Home improvements that typically cost less than the average tax refund and can be completed quickly include adding a kitchen island; painting a house; adding a tile backsplash; replacing bathroom amenities such as cabinets, sinks, and fixtures; installing wainscoting, and upgrading a sump pump. Learn about home improvement projects that can be completed with a tax refund.

Quartz and Corian are popular materials for kitchen countertops, and both materials are similar in cost, nonporous, and highly resistant to stains and germs as well as durable, attractive, and easy to clean. However, there are distinct differences between the two materials in terms of heat and scratch resistance and maintenance. Learn about advantages and disadvantages of quartz versus Corian kitchen countertops.