About

Home Repair Ledger is an independent reference site about the expensive parts of owning a home: roofs, windows and doors, siding and gutters, heating and cooling systems, water heaters, insulation, basements, and foundations.

Every guide answers the same practical questions: What does this typically cost? How long does it last? When is repair the smarter choice, and when is replacement? What drives the price up or down? Where we can, we give you the arithmetic so you can adapt the numbers to your own home.

How we build our numbers

We do not copy price ranges from other cost websites. Our estimates are built from public sources: manufacturer and retailer list prices for materials and equipment, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the trades involved, published efficiency and energy-use data from the U.S. Department of Energy and EPA, and the actual text of tax rules and building codes. When an estimate depends on an assumption — typical hours of labor, waste factor, regional multiplier — the assumption is stated next to the number so you can change it.

Estimates are estimates. Real quotes vary by region, contractor, season, and the condition of your home. Always get multiple written quotes for any major project.

What we cover

• Roofing, windows, doors, siding and gutters — replacement cost, material comparisons, expected service life.
• Heating, cooling and hot water — furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners, mini splits, water heaters: sizing, efficiency ratings, and what replacement actually costs.
• Insulation, basements and foundations — insulation R-values and payback, waterproofing, sump pumps, foundation and crawl space repair.

Who runs this site

Home Repair Ledger is published by Jerome Lee. We are not a contractor, and we do not sell installation services or leads. Read our Editorial Policy to see exactly how content is produced and checked, and contact us if you find an error.