2009's 5 Best Remodeling Ideas

1. Replace Your Siding
Though hardly the most glamorous project in the home improvement world, upgrading your siding remains a powerhouse when it comes to resale value and overall home efficiency. Despite the economic woes 2008 will be remembered for, Remodeling Magazine's annual Cost vs. Value Report tells us that siding replacement is still returning 80% or more of construction costs and is one of the only projects to actually increase in value from last year.

Insider Tip: Not all sidings are created equal. The most impressive resale values in siding over the past year were attached to foam-backed vinyl and fiber-cement.

2. Install Metal Roofing
While asphalt shingles remain the most common roofing material in the country, HomeAdvisor.com (a nationwide resource matching homeowners to contractors in their area) reports that requests for metal roofing increased dramatically over the past two years. Up from 10,974 requests in 2006 to 18,563 in 2008, homeowners are beginning to understand just how good a balance of affordability and durability metal roofing offers.

Interesting Note: While metal roofing is generally more expensive than its asphalt competition, HomeAdvisor's numbers show that this isn't always the case, with a significant number of metal roofing installations coming in at under $6,000!

3. Build a Deck
Anyone in the industry will tell you: if you want your improvements to have good resale value, they must appeal to a broad range of potential buyers. Since decks are one facet of a property that just about anyone (presently residing in the property or potentially purchasing the property in the future) will find a way to enjoy, it's no surprise that they are such a popular remodeling choice. HomeAdvisor.com's requests to build a deck have risen from 27,115 in 2006 to 48,272 in 2008, and as the desire to relax or entertain outdoors isn't likely to dwindle, we wouldn't be shocked to find that number increase this year!

Durable Deck Options: Your typical wood deck has a life expectancy of about 15-20 years if properly maintained. Materials that are newer to the market like vinyl, composite, and tropical hardwood can extend your deck's lifespan and require less maintenance, but can get expensive quickly and may not be appropriate in all situations.

4. Minor Kitchen Remodels
Kitchen remodels are probably the most widely desired project in the home improvement world, but the high cost of this sort of major renovation can be a real turn-off in the current economic environment. However, Remodeling Magazine informs us that smaller kitchen renovations still return nearly 80% of their construction costs! Minor upgrades to your kitchen can make preparing food (and cleaning up afterward) more convenient, and can encourage eating in more often, which means less expense for you!

Thinking of Selling? In an October presentation in Syracuse, NY, HGTV's John Giddings recommends small improvements like changing cabinet hardware, installing new faucets, and updating lighting fixtures to give your home an attractive new look at a fraction of the cost of an extensive remodel.

5. Fix Your Furniture
HomeAdvisor's furniture re-upholstery requests rose from 6,346 in 2006 to 17,853 in 2008 and requests for furniture repair rose from 8,084 to 19,952. Why the marked increase? The fact is that repairing or re-upholstering your existing furniture is not only less expensive than replacing it, it's an eco-friendly way to help reduce waste, as well! As household budgets fall under heavier scrutiny, it just makes sense to get the most from what you already have. In 2009, fixing what you've got can be the key to both a better-looking, more comfortable home AND a reduction in household spending!

Before you repair, make sure your furniture is worth fixing! The market is full of inferior products that are meant to be somewhat disposable; paying a few hundred bucks to fix a piece that will be around for another 50 years is certainly a good investment, but if that sofa was built to be replaced, you could be throwing good money at a bad investment!