What should this project cost? Know before you call.
Plain-English cost guides for the home repairs and replacements US homeowners actually search for — water heaters, roofs, HVAC, drywall, mini-splits, EV chargers and more. Every number is an approximate national range, not a quote.
Estimate any project in 10 seconds
Pick a project, set the size, see low / typical / high national ranges — then take those numbers to three local contractors.
Project cost guides
Each guide breaks down labor vs. materials vs. permits, shows size and material variations, compares DIY vs. pro, and tells you when repair beats replacement.
Punch in the bid — squares, material, tear-off, decking — get a LOW/FAIR/HIGH verdict.
Ranges, not a quoteCounty patterns, MD sales tax, hurricane straps.
Typical MD re-roof $7,000–$15,000NoVA vs. coastal wind-zone pricing and insurance math.
Typical VA re-roof $7,500–$15,000Rowhome access, DCRA permits, historic-district review.
Typical D.C. re-roof $8,500–$17,000The per-foot math by material, gate adders included.
$6–$50 / linear ft by materialPer-linear-foot trim pricing by material, plus a 100 ft DIY total.
$1–$3 / linear ft installed9k / 12k / 18k / 24k / 36k, equipment vs. installed, plus the sq ft sizing table.
12k installed $2,500–$4,600Bedroom/studio tier, with the 115V wiring advantage.
Installed $2,200–$4,000The default garage/addition tier, equipment vs. labor.
Installed $2,500–$4,600Open-plan tier — and when the 230V circuit shows up.
Installed $3,000–$5,400Per sq ft by type — batts, blown cellulose, spray foam — with R-value context.
Blown $1.20–$3.00 / sq ftWood vs composite per sq ft, railings and stairs adders, permits.
12×12 treated $4,000–$8,000Traditional dig vs trenchless per linear ft, plus insurance reality.
Spot repairs $1,000–$4,000Popular cost guides
The full library of cost guides, including the regional and by-size breakdowns homeowners search for most. Start with the free cost estimator if you just want a number in ten seconds.
9k / 12k / 18k / 24k / 36k, equipment vs. installed.
12k installed $2,500–$4,600Sanity-check any roof bid per square before you sign.
Architectural $320–$560 / squareCounty patterns, MD sales tax, hurricane straps.
Typical MD re-roof $7,000–$15,000NoVA vs. coastal wind-zone pricing and insurance math.
Typical VA re-roof $7,500–$15,000Rowhome access, DCRA permits, historic-district review.
Typical D.C. re-roof $8,500–$17,000The per-foot math by material, gate adders included.
$6–$50 / linear ft by materialPer-linear-foot trim pricing, plus a 100 ft DIY total.
$1–$3 / linear ft installedCommonly asked — jump straight to the answer
Where a 12k single-zone system actually lands — and 9k through 36k.
Line sets, circuits, and condensate: the four line items behind the labor bill.
Divide the bid by squares and check it against the bands.
The 5 line items that explain legitimate gaps between bids.
The 20–25 square asphalt answer, by material.
Central AC, heat pump, and furnace ranges with per-ton math.
The real price gap between tank and tankless, installed.
Doorknob-size hole pricing without the full-wall quote.
Per-window ranges by frame material — sanity-check the bundle quote.
By material, with post and gate adders.
Method-by-method ranges: injection, piers, drainage.
The full 9k–36k ladder, equipment vs. labor, in one table.
The per-square and per-sheet numbers that split bids apart.
Material tiers, railings, stairs, and permit line items.
New vs. overlay pricing with the thickness-to-tons math.
The fixture-level work that's safe to skip a pro for.
Low / typical / high national ranges in ten seconds.
Should you DIY or hire a pro?
A simple framework: cost of mistakes, permits, tools, and your time.
The fixture-level jobs most homeowners can safely handle.
Where the safety and insurance lines really are.
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