Home Improvement Contractors in Des Moines, IA
Every trade we cover, for homes in Des Moines. Tell us the project once and we connect you with licensed, insured contractors for it through one national line - and you compare written scopes. The median Des Moines home dates from 1961, so most jobs start with what is already there.
- Written scope before work starts
- No obligation on quotes
- Local permit knowledge
- Clear change-order process
Services in Des Moines
Each service has its own Des Moines page with local figures. Ranges reflect Iowa costs.
Home Remodeling
Whole-home and room-by-room remodels
$14,750 - $77,900
ADU Construction
Accessory dwelling units, garage conversions and in-law suites
$69,700 - $254,200
Garage Door Repair & Installation
Garage door repair, spring replacement and new installs
$150 - $1,950
Chimney Sweeping & Repair
Chimney sweeping, inspection, caps, crowns and liners
$100 - $3,200
Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen remodels from refacing to full gut renovations
$11,500 - $63,950
Bathroom Remodeling
Bathroom remodels, tub-to-shower conversions and wet rooms
$7,800 - $34,450
Roofing
Roof replacement, repair and storm damage work
$5,600 - $27,900
Handyman & Home Repair
General home repair, maintenance and small projects
$100 - $2,600About homes in Des Moines
Census and NOAA figures for the city of Des Moines in Polk County, not the metro, with a source for each.
The median home in the city of Des Moines was built in 1961, older than the U.S. median of 1980 and older than the Iowa median of 1972.1 Older housing stock means a contractor's first job is finding what is behind the finish - wiring, plumbing and roof decking - before a price is final. The stock is old by national standards: 70% of Des Moines's housing units were built before 1980 (U.S. 50%), and only 9% since 2010.1 Pre-1940 houses often have unlined chimneys, plaster walls and balloon framing, which change the scope of almost every trade.
Owner-occupied homes in Des Moines are older than rentals: a median build year of 1956 against 1975.1 Where owner-occupied homes skew older, a repair-versus-replace conversation is the usual starting point rather than a like-for-like swap. Housing in Des Moines is mostly detached single-family: 62% of units, with 26% in buildings of five or more units.1 A mostly detached stock means the full range of exterior work applies: roofs, garage doors, chimneys and backyard units.
60% of occupied homes in Des Moines are owner-occupied (72% statewide).1 The median owner-occupied home in Des Moines is valued at $194,700 (ACS), below the Iowa median of $208,000.1 With values below the state median, phased scopes - the essential work first - are a common way to keep a project sensible. Winters are long: the Des Moines Intl Ap station averages 128 nights a year at or below 32°F and 59 at or below 20°F.2,3 Long winters put freeze-thaw, ice dams and snow load at the center of roofing and masonry decisions.
Summer heat is moderate: about 22 days a year reach 90°F.2,3 Annual precipitation is about 37 inches, with 9 days a year bringing an inch or more.2,3 Snowfall averages about 36 inches a year.2,3 Real snowfall means ice-and-water membrane, attic ventilation and roof load are standard parts of a roofing scope.
Heating dominates the year: about 6,178 heating degree days against 1,070 cooling degree days (base 65°F).2,3 In a heating-led climate, insulation and air sealing carry most of the energy-code weight for any work that opens the envelope. Des Moines sits in IECC climate zone 5A (Cold).4 Building permits in Des Moines are normally issued by the city building department.5,6
| Before 1940 | 26.7% |
|---|---|
| 1940-1959 | 22.3% |
| 1960-1979 | 21.4% |
| 1980-1999 | 13% |
| 2000-2009 | 7.4% |
| 2010 or later | 9.2% |
Sources and notes (6)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (ACS 2020-2024 5-year (released 2026-01))
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station (1991-2020 normals (published 2021))
- NOAA NCEI normals station inventory (1991-2020)
- Guide to Determining Climate Zones by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates (PNNL-33270) (September 2022 (IECC 2021 county map))
- U.S. Census Bureau population estimates (Vintage 2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau geographic code files (2020)
- Climate figures are for NOAA station Des Moines Intl Ap, 3.5 miles from the place center; housing figures are ACS ACS 2020-2024 5-year with 90% margins of error in the source tables.
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Written scope, no obligation. Call now or email and we will get back to you.
Des Moines and nearby
Requests for Des Moines and the surrounding Iowa area go through our national line. Call (844) 624-3161 with the address and the project and we confirm whether we have a contractor who can take it on.
Nearest places with a page
Straight-line distances between place centers, not drive times.
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Open Des Moines, IA in Google MapsDes Moines questions
How much does home remodeling cost in Des Moines, IA?
Most home remodeling projects in Des Moines, IA land between $14,750 and $77,900, depending on scope, access and material grade. That is an estimated range for planning, not a quote - call (844) 624-3161 and we will scope your job properly.
Do I need drawings before calling?
No. If you have them, good - if not, we start from what you want to change and work back to what the house allows.
How old are the homes in Des Moines?
The median home in the city of Des Moines was built in 1961, older than the U.S. median of 1980 and older than the Iowa median of 1972. The stock is old by national standards: 70% of Des Moines's housing units were built before 1980 (U.S. 50%), and only 9% since 2010. Those are Census figures for the whole housing stock, including apartments, not a statement about any one house.
What is the Des Moines climate like for exterior work?
Winters are long: the Des Moines Intl Ap station averages 128 nights a year at or below 32°F and 59 at or below 20°F. Summer heat is moderate: about 22 days a year reach 90°F. Annual precipitation is about 37 inches, with 9 days a year bringing an inch or more. Snowfall averages about 36 inches a year. NOAA 1991-2020 normals for the nearest station; a contractor still assesses the actual site.
Get a free Des Moines quote
Written scope, no obligation. Call now or email and we will get back to you.