Your home is the most significant investment you’ll ever make. But, considering that you’re researching renovations, you already know that. It’s a $407-billion industry because home improvement is a hobby that makes money. What a novel concept!
Enhancing its flooring, painting, putting in new cabinets and countertops, or adding an addition can most definitely increase your home’s value. Where should you start? And should you hire out or DIY? It’s time for a closer look.
Flooring & Hardwood
There’s a reason that the flooring department at your local hardware store is usually busy. It’s because there are so many benefits to upgrading your flooring. It can increase your home’s resale value, revolutionize the look of any room, and reduce your overall heating and cooling costs. Moreover, if you’re replacing carpet with laminate, hardwood, or tile, you can even pass on a bunch of real health benefits to you and your family.
In order to settle on a new flooring upgrade, you’ll need to consider several factors like budget, goals, and the functionality of the room that you plan on upgrading.
Hardwood flooring is certainly the costliest option, but choosing it also grants the most significant positive increase in energy efficiency, health benefits, and property value. Laminate provides the look of hardwood on a much more palatable budget while vinyl is incredibly cost-efficient, durable, and easy to install. If you’re looking to re-do your bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen, opting for tile is favors functionality, cleanliness, and longevity.
Also, you’ll want to keep the room-type in mind as traffic and prospective moisture levels can impact each flooring type differently.
Flooring project costs can range anywhere from $7 per square foot for hardwood to $4 per square foot for laminate. Whether or not you should install it yourself depends on the type of flooring that you choose and your level of comfort with the project overall. One thing is for sure, flooring is one of those renovations that a lot of people tend to do themselves. Though, if you’re considering that route, I’d recommend bringing along a friend who’s done it before or watch a lot of YouTube how-to videos.
Painting & Staining
Painting or staining can add personality, character, and an aesthetic facelift to even the drabbest room in your house. Better yet, it’s easily one of the most accessible DIY improvement projects currently at your disposal.
Painting and staining can be messy and time-consuming though, so you’ll want to be realistic with your availability before you truly dive in. Another thing to consider is the size and type of the room you’re thinking about painting. Not only will those factor into the type of paint you use, but it may change your mind about hiring a pro.
Painting and staining projects can range anywhere between $2 and $6 per square foot.
Cabinets & Countertops
Altering your cabinets or installing a new countertop is the go-to move for anyone looking to revitalize the look and overall functionality of their kitchen. Thankfully, a cabinet and countertop overhaul doesn’t need to mean a complete teardown.
There’s always the option to reface your kitchen by refinishing the surfaces with paint or stain, installing new wood or laminate veneer over existing surfaces, or installing new cabinet doors or door fronts. You’ll want to consider the condition of your current cabinets before deciding to refinish or replace though.
As you’d imagine, the cost depends entirely on which of the aforementioned cabinet facelifts you opt for. In general, the costs based on type are:
- Stock: $100 to $300 per linear foot and $200 to $650+ per unit.
- Semi-Custom: $150 to $650 per linear foot and $250 to $800+ per unit.
- Custom: $500 to $1,200 per linear foot and $500+ per unit.
Much like cabinet renovation projects, countertop improvements are extremely veritable. You can resurface your existing one, or completely replace it with something more your style. Marble, granite, quartz, laminate, solid surface, and tile can all work, though the installation and the costs attributed to each can vary substantially.
Both cabinets and countertops are projects ripe for DIY experimentation. For example, refinishing and resurfacing is certainly a job that’s within the grasp of most average DIYers. On the other hand, replacing your cabinets or countertop outright is usually a complex project and a substantial investment. As such, they warrant a call to a professional.
Additions & Remodels
If you’ve explored all other DIY options and remain unsatisfied but are unwilling to move from your current home or neighborhood, then it may be time to consider adding an addition to your home or remodeling an existing room.
Let’s be honest, there’s only so much change a surface-level renovation project can truly accomplish. Esthetic adjustments can breathe new life into a room, but they’re limited in their ability to create space and increase functionality. If you need more room or are hoping to dramatically enhance the functionality of a particular room, a remodel or addition may be worth another look.
Sadly, these are the sorts of projects where professional help is all but mandatory. It’s also the type of project that can vary substantially as far as the price tag is concerned. Our advice is to shop around, interview the professionals in your area, and try your best to work within the budget that you set for yourself.