Cost to Repair Guides:
Search for a Specific Cost / Repair Guide

The following costs are intended as general cost estimates for repairs and/or improvements to a typical three bedroom home.  The scope and size of a project will dramatically affect actual costs. Costs also vary based on the part of the country the property is located. Also the quality and price of materials used varies widely. The information listed below should be used for basic planning and exploratory purposes.
For an, Up To Date cost of repair guide we recommend one of the following books or view the older estimates below.

Roofing - Flashings - Chimneys

Install conventional asphalt shingles over existing shingles $1.25 - $2 / sq. ft.
Strip and re-shingle with conventional shingles $2 - $3 / sq. ft
Strip and re-roof with cedar shingles $5 - $7 per sq. ft.
Strip and replace built-up tar and gravel roof $4 - $6 / sq. ft.
Strip and replace single-ply membrane $4 - 6 / sq. ft.
Reflash typical chimney $300 - $500
Reflash typical skylight $300 - $500
Rebuild typical chimney above roof line $100-$200 / lin. ft.
Repoint typical chimney above roof line $20-$30 / row
Exterior Install galvanized or aluminum gutters and downspouts $3 - $5 / lin. ft.
Soffits - Fascias - Repointing - Water Proofing Back to the top of the page
Install aluminum soffits and fascia $8 - $12 / lin. ft
Install aluminum or vinyl siding $3 - $4.50 / sq. ft.
Repoint exterior wall (soft mortar) $3 - 4.50 / sq. ft
Repoint exterior wall (hard mortar) $6 - $8 / sq. ft.
Parge foundation walls $3 - $4 / sq. ft.
Damp proof foundation walls and install weeping tile $60-$120 / lin. ft.
Garages - Decks - Retaining Walls - Foundation Back to the top of the page
Install a deck $12- $20 / sq. ft.
Rebuild exterior basement stairwell $3500 - $5000
Build detached garage(single) $8000 and up
Build detached garage (double) $12000 and up
Build retaining wall (wood) $20 - $25 /sq. ft.
Build retaining wall (concrete) $30 - $40 / sq. ft.
Structure Underpin one corner of house $3500 and up
Underpin or add foundations $300 + /lin. ft.
Lower basement floor by underpinning and/or bench footings $150-$300 / lin. ft.
Replace deteriorating sill beam with concrete $60 and up/ lin. ft.
Install basement support post with proper foundation $200 - $400
Perform chemical treatment for termites $500 and up
Repair minor crack in poured concrete foundation $400 - $800
Electric Repairs - Upgrades Back to the top of the page
Electrical Upgrade electrical service to 100 amps $1200-1800
Upgrade electrical service to 200 amps $1500 - $2000
Install new circuit breaker panel $500 - $700
Add 120 volt circuit $150 - $250
Add 240 volt circuit $250 - $350
Add conventional receptacle $75 - $150
Replace conventional receptacle with ground fault circuit receptacle $60 - $90
Rewire electrical outlet with reversed polarity
(assuming electrician already there)
$5 - $10 ea.
Install conventional alarm system fire- burg $1000 and up
Heating Systems - Air Conditioning Back to the top of the page
Heating install mid-efficiency forced-air furnace $1700 - $2500
Install high-efficiency forced-air furnace $2500 - $3500
Install drum-type humidifier $200 - $300
Install electronic air filter $500 - $800
Install mid-efficiency boiler $2500 - $4000
Install high-efficiency boiler $5000 - $9000
Rebuild firepot (refractory) on boiler $500 - $800
Install circulating pump $400 - $600
Install chimney liner $300 - $700
Install set-back thermostat $100 - $300
Remove oil tank from basement $200 - $400
Remove abandoned underground oil tank $3500 and up
Replace radiator valve $75 - $150
Add electric baseboard heater $150 - $250
Convert from hot water heating to forced-air (cape) $8000 - $10000
Convert from hot water heating to forced-air (two story) $15000 - $20000
Clean ductwork $250 and up
Cooling/Heat Pumps Add central air conditioning on existing forced-air system $2000-$3000
Add heat pump to forced-air system $3000-$4000
Replace heat pump or air conditioning compressor $800 - $1400
Install independent air conditioning system $8000 - $15000
Insulation Back to the top of the page
Insulation Insulate open attic to modern standards $1 - $1.50 / sq. ft.
Blow insulation into flat roof, cathedral ceiling or wall cavity $2 - $3.50 /sq. ft.
Improve attic ventilation $40 - $50 per vent
Plumbing Back to the top of the page
Plumbing Replace galvanized piping with copper (2 story with one bathroom) $2000 - $2500
Replace water line to house $1500 - $3500
Replace toilet $300 and up
Replace basin $200 and up
Replace bathtub, including ceramic tile $1500 and up
Install whirlpool bath $3000 and up
Retile bathtub enclosure $800 - $1200
Replace leaking shower stall pan $1000 - $1600
Rebuild tile shower stall $1500 - $2500
Replace laundry tubs $250 - $500
Remodel four-piece bathroom completely $6000 and up
Connect waste plumbing system to municipal sewers $3000 and up
Install submersible pump $800 and up
Install suction or jet pump $400 - $600
Install modest basement bathroom $4000 and up
Carpentry - Finish Work Back to the top of the page
Sand and refinish hardwood floors $1.50 - $3 /sq. ft.
Interior add drywall over plaster $1.50-$2.50 /sq. ft
Install replacement windows $200 - $400 ea
Install storm windows $75 - $200 ea.
Install skylight $500 and up
Remodel kitchen completely $8000 and up
Painting (trim only) $1500 - $2500
Painting (trim and wall surfaces) $3000 and up
Fireplaces - Stoves Back to the top of the page
Repoint chimney (2 story) $700 and up
Convert coal-burning fireplace to wood-burning unit $800 and up
Install masonry fireplace (if flue already roughed - in ) $2000 and up
Install zero-clearance fireplace (including chimney) $2500 and up
Install glass doors on fireplace $300 and up
Install gas Insert into existing fireplace $2500 and up
For an, Up To Date cost of repair guide we recommend one of the following books.

