Field notes
What we've learned on 340 job sites.
Real numbers from our own projects, permit timelines by city, and the questions worth asking any contractor before you sign.
Permit Timelines for All 14 Cities We Build In
Fairhaven takes 8–12 days. Stonegate can take five weeks. Here's the whole table, updated quarterly.
Read →Six Questions That Expose a Bad Contractor Quote
Ask these on the walkthrough. The answers tell you more than any review page will.
Read →Can You Open That Wall? Reading Your 1950s Ranch
Load-bearing, headers, and the engineer's letter — what it costs and when you need one.
Read →Basement Finishing: Dry First, Drywall Second
Every failed basement we've been called to fix skipped the same two steps.
Read →Should You Move Out During a Whole-Home Renovation?
The math on rent versus six extra weeks of schedule.
Read →Cabinet Grades, Explained Without the Sales Pitch
Stock, semi-custom, custom — where the money actually goes.
Read →Get the cost guide
2026 Ridgemont Remodeling Cost Guide
Every project type, real ranges from our own jobs, and the four things that move a price most. No email gate — it's just a PDF.