Case studies
14 jobs across 7 trades, written up with the part most case studies leave out: what we found when we opened it up, and what that changed.
Every budget here is a band rather than a figure. Two kitchens of the same size in the same street can differ by half, and a number quoted out of context is a number that will be held against us.
PLUMBMorrisville, NC
Tankless water heater and gas line upgrade in Morrisville
A failed tank heater replaced with a tankless unit, which needed a resized gas line and a new vent before it could work at all.
- Duration
- Under a week
- Budget band
- $5,200 to $6,800
- Completed
HVACWake Forest, NC
Heat pump changeout and duct repair in Wake Forest
A failed twenty year old heat pump replaced, with the attic ductwork sealed and two runs resized rather than reused as found.
- Duration
- Under a week
- Budget band
- $13,000 to $16,000
- Completed
CARPHolly Springs, NC
Built-in library wall in Holly Springs
A full wall of white oak shelving either side of a fireplace, engineered for a heavy book load rather than for a photograph.
- Duration
- 3 weeks
- Budget band
- $14,000 to $19,000
- Completed
ELECCary, NC
EV charger and garage rewire in Cary
A level 2 charger installed without the panel upgrade two other companies had insisted on, plus a garage lighting and outlet rewire.
- Duration
- Under a week
- Budget band
- $3,800 to $5,400
- Completed
HVACFuquay-Varina, NC
Two-system AC replacement and humidity fix in Fuquay-Varina
A house that never dried out in summer, fixed with correctly sized equipment, sealed ducts and a whole-home dehumidifier.
- Duration
- One week
- Budget band
- $15,000 to $19,000
- Completed
OUTDOORApex, NC
Cedar deck and pergola replacing a failed deck in Apex
A twenty year old pressure-treated deck with rotten framing replaced with cedar, cable railing and a pergola over the dining end.
- Duration
- 3 weeks
- Budget band
- $32,000 to $40,000
- Completed
BUILDCary, NC
Full kitchen remodel in Preston, Cary
A closed 1990s kitchen opened into the dining room, with a load-bearing wall removed and a new beam carrying the span.
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Budget band
- $45,000 to $60,000
- Completed
OUTDOORClayton, NC
Paver patio, seat wall and fence line in Clayton
A cracked and settling concrete slab replaced with a bluestone paver patio on a rebuilt base, plus a cedar privacy fence.
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Budget band
- $24,000 to $31,000
- Completed
PLUMBGarner, NC
Whole-house repipe in an occupied home in Garner
Failing polybutylene supply pipe replaced with PEX through a crawlspace and two storeys, with the family living in the house throughout.
- Duration
- One week
- Budget band
- $11,000 to $14,000
- Completed
ROOFRaleigh, NC
Hail claim and full roof replacement in Five Points, Raleigh
A hail-damaged roof documented plane by plane for an adjuster, then torn off and replaced in four working days.
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Budget band
- $18,000 to $24,000
- Completed
BUILDDurham, NC
Unfinished basement turned into a family room in Durham
A damp storage basement dried out, insulated, conditioned and finished as a family room with a full bathroom rough-in.
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Budget band
- $52,000 to $68,000
- Completed
ROOFChapel Hill, NC
Overnight roof leak stabilised in Chapel Hill
An ice storm drove water through failed skylight flashing at night, and an emergency crew stabilised it before the ceiling came down.
- Duration
- Under a week
- Budget band
- $1,800 to $2,600
- Completed
CARPRaleigh, NC
Shop-made cabinetry for a 1938 house in Hayes Barton, Raleigh
Inset face-frame cabinetry made in our shop and scribed to plaster walls where nothing is plumb, square or level.
- Duration
- 5 weeks
- Budget band
- $19,000 to $25,000
- Completed
ELECRaleigh, NC
Fuse panel to modern service, plus a standby generator, in Raleigh
A sixty year old fuse panel replaced with a modern service and a standby generator on an automatic transfer switch.
- Duration
- One week
- Budget band
- $12,000 to $16,000
- Completed
Yours would start with a visit
Every job above started with somebody looking at the actual house. Estimates are free and the person who writes yours is the person who will run it.