Money, pride motivate home improvements

In the survey, “Why Americans DIY,” 1,000 American homeowners were polled about home improvements. Ninety percent of those polled said they did their own improvements to save money, and 89 percent said they did improvements to add desirable features.

Also in the study, 83 percent of respondents said do-it-yourself projects were a way to add to the value of a home, and 77 percent said the projects enabled them to protect their homes. A feeling of pride was cited by 80 percent of respondents.

Surprisingly, 68 percent of respondents said they would do projects themselves even if they did not save money.

“When folks tackle home projects and can gain benefits that encompass both economics and personal satisfaction, it’s no wonder why we have cable networks like HGTV and DIY today, and that sales of hardware products grew at a compound annual rate of 7 percent from 1998 to 2003,” said national home improvement expert, author Lou Manfredini.

Further compelling evidence of the do-it-yourself phenomenon is portrayed with this research finding: Americans today have an average of eight projects on their to-do lists, an increase from five, or up 60 percent, compared to a 2002 national study commissioned by Ace. Projects that top these lists most frequently involve painting, lawn and garden, and remodeling work.

Painting projects are prompted primarily by Americans’ desires to change the look and feel of the rooms in their homes, cited by 51 percent of respondents. That number doubled the 25 percent of respondents who cited disrepair as a reason to paint walls. Smaller percentages said they paint to keep up with the latest decorating trends (14 percent) or because the room will be used differently (9 percent).

Tranquility best summarizes why millions of people garden, according to the Ace study.

The largest percentage of those polled – 54 percent – said they enjoy their greenery simply by looking at the garden. Some 44 percent reported sitting in the environment and relaxing as their reward.

Four out of 10 respondents indicated great pleasure from harvesting vegetables and fruits for meals.

Benefits from performing lawn care tend to cut more on the practical side.

Two-thirds of respondents said making their home more attractive is a reason for the work, 46 percent cited saving money, and 46 percent said the exercise is beneficial. Yet, a significant percentage, 57 percent, reported they simply enjoy being outside.

More than half said projects they handle themselves to save money include fixing a running toilet (59 percent), repairing a leaky faucet (57 percent), installing a light fixture (51 percent) and maintaining heating and air conditioning equipment (51 percent).

Nearly half tackle light switch or electrical outlet installation (48 percent), clearing a blocked drainpipe (48 percent) and replacing door locks (46 percent).

Ace Hardware Corp. is a retailer-owned hardware cooperative with headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill. Annual retail sales for Ace’s 4,800 hardware, home center and lumber and building materials locations top $13 billion.