FILES

Every ProsNook cost file

Line by line breakdowns of what common home projects should really cost, plus guides to read a contractor bid and hire with confidence. Newest first.

70 cost filesUpdated September 2026 No signup, no lead forms
A detached two-car garage with light gray horizontal lap siding, two white raised-panel doors, and a wide concrete driveway Latest cost file
Remodeling cost file

Garage Conversion Cost: Price by Size and Finish (2026)

Garage conversion cost runs an illustrative $45 to $100 per square foot. This cost file prices the door infill, floor buildup, insulation, HVAC and permits.

33 min read
Read the cost file
A finished kitchen with light cabinets, an island, a range, a microwave above it and a refrigerator, lit by a window and two hanging pendant lightsRemodel timeline file

How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? Timeline by Phase

This timeline file maps a kitchen remodel week by week: design, permits, cabinet lead times, countertop templating, inspections...

32 min read
A homeowner with a pen poised over a printed document at a kitchen table while a contractor in a work shirt and cap leans in over a second sheet of drawingsHiring playbook

How to Handle a Contractor Change Order (7 Steps)

This playbook works a contractor change order end to end, from stopping the work and pricing the change before you sign to what...

40 min read
Two hands using an adjustable wrench on a chrome P-trap and tailpiece under a white sink cabinet, with screwdrivers, pliers and a small flashlight laid out on the dark floor in frontPlumbing cost file

Sump Pump Installation Cost by Type (2026)

This cost file prices sump pump installation by type, from a pedestal swap to a new pit cut through a slab, with the backup, dis...

37 min read
An unfinished interior with light wood stud framing, one wall filled with pink paper faced insulation batts around a small window, exposed joists overhead and a bare concrete floorHome systems

Attic Insulation Cost by R-Value (2026)

This cost file prices attic insulation by R-value and material, covering blown fiberglass, cellulose, batts, spray foam, air sea...

34 min read
A thin vertical crack running down the outside face of a light grey concrete foundation wall, with a band of bare dark soil and grass along the baseFoundation cost file

Basement Waterproofing Cost by Method (2026)

This cost file prices basement waterproofing by method, from grading and downspouts to crack injection, interior drain tile with...

36 min read
A worker in a dark blue cap and coveralls, one gloved hand under the bottom edge of a white raised panel garage door, standing at a partly open garage entrance in a pale stucco and painted brick wallGarage cost file

Garage Door Replacement Cost (2026)

Garage door replacement cost is priced here by material and construction, covering single and double widths, steel gauge, insula...

40 min read
A dim unfinished basement with painted concrete block walls, a small window high on one wall, and two pipes wrapped in a light grey fibrous covering running beneath wood joistsHome systems

Radon Mitigation Cost by System Type (2026)

This cost file prices radon mitigation by system type, from sub slab depressurisation and suction points to crawl space membrane...

37 min read
Two overhead pipes in a dim basement wrapped in aged grey fibrous insulation, with one section of the wrap torn open and loose material hanging out, above concrete block walls and a small windowHome systems

Asbestos Removal Cost: Vermiculite and Pipe Insulation

This cost file breaks down asbestos removal cost by material, from pipe insulation to vermiculite attic insulation, and asks if...

37 min read
A bare interior room with exposed wood ceiling joists overhead, a horizontal wood beam held up by four adjustable metal posts standing on square base plates on a concrete floor, and stacked lumber against the wall beneath two windowsStructural work

Load-Bearing Wall Removal Cost (2026)

This cost file prices load bearing wall removal by what the wall was doing: the engineer's report, the beam, the footings below,...

31 min read
An open grey electrical panel mounted on a concrete block wall with its cover removed, two vertical rows of black breakers and red, white and tan wires routed around them, and a step stool in front holding a tester and two red-handled screwdriversHome systems

Electrician Cost per Hour and by Job (2026)

This cost file prices electrician labor by the hour and by job: apprentice to master rates, service call fees, permits, panel up...

38 min read
A narrow vertical crack running down the outside of a light grey concrete foundation wall, with a strip of bare soil and green grass along the baseFoundation cost file

Foundation Repair Cost by Problem Type (2026)

This cost file prices foundation repair by problem type: crack sealing, bowing wall reinforcement, piers for settlement, slab li...

36 min read
An empty room with clear plastic sheeting taped across a doorway, a portable filtration unit with a flexible duct hose on a bare plywood floor, and drywall removed to expose studs along the lower part of one wallHome systems

Mold Remediation Cost by Room and Severity (2026)

This cost file prices mold remediation by room, severity and scale, covering containment, removal, the moisture repair that has...

