Test Your Home Improvement Knowledge

Home Improvement: Renovating and Adding to Your Home

• Home improvement includes renovating or adding to your home's interior, exterior, or property.
• It can be done for personal preference, comfort, maintenance, making a home bigger, saving energy, or improving safety.
• Home improvement projects include building projects, outdoor structures, maintenance, repair, and servicing tasks.
• The goals of home improvement projects are comfort, maintenance, additional space, saving energy, and safety.
• The home improvement industry is worth almost $300 billion in the US and $48 billion in Canada, with an average project cost of $3,000 in the US and $11,000-15,000 in Canada.
• The history of professional home improvement dates back to ancient times, where Sergius Orata invented the hypocaust.
• Renovation contractors are the most important professionals in the industry, with specialized credentials, licensing, and experience to perform renovation services.
• Unlicensed companies exist, but homeowners should verify licenses, insurance, and business references before hiring a contractor.
• Aggregators bundle home improvement service offers and act as intermediary agencies between service providers and customers.
• Popular culture includes television shows such as This Old House and HGTV, as well as movies like The Money Pit and George Washington Slept Here.
• Interior renovation touches on the internal structure of the house and includes wallpaper, furniture settings, lighting, and ceiling construction, among others.
• The decoration construction team must be approved by an established interior design company to guarantee quality.