Home improvement is the remodeling, altering, renovating, repairing, or restoring of any part of the interior or exterior of a residential building. It also includes the construction of structures attached to or forming part of a residential building, such as a deck, patio, fence, garden shed, or garage. Home improvement is an important industry that provides many jobs and stimulates the economy. In addition, it can improve a home’s value and provide a great deal of satisfaction to its owners.
Before beginning any home improvement project, it’s important to evaluate the need and determine how much a project will cost. This is particularly true with larger projects such as adding an extension or converting the attic into living space. It’s also a good idea to find out what the return on investment will be, as this can help you decide whether the work is worth the cost.
Increasingly, people are turning to DIY (do-it-yourself) projects to save money and get the look they want. This trend has been encouraged by the popularity of home improvement shows on television and the availability of easily-to-use, affordable tools and supplies at local hardware stores. In addition, women have increasingly participated in the traditionally male dominated realm of home improvement. By the late 1990s, for example, advertisements for power tools began to portray female homeowners performing carpentry work and suggesting that DIY projects are a suitable leisure activity for couples or the whole family.