36 min read
Hands holding an adjustable wrench on the chrome trap pipework under a kitchen sink, with pliers, screwdrivers and a flashlight laid out on the floor nearbyHome systems

Plumber Cost per Hour and by Job (2026)

This cost file prices plumber labor by the hour and by job: hourly versus flat rate, trip fees, minimums, after-hours premiums,...

34 min read
A dark grey shingle roof slope with several shingles lifted and curled away from the surface and a rectangular gap where one is missing, with a metal pipe and its flared flashing collar to the rightRoofing cost file

Roof Repair Cost by Problem Type (2026)

This cost file prices roof repair by problem: lifted shingles, leaks at penetrations, valley and chimney flashing, boots, ridge...

37 min read
A rectangular excavation with mounded soil beside a large circular concrete tank section set on a gravel bed in a green lawn, with coils of black corrugated pipe stacked to the right and a pale sided house behindHome systems

Septic System Cost: Install, Pump, and Repair (2026)

This cost file prices septic work by job: what a new system costs by soil type, what routine pumping runs, and what repairs and...

38 min read
A truck mounted drilling rig with its mast raised over a muddy patch of rural ground, lengths of steel pipe laid out on the grass to the right and a rendered house with a dark roof alongsideHome systems

Well Drilling Cost: Depth, Casing, and Pump (2026)

This cost file prices a private well by the line: mobilisation, drilling per foot, casing, the pump and tank, water testing, tre...

37 min read
A bathroom mid-renovation with one shower wall tiled in large pale tiles and the adjacent wall still bare cement board, a bucket and notched trowel on the floorHiring playbook

How to Hire a Bathroom Remodel Contractor (8 Steps)

This checklist shows how to hire a bathroom remodel contractor: which trade you actually need, license and insurance checks, com...

25 min read
A pipe wrench, copper fittings and coiled red and blue tubing on a drop cloth in front of an opened wall showing copper supply pipesHome systems

Water Heater Repairs: What Common Fixes Cost

This walkthrough covers water heater repairs: what each symptom points to, what common fixes cost, which jobs need a plumber, an...

23 min read
A pipe wrench, copper fittings and elbows, and coiled red and blue flexible tubing laid on a drop cloth beside an opened wall cavity with copper pipe and brass valvesWater heater cost file

Cost to Replace a Water Heater: Tank Prices (2026)

This cost file prices a standard tank water heater replacement by unit versus labor, gas versus electric, tank size, code upgrad...

33 min read
A large flat sheet laid over the ground inside a wood form frame on a bare dirt area, with a fence and trees behind itHome systems

Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost: Price Per Square Foot

Crawl space encapsulation cost is priced here per square foot, covering liner and sealing, rim joist insulation, dehumidifiers,...

26 min read
Two professional roofers working on a residential pitched roof under a clear sky in warm afternoon lightChimney cost file

Chimney Sweep Cost: Cleaning and Inspection (2026)

This cost file prices chimney sweep cost by appliance and service level, then adds inspection tiers, creosote condition, add-ons...

32 min read
Two men in an empty room pointing toward a window while one of them holds a clipboard of papersSeasonal playbook

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist: 40 Jobs Before Winter

Fall home maintenance checklist walking the seasonal pass system by system: illustrative costs, a booking order, and the winteri...

32 min read
Two workers on a ladder and a scaffold platform working on the upper exterior of a two-story house with pale blue siding under a clear skyMaintenance cost file

Gutter Cleaning Cost: Price Per Foot and Per Home

This cost file prices gutter cleaning per linear foot and by home size, then adds stories, guards, downspouts, the fall rhythm,...

30 min read
A pipe wrench, copper fittings, and flexible tubing laid out on a drop cloth beside an open wall with exposed plumbingHome systems

How to Winterize a Sprinkler System in 8 Steps

This walkthrough winterizes a sprinkler system step by step, covering blow-out versus drain, timing, safe air pressure, and what...

27 min read
Kitchen cabinet boxes and shaker doors staged against a wall mid project, the kind of doors-off work a proper cabinet repaint involvesInteriors

Cost to Repaint Kitchen Cabinets: DIY vs Pro (2026)

This cost file prices what it costs to repaint kitchen cabinets: per door, per drawer, and per kitchen, DIY versus pro, plus pre...

