| A report was recently released on The Role of | | | | or refinishing of flooring. |
| Women in Home Improvement. In this 127-page report, | | | | *The 2005 HIRI Project Decision Study serves as |
| the role of the female homeowner was explored from | | | | another reference point for the involvement of women |
| various aspects. | | | | in major household home improvement projects. |
| *Of 36 different project types studied in total, women | | | | Female head of households alone were the project |
| were the primary product selectors for 44% of the | | | | idea initiators for 40% of them while also contributing to |
| total completed projects reported and were also the | | | | the 12% joint female/male component. Women by |
| primary doers or executors for 29% of them. | | | | themselves were over 50% for projects that included |
| * Women were the highest actual project doers for | | | | interior painting and the remodeling of either a kitchen |
| ones such as stripping/refinishing furniture, shampooing | | | | or bathroom. |
| carpeting and planting a garden and were highest as | | | | Product Purchasing |
| major product selectors when it came to stripping | | | | * Overall, women were the actual in-store purchasers |
| refinishing furniture, adding or replacing carpeting, | | | | for about 41% of all products reported by total |
| painting a room, remodeling a kitchen or bathroom and | | | | homeowners in the 2006 HIRI PPTS on a purchase |
| the replacing/refinishing of flooring. | | | | occasion basis. This is based on 226 product items in |
| *When viewed on the basis of dollar spending where | | | | 14 categories and a grand total of 15,500 individual |
| women were the primary selectors of products | | | | purchases. On a dollar purchase basis for these same |
| needed for the projects, women accounted for 36.7% | | | | items, females accounted for 44% of the total. |
| of the grand total vs. 25.5% for men. But on an | | | | * On both a purchase unit and dollar spending basis, |
| individual project basis, female homeowners were | | | | women were by far the highest in overall categories |
| more than one-half to two-thirds for projects such as | | | | such as wall/window/ceiling/floor coverings, major |
| kitchen & bathroom remodeling, interior painting, | | | | household appliances and kitchen & bathroom |
| carpet additions or replacements and the replacement | | | | remodeling. |