Top Five Remodeling Projects of 2013

May Is National Remodeling Month!

According to the calendar, spring is here!   Traditionally this is the time of year when those of us in the remodeling industry experience an increase in the number of calls from homeowners.  To honor that trend, the National Association of Home Builders designates May as National Home Remodeling Month.

Remodeling indicators are showing major growth for the future, for the first time in six years, the overall average cost-value ratio, for remodeling projects, has improved, reaching 60.6%. This is up 2.9 points over 2011–12. Harvard University’s Remodeling Futures Program LIRA  report— its Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity — “shows the pace of spending growth is accelerating from an 8.8% rise in the first quarter from the opening three months of 2013 ….to a 20.2% rise for the four quarters of this year vs. all of 2012.”

To celebrate National Remodeling Month and beyond, here are my Hottest Five predictions of what’s going to be heating up the remodeling front for the next year:

Kitchen Remodels

After being on the back burner, kitchen remodels will be making a comeback.  After keeping the heart of the home on life support the last few years, homeowners want to upgrade. Look for them to choose function and style over the huge restaurant style kitchens of the past.

Accessibility

      I know, we’ve heard this story before, but from personal experience I know that the baby boomers are still advancing. In the past, we have made remodeling changes in homes to accommodate the aging in place lifestyle because of necessity. I believe in the future taking accessibility concerns into consideration during the planning phase will become second nature.

Outdoor Living Spaces

A trend that began a few years ago will continue to have appeal. Homeowners are looking to expand their living area beyond the traditional four walls and beyond decks and patios. These spaces have the functionality of an indoor room and all the benefits of being outdoors. This may include better furnishings, fire pits, kitchen areas, even television and audio systems.

Green Remodeling

While green remodeling, as a whole, may not become mainstream, I think energy-efficient updating will continue to expand. Continuing advancements in technology and construction practices make window and door replacement, wall systems and insulation a wise investment for the homeowner.

Interest in sustainable products and materials will continue, mainly when it comes to the easier add-ons such as paints, countertops, lighting, and flooring

Basement Remodels

The Basement Remodel, man cave or not, is still the most cost effective way to add living space. With consumer confidence increasing and the cost versus value for basements being one of the gains for 2013, homeowners will again be looking downward to increase thief living space.

Does Green Remodeling Makes Sense?

Some of us might still remember the '70s version of the green movement. Fueled by an oil embargo, causing a moratorium on natural gas in new housing developments, builders were being forced to examine the meaning of energy efficient housing, many for the first time. I remember watching dome homes, hexagonal and berm homes rising up.  As homeowners struggled to lower utility bills, solar panels and metal pods sprouting from windows became more common. It was during this time spray foam insulation began being used in residential interior and exterior walls. Although this era passed rather quickly, it did forever change the way builders looked at a home’s thermal envelope.
Today’s green movement seems to have sprung more from resource conservation than energy conservation, appearing more sustainable than the 70’s cousin. Today, sustainable design looks more like the house next door than a science experiment gone wrong. Remodelers and the construction industry, as a whole, have become both target and coordinator to meet homeowners' increasing demands for green products and craftsmanship without breaking the budget. 

So How Big is Green Remodeling?

According to a NAHB Remodelers survey:

• 87% of remodelers already incorporate low-emissivity windows into their projects, 70% upgrade existing insulation and 60% install argon gas windows

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•  Over 80% of remodelers use alternatives to dimension lumber to minimize the amount of lumber taken from old-growth forests, such as recycling from previous structures and using engineered lumber

 

• 91% of remodelers use energy efficient windows and 86% install Energy Star® rated appliances.

• 70% of remodelers already incorporate recycled or recyclable materials into their projects.

•   72% of consumers report energy efficient features in a home would influence their purchase decision.

• 61% of consumers would spend more than $5,000 upfront to save on utility costs.

• The U.S. has about 125 million single family homes with the majority built before energy efficiency developments, suggesting a huge market for green remodeling

  

Why Remodelers?

Remodeling a home is the perfect opportunity to incorporate sustainable systems and practices. When working with an existing building, it typically takes fewer resources to make a home more environmentally friendly. Sustainability at its best, capitalizes on the energy and materials that have already been invested into making your house a home.

A holistic approach to green remodeling encompasses indoor air quality, energy conservation, resource conservation, reduced material waste, and the use of products that are best for the environment. Remodeling does not always involve the entire home, with green design, it is easy to pick and choose elements that fit each particular situation and homeowner.

We, as remodeling contractors tend to resist change. A good remodeler wants the best for their clients, during the remodeling process and for years to come. Taking chances on new technologies can carry considerable risk. Remodelers cannot afford to remain on the sidelines much longer; the sustainability movement has gained momentum.
Green remodeling, in its purest form, is about craftsmanship and sustainable building systems. That is where we, the remodeling industry can set ourselves apart