Remodeling Guides
Short, practical guides for planning a shower, basement, kitchen or repair in North Dakota — written by the crew that builds them.
- Costs, timelines and permits explained
- What to ask any contractor before you sign
- No sales pitch
Showers
10 Uncomfortable Questions to Ask a General Contractor Before You Hire Them for a Shower Remodel
A shower remodel is one of those projects where the problems don't show up on day one. On day one, everything looks great: new til…
Read the guide
How Much Does a Shower Remodel Cost in Bismarck-Mandan?
Recent HHI estimates for shower work in Bismarck-Mandan run from $3,500 to replace a tile-look surround and $4,000 for a standard …
Read the guide
Tile Shower vs. Acrylic Shower Insert: Which One Fits Your Home?
An acrylic insert is usually faster and cheaper to install, and its smooth surface has few or no seams to clean. A tile shower cos…
Read the guide
What's Behind the Tile: How a Shower Should Be Waterproofed
Tile and grout don't keep water out of your walls. Grout is porous, so every shower pushes some water through it. A properly built…
Read the guideTub-to-Shower Conversion in Bismarck, ND: Cost, Timeline, and What to Expect
In a lot of Bismarck and Mandan homes, the tub is the least-used fixture in the house. Nobody has taken a bath in years, the tub w…
Read the guide
Walk-In Shower Sizes: Dimensions, Entry Options and Glass Choices
A walk-in shower is a shower you step straight into, with no tub wall to climb over. It has a low curb or no curb at all, and it's…
Read the guideAging in Place: Bathroom and Shower Upgrades That Make Daily Use Safer
The bathroom upgrades that matter most for aging in place are the ones that help with stepping in, standing, sitting and holding o…
Read the guideReplace Your Old Shower Once: A Custom Tile Shower With Nothing Hidden Behind the Tile
For Bismarck–Mandan homeowners with dark grout, hollow-sounding tiles or a stain on the ceiling below, who have no interest in doi…
Read the guideGetting In and Out of the Shower Shouldn't Take Planning
A low-entry tile shower that doesn't make your bathroom look like a hospital. For Bismarck–Mandan homeowners planning for themselv…
Read the guideBathrooms
How Long Does a Bathroom Remodel Take? A Realistic Timeline
A straightforward prefab shower conversion takes about 2–3 working days once materials are on site, and a broader tub-to-shower co…
Read the guide
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost in Bismarck-Mandan?
What a bathroom remodel costs depends mostly on scope, so instead of one broad range, here are real numbers from recent HHI estima…
Read the guideBasements
What Does It Cost to Finish a Basement in Bismarck-Mandan?
Most cost guides online are national averages built from per-square-foot formulas. They don't know that a basement bedroom in Bism…
Read the guide
Do You Need a Permit to Finish a Basement in Bismarck or Mandan?
Yes. In Bismarck, "Basement Finish" is on the city's list of projects that require a permit, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC wor…
Read the guide
Before You Finish a Basement in North Dakota: Moisture, Radon and Insulation
Only finish a basement that is dry, has been tested for radon, and has a plan for cold concrete walls. Once drywall and flooring g…
Read the guideEgress Window Requirements in Bismarck-Mandan: Sizes, Window Wells and Permits
An egress window (the code calls it an emergency escape and rescue opening) is required in a basement and in every sleeping room, …
Read the guideFlooring
LVP, Tile or Epoxy: The Best Flooring for a North Dakota Basement
For most basement living space, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), including rigid-core versions often sold as SPC, is the best default: it…
Read the guide
Epoxy vs. Polyaspartic Garage Floors in North Dakota: Cost, Cure Time and Winter Installs
Both epoxy and polyaspartic can last in a North Dakota garage, and the prep under the coating matters more than the name on the ca…
Read the guideKitchens
Drywall
Drywall Repair in Bismarck: When to Patch, When to Replace, and What It Costs
Drywall takes a beating in North Dakota homes. Doorknobs punch through it, winter pops nails out of it, and one bad ice dam or slo…
Read the guide
Drywall Cracks in North Dakota Homes: Settling, Frost or Water?
Most drywall cracks in North Dakota homes are cosmetic. They usually come from wood framing that shrinks as it dries, especially d…
Read the guide
What to Fix Before You List Your Home in Bismarck-Mandan
Before you list, fix what a buyer or inspector will notice and question, freshen what looks tired in photos, and skip big remodels…
Read the guideAdditions
General contractor & trust
How to Hire a General Contractor in Bismarck-Mandan: A 7-Step Checklist
To hire a general contractor you can trust, check seven things before you sign: a written scope, an active North Dakota contractor…
Read the guide
How to Check a Contractor's License in North Dakota (and What the Class Means)
North Dakota requires a state contractor license for any job that costs more than $4,000, and you can check one for free on the Se…
Read the guide
How a Remodeling Project Works: From First Call to 12-Month Check-Up
Starting a remodel goes smoother when you know the sequence before you pick up the phone. Below is how a project runs with Hugo Ho…
Read the guideBest Time for Home Remodeling in North Dakota: What to Do Each Season
The best time to remodel in North Dakota depends on where the work happens. Interior projects like showers, bathrooms, basements, …
Read the guideHome Remodeling Warranties: What's Actually Covered (and What Isn't)
A remodel is usually covered by two separate warranties: a product warranty from the manufacturer, which covers defective material…
Read the guide
How to Pay for a Remodel: Cash, Home Equity, Personal Loans and Contractor Financing
Most homeowners pay for a remodel in one of five ways: cash, home equity (a home equity loan or HELOC), a personal loan, financing…
Read the guideRemodeling an Older Home in Bismarck-Mandan: What's Usually Behind the Walls
Plan for a few surprises, and plan for them before demolition starts. Older homes are the norm here. According to the U.S. Census …
Read the guide
Living at Home During a Remodel: How to Protect Your House, Kids and Pets
Most people can live at home during a remodel. What makes it work is a plan agreed before demolition day: a closed-off work zone, …
Read the guide
Contractor Red Flags: How to Avoid Losing Your Deposit in North Dakota
Most lost deposits follow the same pattern: no license check, no written contract, too much money up front and pressure to decide …
Read the guide
Not ready to talk yet? Browse our catalog first.
Showers, bathrooms, basements, kitchens and floors we build, with the options and materials explained in plain English. We send it to your inbox. No calls.
Get your free estimate
Takes about a minute. Our office follows up during business hours; Viktor confirms the visit and the written scope.
Viktor, your general contractor, coordinates your estimate
- Our office follows up during business hours
- Free in-home consultation in Bismarck–Mandan
- Written estimate before any work starts