"Home Repair" - Google News

"Home Repair" - Google News

Google News


03/09/2010 04:56 PM
HeRO program helps fix Kirksville houses - KTVO


HeRO program helps fix Kirksville houses
KTVO
KIRKSVILLE, MO -- The Kirksville Housing Authority will once again administer the Home Repair Opportunity, HeRO, program. ...


03/09/2010 01:20 PM
Nevada State Contractors Board catches unlicensed contractors on Craigslist - Reno Gazette Journal


Nevada State Contractors Board catches unlicensed contractors on Craigslist
Reno Gazette Journal
John Porcello, of J's Home Repair Service, was issued a criminal citation for contracting without a license. Porcello provided an electrical bid for $200. ...

and more »

03/09/2010 03:14 PM
Attorney General Janet T. Mills Urges Homeowners to Be Careful When Choosing a ... - RealEstateRama


Attorney General Janet T. Mills Urges Homeowners to Be Careful When Choosing a ...
RealEstateRama
Maine law requires a written contract for home repair jobs that will cost more than $3000. Shop local. If possible use a local business person. ...


03/08/2010 07:44 AM
Xbox 360 Errors? Repair & Fix Red Ring of Death at Home Now - Release-news.com (press release)


Xbox 360 Errors? Repair & Fix Red Ring of Death at Home Now
Release-news.com (press release)
A home repair though can fix this error within 1 hour. Its called 3 Red Light Fix and you can get it instantly online. Why wait around 6 weeks when you can ...

and more »

03/05/2010 01:19 AM
Police warn of home repair scams - York Weekly


Police warn of home repair scams
York Weekly
KITTERY, Maine — In the wake of last week's wind and rain storm, the Police Department cautions residents that door-to-door home repair fraud is rampant in ...

and more »

03/07/2010 06:39 AM
Greenville Hosts SC's Largest Home And Garden Show - WYFF Greenville


Greenville Hosts SC's Largest Home And Garden Show
WYFF Greenville
They also got to talk with home repair experts like Andrew Dan-Jumbo. He is the host of "Take Home Handyman" on The TLC Network. ...

and more »

03/08/2010 04:47 PM
Bait for struggling homeowners gets switched to higher taxes - Examiner.com


Bait for struggling homeowners gets switched to higher taxes
Examiner.com
... and loan program has Brooksville, Florida directing distressed, low income homeowners toward the USDA website for up to $20000 in home repair money. ...