24 min read
An inspector in a hard hat and safety vest checking electrical rough-in inside a framed wall, standing in for the in-home assessment that precedes an honest furnace replacement quoteHome systems

Furnace Replacement Cost: Replace a Heating System (2026)

This cost file prices furnace replacement by type: gas, electric, oil, and high efficiency, plus what it costs to replace a heat...

29 min read
Wood-framed walls and roof trusses of a small gable outbuilding under construction on a concrete slab against a clear blue skyShed cost file

Cost to Build a Shed: Prices by Size and Build Type

This cost file prices the cost to build a shed by size and build route, kit, prefab, or custom, then adds the foundation, labor,...

24 min read
Two white contractor work vans parked on a brick paver driveway outside a home, seen from an open front doorDriveway cost file

Driveway Sealing Cost: Price Per Square Foot

This cost file prices driveway sealing per square foot for asphalt and concrete, then adds crack filling, prep, minimum charges,...

28 min read
A backyard wood privacy fence in warm evening light with large mature trees rising close behind it against the skyTree cost file

Crane Tree Removal Cost: Price by Tree Size and Access

Cost file pricing crane tree removal: what the crane line adds, when a crane beats climbing or a bucket truck, and how size, acc...

47 min read
A two-story house with pale blue lap siding, white eaves, and fascia along the roofline in bright daylight, the run where gutters attachGutter cost file

Gutter Installation Cost: Price Per Linear Foot

This cost file prices gutter installation per linear foot by material, then adds the drivers that move the total: stories, downs...

32 min read
A backyard deck attached to a modern home in bright natural daylight, the kind of hardscape that surrounds an inground poolOutdoor cost file

Pool Installation Cost: In-Ground vs Above

This cost file prices pool installation cost from the ground up: illustrative ranges by type, above-ground versus inground, deck...

34 min read
A professional painter rolling a fresh coat of pale tinted paint onto a smooth interior wall in a bright, sunlit roomPainting cost file

Cost to Paint a Room: Price Breakdown

This cost file breaks down the cost to paint a room by size and type, splits DIY from hiring a pro, and shows why prep and labor...

29 min read
The pale blue horizontal lap siding of a two-story home under a clear sky, with workers on a ladder and scaffold along the wall in warm daylightSiding cost file

Cost to Replace Siding: Price by Material

This cost file prices the cost to replace siding per square foot by material, compares vinyl, fiber cement, wood, metal, and bri...

36 min read
Four plank samples in different materials and finishes laid across a workbench beside a yellow tape measureFlooring cost file

Hardwood Floor Cost: Price Per Square Foot

This cost file breaks down hardwood floor cost per square foot: solid and engineered wood prices by species, install labor, refi...

39 min read
A contractor with rolled plans directing a crew at a residential jobsite, the kind of skilled labor that makes up a large share of a new HVAC system costHome systems

New HVAC System Cost: Full Replacement Prices

This cost file prices a new HVAC system by type: a new AC, furnace, full replacement, and heat pump, plus what drives the cost a...

28 min read
A homeowner sketching two funding options on a notepad beside a laptop at a table in warm daylightFinancing playbook

Best Loans for Home Renovations: Your Options

This financing breakdown weighs the best loan for home renovation options: HELOC, home equity loan, cash-out refinance, personal...

35 min read
Four board samples in different colors and finishes laid on a wooden workbench beside a yellow tape measureFlooring cost file

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost: LVP Price Per Square Foot

Cost file on luxury vinyl plank flooring cost per square foot: LVP material and install prices, luxury vinyl tile, wear layer, S...

34 min read
A bathroom corner with a wall-hung two-drawer vanity in a light wood-look finish, a white basin, black tap and towel rail, and large rectangular wall tilingRemodel idea file

Master Bathroom Remodel Cost and Renovation Ideas

This idea file sets master bathroom remodel cost against the renovation ideas that drive it: showers, double vanities, storage,...

32 min read
A freshly poured concrete slab bordered by wooden formwork, the kind of bare concrete an epoxy floor is applied overFlooring cost file

Epoxy Flooring Cost: Garage & More (2026)

This cost file breaks down epoxy flooring cost and price per square foot: DIY kits, pro installation cost, garage jobs, and flak...

32 min read
Two professional roofers nailing asphalt shingles onto a residential pitched roof under a clear sky in warm afternoon lightHiring playbook

How to Hire a Roofing Contractor (7 Checks)

This checklist shows how to hire a roofing contractor: verify license and insurance, get multiple bids, spot storm-chaser red fl...

