The Most Popular Home Renovation Projects by State
On any given day, Americans across the country are undertaking any number of renovations, ranging from projects as simple as applying a new coat of paint to those as complex as a full kitchen remodel. Given our love of browsing the before-and-after photos of a job well done, we began to wonder exactly which projects were most likely to be in the works throughout the country—and where. We reached out to Thumbtack, an aggregator and booking service for professional jobs (think TaskRabbit but only for certified professionals), to learn about the most popular updates, repairs, and revamps across the U.S. With thousands of professionals operating in all 50 states and millions of projects completed since its launch in 2009, the company revealed that the most popular projects for Americans in general are hardwood-floor installations and bathroom remodels. But to decipher the uniquely popular renovation in each state, we had to dig a little deeper. Some of the results may surprise you.
1/51Alabama
Alabamians make more ceramic- and porcelain-tile repairs than residents of any other state. Shown is the tiled bath in an art director's modernist retreat from the AD archives.
2/51Alaska
Alaskans opt for general bathroom remodels. Here, an all-white space by Robert A.M. Stern.
3/51Arizona
Perhaps to combat the desert heat, Arizona residents arrange for shutter installations at a steady rate. This Timothy Corrigan–designed home proudly displays its stately green shutters.
4/51Arkansas
Arkansas's most popular project is deck sealing. The urban deck space shown here was designed by Terry Hunziker.
Denver Post via Getty Images5/51California
Californians engage in an unusual number of sauna repairs.
6/51Colorado
Despite their state's breathtaking natural beauty, residents of Colorado spend lots of time underground: Their most common project is a basement remodel.
7/51Connecticut
Connecticut homeowners will appreciate the flooring in Giorgio Armani's St. Moritz residence (shown): Their preferred project is hardwood-floor refinishing.
8/51Delaware
Delaware residents also install lots of shutters. Here, the shutter-clad stone residence is by G. P. Schafer Architect.
9/51District of Columbia
Residents in the nation's capital opt for staircase repairs. Shown is a spiral-style model in Naeem and Ranjana Khan's residence, designed by Chad Oppenheim.
10/51Florida
Florida homeowners order a lot of glass tiling, like the Loft Horizon tiles from Tile Bar shown here.
Getty Images11/51Georgia
Georgians are commendably eco-friendly: They opt for a high amount of energy-efficient remodels.
12/51Hawaii
Like AD editors, Hawaiians love kitchen islands. Installing one, like the version in Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady's former home, is the state's star project.
13/51Idaho
In Idaho, fire-escape installation is an unusually popular request.
14/51Illinois
It should come as little suprise that residents of Illinois, home to the famous Windy City of Chicago, install plenty of heated floors.
15/51Indiana
Indianans are ahead of the rest of the country in geothermal energy–service installation.
16/51Iowa
Fire-escape maintenance is also quite popular in Iowa.
17/51Kansas
Kansas residents love to stain their decks, with products like Behr's Deckover, available from Home Depot.
Photothek via Getty Images18/51Kentucky
In Kentucky, room splitting is common.
UIG via Getty Images19/51Louisiana
Energy-efficient remodels are popular in the Bayou State.
21/51Maryland
Maryland is another state that opts for geothermal energy services with great frequency.
22/51Massachusetts
Turns out kitchen islands aren't ubiquitously sought-after: Massachusetts's most popular project is their removal.
23/51Michigan
In Michigan, hardwood floors are a popular addition.
Getty Images24/51Minnesota
In chilly Minnesota, energy-efficient remodels are all the rage.
25/51Mississippi
Energy efficiency is also a priority in Mississippi. Shown is the Rosalie mansion in Natchez.
26/51Missouri
Missourians also have high numbers of fire-escape installations.
27/51Montana
Perhaps because of cold mountain air, Montanans like to keep warm with heated floors.
28/51Nebraska
In Nebraska, homeowners update their decks and porches. Shown is a modern one by Thad Hayes.
29/51Nevada
Despite sharing their state with Sin City, Nevada homeowners are more likely to childproof any other Americans. Here, a modern children's room by D'Apostrophe Design.
30/51New Hampshire
Residents of the Granite State are prone to sauna installation.
31/51New Jersey
Staircase repairs are common in the Garden State.
32/51New Mexico
In New Mexico, home modifications for seniors are commonplace.
33/51New York
In New York, home to the constantly crowded Big Apple, room splitting is a popular project. This modern space is by Desai/Chia Architecture.
34/51North Carolina
North Carolina is another state that opts to remove its kitchen islands. A movable one, as in jewelry designer Elizabeth Locke's kitchen, might be a good option for indecisive homeowners.
35/51North Dakota
In North Dakota, common projects are those that make homes accessible for the disabled.
36/51Ohio
Ohio is another place where fire-escape repair is tops.
37/51Oklahoma
Porch and balcony repair is common in Oklahoma.
38/51Oregon
Eco-friendly Oregon goes for energy-efficient renovations.
39/51Pennsylvania
Pennsylvanians opt for geothermal services.
40/51Rhode Island
Rhode Islanders request their fair share of attic remodels, like this pitched space reimagined as a children's room by designer Harry Heissmann.
41/51South Carolina
South Carolina sees a high rate of modifications for senior citizens.
42/51South Dakota
In South Dakota, tech-savvy residents are outfitting their homes with automated systems, like the Lutron Caseta lighting system (shown).
43/51Tennessee
In Tennessee, sauna installation reigns supreme.
44/51Texas
It comes as little surprise that a state known for its barbecue should rank the highest in outdoor kitchen installation. Here, an outdoor entertaining area by Dufner Heighes.
45/51Utah
Basement remodels nab the top spot in Utah.
46/51Vermont
In verdant Vermont, geothermal energy services top project rankings.
47/51Virginia
Virginia's go-to project is hardwood-floor installation.
48/51Washington
Washingtonians prefer their kitchens without islands, as indicated by their frequent choice to remove the structures.
49/51West Virginia
Foundation raising is the most common practice in West Virginia.
50/51Wisconsin
Once again, fire-escape installation is the number-one renovation.
51/51Wyoming
Basement remodels are a definite do in Wyoming.
