Dive Brief:

• Home remodeling is becoming an investment for more and more Americans, who last year poured $130 billion into changing and adding onto the homes they own.
• The spending was up 3.1% from 2012 and marked a six-year high, and building permits for remodeling work were up 5.1% in the same period, a report said.
• Economist Joseph Lavorgna of Deutsche Bank said it's a way for people to make on a play on rising home values.

Dive Insight:

The bustling business for remodelers is expected to increase attendance at the International Builders' Show and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, pushing attendance to its highest since 2008.