30 min read
A flat-lay of roofing material samples side by side including an architectural asphalt shingle, a standing-seam metal panel, a clay tile, and a slate piece on a wooden workbenchRoofing cost file

Metal Roof Cost: Types & Price Per Square

This cost file prices roofing with metal by type, from standing seam to corrugated, with illustrative per-square costs, labor sp...

36 min read
Four board samples in different colors and surfaces, two with visible wood grain and two smooth, laid side by side on a wooden table beside a yellow tape measureCost files

Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring: Which Is Better for Each Room

This comparison puts vinyl vs laminate flooring side by side on water resistance, durability, look, cost per square foot, instal...

32 min read
A homeowner working through renovation notes on a notepad beside a laptop at a table in warm daylightTax explainer

Home Renovation Tax Deductions Explained

This tax explainer covers the home improvement tax deduction question: which renovations lift your cost basis and which repairs...

30 min read
A sunlit living room wall showing several window styles together including a double-hung, a casement, and a bay window in warm natural light, the kind of window that determines whether a window air conditioner fitsAir conditioner cost file

Window AC Installation Cost (2026 Guide)

This cost file prices window air conditioner installation by BTU and room size, DIY versus pro labor, window type, brackets, ele...

34 min read
Two toolboxes sitting in an open front doorway with contractor work vans parked outside, the do-it-yourself and hire-it-out paths side by sideHiring playbook

DIY or Hire a Pro? How to Decide (7 Steps)

This walkthrough shows how to decide whether to DIY or hire a contractor, comparing true cost, skill, risk, permits, warranty, a...

26 min read
An inspector in a hard hat and safety vest checking rough-in work inside a framed wall, the kind of thorough check routine HVAC maintenance involvesHome systems

HVAC Maintenance: A Homeowner's Checklist

This maintenance checklist walks homeowners through HVAC upkeep step by step, from filters to coils to the annual tune-up, so sm...

28 min read
A homeowner and a worker in a cap seated at a kitchen table going over a printed multi column document, a desk calculator between themHome systems

HVAC Repair Cost: Furnace and AC Fixes Priced (2026)

Cost file on furnace repair prices fix by fix, then AC: ignitor, element, capacitor, refrigerant, blower, compressor, and where...

48 min read
A homeowner on their front porch reviewing a printed document during a dispute with a contractorHiring playbook

How to File a Complaint Against a Contractor

This walkthrough shows how to report a bad contractor step by step, from documenting the problem to a written demand, board comp...

27 min read
A freshly poured and finished concrete slab bordered by wooden formwork in a backyard, sitting on bare graded ground under soft daylightConcrete cost file

Cost to Pour a Concrete Slab: Per Square Foot by Project

This cost file prices the cost to pour a concrete slab per square foot, by thickness and project, plus site prep, base, rebar, f...

34 min read
Plumbing tools and fittings, a pipe wrench, copper elbows and couplings, and red and blue PEX tubing laid out beside an open wall cavity during a plumbing jobWater heater cost file

Tankless Water Heater Installation Cost: Gas vs Electric

This cost file prices tankless water heater installation by unit versus labor, gas versus electric, retrofit complexity, venting...

31 min read
An electrician in a hard hat and hi-vis vest inspecting rough electrical wiring inside a framed wall, the kind of electrical work a standby generator install involvesGenerator cost file

Whole-House Generator Cost: Generac and Other Brands

This cost file prices a whole-house generator by size, unit versus install, natural gas versus propane, transfer switch, permits...

33 min read
A homeowner checking a contractor's license number and certificate of insurance on a laptop and phone at a kitchen tableHiring playbook

How to Vet a Contractor (License & Insurance)

This walkthrough shows how to check a contractor license with the state board, confirm insurance and bonding, and read the compl...

28 min read
A contractor holding rolled plans directing a trade crew on a residential job site in warm daylightHiring playbook

How to Find a Good Contractor (7 Steps)

This walkthrough shows the best way to find a good contractor: sourcing channels, license checks, red flags, and trade notes for...

28 min read
A homeowner handing a rolled set of building plans and a paper application to a clerk at a municipal permit office service counter in neutral daylightHiring playbook

How to Get a Building Permit (7 Steps)

This playbook shows how to get a building permit step by step, from checking whether your project needs one to passing final ins...

