Slow building recovery boosts remodel business

by Martin Moylan, Minnesota Public Radio

May 7, 2012

ST. PAUL, Minn. Peg Wangensteen and her husband, Doug, had been in their St. Paul home for about 40 years when a number of things inspired them to remodel their upstairs bathroom this spring.

"One was our granddaughter saying to us, 'Grandma why do you have paint peeling off the ceiling of your bathroom,'" she said. "But it was also that the water pressure wasn't as good. It was the room was kind of cool because it had two outside walls."

Workers gutted the bathroom to the studs and installed new insulation, sheetrock and tile. They also replaced aging pipes, along with the bathroom window, sink, toilet and tub.

It was a significant expense but the Wangensteens think they received a good deal, saving about $1,000.

"We thought the bids were going to be better than they might be in a few years from now," she said. "We have a sense that there isn't as much remodeling going on and that people want the work. We were hoping to tap into that."

As more homeowners undertake such projects, the hard-hit construction industry appears to be recovering slowly -- improvement is starting to show up in the remodeling business.

But times are still tough in the building trades. These days there's often intense competition for the remodeling work that is available. That's pushed down the cost of home renovations.

Many remodelers agree with Peg Wangensteen's read of the market.

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Slow building recovery boosts remodel business