03/08/2010 11:11 PM
Health care tops consumers' complaints - CharlotteObserver.com


Health care tops consumers' complaints
CharlotteObserver.com
Home repair: abandoned jobs, missed deadlines, going over budget, as well as scams targeting seniors. To file a complaint, call 877-566-7226 (877-5-NO-SCAM) ...

and more »

03/08/2010 05:37 PM
Dallas Water Utilities leaks new water conservation plan - Pegasus News


Pegasus News

Dallas Water Utilities leaks new water conservation plan
Pegasus News
Similar to popular home repair TV shows, Dallas Water Utilities will perform a significant amount of work in a short amount of time. ...

and more »

03/01/2010 01:10 PM
At last! Top rated Xbox 360 fix released! Home repair method that works to fix ... - OfficialWire (press release)


At last! Top rated Xbox 360 fix released! Home repair method that works to fix ...
OfficialWire (press release)
If you have an Xbox 306 hardware problem then it is good to know that you can send it in however this can take quite a while to get it fixed ...
Have You Got 3 Red Lights And DVD Drive Reading Problems? Xbox 360 Repair ...Before It's News
Fix Xbox 360 Red Ring Of Doom (3 Red Lights) – Home Repair Method Gets Green ...OfficialWire (press release)

all 23 news articles »

"Home Maintenance" - Google News

"Home Maintenance" - Google News

Google News


03/09/2010 03:27 PM
Is homeownership still your American Dream? - KIVI-TV


Is homeownership still your American Dream?
KIVI-TV
In addition, home maintenance costs vary by type of property and can be unpredictable. For example, a 1920s home may require more maintenance than a newly ...

and more »

03/10/2010 01:01 AM
Home improvements: underfloor heating - Telegraph.co.uk


Telegraph.co.uk

Home improvements: underfloor heating
Telegraph.co.uk
Jeff Howell gives on-the-level advice and answers your home maintenance questions. This week: how to repair underfloor electric heating. ...


03/10/2010 02:24 AM
Carleton-Willard At Home offers services - Lexington Minuteman


Carleton-Willard At Home offers services
Lexington Minuteman
With only one phone call, members enjoy access to carefully screened and vetted providers who offer home maintenance services, carpentry, plumbing, ...


03/09/2010 01:02 AM
Home improvements: condensation concerns - Telegraph.co.uk


Telegraph.co.uk

Home improvements: condensation concerns
Telegraph.co.uk
Jeff Howell gives on-the-level advice and answers your home maintenance questions. This week: how to tackle condensation caused by a central heating header ...


03/09/2010 10:05 AM
RENEE SKIVER: When trying to sell your home, view the property as a buyer would - Southgate News Herald


RENEE SKIVER: When trying to sell your home, view the property as a buyer would
Southgate News Herald
If you lack the time for home maintenance, consider hiring a cleaning service or lawn maintenance company before your home is advertised for sale. ...


03/09/2010 03:29 AM
Caregiver Rx® : Home Health Care Book excites Caregivers - I-Newswire.com (press release)


Caregiver Rx® : Home Health Care Book excites Caregivers
I-Newswire.com (press release)
Caregiver Rx is not exclusively for senior or elderly care, with a home maintenance chart, fire and emergency evacuation plan, and daily schedule it allows ...

and more »

03/09/2010 03:08 AM
Local Business Report: Classes teach you to buy a home - Vineland Daily Journal


Local Business Report: Classes teach you to buy a home
Vineland Daily Journal
... to help potential homebuyers understand budgeting and credit, mortgage and financing, shopping for a house, home maintenance and the closing process. ...


03/09/2010 11:07 PM
Church plans annual fund-raiser - Redding Pilot


Church plans annual fund-raiser
Redding Pilot
... new bookcases and donated furnishings. This spring, members plan to help an elderly Redding resident with painting, yard clean-up and home maintenance work.


