With the latest release of the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies indicating a softer remodeling market in 2026, some metros are expecting the opposite. With aging housing stock driving new owners to remodel and a need for age-in-place remodeling needs, cities like Austin, Texas, Raleigh, N.C., Nashville, Tenn., Phoenix, Ariz. and parts of Florida may actually see remodeling growth outperform the national average. While the remodeling industry should not expect the same boom present during the pandemic, practical upgrades are always needed…
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Remodeling growth outlook in 2026
According to the latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) from the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, annual spending on improvements and maintenance to owner-occupied homes is expected to gradually slow through 2026. The LIRA predicts that year-over-year growth in home renovation and repair spending will be 2.9% early this year before easing to 1.6% growth by the end of the year. “Single-family home sales and permitting activity have picked up modestly from very low levels, which should support a nominal increase…
Read MoreHome improvements result in higher construction spending
Private residential construction spending was up 1.3% in October, rebounding from a 1.4% decline in September 2025, and was primarily driven by increased spending on home improvements. Despite the increase, total spending remained 1.3% lower than a year ago in response to navigating economic uncertainty, stemming from ongoing tariff concerns and elevated mortgage rates. According to the latest U.S. Census construction spending data, single-family construction spending declined 1.3% in October, consistent with the soft builder confidence reflected in the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Compared to a year ago,…
Read MoreRemodel of the week: One Coast Design
The design team from One Coast Design remodeled the Coburn Hutchinson House in Summerville, S.C. The home is a rare surviving example of Charleston Single-style architecture, with one particular space standing out among the rest: The Blue Bathroom. Tucked into one of the home’s original guest suites and accessed through a set of original French doors off the piazza, the bathroom was transformed from a utilitarian clockroom into a vintage and period-accurate spa room. Michelle Sauter, lead designer at One Coast Design and owner of the Coburn Hutchinson House, described…
Read MoreRemodel of the week: Neil Kelly
The design team from Neil Kelly remodeled a kitchen in Gresham, transforming its outdated design into a more contemporary one that balances with transitional warmth. Tawni Peterson from NK worked as the Design Consultant on the project, leading a team also from NK. The clients knew they wanted to remodel the kitchen when they originally moved into the home a few years ago, envisioning a more open and airy kitchen. The team faced structural challenges during the initial walkthrough, noting that the existing vertical stick framing was not adequate to…
Read MoreUsing AI technology in the remodeling industry
Danny Fisher, the Chief Technology Officer at West Shore Home oversees one of the largest bathroom remodelers in the country with over $1 billion annual revenue. Fisher gives his insights on how he utilized AI technology when he started at West Shore and how it revolutionized the workflow and scale of business. As any remodeler knows scoping is the hardest part of scaling home remodeling, relaying the client’s needs while balancing cost, labor and timelines can take years to manually understand. Yet under Fisher’s experience AI can simultaneously check inventory…
Read MoreRemodeling Market Sentiment increased in Q4 2025
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released their NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter, showing growth and stability in the market. The survey increased four points compared to Q3 at a 64. This survey takes an average of the Current Conditions Index and the Future Indicators Index. The Current Conditions Index takes into account the current market for small, medium and large projects and averaged a 71. While the Future Indicators Index surveys incoming inquiries and backlog of projects. This index increased four points from…
Read MoreRemodel of the week: Bishop Studio
The design team from Bishop Studio remodeled and preserved the midcentury model style ranch for the first time since construction in 1966. The original construction was led by renowned architect and close friend of Frank Lloyd Wright, Don Erickson. The team from Bishop Studio includes designers Jennie Bishop, Natalie Fantozzi and Veronica Callahan who took on the project in Winnetka, Ill. The clients were a young couple with two young children. The studio’s vision was to modernize without sacrificing original charm and warm feel. This is executed by a balance…
Read MoreResidential remodeling averages across the U.S.
The national average of remodels across the U.S. is $149,470. For residential contractors the price of labor, building materials and complexity of the project all factor into the end result. Oklahoma is 32.9% below the national average for remodeling, with an average of $100,114. While this is attractive for clients, it could also indicate that profit margins are tighter for remodelers. Large projects such as home additions in the state average at $5,889. Following Oklahoma, Arkansas’s average is $104,634, 29.9% below the national average. A home addition averages at $6,155.…
Read MoreRemodeler weighs in on 2026 trends
Mark Philben, project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge, Mass., weighs in on the upcoming trends in residential remodeling. While color of the year indications lean towards neutral and earthy tones, Philben expects bold colors to shine on walls and trim. He explained the client tendency as high to want painted cabinets with rich colors and accented trim along built ins. Energy efficiency is also a priority in the remodeling sector. “Energy efficiency is paramount in everything we install, whether it’s lighting/electrical, heating and cooling, or even water-saving plumbing…
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