Survey: Curb Appeal and ROI Drive Exterior Renovations
Homeowners renovate and remodel their homes for many different reasons, appearance, ease of use, expanding family, return on investment, just to name a few. We wanted to know of all the many reasons for starting a project which ranked as most important to homeowners, as well as their priorities, apprehensions and successes throughout the process. To learn more about the renovation thought process we partnered with Harris Poll to gauge consumer attitudes towards remodeling.
Key findings
The most important factors to completing an exterior home improvement project as ranked by survey respondents:
- Curb appeal (39 percent)
- Return on investment (26 percent)
- Outdoor living (21 percent)
The color conundrum
The survey also supports what we at CertainTeed have known for some time – color is every bit as exciting as it is confusing.
- 40 percent of U.S. homeowners are not confident in their color selection admitting they are not quite sure which colors would work best on the exterior of their homes.
- 11 percent admit to being color “clueless” and don’t know where to begin when selecting colors for their home.
Having spent a lot of time and energy on color science, this is something we understand. We’ve actually built an interactive design center so that homeowners can explore, get inspired and gain confidence in their color selection. The online tool allows users to play around with different design and color combinations of siding, roofing, trim and more. It’s a fun tool to check out even if you’re not in the market for remodeling.
Out of sight, out of mind
Beyond exterior home improvement projects, however, the Harris Poll survey reveals some telling facts about those out-of-sight, out-of-mind renovations that tend to get brushed over.
- One in five U.S. homeowners (19 percent) give little to no consideration to insulation when planning a kitchen remodel or home addition.
- Even fewer – one in four – consider the drywall that goes on their walls.
This is interesting because, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend 90 percent of our time indoors where thermal comfort and air quality matter quite a bit. The good news is by choosing high-performance insulation and formaldehyde-absorbing drywall, homeowners have more control over energy savings and indoor pollutants like mold and VOCs than they may think. It’s always advisable to work with qualified contractors who can speak to these issues and who stock quality brands and products.
Whatever your reason for starting the renovation, all homeowners are looking for a final project they can be proud of and that will meet the needs of their family now and into the future.
