Project Decision Study-Mechanical/Systems

Pub­lish Date: 1/7/2026

For more than 20 years, the Home Improve­ment Research Insti­tute (HIRI) has deliv­ered trust­ed insights through the Project Deci­sion Study, help­ing indus­try lead­ers under­stand how home­own­ers plan, fund, and exe­cute home improve­ment projects. This research pro­vides a com­pre­hen­sive view of home­own­er deci­sion-mak­ing across 47 project cat­e­gories, with a focused lens on mid- to large-scale projects of $5,000 or more. Designed to sup­port strate­gic plan­ning, prod­uct devel­op­ment, and go-to-mar­ket deci­sions, the study offers valu­able insight into what dri­ves today’s home­own­ers from inspi­ra­tion and plan­ning to pur­chas­ing and project completion.

Study Objectives

• Deter­mine medi­um- to large-sized home improve­ment project activ­i­ty com­plet­ed in the last 12 months, includ­ing total spend­ing and financ­ing methods.
• Ana­lyze com­ple­tion meth­ods, home­own­er sat­is­fac­tion, moti­va­tions, and fac­tors influ­enc­ing project delays.
• Iden­ti­fy key influ­ences and resources used in select­ing and man­ag­ing projects, pro­fes­sion­als, and mate­ri­als, as well as prod­uct pur­chas­ing chan­nels used.
• Explore project plan­ning time­lines, from idea incep­tion to project completion.
• Ana­lyze demo­graph­ic and house­hold fac­tors influ­enc­ing home improve­ment projects.

This report details Mechanical/​Systems projects. See the Project Deci­sion Overview Report and oth­er cat­e­go­ry reports by click­ing on the appro­pri­ate link below:

• Overview Report
• Exte­ri­or Finish
• Inte­ri­or Finish
• Major Ren­o­va­tions
• Yard, Gar­den and Outdoors