Home improvement is the process of renovating and upgrading a residential property. These projects may include adding or repairing rooms, installing new furniture or appliances, landscaping and building structures such as decks, patios, sheds and fences, and making improvements to the home’s exterior such as painting, resurfacing the driveway, or replacing the roof. Other home improvements may include improving the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Home improvements can be expensive, but they often have a high return on investment, especially in the long run.
For example, a homeowner can improve the value of their house by adding a kitchen extension or by remodeling an old bathroom. However, home improvements should be done with care to avoid overspending. It is a good idea to get an estimate before starting any project and to pay attention to the cost of materials. Moreover, it is important to choose the right contractor for the job.
As a result of the popularity of home improvement shows such as Bob Vila’s This Old House and Trading Spaces, many people have chosen to take on DIY (do-it-yourself) projects. This shift has helped to blur the distinction between the traditionally male realm of home improvement (carpentry work) and the largely feminine spheres of interior decorating and design. As a result, the market for power tools has expanded and women have become just as involved in the improvement of their homes as men. Gelber, Steven. Hobbies: Leisure and the Culture of Work in America. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. Goldstein, Carolyn M. Do-It-Yourself: Home Improvement in 20th-Century America. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1998.