Home improvements are expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. So if you’re going to take the trouble to go through them, you want to ensure that they’re going to last as long as possible. This means not only avoiding trendy updates that will be passé within just a few years, but also investing in those improvements that are going to last with little upkeep, maintenance, or headaches. In other words, those improvements that are going to really increase the value of your home while also increasing your enjoyment when you’re living in it.
Home Improvement Ideas
These 13 home improvements are some of the longest lasting of all, including on how long they’ll continue to give you your return on investment.
1. Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding has topped Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report for the last few years running as the best investment you can make in your home. It’s also one of the longest lasting investments you can make as well. Unlike other types of siding, fiber cement is incredibly durable, so you can rest assured that your home will continue to look great year after year.
2. New Kitchen Layout
New kitchens usually top everyone’s list for home improvements they’d most like to see in a home. What’s key, however, is the type of kitchen renovation. A good layout will last you for a long time, enabling you to swap out cabinets, appliances, flooring, and backsplash without a lot of intensive tear out or remodeling work. Take the time to really plan the layout of your kitchen for optimal use, either choosing work zones, or opting for an ideal working triangle that will put your fridge, stove, and sink within steps of one another.
3. A Good Quality Roof
Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. It protects you and your belongings from the elements, and enhances your curb appeal. A good roof is an investment in your future, with newer roofing materials such as concrete, metal, and fiber cement lasting upwards of 50 years. Even lower cost roofs should last at least 20, making your roof one of the longest lasting home improvements you can make.
4. A New Front Door
A new front door also ranks high on Remodeling Magazine’s report. Front doors can add a lot of extra security to your home, and they also really help improve your home’s curb appeal at the same time. A new, high quality front door can also be painted many times to change the look of your home for just the price of a can of paint.
5. New Windows
Believe it or not, new replacement windows are meant to be one of the longest lasting features in your home. New windows are not only more energy efficient, they can also help block damaging UV rays from entering your home. Glass doesn’t degrade over time, and new frames don’t warp or peel the way that older wood frames did, meaning that your new windows should stand the test of time.
6. Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring can last for a long time with little maintenance. Avoid the stress of your floors needing to be sanded down and refinished again and again, by investing in engineered wood flooring.
7. Natural Stone Flooring
Don’t like the look of hardwood? Then you’re in luck, because natural stone flooring lasts just as long, if not longer. It’s not uncommon to find reclaimed stone floors found in French farmhouses that are already over 100 years old with many years left in them as well. A stone floor will likely outlast the rest of your home as well.
8. Attic Conversion
If your home is short on space, then converting your attic into a master suite can have very powerful and long lasting benefits for your home. This includes an increased resale value, as well as more enjoyment and use in your home. Once an attic is converted, it can be used as a suite forever more, making it a very long lasting improvement.
9. Update Old Plumbing
If the plumbing in your home is old and out of date, then upgrading it can have a major positive impact on the rest of your home. A bathroom remodeler can upgrade the pipes to help increase water flow, rid your home of potential contaminates, and improve your resale value. Copper pipes in particular really hold their value and last for a very long time, so this is one improvement you’re unlikely to regret.
10. Add Attic Insulation
Most homes in the US are under insulated to some degree, with most homes built before the 1960s being under insulated by a lot. Not having enough insulation can make your home less comfortable and can raise your energy bills. Adding insulation is a one-time improvement that can pay off for many, many years to come.
11. Get Rid of Popcorn Ceilings
Home improvements don’t always have to mean adding things to your home; it can mean removing some old and unwanted things as well. Popcorn ceilings went out of style years ago, and they aren’t coming back. Removing a popcorn ceiling or installing a new ceiling material over it (in the case of asbestos ceilings) is one long lasting improvement that no one can regret.
12. Install a New HVAC
A new, high energy efficiency HVAC system can be expected to last for a minimum of 10 years, with many newer models lasting even longer. If you’re planning on staying in your current home for at least that long, your unit will also pay for itself with lower utility bills over the years.
13. Radiant Floor Heating
Radiant floor heating (RFH) is another home improvement that you could integrate into your home. Unlike traditional home heating systems, radiant floor heating provides more consistent heat and can provide an average saving of 15% on heating bills. There are 2 popular radiant floor heating systems available in the marketing right now electronic radiant floor heating and hydronic radiant floor heating. Installing electronic floor heating systems cost an average of $20 a square foot while installing hydronic radiant floor heating cost around $14 a square foot.
Make Lasting Improvements
When it comes to home improvements, the longer-lasting they are, the more money you’ll save in the long run. Make the right choice when it comes to home improvements to ensure they outlast your time there to get the most out of each and every one.
