Home Projects
Renovations, repairs and what they cost. Material prices, contractor trends and remodeling news — the practical side of keeping and improving a house, with real numbers before you start a project.
Why the Dirt Beneath Your House is Making Headlines
We obsess over kitchen finishes, but collapsing roads and stalled developments prove the real value of a home lies in the dirt beneath it.
The Great Stay-and-Fix: Why We're Painting Cabinets Instead of Moving
High mortgage rates have locked homeowners into their current floorplans, and the massive gut renovation is out. Here's why we're all pivoting to maintenance.
The Envelope Audit: Protecting Your Roof and Your Wallet
Storm season brings aggressive winds and shady contractors. Here's how to check your roof's integrity before your insurance company denies a claim.
The Fall Project Filter: Hidden Discounts and Roofing Traps
Contractors are temporarily eating material price hikes to keep busy this fall, but the window is closing. Plus, why you should never trust a door-knocking roofer.
The Completion Curveball
Looming furniture tariffs and a new push for private well testing are making the final stages of settling into a home a lot more complicated.
The Defensive Renovation
Homeowners are shelving the dream kitchen to play defense. Right now, protecting your equity means fixing the roof and drought-proofing the yard.
The Ground Beneath Your Feet
Coastal driveways are collapsing. 'Forever chemicals' are turning up in the garden. The most urgent home maintenance now involves the soil and water we rely on.
The era of the 'wing it' renovation is over
With new tariffs threatening to spike the cost of appliances and raw materials, making a mistake on your next home project is about to get expensive.
The High Cost of Staying Put
Between a spike in global shipping costs and surprise bills for aging roofs, the price tag for simply maintaining your property is quietly surging.
The New Math of Home Improvement: Tariffs, Tech, and Timelines
A new border tax threatens to spike the cost of lumber. But smarter technology and remote inspections might save you enough on labor to make up the difference.
The High Cost of Breaking Down
Air conditioning repairs are wiping out emergency funds this summer. Now, homeowners are paying up for heavy-duty upgrades and dodging predatory contractors along the way.
The Looming Lumber Tax
You have the equity to renovate. But a brewing border dispute over building materials is about to make major home projects a lot more expensive.
The Professionalization of the American Remodel
With moving off the table for millions, homeowners are trading DIY weekends for serious, high-tech upgrades to their current spaces.
The New Rules of Home Improvement
Between a looming lumber tariff and new 'lawn cop' enforcement in drought zones, upgrading your property is getting complicated.
The Insurance-Proof Renovation
We used to renovate to get our dream kitchen. Today, homeowners are pouring savings into their houses just to keep their insurance from dropping them.
The Great Remodel Reality Check
With mortgage rates keeping buyers locked in place, Americans are fixing up the homes they already have. Here's how to plan a remodel that actually pays off.
The Power Struggle at City Hall
Homeowners are getting squeezed by a strained grid and local permit delays, while neighborhood associations bring their own financial drama.
The Water-Wise Home: Why Defensive Upgrades Are the New Curb Appeal
Whether it's drought in the West or bursting pipes in the East, water is forcing homeowners to rethink their lawns and protect their basements.
Why Curb Appeal Is Losing to Climate Defense
Home maintenance isn't about cosmetic upgrades anymore. It's about survival. Here's why your roof and lawn are suddenly your biggest financial liabilities.
The High Price of Doing Nothing
The major remodeling boom is officially cooling off. But as homeowners shelve their big projects, skipping routine maintenance could cost thousands.