News Release
For Immediate Release:
April 23, 2015
For more information contact:
Victoria Gallagher, CertainTeed
(610) 341-7944
Victoria.M.Gallagher@saint-gobain.com
www.certainteed.com/pressroom
Remodeling by the Numbers: Smart Home Renovations that Increase Curb Appeal, Value
and Comfort
Study indicates what’s most important to U.S. house owners when considering home
improvements
(Valley Forge, Pa.) – A new online survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of CertainTeed,
among over 2,000 U.S. adults, shines new light on which priorities are top of mind—and where
homeowners may need guidance—when taking on home improvement projects. CertainTeed,
North America’s leading brand of innovative and sustainable building products, shares these
findings along with recommendations for smart home remodeling this spring.
U.S. adults who own a house consider several factors when planning an exterior home remodel,
with curb appeal, return on investment and outdoor living and lifestyle considerations being top
priorities. Based on the March 2015 study conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of CertainTeed,
when asked which one factor is most important to U.S. adults who own a house when
considering an exterior home improvement project, 39 percent cited curb appeal, 26 percent cited
return on investment, and 21 percent noted impact on outdoor living and lifestyle considerations.
Better insulation, cool roofing, solar panels, geothermal heating/cooling solutions and low
maintenance vinyl siding, decking and railing are just a few home investments that can help meet
these project priorities — for enviable curb appeal, return on investment and impact on lifestyle.
“In home design, there is an increased interest in individualization and creativity — true for both
interior and exterior design,” said Mike Loughery, CertainTeed director of corporate marketing
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Smart Home Renovations – Page 2 of 4
communications. “We’ve found that homeowners want healthy, energy efficient homes that offer
complete comfort and curb appeal, but don’t always know the best way to start.”
Ultimately, the study showed 40 percent of U.S. adults who own a house say they understand
colors but are not exactly sure which direction they would want to go when selecting a new
exterior color for their home. Furthermore, 11 percent said they are “clueless” about colors and
wouldn’t know where to begin.
“While consumers want their homes to stand out, it’s important to seek colors that will be
appealing year after year,” said Loughery.
Visualizing a project prior to investing in home renovation is easy with resources such as
ColorViewⓇ, ColorCoach and CurbAppeal, located at www.CertainTeed.com/DesignCenter.
“Connecting the indoors to the outdoors continues to be popular, as well,” added Loughery.
“Homeowners and potential buyers are considering patios, gazebos and outdoor kitchens as an
extension of living space.”
Considering the financial impact of a home remodeling project, kitchen remodels, additions and
exterior projects provide a strong return on investment according to the “2014 Remodeling Cost
vs. Value” report released this year by Remodeling and Realtor magazines.
“Comfort is key now more than ever,” said Loughery. “The growing boomer population has led
to increased home renovations tied to aging in place. And it’s not just our population that is
aging — according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 41 percent of the
nation’s homes were built in 1969 or earlier. That’s why we strive to supply sustainable,
groundbreaking products that significantly impact long-term energy efficiency, comfort and
indoor air quality.”
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Smart Home Renovations – Page 3 of 4
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the average American spends 90
percent of time indoors, yet many do not realize air pollutants such as new furniture, paint,
carpeting and even air fresheners can be damaging to their health. One way homeowners can
combat this is with AirRenew® Essential, a unique drywall that proactively absorbs
formaldehyde and converts it into safe, inert compounds. The survey also found that one in five
(19 percent) U.S. adults who own a house say they would give little to no consideration to
insulation if planning a kitchen remodel or home addition. Insulation, however, can significantly
help improve air quality in the home. For example, SMARTBATT™ with MoistureSense™
Technology is a fiberglass batt insulation that contributes to healthier homes by intelligently
managing moisture — helping reduce susceptibility to mold and mildew growth. Furthermore,
the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association says spending $1 on insulation will
save $12 in energy costs.
As part of this smart remodeling initiative, video entries are now being accepted for the annual
CertainTeed Living Spaces® Home Makeover Contest, giving homeowners a chance to win an
incredible $100,000 grand prize, which includes $75,000 worth of building products, including
professional installation and $25,000 to help cover taxes. The deadline to enter is May 31. For
more information and complete contest details, visit www.CertainTeed.com/DesignCenter.
About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products,
CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry
for more than 110 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the
firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name
CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior
building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and
ceilings.
Smart Home Renovations – Page 4 of 4
News Release
A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest and oldest building products companies,
and celebrating its 350th anniversary, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 5,700
employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada.
For six consecutive years, the company has received top honors from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency for its contributions in protecting the environment and was most recently the
recipient of the 2014 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award. The group had total sales of
approximately $3.3 billion in 2014. www.certainteed.com
Methodology:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of CertainTeed from March 1012, 2015 among 2,014 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,134 own a house. This online survey is not based
on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete
survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Victoria Gallagher at (610) 341-7944.
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