If you’re a homeowner thinking about tackling an outdoor project this year, you’re in good company. From backyard patios to new garage doors, outdoor upgrades have become one of the most popular ways Americans invest in their homes, and for good reason. They improve daily life, boost your home’s curb appeal, and can increase the value of your home when it’s time to sell.
But not all outdoor home improvement projects are created equal. Some deliver a strong return on investment, while others are better enjoyed for personal satisfaction than financial gain.
To help homeowners make smarter decisions, Alan’s Factory Outlet surveyed 1,006 U.S. homeowners about their outdoor plans, budgets, and expectations for resale value. We then compared those results with trusted benchmarks from the National Association of Realtors and the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report by Zonda.
Here’s what the data revealed, and what it means for your next home improvement project.
Key Takeaways
- 84% of homeowners are planning an outdoor upgrade in the next 12 months, with patios and decks leading the wish list.
- Rising costs are affecting plans: 41% of homeowners have downgraded to a less expensive outdoor project, and 52% say they’re more likely to DIY to save money.
- Backyard patios are the most popular project homeowners are planning this season, yet they recoup only about 46% of their cost at resale.
- Four exterior projects recoup more than 100% of their cost: garage door replacement (268%), steel entry door (216%), manufactured stone veneer (208%), and fiber-cement siding (114%).
The Outdoor Projects Homeowners Are Betting On
It’s clear that homeowners across the country are prioritizing their outdoor living space.
In our survey, 84% of respondents said they’re planning at least one outdoor upgrade in the next year, covering everything from patios and decks to pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and landscaping improvements.
The enthusiasm cuts across all generations. Millennials were the most active group, with 86% planning an outdoor project. Gen X followed closely at 84%, with Gen Z at 81% and baby boomers at 77%. No matter the generation, homeowners are drawn to renovations that improve both functionality and the look of their property.
Rural homeowners showed the highest level of activity at 86%, followed by suburban homeowners (84%) and urban homeowners (80%). Rural properties tend to have more available space, which opens the door to larger-scale remodeling projects. Think walkways, fire pit areas, irrigation system upgrades, metal buildings, and expanded landscaping.
As for motivation, 78% of homeowners said personal enjoyment was their primary driver, while 14% focused on improving resale value and 8% on boosting curb appeal. That said, budget pressures are real: 41% said they’ve chosen a less expensive project than originally planned, and 52% said they’re more likely to take the DIY route to keep costs manageable.
What Homeowners Believe Adds the Most Resale Value
Most homeowners have a reasonable sense of what a return on investment means in the context of home improvements.
Overall, 64% of homeowners acknowledged that most home improvement projects only partially recover their cost at resale. This aligns closely with data from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, which states that only 4 of 15 exterior projects exceed 100% recovery. But there’s still a gap between perception and reality when it comes to which specific projects pay off the most.
Detached garages ranked #1 across every resale perception question in the survey, with homeowners choosing them over decks, patios, and all other outdoor upgrades for sale price impact, selling speed, listing preference, and premium willingness.
Understanding which outdoor projects deliver the highest return can help you make decisions that balance your lifestyle with long-term property value, a goal that most homeowners share.
Which Outdoor Projects Deliver the Best ROI?
When you look at the data side by side, the difference between popular outdoor projects and high-ROI outdoor projects becomes very clear.
Patios were the single most planned project in our survey, with 30% of homeowners saying they’re adding or updating one. But despite their popularity, patios recoup only about 46% of their cost at resale, one of the lower returns among outdoor home improvement options.
The bigger picture across project categories tells a similar story:
- Attached exterior upgrades averaged a 115% cost recovery across 12 remodeling project types, meaning they not only recoup their cost but can actually add more value than they cost to build.
- Detached projects, including certain standalone structures and landscaping features, averaged around 61% in cost recovery across 3 projects.
The detached category in this dataset includes backyard patios, accessory dwelling units, and backup generators, but does not include standalone detached garages.
According to our internal data, detached garages offered an estimated return of around 65%, with results varying based on design, materials, and location. While that’s not the highest ROI on the list, garages provide strong functionality and remain a genuine selling point for homebuyers, especially in rural and suburban markets where storage space and workspace are priorities.
Zonda reported that the highest-performing exterior projects in terms of resale return are:
- Garage door replacement (268%)
- Steel entry door replacement (216%)
- Manufactured stone veneer (208%)
- Fiber-cement siding (114%)
These aren’t always flashy renovations, but they deliver real financial results. Each one enhances the exterior of your home in ways that potential buyers and appraisers notice immediately, improving energy efficiency, durability, and the overall first impression your home makes.
Balancing Lifestyle and ROI in Outdoor Renovations
Here’s the honest truth: not every outdoor renovation needs to be about resale value. Homeowners primarily do these projects because they want to enjoy their homes more. A beautiful patio, an outdoor kitchen, or a shed workshop can meaningfully improve everyday life, even if it doesn’t top the ROI charts.
That said, a balanced approach tends to work best. If you’re investing a significant amount in high-end remodeling projects focused purely on enjoyment, it’s worth pairing them with at least one practical exterior upgrade that pulls its weight financially. A garage door replacement or a siding upgrade, for instance, can improve your home’s value at the same time you’re investing in your lifestyle.
This kind of balanced planning, combining what you love with what builds value, is how homeowners get the most out of their home improvement dollars.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,006 U.S. homeowners about their outdoor home improvement plans, spending expectations, and perceptions of resale value across six upgrade types:
- Decks
- Pergolas
- Patios
- Pavilions
- Sheds
- Detached garages
Respondents were distributed across genders (57% women, 42% men), generations (Gen Z 5%, millennials 50%, Gen X 32%, baby boomers 12%), and community types (suburban 59%, rural 24%, urban 17%). The survey was conducted in April 2026. All percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Resale return data in the final section is sourced from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report published by Zonda (costvsvalue.com). Supplemental outdoor project data is drawn from the 2023 NAR Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features and the 2025 NAR Remodeling Impact Report, both published by the National Association of Realtors.
About Alan’s Factory Outlet
Alan’s Factory Outlet provides high-quality metal buildings, carports, garages, and storage solutions built for durability and long-term value. Whether you’re looking to improve your property’s functionality, boost curb appeal, or add a practical structure that supports resale value, Alan’s team is here to help you find the right solution.
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