The short version: Of 216 indoor renovation requests California homeowners submitted through Renology's contractor-match funnels in the first half of 2026, 172 (80%) were for kitchens and 37 (17%) were for bathrooms. Among kitchen requests that specified the room's age, 65% were for kitchens at least 20 years old (n=147). Nearly half of all homeowners (49%) wanted work to start as soon as possible.
What this report measures
The Home Renovation Demand Report is an aggregate summary of real homeowner project requests submitted through Renology's contractor-match funnels. Each request is a homeowner describing an indoor renovation they want to start: the room, its age, and how soon they want work to begin. This edition covers 216 requests collected between April 20 and July 3, 2026.
We publish it because concrete demand numbers are hard to find. Cost guides estimate what a remodel should cost, but few sources report what homeowners are actually requesting right now. The figures below are the real distribution of requests we received, reported as aggregates only, with no lead-level data.
Kitchens drove indoor renovation demand
Kitchens were the dominant request. 80% of indoor renovation requests in H1 2026 were for kitchens, based on Renology's contractor-match data (172 of 216 requests). Bathrooms were a distant second at 37 requests (17%), and whole-home and ADU projects made up the small remainder.
| Room requested | Requests | Share of all requests (N=216) |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 172 | 80% |
| Bathroom | 37 | 17% |
| Whole home | 5 | 2% |
| ADU | 2 | 1% |
Two in three kitchen requests were for rooms past 20 years old
3 Los Angeles pros, editor-screened. 4 questions.
See my 3 matches65% of kitchen renovation requests in H1 2026 were for kitchens at least 20 years old, based on Renology's contractor-match data (96 of the 147 requests that specified the kitchen's age). Add the 10-to-20-year bracket and 90% of kitchen demand came from rooms at least a decade old. Aging kitchens, not cosmetic refreshes, are what bring California homeowners to a remodel.
| Kitchen age | Requests | Share of kitchens that specified age (n=147) |
|---|---|---|
| 20+ years old | 96 | 65% |
| 10 to 20 years old | 37 | 25% |
| 5 to 10 years old | 12 | 8% |
| Under 5 years old | 2 | 1% |
Bathrooms told the same story, only sharper. 71% of bathroom requests that specified age were for bathrooms over 20 years old (20 of 28), based on Renology's contractor-match data.
Nearly half of homeowners wanted to start immediately
49% of homeowners wanted work to start as soon as possible in H1 2026, based on Renology's contractor-match data (87 of the 176 requests that stated a timeline). A further 25% wanted to begin within 1 to 3 months. Only 11% described themselves as just exploring, which means most Renology demand is close to ready, not early-stage browsing.
The intent signal was even clearer in a separate question: 63% of homeowners said they were ready to speak with a contractor now (104 of 166 who answered).
| Project timeline | Requests | Share that stated a timeline (n=176) |
|---|---|---|
| As soon as possible | 87 | 49% |
| 1 to 3 months | 44 | 25% |
| 3 to 6 months | 25 | 14% |
| Just exploring | 20 | 11% |
Demand concentrated in Los Angeles, with real Seattle and Denver volume
72% of requests with a stated metro came from the greater Los Angeles area in H1 2026, based on Renology's contractor-match data (115 of 159). Seattle followed at 28 requests (18%) and Denver at 14 (9%). The indoor demand mix is less LA-dominated than one might expect, but Los Angeles is still where Renology's audience and reach are strongest.
| Metro area | Requests | Share with a stated metro (n=159) |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 115 | 72% |
| Seattle | 28 | 18% |
| Denver | 14 | 9% |
| Other | 2 | 1% |
Methodology, and what this report does not say
The data is homeowner project requests submitted through Renology's contractor-match funnels between April 20 and July 3, 2026. Each figure is an aggregate count of requests. Denominators vary by question because not every homeowner answered every field, so kitchen-age shares are calculated against the 147 requests that specified a kitchen's age, timeline shares against the 176 that stated a timeline, and metro shares against the 159 with a stated metro.
This is demand data, not a market survey. The mix reflects Renology's audience and campaign reach, which is currently weighted toward the greater Los Angeles area. It should not be read as statewide or national renovation demand. Because most requests came in through kitchen-focused funnels, the 80% kitchen share reflects our reach as much as underlying homeowner intent. We report it plainly so the figure is not mistaken for a claim about all California remodels.
We do not publish any lead-level rows, homeowner identities, or contact information. Figures are refreshed on a twice-yearly cadence (H1 and H2).
Sources & methodology
How Renology builds this guide
Renology combines public permit and labor signals, supplier pricing, remodeler quote patterns, and editorial review of comparable projects. Cost references are planning ranges, not fixed bids, because site conditions, materials, access, permits, and finish level can change the final price.
- Benchmarked against the Renology Cost Index, related service guides, and the Renology Methodology.
- Reviewed for Los Angeles market context when a local market is available.
- Focused on renovation scope, materials, timeline, contractor risk, and budget drivers.
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