Granite Countertops & Kitchen Cabinet Refacing By Amy Hoak   Fewer homeowners may be starting complete kitchen remodels, but they're still replacing countertops and re-facing cabinets. They're also investing in improvements to make their homes more energy efficient, according to a recent home remodeling and repair report by ServiceMagic.com, a Web site that connects homeowners to contractors. "People are not going bigger and better, but improving what they have more cost effectively," says Craig Smith, CEO of ServiceMagic. For instance, instead of buying new furniture, they're repairing what they have. Or they're deep cleaning the carpet in lieu of replacing it. All for good reason: Money is tight, lending standards strict and in a sluggish housing market you might not recoup as much of your remodeling investment at resale. Home-improvement spending is expected to decline 12% in 2009, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. It's much different than the days when home-equity lending was plentiful. Before doing anything, people are carefully considering how they should spend their money. In the days of easy credit, "there was a feeling of 'we can't go wrong, let's just get started.' " says Bill Judson, an architect in Claremont, Calif. "Now, it's harder to get money, in terms of credit, and homeowners are taking it a little slower and educating themselves a little more." Meanwhile, those who do upgrade may be in for some bargains: Costs of materials, including lumber and copper, have dropped somewhat, Mr. Judson says, and labor costs are down as surviving contractors struggle to compete. Here are some trends on the home-remodeling front: Kitchens and Baths Some homeowners are still going through with full kitchen or bathroom remodels these days, says Kimberly Sweet, editor in chief of Kitchens.com. But they aren't the norm. "A lot of people are making do with what they have, or maybe choosing to spruce up a few things and not do a full remodel," Ms. Sweet says. Nationally, the volume of countertop-project requests rose 39% in the first quarter of 2009, compared with the first quarter of 2008, while major kitchen remodels are down 19%, according to ServiceMagic's most recent Home Remodeling and Repair Index/Survey. The data come from the company's service requests; the site received 4.2 million requests from homeowners in 2008. Service requests for bathroom remodels were down 10% in the first quarter of this year, according to the report. At the recent Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, affordable remodeling products included liquid stainless steel to refinish appliances and do-it-yourself backsplashes, Ms. Sweet says. Re-facing or painting cabinets and updating cabinet hardware have always been an option to remodel on a budget. For replacements, there are improved cabinet options in thermofoil, she says. Consumers still gravitate toward granite countertops, but other less expensive -- yet still attractive -- countertop materials are available, Ms. Sweet adds. For those considering resale values, it might be best to go for minor fix-ups. "Doing all the high end may not get you the return you were looking for," Ms. Sweet says. "You don't want to be the most expensive house on the block in this market." Continued Tags: countertops, granite countertops,  kitchen cabinets, cabinet refacing