Majority of Homeowners Like to 'Do-It-Themselves'
Published: 22nd August 2008 | Author: Tom Klein
Floor & Decor, the national flooring retailer commissioned a national survey. The results uncover homeowners' opinions about remodelling, revealed the majority (67 percent) of homeowners take on their own DIY projects and think it's important to use environmentally friendly products when remodelling (83 percent).
The survey unearthed some surprising results. While the majority of respondents successfully identified green flooring materials, a fifth of all respondents believed that carpet would be the most environmentally friendly choice for flooring. In fact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) positions carpet as a common household source of chemical emissions, as it releases unstable organic compounds and reduces indoor air quality. "Currently, the amount of carpet dumped in landfills each year is larger than New York City," said Genevieve Gorder from the hit television show, Trading Spaces. "And carpet normally has to be replaced every five years, where hardwood and stone can last a lifetime."
Also, survey respondents ranked affordability (45 percent) and durability (22 percent) as their top considerations when making flooring decisions, followed by attractiveness (14 percent).
Other findings fr
om survey include: When survey respondents were asked which common remodeling project they would choose if provided free services and products, installing cabinets (26 percent) and installing hard surface flooring (25 percent) ranked highest. Installing wall tile (6 percent) and lighting (7 percent) ranked the lowest. While 67 percent of homeowners have carpet in their family room, the majority (58 percent) of survey respondents wish they had a hard flooring material: 40 percent would choose hardwood, 5 percent would choose ceramic or porcelain tile and 5 percent would choose laminate. 55 percent of women and 45 percent of men think it is important to use environmentally friendly products for home remodelling projects.
