The kitchen is king when it comes to making an impact on a home’s identity. Few other spaces in a home can even come close to the significance of the kitchen—making it truly the “heart of the home.”
But having a beautiful bathroom is just as, if not more important for many home owners. In fact, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), bathrooms overtook kitchens as the most popular remodeling project.
Earlier this year, NAHB released the survey results, which rank the most common remodeling projects from the previous year. While many of the top projects have remained consistently popular over the years, kitchens and bathrooms continue to jockey for the top spot.
“Small-scale renovations are slowly becoming just as popular as large-scale projects, as seen with bathroom remodeling becoming more common than kitchens,” said 2018 NAHB Remodelers Chair Joanne Theunissen, CPG, CGR, a remodeler from Mt. Pleasant, Mich. “Home owners are finding cost-effective and shorter-timeframe upgrades not only add comfort to their homes, but they also add value.”
Topping the List
Among the remodelers who participated in the survey regarding the projects they completed within the last year:
- 81% did bathroom remodeling
- 78% did kitchen remodeling
- 49% did whole house remodeling
- 37% did room additions
- 30% did window/door replacements
Rounding out the top 10 list of common remodeling jobs were: building decks, repairing property damage, finishing basements, performing general handyman services, and replacing or repairing roofs.
Going ‘Green’ is Key
While remodeling is commonly associated with kitchens and baths, demand for green upgrades continues to swell in many areas of the country as home owners seek to save on utility costs, improve air quality and increase the value of their homes.
An additional survey by NAHB Remodelers showed that high-performing, low-emissivity (Low-E) windows are the most common green-building product installed by residential remodelers. Programmable thermostats and high-efficiency HVAC systems also ranked highly among the most common green products used.
Home remodeling projects continue to be a popular alternative for those who aren’t yet ready to buy a new home, as well as for senior home owners who prefer to stay in their current home. For these consumers, there are a wide variety of modifications that came make their home safer and more comfortable.
The possibilities you have to remodel your home are endless. Check our list of member professionals at www.FindTheHomePros.com to find a qualified professional in the Rochester, NY and Finger Lakes Region. Or search for a local NAHB member in your area at NAHB.org.
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