Home improvement projects that aren’t worth it

While the home improvement industry has seen gains in the past few years, there are a few remodeling projects that aren’t just worth the trouble.

According to Remodeling Magazine, these ten home improvement projects just don’t pay off. Most of the time, the owners end up losing money on these investments.

1. Sunroom addition
ROI: 48.5 percent
Cost: $75,726
Resale value: $36,704

Remodeling Magazine described this sunroom as a 200-square-foot addition to the home’s footprint with a new roof and skylights, foundation, energy-efficient windows and automatic shades. Unfortunately, the price tag on this project doesn’t come close to the resale value.

2. Home office remodel
ROI: 48.7 percent
Cost: $29,066
Resale value: $14,155

This home office includes custom cabinets, a laminate desktop, wiring for electronics, drywall, paint and carpeting. By changing this into an office, home buyers would have lack of flexibility to do what they choose to do with an extra room. Some would prefer a guest bedroom, toy room, nursery, etc.

3. Upscale master suite addition
ROI: 53.7 percent
Cost: $236,363
Resale value: $126,860

Described as a 32-foot-by-20-foot addition with a walk-in closet and dressing area, whirlpool tub, ceramic tile shower, double-bowl vanity with solid-surface countertop with newly painted walls, this addition may end up being more of a headache because the extra construction will most likely be costly.

4. Upscale garage addition
ROI: 54.7 percent
Cost: $85,592
Resale value: $46,791

It’s unlikely that home buyer’s would be willing to pay so much extra for a garage. While it sounds nice, it isn’t cheap to customize, and most buyers aren’t that invested in a garage.

5. Midrange bathroom addition
ROI: 57.8 percent
Cost: $39,578
Resale value: $22,875

While most of the bathroom materials aren’t that costly, the addition would be, as well as the cost of the wiring, plumbing and appliances.

6. Upscale bathroom addition
ROI: 58.6 percent
Cost: $76,429
Resale value: $44,750

This project includes ceramic-tiled walls, a custom shower with body-spray fixtures, a frameless glass enclosure, a custom whirlpool tub, dual-sink stone countertop and a separate compartment for the toilet. It won’t come cheap, and once again, the wiring, plumbing and this time, sophisticated materials will be very costly.

7. New upscale composite deck
ROI: 58.9 percent
Cost: $36,385
Resale value: $21,437
Composite decking is growing in popularity and the material lasts longer.

Composite is low-maintenance, too, but it is by no means cheap, said Dave Lombardo, president of American Deck & Patio. Desirable as composite deck products are, pressure-treated wood is more-affordable and earns a much better return, around 85 percent, on average, according to the report.

8. Upscale major kitchen remodel
ROI: 59 percent
Cost: $113,097
Resale value: $66,747

Once again, the upscale remodel project is not a great investment. This project includes 35 linear feet of “top-of-the-line” custom cabinets in cherry, built-in appliances, a commercial-grade range, stone counters, lots of lighting, a high-end sink, a new island and a cork floor trimmed in cherry.

Remodeling a kitchen can be useful, but it’s best if you can avoid moving plumbing and electrical items. A less-expensive full-scale kitchen remodel carries a better return 67.8 percent and costs less, according to Remodeling Magazine.

9. Upscale bathroom remodel
ROI: 59.8 percent
Cost: $54,115
Resale value: $32,385

While bathroom remodels are popular, using upscale materials will be costly and will not net the best return.

10. Backup generator

ROI: 59.9 percent
Cost: $12,135
Resale value: $7,263

A generator is extremely useful when needed, but they are expensive and typically not that appealing to home buyers.

What home improvement projects just don’t pay off, in your experience?