Our Method
Short version: we publish the cities we have data for, and we leave the rest blank rather than filling them with national averages.
Where the numbers come from
We currently hold first-hand quoted ranges for 4 United States cities, and the national ranges on this site span $5,500-55,000 depending on scope.
We add roughly 1 new United States city at a time as we research it, rather than filling a 50-row table with national averages.
Across the United States the four local surcharges we track range from $200 to $6,000, which is why a single national figure is not a useful answer.
Our city ranges come from quotes reported to us by homeowners and contractors in those specific markets during 2026, plus the local cost drivers we can establish from housing stock records, foundation type and water chemistry for that area.
What we will not do
- We will not publish a number for a city we have not researched. A table with fifty rows looks more authoritative than a table with four, and it would be less true.
- We will not present a national average as a local figure. The whole argument of this site is that the local factor is the larger one.
- We will not publish contractor reviews or rankings. We have no honest basis for that judgement.
- We will not sell your enquiry to several companies. Each one goes to a single independent local contractor.
We currently hold first-hand ranges for four United States cities. That number grows as we research more markets, and the table on the home page grows with it.
If your city is not listed, the surcharge table and the allowance method on this site still apply - those are the parts that generalise.
How we are paid
A flat monthly fee from the contractor who receives the enquiries, not a commission and not a percentage of your project. That structure is deliberate: it means we gain nothing from your job being larger than it needs to be, which is why this site spends as much space on what not to spend money on as on what things cost.
Get in touch
Tell us your city and what you are planning. One independent local contractor, no obligation. If you would rather just use the research and find someone yourself, that is a perfectly good outcome too.
Or call (877) 701-2518