Remodeling Guides & Calculators
Free material calculators, week-by-week remodel timelines, and 2026 cost guides, written by the crew that does this work every day in Joliet and Will County, IL.
Material Calculators
Drywall Calculator: Sheets, Mud, Tape & Screws
Work out exactly how many drywall sheets, gallons of joint compound, rolls of tape, and screws your room needs, with waste factors and 2026 material prices.
8 min read
Paint Calculator: How Much Paint Do I Need?
Convert room dimensions into gallons for walls, ceiling, and trim, with coverage rates, coat guidance by color change, and 2026 paint pricing by tier.
7 min read
Flooring Calculator: Square Feet, Waste & Boxes
Turn room measurements into square footage, waste percentage by install pattern, and box counts for LVP, laminate, hardwood, and carpet, plus 2026 prices.
8 min read
Tile Calculator: Tiles, Thinset & Grout
Calculate tile counts by tile size, waste by layout pattern, and how many bags of thinset and grout your floor or wall needs, with 2026 tile pricing.
8 min read
Concrete Calculator: Cubic Yards, Bags & 2026 Cost
Figure cubic yards and how many 40, 60, or 80 lb bags a slab, footing, or post hole needs, plus when ready-mix beats bagged concrete at 2026 prices.
8 min read
Deck Cost Calculator: 2026 Price by Size & Material
Estimate what a deck costs in 2026 by size, decking material, railing, stairs, and height, with installed and materials-only ranges and a board count.
9 min read
Countertop Calculator: Square Feet & 2026 Cost by Material
Measure countertop square footage the way fabricators do, then price it in quartz, granite, butcher block, laminate, and more at 2026 installed rates.
8 min read
Remodel Timelines
Kitchen Remodel Timeline: What Happens Week by Week
A realistic week-by-week kitchen remodel schedule, what order the trades arrive, where delays actually come from, and how long you'll be without a kitchen.
10 min read
Bathroom Remodel Timeline: What Happens Week by Week
How long a bathroom remodel really takes, broken down day by day and week by week, including demolition, rough-in, tile, and why waterproofing can't be rushed.
9 min read
Basement Finishing Timeline: How Long It Really Takes
A week-by-week schedule for finishing a basement, from permits through framing, inspections, drywall, and punch list, and what stretches it.
9 min read
Whole-House Renovation Timeline: Phase by Phase
How long a whole-house renovation takes by scope, the order the phases have to happen in, and what actually stretches a schedule to a year.
10 min read
2026 Cost Guides
Load-Bearing Wall Removal Cost (2026 Guide)
What it costs to remove a load-bearing wall in 2026, how to tell if a wall is load-bearing, beam options, permits and engineering, and warning signs of a bad job.
9 min read
Basement Finishing Cost per Square Foot (2026)
Real 2026 basement finishing costs per square foot, budget breakdowns by finish level, what drives the price up, and where homeowners actually save money.
9 min read
Kitchen Cabinet Cost (2026): Stock vs Semi-Custom vs Custom
What kitchen cabinets cost per linear foot and per kitchen in 2026, what drives the price, and when refacing or painting beats replacing.
9 min read
Bathroom Remodel Cost (2026): Half Bath to Primary Suite
Real 2026 bathroom remodel costs by bathroom size and finish level, a full line-item breakdown, what pushes the price up, and where to save.
10 min read
