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 Home Projects

    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.

    October 11, 2026
    The Great Stay-and-Fix: Why We're Painting Cabinets Instead of Moving Home Projects

    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.

    October 9, 2026
    The Envelope Audit: Protecting Your Roof and Your Wallet Home Projects

    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.

    September 28, 2026
    The Fall Project Filter: Hidden Discounts and Roofing Traps Home Projects

    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.

    September 26, 2026
    The Completion Curveball Home Projects

    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.

    September 19, 2026
    The Defensive Renovation Home Projects

    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.

    September 16, 2026
    The Ground Beneath Your Feet Home Projects

    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.

    September 12, 2026
    The era of the 'wing it' renovation is over Home Projects

    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.

    September 8, 2026
    The High Cost of Staying Put Home Projects

    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.

    September 4, 2026
    The New Math of Home Improvement: Tariffs, Tech, and Timelines Home Projects

    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.

    September 1, 2026
    The High Cost of Breaking Down Home Projects

    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.

    August 28, 2026
    The Looming Lumber Tax Home Projects

    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.

    August 25, 2026
    The Professionalization of the American Remodel Home Projects

    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.

    August 21, 2026
    The New Rules of Home Improvement Home Projects

    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.

    August 17, 2026
    The Insurance-Proof Renovation Home Projects

    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.

    August 13, 2026
    The Great Remodel Reality Check Home Projects

    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.

    August 8, 2026
    The Power Struggle at City Hall Home Projects

    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.

    August 5, 2026
    The Water-Wise Home: Why Defensive Upgrades Are the New Curb Appeal Home Projects

    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.

    August 1, 2026
    Why Curb Appeal Is Losing to Climate Defense Home Projects

    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.

    July 29, 2026
    The High Price of Doing Nothing Home Projects

    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.

    July 25, 2026