Costs for Popular Improvements in Atlanta

Not only is Atlanta a business, media, musical, and cultural hub, but its metropolitan area also sports one of the fastest growing populations in the nation. That kind of prosperity is borne out in Atlanta's home improvement industry, where busy is the norm and the booming population is constantly looking for ways to improve the value of their homes and their quality of life. In fact, if you're looking for something to keep you busy now that the holiday season has finally come to an end, the new year ushers in a great time to dive into a little (or large) home improvement project of your own. Here's a list of some of the most popular home improvement projects in Atlanta, along with average costs and project durations garnished both from our own in-house research, and more publicized findings such as Remodeling Magazine's 2006 Cost vs. Value Report. We realize choosing the right project can be a balancing act between your dream remodel and your real-life budget. Hopefully the information that follows gives you a better idea of what to expect so you can make the best decision for you and yours.

The Kitchen Remodel —
Everybody knows that Southerners love their food, and Atlantans apparently aren't any different. How else can you explain an $80,000 kitchen remodel? This is the most expensive kitchen remodel that ServiceMagic.com has recorded as a result of the follow-up surveys we perform on every Atlanta home improvement project that starts as a referral in our system. Of course, based on our in-house data, the average cost of a kitchen remodel in Atlanta is a lot more reasonable, coming in at $16,500, and can be done for as little as $5,000 if your budget is tight. That's pretty much on par with the 2006 Cost vs. Value Report, which puts the average major kitchen remodel in Atlanta at about $53,500, and an average minor kitchen remodel at $17,900.

The Bathroom Remodel —
Any real estate agent in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area will tell you that the two things that sell homes, especially in light of the current real estate downturn, are kitchens and bathrooms. That being the case, if a kitchen remodel sounds a little bit pricey to your ears, it might pay to consider investing in the next best thing. The 2006 Cost vs. Value Report found that an average bathroom remodel in Atlanta ran a little over $12,500. Our own statistics are a little more favorable. Again, drawing our information from actual jobs completed by contractors in our system, our average comes out to $7,500, with a low of $2,500 and a high of $15,000. Anyway you cut it, investing in a bathroom remodel in Atlanta is an excellent move, whether you're looking to improve your home's marketability, or are ready to install that jetted tub you've always dreamed of having in your master bath.

The Basement Remodel —
If kitchens and baths are the reigning king and queen of the remodeling industry, basements are the heir to the throne that they'd be best advised not to turn their back on. Basement remodeling has swept the nation of late, largely because of the fact that it's one of the easiest ways to add valuable square footage to your home without having to invest in a major addition. And while they're a great place to add practical spaces like extra bedrooms and home offices, basements are also excellent places for all those "unnecessary" luxuries that aren't practical in the rest of your home such as billiard rooms, home theaters, and wet bars. Basement remodels don't come cheap, however. While our average sits at $20,500, Remodeling Magazine sets the bar for Atlanta basement remodels quite a bit higher at about $55,000. Your appetite for luxuries and your need for basement waterproofing solutions largely determine whether you can get this job done by dipping into your savings, or whether a second mortgage is in order.

A New Asphalt Roof —
Some home improvements fall into the dream category, others follow necessity. A new asphalt roof is definitely one of the latter. A good roof is your home's first line of defense against the elements, including Atlanta's average precipitation rate of over 50" (the 2007 drought notwithstanding). That being the case, if your roof needs to be replaced, don't put it off. Even a small roof leak can spell major disaster when left unchecked, including water-damaged or rotting roof decking, damaged attic insulation, and mold and fungus problems. How much should you expect to spend? An average asphalt roofing installation in Atlanta, based on our own data, costs $6,500; though smaller jobs can run as little as $2,500 and large ones can cost you upwards of $11,000 before the project is finished.

New Vinyl Siding —
If home siding is on your home improvement radar, look into vinyl for your siding needs. In Atlanta it's the most cost-effective siding material on the market, as well as one of the most durable, best-looking, and maintenance-free alternatives you can purchase. Add to that the fact that new generations of vinyl siding, especially the higher-end lines, no longer suffer from problems such as poor color retention or growing brittle with age, and it's easy to see why going vinyl is an excellent investment for your Atlanta area home. As for average costs, Remodeling Magazine's 2006 Cost vs. Value Report puts the number at about $8,800, while our own data suggests you'll pay around $5,500 for a new vinyl siding installation in the A-T-L.

Exterior House Painting —
If you're looking for a home improvement job that transforms the appearance of your home, protects it from the weather, and does so at a fraction of the price that the other projects on this list typically cost, think about hiring someone to slap a few coats of new paint on your home. While our numbers show the average exterior paint job in Atlanta runs $6,900, finals costs as low as $1,000 aren't unusual either. Just make sure you get multiple bids and check references before you hire a painter to do the job. Any Joe Schmoe can invest in a pickup truck, a ladder, and a few brushes, whether they know house painting or not. Comparing several different contractors to each other and talking to past clients is the only way to ensure you're going to get the quality paint job you're looking for.

Deck Installation —
Few Atlanta home improvements combine recreation with added "living" space like a new deck addition. A well-conceived deck addition is like adding another room, or floor, depending on the size of your deck, onto your home; especially in a climate like Atlanta's where you'll be able to enjoy your deck virtually year round. You can cut costs by building your deck with pressure-treated lumber, but generally it's worth it to pay for proven decking materials like redwood or newer composite lumbers. It won't be cheap, our average for a new deck runs $6,500, while Remodeling Magazine's figures run about twice that amount, but it's the difference between a deck that will last you for a lifetime, and one that you're going to have to tear out in as little as a decade if you're not ultra diligent about keeping up on maintenance.

Replace Windows —
Replacing old windows with energy-efficient models is too often considered a home improvement best left to colder climates. The truth is that your AC in Atlanta runs up energy bills faster than a forced air furnace ever could. Energy-efficient AC models can help reduce that cost some, but your best battle against exorbitant summer electric bills is replacing your old windows with new energy-efficient designs. Multiple panes, multiple glazings, low e-coatings, reflective coatings, insulated frames, and gas fills between panes can reduce your summer cooling costs by up to 30 percent; they're no slouch in winter either, when heating bills can go up to 40 percent. While the average cost of $5,900 for replacing windows in Atlanta isn't cheap, these kinds of savings make this one home improvement that pays itself off in pretty short order.

Whether one of these home improvements caught your eye, or if you've got something else in mind, remember that late winter and early spring are great times to dive into home improvement in Atlanta. Contractors are more readily available right after the holidays than just about any other time of year, and you won't have to compete with other homeowners during the spring and summer home improvement rush. Get in touch with the appropriate contractor, or better yet several of them, to get some bids and get the gears turning on your new Atlanta home improvement.