Analysis

What actually moves a price, sector by sector. Every figure in these pieces is pulled from the same data the cost guides run on, so nothing here goes stale or disagrees with the calculators.

Energy

1 piece
What actually decides the price of a home solar system

California and New York both publish the reported cost of every install. The spread inside a single state is wider than most national estimates admit.

Energy 6 min read

Home systems

1 piece
Why two identical furnaces cost different amounts to fit

The equipment is a catalogue item at a national price. Almost everything that varies is on your side of the front door.

Home systems 5 min read

Exterior

1 piece
Exterior work is priced by the crew, not the catalogue

Roofing, siding and windows are the jobs where local labour rates bite hardest — and where the material you pick changes the total more than anything else.

Exterior 6 min read

Structural

1 piece
Structural work is priced by access, not by area

Foundation repair and waterproofing are the two jobs where the quote depends most on what a machine can reach — and least on the size of your house.

Structural 5 min read

Interior

1 piece
Why remodel quotes vary more than any other job

Kitchens and bathrooms are the only work where the same brief can honestly produce quotes three times apart. Here is what is actually different between them.

Interior 6 min read

Outdoor

1 piece
Outdoor work is almost pure labour — which is why the map matters most here

Tree removal has no materials at all. That makes it the clearest illustration of how far local wages move a price.

Outdoor 4 min read

Across the board

2 pieces
Where home work costs the most in America — and by how much

The construction wage gap between the most and least expensive metros is more than two to one. What that does to your quote depends entirely on the job.

Across the board 5 min read
How to read a contractor quote

The cheapest quote is usually the one with the most missing from it. Six things to check before you compare totals.

Across the board 5 min read