Kitchen and bathroom remodels have been the most popular home renovation choices since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by The Hanover Insurance Group. The survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Hanover, polled 2,000 U.S. adults.
Seventy percent of survey responders said they underwent a major life change during that time, such as adopting a pet, renovating a home, buying a vehicle, moving or starting a business. Roughly 13 percent said they renovated a home, but didn’t specify if they did it themselves, hired contractors or combined both.
Here were the most popular home improvement projects, according to survey responders:
Kitchen or bathroom remodel
A work-from-home space addition
Roof or siding replacement
Deck or patio addition
Finishing the basement
Being a home insurance agency, much of the focus of Hanover’s study centered around insurance findings. Hanover noted 68 percent of responders “did not know making changes, such as adding pools, trampolines or pets could require changes to their home insurance policies.” Also, 77 percent were “unaware homes above a certain price point may need special insurance coverage.”
Load Error
Home improvement surged in popularity in 2020 as people were forced to spend more time at home to slow the spread of COVID-19. That extra time encouraged many homeowners to renovate their home themselves or hire professionals to upgrade it for them. Those trends appear likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
The real estate market has seen saw a drastic shift since March 2020, with home prices soaring to record highs. Many homeowners capitalized on increased demand and a shortage of available homes for sale.
A recent survey by DeWalt concluded more U.S. homeowners are choosing home improvement over moving, noting that more than seven out of ten homeowners are planning or considering home improvement projects in the next half of 2021. Sixty-four percent of homeowners surveyed are planning projects costing more than $10,000, with 28 percent expecting that figure to exceed $30,000.
Before: Sound Structure, Worn Decking
After: Refreshed Decking Looks Brand New
If your existing deck is old, shabby and a maintenance nightmare, you don’t have to tear it all down and start over. Chances are that the structural parts are still in good shape. If so, you can simply remodel it with new decking, rails and stairs, and save tons of money over the cost of a complete rebuild. Click here for the full deck inspection checklist, as well as detailed wood deck repair steps.
In this story, we’ll show you how to replace worn decking, railings, stairs and several other features. We won’t tear out the basic deck framing. Instead, we’ll describe how to tell if your deck is in good structural shape. We’ll show you how to replace old decking with low-maintenance composite materials and build a new “floating” landing at yard level that expands the deck in an attractive, practical way.
Before: No Space for Relaxing Outdoors
When a deck is inviting, you know it, and here’s one that will definitely draw you outdoors. It’s spacious and attractive. It features large planters to put green plants and flowers close at hand. And it has a versatile railing system that lets you combine solid panels for privacy and open sections for great views and cooling breezes.
We framed the deck with pressure-treated wood, which will last for decades. Then we covered the framing with plastic/wood composite decking and an engineered wood trim, aluminum balusters and fiber cement siding. With these materials your deck will look great for a decade with little more than an occasional cleaning.
After: Amazing, Maintenance-Free Deck
Build this spacious, semi-private deck, which features planters, a handsome railing, low-voltage lighting and a wide range of low-maintenance, durable materials. It’s a big project, but our photos and drawings show you all you need to know to assemble it successfully. Get the full step-by-step plans here.
Before: Unattractive View
After: Perfect Private Hideaway
If you enjoy spending time on your deck but the neighborhood pest seems to pop over every time you step outside, this privacy fence project is for you. It’s designed to gracefully replace sections of your existing railing and make your deck more private. It also blocks unsightly views, reduces outdoor noise and gives you shelter from the wind, making your deck a more comfortable spot on those breezy days that usually drive you inside. We’ll show you how to build this deck privacy fence here.
Before: No Place to Kick Back
After: Space to Relax and Entertain
This deck isn’t huge — about 16 ft. wide x 18 ft. deep plus bays and stairs — but it’s big on features. The upper deck is just the right size for entertaining small groups — spacious but intimate. Cantilevered nooks on both sides provide space for seating and barbecue storage. The pergola shades the upper deck and the home’s interior from the sun, and it offers a space for hanging or climbing plants. The lower deck is a great place to hang out in the sun, while the cascading stairs flow into the yard and provide lots of space for planters and pots. Get the full how-to plans for this project here.
Before: Blah Deck Railing
We’ll show you how to dress up a dull deck with sturdy, handsome railing that provides a wide-open view.
