You’re probably not surprised to hear that “2020 was the year we improved our outdoor living spaces,” according to the 2021 Consumer Practices Survey. The survey results are in, and they are featured in ProBuilder Magazine. The repair and remodeling survey, conducted by Home Innovation Research Labs in the U.S. and Canada, reflects the responses of more than 110,000 households.
Data compiled from this survey show that in 2020, more homeowners focused on remodeling or improving their outdoor living areas than in 2019. The same survey results indicate that outdoor living projects made up a higher percentage of remodeling and repairs than other kinds of home improvement projects. We interpret this to show that homeowners responded to the need to make their outdoor living spaces larger, more comfortable, and more functional during the pandemic.
The types of remodeling and repair projects that increased most from 2019 to 2020 were outdoor living structures like decks, porches, fences, etc. The next greatest increase was in replacing or repairing interior or exterior doors. The third greatest increase was in the category of outdoor accessories, which we often call amenities in conjunction with outdoor living projects Archadeck designs and builds. Examples of these accessories or amenities in the survey results include pergolas, arbors, privacy screens, planter boxes, and benches. Coming in fourth were fireplaces and stoves. As the survey results state, “Fireplaces and stoves, particularly on decks and patios, provide ambience and extend outdoor living into the colder months.”
Following these four categories were sixteen additional remodeling categories that saw increases from 2019 to 2020 at a lower rate than outdoor living projects did. Examples of these categories included closet and garage storage systems, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, etc.
While the survey doesn’t speculate on future home remodeling data, its authors do suggest the 2020 wave of outdoor living construction is likely to continue in 2021. You can read more in ProBuilder Magazine, which references the same study.
We recently saw an article that does predict an increase in future home remodeling in 2021. “New LIRA Suggests Higher Remodeling Growth,” was written by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University and published in Qualified Remodeler magazine. “LIRA” is the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, a report released quarterly by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies. The most recent LIRA predicts a modest increase in growth of home renovation and repair expenditures from 2020 to 2021. How many of those renovation projects will be outdoor living structures? That’s hard to guess. The Joint Center for Housing Studies suggests we will see “more and larger discretionary home improvements this year as the broader economy recovers.” We can reasonably interpret “discretionary home improvements” to include most types of outdoor living projects.
Archadeck of Suburban Boston is Your Outdoor Living Expert
What do these survey results and industry projections mean for homeowners here in Northeastern Massachusetts? It’s likely that, while staying home more during the pandemic, you’ve developed a new appreciation for spending time at home with family. It’s also likely that staying home more during the past year has made you aware of improvements needed to your home’s outdoor living space. If you have outdoor living projects in mind for 2021 – that deck you need to replace or screened porch you want to add – you’re not alone. Many homeowners are experiencing this increased awareness, not just in New England, but around the country.
If you are ready to address your need for more outdoor living space, Archadeck of Suburban Boston is ready to work with you. We are experts in this field, and our expertise extends beyond simply building outdoor living structures. We are also skilled at helping you determine what type of outdoor living space will best meet your needs. Whether it’s a new front porch, deck and screened porch combination, or three-season porch, we can design the space you want. Our goal is to custom design an outdoor living space that will enhance your enjoyment of increased time spent with family.
We are one of the area’s premier outdoor living design and build firms, and our services are always in demand. We usually have a backlog of projects. Given the increase in outdoor living construction during 2020, we anticipate volume increases in 2021 as well. Our advice to homeowners is not to wait. Go ahead and call us to talk about the outdoor project(s) you would like to complete this year. The sooner we can get your custom design underway, the sooner you will be able to enjoy your improved outdoor living space in 2021.
Contact Archadeck of Suburban Boston today to learn more about how we can enhance your home with the perfect outdoor living space for your needs.
Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
Qualified Remodeler and Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies
https://www.probuilder.com/which-home-improvement-projects-did-homeowners-undertake-most-2020
