Cost Guides

• 20 Weekend Projects Under $20
• Low-Cost Updates that Add Value
• High-Impact Remodeling Projects
• Recent Home Prices in U.S. Cities
• Remodeling Cost Guide
• Small Remodeling Projects that Add Big Value

Only specific estimates from local professionals provide an accurate picture, but the average costs listed here give a rough idea of the price level various projects represent. National averages can’t account for problem plumbing setups or your taste for exotic countertops, but they can tell you that it’s unrealistic to plan on remodeling a whole kitchen for $7,000.

Once you get an estimate, plan on a budget overrun of about 12 percent. Deciding how to handle overruns up front can go a long way toward keeping you happier when the final bills arrive.

By Kathie Kull

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Recycled Products

Whenever possible, use recycled materials. Look for rubber and polymer roofing that imitates slate to reduce weight and maintenance. For countertops, backsplashes, shower surrounds, walls, and floors consider materials that blend a percentage of recycled glass with concrete. Choose carpets made from 100 percent recycled content.