Home repair in Detroit, MI

Detroit homes at a glance

Median year built

1947

Built before 1960

78%

Built since 2000

4%

Owner-occupied

50%

Median home value

$83,900

Main heat

Gas, 80%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates

What Detroit’s housing means for repairs

Detroit is a city of brick and frame houses built for factory workers, and about 78% of homes went up before 1960. The median build year is 1947, and only 4% of homes are newer than 2000. Detached houses make up 64% of the stock, almost all with basements, original or aging electrical service, and cast iron or clay sewer lines running to the street.

Half of homes are owner-occupied, and the median home value is $83,900, so many owners weigh each repair against what the house is worth. Gas heats 80% of homes, which means a furnace or boiler in the basement next to a gas water heater. Old service masts, fuse boxes and two-prong outlets are common findings on inspections.

Weather that wears on Detroit homes

Detroit has cold winters, humid summers and lots of freeze-thaw swings in between. Water that soaks into brick, mortar and concrete steps freezes and pushes them apart, so porch steps and chimneys crumble. Heavy summer storms overwhelm the city's combined sewer system, and the 2021 floods filled thousands of basements with sewage. Ice and snow load gutters and roofs each winter. Humid summers make basements damp, and older homes with no cooling lean on window units that stress old circuits.

Common repairs in Detroit

• Basement sewer backup and drain repair

  Storms overload combined sewers, and old clay and cast iron lines crack or fill with roots.

• Old wiring and outlet upgrades

  Prewar homes still have ungrounded outlets, cloth wiring and overloaded circuits.

• Furnace and boiler repair

  Gas furnaces and boilers in basements are often decades old.

• Brick porch steps and stoops

  Freeze-thaw loosens bricks and cracks the concrete on front steps.

• Electric service mast and meter

  Weathered service entrance cables and masts get flagged when the utility pulls the meter.

What these repairs cost

The middle half of Runhome repair estimates nationwide for each kind of job. Your price depends on the scope of the work.

Fix guides for Detroit homeowners

• Sewage backs up into the basement floor drain

  Detroit's combined sewers back up into basement floor drains during heavy summer storms.

• Bricks on the porch steps are loose, missing or crumbling

  Freeze-thaw cycles loosen the brick steps found on many Detroit bungalows and colonials.

• Service entrance cable is cracked and the meter has been pulled

  Old service entrance cables on prewar Detroit homes crack and get flagged when the meter is pulled.

• Outlet is dead or the breaker trips when you plug in an appliance

  Window AC units and space heaters overload the old circuits in many Detroit homes.

• Mice keep getting in through holes and gaps in the walls

  Mice come in through gaps in brick and old foundations as the weather turns cold.

Seasonal checklist

Spring

Test your sump pump and backwater valve, and clear the basement floor drain before storm season.

Summer

During heavy storms, avoid running washers and dishwashers so the sewer has room to drain.

Fall

Have the furnace or boiler serviced and check the chimney liner and mortar before heating season.

Winter

Keep gutters clear of ice and shovel snow away from basement windows.

Common questions

How do I stop my Detroit basement from flooding during storms?

A backwater valve on the sewer line stops street water from coming back into the house, and a working sump pump handles groundwater. Disconnecting downspouts from the sewer also helps. A plumber can scope the line first to check for cracks or roots.

Does a 1940s Detroit house need a new electrical panel?

Often, yes, if it still has a fuse box or a small panel with no room for new circuits. The cost depends on the amperage you need, the condition of the service mast and whether old wiring has to be replaced too.

Is it worth fixing crumbling brick steps instead of replacing them?

If the base is solid, a mason can reset loose bricks and repoint the joints. If the concrete underneath has cracked or settled, the steps usually need to be rebuilt.

Neighborhoods served

• Corktown
• Midtown
• Indian Village
• Boston-Edison
• Palmer Woods
• Rosedale Park
• Bagley
• West Village

Other Michigan cities

• Home repair in Grand Rapids
• Home repair in Rochester Hills
• Home repair in Royal Oak
• Home repair in Troy