Skip to content

Guides & costs

Straight answers about remodeling in Utah

Real numbers, real code requirements, and honest advice about hiring contractors — including how to check up on us. Written to be genuinely useful whether or not you ever call.

ADUs · 8 min read

Basement Apartment or Backyard ADU? An Honest Comparison

They rent for about the same. One costs roughly four times more to build. Here's how to tell which one your lot actually argues for.

Read the guide →

Key takeaway

Similar rent, very different build cost. Run cost per rentable square foot on your own numbers and the basement usually wins — but the detached unit is the right answer when the basement is spoken for, absent, or when full separation is the actual goal.

ADUs · 8 min

What Does a Detached ADU Cost in Utah County?

Real ranges for a backyard unit, and the four site conditions that move the price more than any finish decision you'll make.

Read more →

Basements · 7 min

Finish Your Basement So It Could Become an Apartment Later

Three decisions at rough-in cost nearly nothing now and are effectively impossible later. You don't have to want a rental for them to be worth making.

Read more →

Basements · 9 min

How Much Does It Cost to Finish a Basement in Utah County?

Real numbers, what moves them, and the four line items that blow up budgets when nobody plans for them.

Read more →

Basements · 7 min

Basement Egress Window Requirements in Utah

If you want a legal basement bedroom, this is the requirement that decides whether you get one.

Read more →

ADUs · 9 min

Is a Basement Apartment Legal in Utah County?

The rules vary by city and sometimes by parcel. Here's how to find out what applies to you before you spend money.

Read more →

Basements · 7 min

Does Finishing a Basement Actually Add Value to Your Home?

The honest answer is more nuanced than most contractors will tell you — and the real argument for finishing isn't resale at all.

Read more →

Basements · 7 min

Basement Moisture in Utah: Fix It Before You Finish

Finishing over a moisture problem doesn't hide it. It just means you'll tear out new drywall to fix it later.

Read more →

Hiring · 8 min

How to Choose a Contractor in Utah (Without Getting Burned)

Verify the license, understand what bonded and insured really cover, and never pay a large deposit up front.

Read more →

Design · 8 min

Basement Layout Ideas That Actually Work

Where the bathroom goes, how to zone a big space, and why storage should be planned first rather than last.

Read more →

Permits · 6 min

What Requires a Permit for Remodeling in Utah County?

A practical guide to what needs a permit, what doesn't, and why skipping one costs more than it saves.

Read more →

Flooring · 6 min

The Best Flooring for a Utah Basement

Concrete slabs release moisture. That single fact rules out some materials and makes others obvious.

Read more →

Kitchens · 7 min

Kitchen Remodel Costs in Utah County: Where the Money Goes

Cabinets and counters are most of your budget. Here's how to spend the rest well.

Read more →

Ready to talk about your project?

Get a real number you can plan around — no appointment needed to find out roughly what your project costs, and no pressure when you do.

  • Pricing Published Up Front
  • Orem to Lehi
  • One Point of Contact