Core terms

Hard Costs

Core terms · definition

The tangible construction costs — labor, materials, equipment — as opposed to soft costs like design fees, permits, and financing. Hard costs are the bulk of a remodel budget.

Source: Investopedia — Hard Cost

  • Permit

    Official jurisdiction authorization to perform regulated work, triggering required inspections. Unpermitted remodels can force teardown,…

  • Hazard

    A condition or activity with potential to cause harm — electrical, structural, dust, fall, or material (lead, asbestos). Identifying haza…

  • Grout

    The material that fills and seals joints between tiles. Sanded, unsanded, and epoxy grouts differ in durability and stain resistance — ep…

  • Header

    A horizontal structural member spanning the top of an opening (door, window, cased opening) that transfers the load above around the open…

  • Grading

    Shaping the ground around a structure so water drains away from the foundation. Poor grading is a leading cause of basement and crawl-spa…

  • Inspection

    A code official's review of work at defined stages (rough-in, framing, final) to verify compliance before the next phase can proceed. Fai…

  • General Contractor (GC)

    The party responsible for the overall project — scheduling, hiring and managing subcontractors, pulling permits, and delivering the finis…

  • Insulation

    Material that resists heat flow, rated by R-value, installed in walls, ceilings, and floors. Opened walls are the opportunity to upgrade…

Where this term fits in a remodel

The pillar guides set terms like this one in context — what the work involves, what drives its cost, and where it sits in the sequence of a project. Pricing a specific house takes a defined scope and an on-site assessment.

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