Members of the This Old House editorial team recently attended the National Hardware Show (NHS) 2025, an annual industry event that showcases new products, innovations, and the latest trends in the home improvement industry. Overflowing with industry experts passionate about numerous aspects of homeownership in the 21st century, NHS 2025 was a thrilling and insightful experience. Explore key vendors and the top five trends shaping the future of hardware, DIY, and home improvement.
Key Takeaways
- Solar technology is evolving, offering more efficient and aesthetically pleasing roofing options.
- DIY home upgrades are becoming easier, with new solutions for concrete restoration, flooring, and stairs.
- Backup power solutions are improving, helping homeowners stay prepared for outages while cutting energy costs.
A New Look in Solar Panels
Jackery melds the form of traditional roofing materials with functional solar panels to create the Solar Roof. Available in black and terracotta, the Jackery Solar Roof has yet to hit the market, but it promises to offer homeowners the first and only curved solar tiles that achieve more than 25% solar efficiency. These solar tiles are also designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.
The Jackery Solar Roof offers homeowners new opportunities to benefit from a more aesthetically appealing solar panel design. Curved solar tiles maximize a roof’s potential to gather sunlight across the entire surface instead of just in the centralized portions. Replacing a home’s entire roof with the Solar Roof product may mean higher upfront solar panel costs, but its unobtrusive design compared to traditional solar panels may lead to quicker and easier approvals in HOA communities.
Easy Concrete Restoration for DIYers
Enhancing curb appeal is often near the top of the wish list for homeowners who want to improve their house’s exterior. While landscaping can add a pop of color, these improvements may fall flat next to cracked and distressed concrete. Like-Nu’s specially formulated Concrete Restoration Kit makes it easy for homeowners to DIY concrete restoration without exceeding their home improvement budget.
The Like-Nu Concrete Restoration Kit includes everything homeowners need to restore more than 400 square feet of concrete (the size of the average two-car driveway). This proprietary product can be sprayed or rolled on to restore the existing concrete’s finish, allowing it to breathe and resist UV damage after about an hour’s dry time or less. At less than $1 per square foot, the Like-Nu Concrete Restoration Kit costs a fraction of what homeowners would pay for traditional resurfacing or full concrete replacement.
Easy-To-Install Flooring and Stairs
Besides a fresh coat of paint, updated flooring can breathe new life into a home’s interior. At NHS 2025, the flooring experts at Innovative Flooring Supply featured DIY-friendly MultiClic and DuraStair products. MultiClic offers pet- and stain-resistant, waterproof flooring solutions, while DuraStair manufactures easy-to-install stair tread and riser systems.
MultiClic’s flooring system is compatible with radiant heating systems, features a limited warranty, and can be installed over smooth and flat preexisting flooring. The stone-embossed surface and SoundBuster® thermo-acoustic underpad blend form and functionality. Interlocking panels simplify the process of arranging and installing these innovative flooring solutions, making them an ideal upgrade for homeowners who aren’t afraid to put in a little sweat equity.
Homeowners can pair their new floors with DuraStair’s durable and scratch-resistant stair tread and riser systems, available in traditional and contemporary colors and wood types. DuraStair’s products feature reversible and paintable risers and a short 24-hour cure time. Even the most well-worn stairs can quickly become a focal point that showcases a home’s character.
Preparing Your Home for Emergencies
Climate disasters in 2024 alone numbered 27, far exceeding the average of nine annual climate disasters from 1980 to 2024 and surpassing the average of 23 annual events within the last five years, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. With the growing threat of natural disasters present year-round, Generac and Jackery offer homeowners peace of mind through innovative power-generating solutions. For many homeowners, buying a generator provides additional benefits beyond weatherproofing their homes against extreme weather events.
Jackery’s 5000 Plus Essential Home Backup Kit is a prime example of a modular and flexible generator that also provides power on the go. In the event of a power failure, the integrated Smart Transfer Switch instantly supplies power from the high-capacity solar generator to electronics, lights, and appliances. When not prioritizing solar charging, the 5000 Plus Essential Home Backup Kit schedules additional charging outside peak hours to optimize energy usage and reduce energy costs by up to 30% monthly.
DIY Friendly Wood Finishing
Hardwood floor refinishing (147% ROI) and new wood flooring (118% ROI) are among the top five home improvement projects with the highest ROI, according to the National Association of Realtors. Natural linseed oils from Livos, a world-leading natural paint manufacturer that prioritizes product transparency, can simplify refinishing existing hardwood floors. Easy to apply and 100% natural, Livos oils treat wood floors with a single stain, sealer, and finishing product that requires no personal protective gear or increased ventilation during application.
Conclusion
The home improvement industry continues to evolve with new products that help ease the burdens of homeownership. The best of these innovations guide homeowners when they invest in solar and alternative energy, enhance curb appeal, refresh existing flooring and stairs, or safeguard against the damaging effects of natural disasters. If you’re ready to take on a home improvement project of your own, check out our guide on how to fund your next home renovation to maximize funding opportunities and optimize your investment. Do you want to come to the National Hardware Show next year? It will be open to the public.