03/09/2010 12:00 PM
Sometimes finding balance is a matter of perspective - Grand Junction Sentinel


Sometimes finding balance is a matter of perspective
Grand Junction Sentinel
“There are a couple of home maintenance projects that may need to be done soon, but I'm not sure I'm going to stay in the house. With economy the way it is, ...

and more »

03/09/2010 09:52 AM
BOOKS FOR BUCKS: Interfaith improves community on daily basis - YourWestValley.com


BOOKS FOR BUCKS: Interfaith improves community on daily basis
YourWestValley.com
Home Maintenance and Volunteer Home Services provide services for home repair and handyman help, grocery shopping, business assistance, transportation to ...


Electrical OR Plumbing OR Roof OR HVAC OR Fireplace OR Chimney location:usa - Google News

Electrical OR Plumbing OR Roof OR HVAC OR Fireplace OR Chimney location:usa - Google News

Google News


03/10/2010 02:22 AM
Wash. Twp. municipal building to get a new roof | Philadelphia Inquirer | 03 ... - Philadelphia Inquirer


Wash. Twp. municipal building to get a new roof | Philadelphia Inquirer | 03 ...
Philadelphia Inquirer
The Washington Township municipal building will finally get a new roof this month with $476000 in federal recovery funds. US Rep. ...
Stimulus to pay to fix Wash Twp. buildingCherry Hill Courier Post

all 2 news articles »

03/10/2010 02:10 AM
Chimney fire at Marysville home displaces three people - HeraldNet


Chimney fire at Marysville home displaces three people
HeraldNet
Firefighters were called about 9 am to the 6100 block of 84th Place NE, where a chimney fire spread to the home's roof, Marysville Fire District spokeswoman ...

and more »

03/08/2010 08:02 PM
LAPD recovers air guns after men were spotted on downtown hotel roof with what ... - Los Angeles Times


blogdowntown (blog)

LAPD recovers air guns after men were spotted on downtown hotel roof with what ...
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles police shut down streets encompassing a five-square-block area of downtown Monday afternoon after several men were seen on the roof of a hotel ...
LA Police respond to armed suspects on roofNECN
Reports of armed gunmen on downtown LA hotel roof ends with arrests of 3 with ...89.3 KPCC
Firefighters knock down stubborn blaze in South LALos Angeles Times (blog)
blogdowntown (blog) -CBS 2
all 33 news articles »

03/09/2010 11:14 AM
Goldman Sued for Overpaying Executives - CBS News


New York Daily News

Goldman Sued for Overpaying Executives
CBS News
The pension fund for an electrical workers' union wants to pull the plug on large executive compensations at Goldman Sachs, filing a lawsuit against the ...
Goldman Sachs faces union plan lawsuit over executive payPensions & Investments
Goldman Sachs Sued by ShareholderBenzinga

all 30 news articles »

03/09/2010 09:27 AM
Two catchers are Tigers' first spring cuts - MLB.com


Two catchers are Tigers' first spring cuts
MLB.com
The Tigers made their first roster cuts of camp on Tuesday when they assigned catchers Eric Roof and John Murrian to Minor League camp. ...

and more »

03/10/2010 01:58 AM
Officials: Manchester fire caused by electrical problem - Wicked Local Manchester


Officials: Manchester fire caused by electrical problem
Wicked Local Manchester
By Anonymous State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Chief Andrew F. Paskalis said the cause of March 2, 2010 fire at 6 School ...

and more »

03/09/2010 11:40 PM
Fierstein sings and kvetches just fine in 'Fiddler on the Roof' - Fort Worth Star Telegram


Fierstein sings and kvetches just fine in 'Fiddler on the Roof'
Fort Worth Star Telegram
FORT WORTH -- You say you were expecting Topol in the lead role of the touring production of Fiddler on the Roof, which opened a six-day run ...


