Home improvement

Home improvement or home renovation is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home. Often, a professional handyperson is hired to perform the improvements but, typically, most improvements are done on an amateur DIY basis by the homeowner.
The sitcom Home Improvement used the home improvement theme for comedic purposes. American cable channel HGTV features many do-it-yourself shows, as does sister channel DIY Network and the competing Discovery Home.
Contents
Types of home improvement
While it most often refers to building projects that alter the structure of an existing home, home renovation can include improvements to lawns and gardens and outbuildings like gazebos and garages.
Home improvement projects generally have one or more of the following goals:

Beautification and added features
Wallpapering and painting walls or installing wood panelling.
Adding new flooring such as carpets, tiling, linoleum, wood flooring, or solid hardwood flooring.
Upgrading cabinets, fixtures, and sinks in the kitchen and bathroom.
Replacing siding and windows
Improving the backyard with sliding doors, wooden patio decks, patio gardens, jacuzzis, swimming pools, and fencing.
Comfort
Upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC)
Increasing the capacity of plumbing and electrical systems.
Waterproofing basements.
Soundproofing rooms, especially bedrooms and baths.
Maintenance and repair
Maintenance projects can include:
Roof tear-off and replacement.
Concrete and masonry repairs to the foundation and chimney.
Repairing plumbing and electrical systems.
Additional space
Additional living space may be added by:
Turning marginal areas into livable spaces such as turning basements into recrooms or attics into spare bedrooms.
Extending one's house with rooms added to the side of one's home or, sometimes, extra levels to the original roof. Saving energy
Homeowners may reduce utility costs with:
Energy-efficient insulation, windows, and lighting.
Renewable energy with biomass pellet stoves, wood-burning stoves, solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal exchange heat pumps (see autonomous building)

Safety and preparedness
Emergency preparedness safety measures such as:
Home fire and burglar alarm systems.
Security doors, windows, and shutters.
Storm cellars as protection from tornadoes and hurricanes.
Bombshelters especially during the 1950s as protection from nuclear war.
Professional versus do-it-yourself
There are three main approaches to managing a home improvement project: hiring a general contractor, directly hiring specialized contractors, or doing the work oneself.
A general contractor oversees a home improvement project that involves multiple trades. A general contractor acts as project manager, providing access to the site, removing debris, coordinating work schedules, and performing some aspects of the work.
Sometimes homeowners bypass the general contractor, and hire tradesmen themselves, including plumbers, electricians and roofers.
Another strategy is to "do it yourself" (DIY). Several major American retailers, such as Home Depot and Lowes, specialize in selling materials and tools for DIY home improvement. These stores host classes and carry numerous books to teach customers how to do the work themselves.
Home improvement industry
Home or residential renovation is a $300 billion industry in the United Statesand a $48 billion industry in Canada The average cost per project is $3,000 in the United States and $11,000-15,000 in CanadaThere are several types of companies that contribute to the booming renovation industry. Supply businesses such as Home Depot, Lowes, Home Hardware and Rona Lansing provide all the materials and tools necessary to facilitate home renovations. Media companies such as HGTV, Style at Home and Canadian House & Home offer tips, guidelines and trends give homeowners ideas for design and décor.
Home Improvement Loans
Description: This Home Hardship loan program helps Ontario single-family residences eliminate exterior and interior code deficiencies. The loan is 0% interest, fully deferred due upon sale, transfer of title or certain refinancing. Code deficiencies may include, but are not limited to, roof replacement or repair; replacing or repairing faulty electrical systems and or plumbing; and bringing existing illegal structures up to code.
Conditions / Requirements:
Income must be at or below 65% of the area median income or 80% if located within the focus area Maximum loan amount cannot exceed $50,000Loan-to-value ratio cannot exceed 100% of the after-rehabilitation value
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