News & field notes
Product news and notes from the job site — how Ask Donnie reads the code, prices the work, and keeps it honest.
Ask Donnie is coming to iPhone, iPad & Android
The construction consultant that knows your local code, cites the exact section, and prices the job is coming to iPhone, iPad, and Android — and it's live on the web today, free to start.
Cost vs. price: how contractors actually put a number on a job
Homeowners see one number; contractors build it from several. Here's the difference between what a job costs and what it's priced at — and why a good estimate shows its work.
What makes a construction estimate defensible
A real estimate isn't a guess with a dollar sign on it. It states its assumptions, its accuracy, and what it leaves out — so the number survives the first hard question.
Do I need a building permit? Start here.
The honest answer is 'ask your building department' — but here's how to think about it, what skipping a permit really risks, and the questions to ask before you start.
Why the same code question has different answers in different towns
Two builders, two correct answers, one question. It's not that one of them is wrong — it's that building codes are local in a way most people don't realize.
How to read a construction estimate without getting lost
Line items, allowances, contingency, markup, exclusions — a quick field guide to the parts of an estimate so you know what you're actually agreeing to.
Change orders done right: keeping a job clean as it changes
Every job changes. The difference between a smooth project and a dispute is how those changes get written down — before the work happens, not after.
Homeowners: how to ballpark a project before you call a contractor
You don't need a contractor to get a rough sense of scope and cost. A little homework up front makes every conversation that follows shorter, cheaper, and more honest.