Renovation cost data
What your renovation will actually cost
Researched cost breakdowns and honest financing comparisons for homeowners planning a project — updated as material and labor prices move.
- French Drain Cost in 2026: $10 to $100 a Foot, and Two Averages 1.85x Apart
French drain costs run $10 to $100 per linear foot in 2026. We compare the conflicting sources, the outlet costs, and the unsettled pipe debate. - Home Addition Cost in 2026: Why the Published Numbers Disagree by 7.5x
Home addition costs run $80 to $600 per square foot depending on who you ask. We compare the conflicting 2026 sources instead of averaging them. - Heat Pump vs Furnace Cost in 2026: The Answer Changes at State Lines
The $2,000 federal credit ended for anything installed in 2026. And whether a heat pump beats gas on running cost flips by state — it wins in Texas, loses in Michigan, and loses in New York and California too. Here is how to work out your own break-even. - Retaining Wall Cost in 2026: The Two Numbers Everyone Measures Wrong
A retaining wall runs $25 to $60 per square foot of face, around $6,000 typical. But the permit height is measured from the bottom of the footing, not what you can see — and comparing quotes per linear foot compares nothing at all. - Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost in 2026: Why Bids Vary Fivefold
Encapsulation runs $3,000 to $15,000, or $2 to $10 a square foot. The spread is not contractors chancing it — the word describes three different jobs. Here is how to price each, and which claims do not survive checking. - Whole-House Generator Cost in 2026: Real Numbers, and the Tax Credit That Ended
A 24kW standby generator installed runs $9,600 to $14,300 — well above the averages you will see quoted. Here is the real hardware pricing, the natural gas derate nobody mentions, and why the federal battery credit no longer applies.
Checking a quote right now? Our free renovation cost calculator gives you the realistic 2026 range for your job and area, plus the line items that quote is probably missing.
Every cost guide
The full library, grouped by job. Or open the complete index with summaries.
Kitchen: Cabinet Refacing vs Replacing: What Each Really Costs in 2026 · Quartz vs Granite Countertops: Cost, Upkeep and Which to Buy · Kitchen Remodel Cost in 2026: What You’ll Actually Pay
Bathroom: Cost to Convert a Tub to a Walk-In Shower in 2026 · Cost to Remodel a Small Bathroom in 2026 · Bathroom Remodel Cost in 2026: What $5K, $15K and $30K Actually Buy
Interior: Basement Finishing Cost in 2026: What $32,000 Actually Buys · Interior Painting Cost in 2026: Why Labour Is 80% of the Bill
Roofing: Roof Replacement Cost in 2026: Real Numbers by Size and Material · Metal Roof vs Asphalt Shingles in 2026: The Honest Cost Comparison
Exterior: Gutter Replacement Cost in 2026: Materials, Guards and What Actually Matters · Concrete Patio Cost in 2026: Plain, Stamped and What Is Underneath · Fence Installation Cost in 2026: What You Pay Per Linear Foot · Driveway Replacement Cost in 2026: Asphalt vs Concrete Over 30 Years · Deck Building Cost in 2026: Why Wood Beats Composite on Paper · Window Replacement Cost in 2026: What Moves the Price (and What Does Not) · Cost to Convert a Garage Into a Room in 2026 · Siding Replacement Cost in 2026: Vinyl vs Fiber Cement
Flooring: Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost in 2026 (And When It Is Not Possible) · Vinyl Plank Flooring Problems: What Actually Goes Wrong · Vinyl Plank vs Laminate: Cost, Durability, and Which Room Gets Which
Systems: Whole-House Repipe Cost in 2026: PEX vs Copper, and What Labour Really Costs · Attic Insulation Cost in 2026 (And Why Air Sealing Comes First) · Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost in 2026: 100, 200 and 400 Amp Compared · Water Heater Replacement Cost in 2026: Tank vs Tankless, Honestly · HVAC Replacement Cost in 2026: Furnace, AC and Heat Pump Compared
Solar: Solar Panel Cost by State in 2026: Where It Pays Back and Where It Does Not · Is Home Solar Still Worth It in 2026? The Math After the Tax Credit Ended
Financing: Home Equity Loan vs HELOC for a Renovation: Which Costs Less? · How to Finance a Renovation in 2026: Five Options Compared