03/10/2010 01:05 AM
Fixing Owens Hall - The Herald | HeraldOnline.com


WCBD


03/09/2010 11:32 PM
Contractor named for stimulus-funded GSA center in Lakewood - Bizjournals.com


Contractor named for stimulus-funded GSA center in Lakewood
Bizjournals.com
... firm Wisnewski Blair & Associates Ltd. is part of the HITT team. KTA Group Inc. will be responsible for mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering.

and more »

03/09/2010 04:21 PM
911 Call Released In Marie Osmond's Son's Death - NBC Connecticut


911 Call Released In Marie Osmond's Son's Death
NBC Connecticut
"I saw someone come down from the roof and I looked down, and they're on the street," the woman says on the call. "I saw them flying from the roof. ...

and more »

InspectionNews - Home Inspection

InspectionNews - Home Inspection

InspectionNews.net is the first, the largest and still the BEST independent home inspection resource and message board. InspectionNews has all the home inspection resources you could want.


03/09/2010 12:56 PM
Idle Chit Chat

I am posting this just to get rid of the annoying note at the top of each page concerning failure to post recently......

03/09/2010 12:21 AM
Distracted Driving Taken To New Heights

Or new lows. There are numerous jokes here but I will leave them to others (for now). Driver crashes while shaving bikini line (http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/3423294/Driver-crashes-while-shaving-bikini-line) ---Quote--- An American woman has crashed her car while shaving her bikini line. According to a report on news website KeyNews.com, a 37-year-old woman crashed her Ford Thunderbird into the back of a Chevrolet pick-up truck while trimming her pubic hair. Megan Mariah Barnes was allegedly travelling with her ex-husband Charles Judy on her way to visit her boyfriend and reportedly needed to tidy up her personal area, so Judy took hold of the steering wheel while Barnes attended to her bikini line. The car then crashed into the back of the Chevrolet truck while travelling at about 70km/h. But the story doesn't end there. The pair then drove up the road and swapped seats, and when Florida Highway Patrol officer Gary Dunick got to the scene, the pair claimed that Judy was driving. But officer Dunick wasn't fooled. A CBS report claims the officer noticed passenger airbag burns on the chest of the man in the driver's seat, and that the driver's airbag didn't deploy. Barnes shouldn't have been in the driver's seat in the first place (let alone with razor in hand). According to the CBS report, Barnes had been driving with a suspended licence, just a day after being convicted of driving under the influence. She was sentenced to nine months of probation, and her licence was revoked for five years. CBS reports that Barnes is now charged with reckless driving, driving unlicenced, fleeing the scene of a crash, and driving uninsured, and she may face a year in jail for violation of her probation terms. ---End Quote---

03/08/2010 08:33 PM
Vent stack on boiler

Are dampeners needed on all boilers inside the home? I came across a boiler that had solid piping coming off the boiler through the roof.

03/08/2010 07:03 PM
Insurance Coverage

Hi, I am just starting out as an inspector and was wondering which insurance companies you recommend for e&o as well as liability. Any other suggestions you have as far as insurance policies would also be helpful. Thanks in advance, Joe.

03/08/2010 06:50 PM
Isnt technology amazing!

Guaranteed 4% accuracy. Probably better than most of the roofers in my area. Detailed Aerial Roof Measurements and Reports: Accuracy Guaranteed | EagleView Technologies, Inc. (http://www.eagleview.com/)

03/08/2010 03:55 PM
Attic Flooring May be causing ceiling to crack

I have a floored in storage area in my attic and have recently developed a crack in my garage ceiling. My garage is a 3 car size and DOES NOT have a support beam inside the garage. Several houses in my neighborhood have the same 3 car garage and while some do have a post in the garage, many do not. How can I find someone to inspect this area and tell me if adding a post will be sufficient to stop/repair the crack or if I need further structure work?

03/08/2010 03:16 PM
Glass Pyramid Power

Solar power future for glass pyramids? - Green Machines- msnbc.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35726826/ns/us_news-environment/)

