GE Appliances recently announced a major investment in manufacturing in the U.S. A $1 billion transformation is coming to Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky. The company says the investment will bring an estimated 4,700 production jobs to the facility. Targeting Buildings 1, 2 and 5 in Appliance Park, GE plans to expand the capabilities of production. With this investment, GE’s Appliance Park will become America’s largest home appliance manufacturing site. The company reported it will continue to produce millions of refrigerators at its Decatur, Alabama plant and in Selmer, Tennessee. “We’re…
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Why the largest generation is choosing to stay and renovate
Baby boomers, ranging from 60 to 80 years old, are America’s largest group of both homeowners and homebuyers. According to recent Redfin data, this generation holds nearly twice the share of large homes compared to millennial families with small children, but the reasoning is not what we would expect. Baby boomers are choosing to stay in their homes and upgrade due to an increase in multigenerational living. With rising economic costs, a difficult job market and a competitive housing economy, young adults are either struggling to move out of their…
Read MoreConstruction jobs increase in 28 states
In 2026, seasonally adjusted construction employment rose in 28 states from June to July. According to the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC) analysis of BLS data from Aug. 21, Illinois added the most construction jobs during this time period, at 3,200 jobs. Ohio led closely behind with 3,000, followed by California with 2,900, Florida with 2,900 and Louisiana with 2,300. For the first seven months of 2026 combined, compared to January-July 2025, the value of construction starts, not seasonally adjusted, climbed 5.9% year-to-date (YTD). However, residential starts decreased 17%…
Read MoreSmall metros carry weight of homebuilding activity
According to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Home Building Geography Index (HBGI), single-family construction declined across nearly all major metros in Q2 2026. The data reported that densely populated metro counties continued their fifth quarter of decline and fell 13.9%. However, the decline was not as steep compared to the previous quarter’s 15.8%. The smaller markets, noted as outlying counties in small metro areas and the microcounty, saw improvements. The outlying counties in small metro areas grew for the first time in a year, posting a reasonable 0.9%…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Silver Oak Remodel
Silver Oak Remodel transformed a dark home with a segmented floor plan into a warm, open retreat. The result is filled with natural light, thoughtful craftsmanship and timeless design. Located in Brookfield, GA, the original home’s layout offered little light, limited storage, and poor flow for the clients. The clients hoped for an open layout that encouraged visibility and improved daily function. The remodeler created a design direction centered on clean lines, warm textures and simplicity. To enhance functionality, more storage was added throughout the space. Each piece of custom cabinetry…
Read MoreFrom Dark to Dynamic
Second Time Around speaks to a flawless revamp and a larger industry trend The story behind Second Time Around reflects a larger trend in America and the remodeling industry: the silver tsunami. More than 70 million Americans are now aged 65. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, this demographic holds the cards in the housing market and is divided on aging in place, downsizing and some even upsizing. As baby boomers head towards their next chapter, the building and design industry prepares for this monumental shift in consumer demand. …
Read MoreRC Interview: Lisa Sallstrom, CEO, NARI
In the fall issue of Residential Contractor, Sallstrom discusses her goals as CEO, 2026 takeaways and outlook Residential Contractor: You assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) on June 30, 2026. Please describe your career journey leading up to your role as CEO. Lisa Sallstrom: I’ve spent more than 20 years in association leadership, much of that focused on strategy, membership, professional development, certification and organizational growth. Prior to joining NARI, I spent many years with the Association for Supply Chain…
Read MoreConstruction job openings rise to 326,000 in July
Construction sector jobs increased again in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. However, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis is skeptical that a majority of the work is in residential construction. The positive is that construction jobs are up more than the previous month, at 326,000 in July compared to the June increase of 298,000. Notably, July’s postings are stronger than last’s year’s numbers of 305,000 jobs. Hiring in July increased from 3.8% to 4.4% and layoffs plateaued at 1.9%, while the…
Read MoreWhy you should join our free live webinar
In today’s housing market, general contractors and remodelers face a persistent dilemma: how to scale revenue without stretching their existing businesses past their limits. The answer increasingly lies in targeted, high-margin residential niches, none more lucrative right now than bathroom remodeling. Driven by accelerating aging-in-place demand and a national shift toward practical home upgrades, bathroom renovations offer swift turnarounds and reliable profit margins. Yet entering or expanding within this category without a clear blueprint can quickly lead to operational friction and costly missteps. That is why the upcoming Lunch &…
Read MoreHomeowners prioritize smart upgrades over design trends
While design trends come and go, one theme remains: Homeowners are prioritizing upgrades that have long-lasting value. Rather than chasing aesthetic trends, contractors, designers and remodelers are recognizing a growing sense of urgency for functional, practical renovations among their clients. Flexible spaces are replacing single-purpose rooms as more homeowners work from home or need rooms that can be adapted into guest rooms. The kitchen remains one of the strongest places to invest, but the trend is less about oversized features and more about better function. Homeowners are choosing deeper drawers,…
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