After: Safe, See-Through Deck Railing
Before: No Place to Pass
Add an element of interest as well as a practical way to walk through your backyard with a gravel path. It’s easier to do (and less expensive) than you may think.
Gravel is the easiest to handle and least expensive path material. It feels soft underfoot, but it’s solid enough to handle a loaded wheelbarrow. And although it looks informal, it can complement a formal garden, especially if you add a stone border. Here are several options as well as how-to steps.
After: Pretty Pergola for a Hint of Shade
Build a vine-covered pergola in your backyard to shade a stone patio or wood deck using wood beams and lattice set on precast, classical-style columns. The dappled sunlight created by the overhead latticework creates a cool, relaxing environment perfect for backyard entertaining. Here’s how to do it yourself.
Before: Buggy, Blank Backyard
Are you chased out of your own backyard by mid-summer bugs? Keep scrolling for the ultimate solution to take back your outdoor space!
After: Bug-Free Outdoor Room
You can add a spacious, airy outdoor porch to your home. We’ll show you everything you need to complete the project yourself, including how to frame the porch, attach it to your house and all of the finishing details. Sure, it’ll take a lot of time and work. But once it’s done, you can beat the bugs and spend more time outdoors during the summer. We’ll walk you though how to build it step-by-step.
Before: Wishing for a Water Feature
After: Zen Space, And Less to Mow!
Let us show you how to add this easy-to-build pond and easy-care deck to your garden. This serene retreat can be built by a novice and doesn’t require a lot of expensive tools, yet it offers a unique design. In this article, we’ll show you the plans and techniques needed to construct the pond and deck. All it takes is some digging, simple assembly and this easy-to-follow DIY advice.
Do you want to spruce up an ordinary, all-purpose sidewalk or patch of grass that’s constantly walked on? If so, this project is a great eye-catching solution.
After: Heirloom Garden Pathway
Before: Place for a Patio
Want to put in a patio for outdoor dining? There’s more to think about besides just space. You must consider critical factors such as ground slope, drainage, shade and obstacles like tree roots and underground utility lines.
Add a welcoming feature to your backyard with this attractive, long-lasting brick and stone patio. Our design easily adapts to fit your yard. Choose from a wide variety of stone types and brick styles. The result will be permanent and maintenance-free. Here’s the step-by-step so you can install it in your backyard.
Before: Sloped Site for Stairs
Installing stone steps in your yard can be complex, but it is a doable DIY project. You’ll first need to figure out how many step risers you’ll need. Gentle slopes like ours require short risers and long treads, while steep slopes require taller risers (a maximum of eight inches) and short treads. If your hill has steep and gentle slopes, break it up into sections and calculate the step layout for each area.
After: Natural, Stepping Stone Stairs
Our steps are built on a gradual slope, but by changing the riser and tread sizes you can build them on slopes as steep as about 40 degrees. Rustic steps like these are well suited for informal garden paths like ours, but we wouldn’t recommend them for entry or other steps that get heavy daily use.
Besides basic gardening tools, leather gloves and carpenter’s level, you’ll need a few special tools for breaking and moving stone. Buy a 4-lb. maul to chip and break stone. If you have to cut a few stones, buy a dry-cut diamond blade. To move the stone, rent or buy a two-wheeled dolly with large wheels. Get the full how-to plans for this project here.
Before: Lacking Backyard
You don’t need heavy equipment and a week of work to lay an attractive and durable path. We designed this one for simplicity and ease of construction. It’s made from old street pavers and granite cobbles set on a sand bed. But you can substitute just about any pavers or types of stones that are readily available and fit your landscape.
After: Fantastic Focal Point
Make a simple garden path from recycled pavers or cobblestones set on a sand bed. Learn the details of path building, from breaking cobblestones to easy, fast leveling using plastic landscape edging. Plus: Check out our 40 favorite outdoor woodworking projects for beginners.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
![a person that is standing in the kitchen](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/survey-kitchen-and-bathroom-remodels-are-top-pandemic-projects/"default":"load":"default","w":"80","h":"54","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAMD0gO.img?h=538&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f","size3column":"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAMD0gO.img?h=420&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f","size2column":"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAMD0gO.img?h=420&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f")
More Stories
Transform Your Space with These Kitchen Remodel Ideas
Kitchen Remodel Magic in Small Spaces
Maximize Space with a Kitchen Remodel