The journal
Numbers,
not
inspiration.
Real costs, real permit timelines, and what we actually find behind Detroit plaster. Written by the people holding the tools.
Editor’s pick
What a Detroit kitchen remodel really costs in 2026
We opened our last 40 signed kitchen contracts and broke down where every dollar went — including the three line items owners never budget for.
Read the breakdown →Permits in Detroit vs the suburbs: the real timelines
BSEED plan review against Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Grosse Pointe. Actual review weeks from our last 60 filings.
Knob-and-tube wiring: what it costs to make safe
Why nine out of ten pre-1940 east-side kitchens need rewiring, and how to budget for it before demolition.
Can you open that wall? A homeowner’s guide to bearing walls
How to tell what is carrying your second floor, and what the beam will actually cost.
Basement finishing in Detroit: drainage before drywall
Every finished basement failure we have been called to repair started with the same skipped step.
Nine questions that expose a bad contractor bid
Ask these before you sign anything. Any hesitation is your answer.
Additions and setbacks: surviving a variance hearing
What Royal Oak and Ferndale zoning boards actually want to hear from you.
Once a month