03/08/2010 12:56 PM
fire sprinklers to be required in PA

*Rule would require sprinklers in new Pa. homes* BRIAN C. RITTMEYER The Associated Press TARENTUM, Pa. - Beginning next year, all new one- and two-family houses built in Pennsylvania (http://topics.philly.com/topic/Pennsylvania) will be required to have an automatic fire sprinkler system. Safety officials and other supporters say the systems , more commonly seen in business and commercial buildings , will save lives and reduce property damage. But those who build and sell homes say the requirement , along with other building code changes , will add thousands of dollars to the price of a new home and hinder the housing market recovery. The change has prompted a lawsuit, and efforts by some lawmakers to block the requirement. Under the 2009 Uniform Construction Code, which the state follows , sprinklers are required in new homes starting Jan. 1, 2011. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were 414,000 residential fires in 2007, the most recent year available. They resulted in 2,895 deaths, 14,000 injuries and $7.5 billion in property damage. Fire administration studies say residential sprinkler systems could save thousands of lives, greatly reduce injuries and eliminate hundreds of millions of dollars in property losses. Sprinkler systems cost $1 to $1.50 per square foot in new construction , about the price of a carpet upgrade. Insurance discounts for those with sprinklers range from 5 percent to 15 percent, according to the fire administration. Home systems are much simpler than their commercial counterparts, said Ed Howley, of Building Inspection Underwriters in Jeannette. They use plastic pipe and run off a home's water system. "It's not intended to put out the fire completely," Howley said. "It's intended to suppress the fire to give people time to get out of the building and first responders to get there." Pennsylvania is the first state in the U.S. to adopt the requirement, according to the National Fire Sprinkler Association, a trade association.

03/08/2010 12:30 PM
Web site hosting and email

I am needing to change from my AT&T - Yahoo hosted website and email to a different source. Since I am relocating my home office, I might not have access to my current DSL provider through AT&T. (I Don't know what the ISP provider will be in the future) I am thinking of transferring over to GoDaddy to host so I am not tied to my internet provider for my email files, etc. Any words of wisdom to facilitate transfers? Providers preferences? I have one of my sites with GoDaddy for several years with no issues but I have not run my email through their service. I find it very useful to have access to historic email documents so I would like to be able to transfer or at least save everything now on Yahoo severs since I fear access to my paid account through AT&T- Yahoo will be lost once I drop their ISP service. Thanks, Jim

03/08/2010 11:10 AM
"C" Drywall

Built in 03 1 owner 3rd A/C coil Some lights do not work Has to reset breakers often replaced refrigerator

03/08/2010 10:43 AM
Furnace / Boiler Shutoff Location

What is the standard for the location of of the service power switch on a boiler and furnace? I am seeing them at doorways to the basement and more often, on the unit themselves. What should be called out?

03/08/2010 12:24 AM
Thought I'd Just About Seen It All Until...

I have seen many odd and even dangerous things in my years in the building trades and as a home inspector but I believe this takes the cake. It combines sheer stupidity with imminent danger and reckless abandon. The series of photos are of a parking area security floodlight fixture and its supply conduit for a 2 story condo parking area. Neither the light fixture nor conduit are secured to the building until conduit tops out and runs horizontal across the roof. A conduit connector about 8' below the roof line is loose and allowing the conduit to buckle. Finally, at about knee height off the ground, a junction box (former receptacle box?) has it's lid ajar just waiting to catch water or have someone put fingers into it. The conduit continues into the ground at grade. Granted, it doesn't rain much in the desert, so why then would they even install gutters that collect roof runoff and direct it onto the conduit?! Go figure...

03/07/2010 09:13 PM
Cut joist repairs?

I wonder when architects, builders, tub makers and plumbers will finally get this right? If the bathroom wall is located over a floor joist, and the floor joists are on 16" centres, the middle of the average tub will land directly over the next joist. :confused: Does anyone have pics of quality repairs to butchered I-joists like this one?

03/07/2010 08:02 PM
Sidewall to valley flashing?

Does anyone have a good diagram for flashing a dead valley at the sidewall? Sorry for the low quality shots but it is the best I have.

03/07/2010 01:52 PM
Roof Coating Shingle Roofs

I am in the process of updating a handout/ booklet that I give to Mobile Home Buyers. One common thing I see is there are a lot of mobile home owners that have someone, usually a semi retired person in the mobile home park, apply roof coating over the roof shingles, with the thought this will help reflect the sun and save energy costs. And instead of replacing the roof, the roof can then be re- coated every few years instead of replacing it. Besides voiding the shingle mfg. warranty. The problems I've seen with doing this is.. Most of the older homes have minuium attic venting ,this can auctually create moisture build up in the attic, and coating roof shingles can cause leaking due to blocking the shingle tabs, and restrict drainage. Are there any other problems when applying roof coatings over a shingle roof?

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