26 min read
A homeowner in their doorway cautiously reviewing a printed contract handed over by a contractor on the front porchHiring playbook

How to Avoid Contractor Scams (8 Red Flags)

This playbook shows how to avoid contractor scams step by step, spotting the eight red flags in a bad bid before a deposit ever...

25 min read
Two homeowners planning a home renovation budget with paper plans and a laptop at a kitchen table in warm daylightBudget playbook

How to Budget for a Home Renovation (6 Steps)

This home renovation budgeting playbook walks six steps, from scope to contingency to funding, so you avoid the surprise costs t...

23 min read
A homeowner sitting at a kitchen table carefully reviewing a printed multi-page contractor estimate with a pen and a coffee mug beside himHiring playbook

How to Read a Contractor Estimate (7 Steps)

This walkthrough reads a contractor estimate in seven steps, from spotting a vague one-line bid to the allowances and unit price...

24 min read
A man in a hard hat holding a rolled sheet of paper and a clipboard in front of a framed house in warm lightHiring cost file

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a General Contractor? (2026)

Cost file on the cost of hiring a general contractor: the typical percentage fee, cost-plus versus fixed price, affordability, a...

30 min read
A homeowner and a contractor shaking hands over rolled renovation plans at a bright residential job siteHiring playbook

How to Hire a Contractor (7-Step Guide)

This playbook walks you through hiring a contractor step by step, from scope to signed contract, avoiding the deposit traps that...

24 min read
A two-bay garage standing clear of a white building at the left edge, with pale grey horizontal lap siding, white trim, two closed white raised-panel overhead doors, a lantern beside each, and a pale concrete apron in front under a clear blue skyGarage cost playbook

Cost to Build a Garage: Average Price by Size and Type

The cost to build a garage runs an illustrative $50 to $100 per square foot, priced here by size, type, doors, slab, region and...

52 min read
Two professional installers fitting a new white double-hung window into the opening of a bright residential room in warm daylightWindows cost file

How Much Does It Cost to Replace Windows?

This cost file prices the cost to replace windows per window and whole-house by count, compares vinyl, wood, and fiberglass, and...

30 min read
A finished basement family room with a beige sectional sofa, wood-look plank flooring, recessed ceiling lights and a warm table lampRemodeling cost file

Cost to Finish a Basement: Price Per Square Foot (2026)

Basement finishing cost runs an illustrative $30 to $75 per square foot. This cost file adds totals by size, what a bathroom add...

52 min read
Two professional roofers nailing asphalt shingles onto a residential pitched roof under a clear sky in warm afternoon lightRoofing cost file

Asphalt Shingle Roof Replacement Cost by Size (2026)

This cost file prices an asphalt shingle roof replacement per square and per sq ft, with average roof replacement costs by home...

33 min read
A professional painter rolling a fresh coat of pale tinted paint onto a smooth interior wall in a bright, sunlit roomPainting cost file

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House? Interior and Exterior

This cost file prices painting a house by home size and per square foot, splits interior from exterior, and shows why prep and l...

27 min read
A renovated modern kitchen with white cabinets, quartz counters, and pendant lighting in warm natural lightRemodel cost file

Kitchen Remodel Cost: Hiring a Kitchen Remodel Contractor

This cost file prices a kitchen remodel by tier and how to choose a kitchen remodel contractor: cabinets, counters, labor, permi...

30 min read
A newly installed wood privacy fence in a bright residential backyard with fresh vertical boards and posts in natural daylightOutdoor cost file

Fence Installation Cost: Price Per Linear Foot by Material

Fence installation cost runs an illustrative $15 to $60 per linear foot. This cost file prices it by material, height, gates, te...

32 min read
A newly built deck with gray composite boards and fresh wood railings and steps, attached to a home in bright natural daylightOutdoor cost file

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck? Materials, Size, Labor

This cost file prices a deck from the ground up: per-square-foot ranges by material, the size math, labor versus materials, feat...

25 min read
A bathroom mid-renovation with new tile half installed on the shower wall and bright natural lightRemodel cost file

Bathroom Remodel Cost: Hiring a Bath Remodel Contractor

The cost for a bathroom remodel, priced line by line: tier ranges, the labor and materials split, waterproofing, tile, permits,...

25 min read
A homeowner comparing three printed contractor quotes side by side with a highlighterHiring cost file

How to Compare Contractor Quotes Like a Pro

This walkthrough turns three contractor quotes into one comparison: aligning scope line by line, reading allowances and exclusio...

24 min read