Renology Magazine
Renovation stories with real numbers.
Editorial coverage of the home renovation world: cost shifts, materials, design philosophy, contractor playbooks, and the decisions behind better-built homes.
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Editorial
The 10 Rules of Hiring a Remodel Contractor
Before you compare prices or sign a contract, use these ten rules to evaluate the scope, the payment plan, the experience and the person behind the proposal.
Cost Guide
Prefab ADU in California (2026): What 14 Companies Charge, and What the Price Leaves Out
We read 14 California prefab ADU sellers' own sites. Eleven publish a price, three sell a finished project, one says what the price leaves out.
Editorial
Why Two LA County ADU Quotes Differ
You have three quotes for the same ADU, but the prices are thousands of dollars apart. This guide breaks down where that money goes and what to ask before you sign.
Editorial
Reading a Bay Area Remodel Bid
Three bids for the same project can have a spread wider than the cost of the cabinets. This guide breaks down where the money goes and the questions to ask before you sign.
Editorial
SoCal Home Remodel Costly Mistakes
Three bids for the same project can have a spread wider than the cost of a new kitchen. The reason is rarely the contractor's profit margin.
Editorial
California Home Remodel Contractor Checklist
You have remodel bids in hand, but the numbers are far apart and the details are confusing. This guide covers the critical questions to ask before you choose a contractor for your California home.
Editorial
Bathroom Remodel Quotes Explained
You have three quotes for the same bathroom, but the prices are thousands apart. This guide explains where that difference comes from.
Editorial
OC Bathroom Remodel Hiring
Homeowners in Orange County are changing how they choose a contractor for a bathroom remodel. They are learning that the most detailed bid, not the lowest, often leads to the best outcome.
Editorial
Bay Area Bathroom Remodel Mistakes
Three bids for the same bathroom can have a spread wider than the cost of a car. This guide explains what the numbers mean and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Editorial
How to Compare Three Orange County Kitchen Bids
Three quotes for the same Orange County kitchen can differ by tens of thousands of dollars. Most of the gap is not price. It is scope, allowances and exclusions, written in language that makes three different jobs look like one.
Howto
Accessory Dwelling Unit For Rent in California
A pragmatic contractor's guide to building an accessory dwelling unit for rent in California, covering costs, timelines, permits, and the realities of construction.
Howto
Accessory Dwelling Unit Plans
A step-by-step guide to developing accessory dwelling unit plans in California, from defining your goals and navigating local codes to hiring a team and securing a building permit.
Editorial
How Bay Area Tech Executives Are Remodeling Their Homes for the Next Decade
The most useful ideas have little to do with luxury. Here are five decisions Bay Area homeowners can apply to a kitchen, addition or whole-home remodel.
Real Renovation
Inside a Real San Francisco ADU Build
A San Francisco garage ADU conversion cost $463,000, revealing the true price of seismic upgrades and extensive site work required in the city's dense neighborhoods.
Howto
Accessory Dwelling Unit in California: Cost 2026
Building an accessory dwelling unit in California is a ground-up construction project. This guide breaks down the process from a contractor's perspective, covering costs by region, permits, and the surprises that blow up budgets.
Choose Contractor
Hiring a Bathroom Remodel Contractor in San Diego
A full bathroom remodel in San Diego averages $33k-$55k. Success depends on vetting a contractor's CSLB license and their experience with San Diego's coastal humidity and older home stock.
Editorial
5 Costly Backyard Remodel Mistakes California Homeowners Should Avoid
Pavers, turf and pergolas may be the first things homeowners notice. But the decisions that determine whether a California backyard actually works happen before any material is selected.
City Overview
Kitchen Remodels in Los Angeles: What to Expect
A Los Angeles kitchen remodel costs $66k, $110k (Renology Cost Index, 2026). Costs are driven by LADBS permit requirements, seismic upgrades, and Title 24 energy codes often omitted from initial quotes.
ADUs & Additions
California Garage Conversion Permits: The Real Wait
Garage conversion permits in California, measured. Only 22% of 15,682 Los Angeles permits issued within 60 days of submission, and 1 in 5 never issued at all. These are measured waits from submission, not a compliance rate.
Cost Guide
What Drives Siding Prices in San Francisco
A mid-range fiber cement siding replacement on a 2,000 sq ft San Francisco home costs $45,000 to $75,000 in 2026, with mandatory seismic upgrades and likely dry rot repair adding another $8,000 to $25,000.
Process
How Long Driveway Projects Take in San Diego
A new driveway in San Diego takes 4-10 weeks, with costs from $13,000 to $28,000. The biggest variable is dealing with the region's expansive clay soil, which can add weeks to site prep.
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