Home Improvement Bowl Game Predictions

On Dec. 7th, the BCS Selection Show will formally announce the participating teams for this year's BCS Bowl games. Homeowners have a different decision to make for the New Year. With a tightening home improvement budget, choosing between two appealing projects can be a tough call for any homeowner. Were these competing projects to go up against one another on the gridiron, here's how the scores might end up:

BCS National Championship Bowl: Home Theater System vs. Deck Installation
Say what you will about the state of the economy, the most coveted home improvements involve entertainment and technology. For those who like the outdoors, a deck makes more sense, while the sports and movie fans are more likely to be rooting for the home theater system.

With evenly matched talent, this game is likely to be decided by coaching. Whether your project involves the complexity of an attached deck, placing a satellite dish on the roof, or hanging a $3,000 wall mount plasma TV, installation is almost always best left to the pros. Those who take the DIY route are going to start the game as the heavy underdog. It could go either way in the fourth quarter, but we'll give the edge to the deck installation to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Home Theater System 33, Deck Installation 36

Fiesta Bowl: Air Purification System vs. Home Security System
According to the FBI, another U.S. home is burglarized every 15 seconds. While violent crime has been decreasing over the past decade, property crime has risen over the same time period. While the average American is well-aware of the importance of home security, many still don't know about the dangers of radon, the sixth-leading cause of cancer death in this country. A good air purification system will remove everything from mold to carbon monoxide, along with a whole array of allergens.

The relatively low cost of these systems—and the risks associated with their neglect—means this is the one game you shouldn't place a bet on. If you think you need both, then take care of both. That said, even the best home security system in the world is no guarantee against property crime. Meanwhile, if there is a problem with your indoor air quality, you have no excuse not to remedy the situation.

Air Purification System 37, Home Security System 24

Sugar Bowl: Hot Water Heater vs. Hot Tubs/Whirlpool
This is going to be a tough game between two teams from the same conference. You should be able to take a shower and do the laundry at the same time. You should be able to take a shower without worrying about running out of hot water. And yet installing a hot tub on the back patio deck or a separate whirlpool tub for the master bathroom has been a dream for many.

For close games, typically you can look at costs for a fair tie-breaker, but there is no help here, either. According to ServiceMagic, an online resource linking homeowners to contractors, both projects have an average cost of $1,000. Enjoying a luxury and dealing with some minor inconveniences may be a fair trade-off for some, but you better make sure it's a decision you can live with. If you only go for a hot soak or massaging bath once a month, your previous complaints about limited hot water may intensify.

Hot Water Heaters 42, Hot Tubs/Whirlpool 38

Orange Bowl: Garage Remodel vs. Laundry Rooms
The corporate sponsors would market this game as the battle of the trendy home improvements. Dank basements are no longer the most popular option for washers and dryers. More and more homeowners are willing to sacrifice living space on their main floor to be able to comfortably wash, dry, and fold the laundry. On the other side of the field, as people continue to question the wisdom of two- and three-car households, they're finding alternate uses for their garage spaces.

If the garage remodeling team shows up, it should be their game to lose. Garage remodels have an incredibly high ceiling, but these projects can also be hit-and-miss. For home value, a carpeted, climate-controlled garage is going to turn off as many potential buyers as it attracts. Meanwhile, the value of a warm, well-lit laundry room is undeniable.

Garage Remodel 13, Laundry Rooms 17

Rose Bowl: Replacement Windows vs. Insulation
A classic match-up for owners of older homes, installing new insulation vs. replacement windows is a cost-effective nail-biter. Most people would assume that replacement windows have the edge in this game, but the favorite is actually determined by home field advantage. The current condition of your wall and attic insulation, along with the size and number of your windows, will decide the eventual winner. On a neutral field, in a home with virtually no insulation and single-pane windows, your best bet is usually to take care of the insulation first, while caulking and sealing your window frames as best you can.

As any replacement window salesman will tell you, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 25 percent of your annual energy loss can be attributed to windows. What this figure doesn't take into account is that window replacement will frequently cost two to three times the amount of new insulation—a difference-maker in terms of overall cost-effectiveness.

Replacement Windows 27, Insulation 30

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