The Big Payoff
Annual Cost-Benef it Analysis Gives Homeowners Worthy Insight
It hit you one morning while making avocado green and harvest gold breakfast basking in the glow of grooviness:
This kitchen needs a make over. But a home office sure sounds nice, too. One decision with which many
homeowners struggle isn’t whether their home needs an update, it’s what to remodel. Lucky for you, Remodeling
magazine published a report detailing some of the most common home remodeling projects and what the
homeowner can expect to get in return. Of course, all home improvements will increase the value of your home to
some extent, but some offer a much higher return on investment (ROI) than others. Perform an objective cost-benefit
analysis. Do not choose one project over another for personal reasons.
A tool like Remodeling’s annual the final attempt at clog combat, the weapon of choice is the snake. When used
now, the snake will only damage your vulnerable pipes and fixtures.
Let’s review. What was once a they assertively inform us that the drain is now a complete clog,wad most likely
situated just beyond topped off with an acidic cesspool, and possibly stuck in a damaged pipe. Translation: A
previously simple, inexpensive call is now an involved – and considerably more costly – job. Instead, try the
plunger. If this doesn’t work, please call us. Other situations likely to benefit from the immediate attention of a
professional include a broken pipe, a backflow or a faucet thatwon’t shut off. Be it a remodeling project or fixing
a problem, consider how much it will take to do the job right yourself. Then call a professional plumber to
schedule an appointment. And remember, time is money.
The 2005 Cost vs. Value Report revealed that, in 2005, making minor kitchen updates actually had a higher
ROI – averaging 98.5 percent nationally than major or even mid-range remodeling projects. And depending
report provides a smart starting point for consideration, and the staying power of each year’s results are
compelling. Updating and remodeling kitchens and baths have consistently ranked as adding the most value
to a home when cost of project and expected ROIs are considered.
“Updating and remodeling kitchens and baths have consistently ranked as adding the most value to a home …”
Minor kitchen updates usually entail replacing cabinet fronts, while leaving original boxes, and replacing older
appliances with new, energy-efficient models. Formica countertops should also be replaced, as should sinks
and fixtures. Repaint walls and trim, and if your budget allows, replace old laminate flooring with one of the more
resilient materials on the market today. The findings of the report were espe- cially good news for those considering
a bathroom remodel. In nearly every region of the United States, a moderate bath- room remodel recovered more than
100 percent of the cost, nationally averaging 102.2 percent, in fact. Expect a moderate bathroom remodel to cost
approximately $10,000 and include the following: Replacing the tub if more than 25 years old, all fixtures and installing
a standard white toilet in favor of the baby blue throne. A solid-surface counter should be installed, complete with an
integral double sink. The medicine cabinet should also be replaced, ceramic tile should be installed and walls painted
with a humidity-proof, neutral color.
Still pondering a home office? Consider the survey’s results, which indicate that, with an average job cost of more
than $13,000, a homeowner can expect a 72.8 percent ROI, nation- ally. In the Midwest, the ROI drops to 61
percent. In the event of a sale, homeowners are often tempted to add luxury features in lieu of a remodel. Jacuzzis
or swimming pools might serve to impress prospective buyers, but will do little to encourage the sale, let alone boost
the sale price. Go with changes proven to work, instead. If a minor kitchen or bath update is out of your price
range, consider the aesthetic value added when only fixtures are replaced. Contact a professional for advice on
high-quality fixtures. Of note: Before you opt for all stainless appliances, granite counter- tops, slate floors and
recessed lighting (affectionately referred to as “ceiling acne” by some designers), consider the appeal of the
timeless look. In 20 years, the ultra-urban kitchen will be the avocado/harvest of the 21st century.
From the Desk of …
By Steve Grohn
Step Away From the Snake
In the pages of Punctual Post, you will find money-saving tips,including preventive maintenance and do-it
yourself projects. Preventive maintenance can save hundreds in replacement costs. One of the most important
lessons to learn we hope not the hard way is when it’s time to throw in the plunger and call a professional plumber.
For many home- owners, calling a plumber is a last resort. Consider the clogged drain. Home owners will try
anything to get whatever is stuck down there unstuck. They’ll begin with a plunger. When the clog doesn’t budge,
continuously plunging the clog only compounds the matter, farther down the drain. Next, a commercial drain
cleaner is employed. At this point, the clog is most likely a complete blockage, which even the best drain cleaner
cannot counteract. Instead, a highly toxic, caustic solution is given the opportunity to stagnate. In on the region,
making minor kitchen updates not only allowed the home- owner to recoup all costs in the sale of the home, a
substantial profit was turned. In the Western United States, homeowners enjoyed an average ROI of 112 percent.
Water Down Watering
When nearly a third of household water consumption takes place outside – on the lawn and garden – it’s easy to
understand why homeowners notice such a spike in water bills in the heat of the summer. Follow these tips to
maximize your summertime watering schedule.
• Don’t overwater. Your yard will suffer more from too much watering than it will from going a bit too long without.
In fact, giving your lawn a good soak every five days improves deep root systems.
• Water between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. This will minimize the percentage of water that evaporates
before your thirsty lawn has a chance to soak it in.
• Water the lawn. Sidewalks don’t need hydration. Nor does your next-door neighbor’s car.
• Don’t water when it’s windy.
• Use a rain gauge to monitor the amount of rain the lawn is receiving naturally.
Hint: If you leave footprints on the lawn, this means the grass is dry. Time to water
It’s a Fact
• A dripping faucet that f ills an eight ounce glass in 15 minutes will waste 180 gallons every month and
2,160 gallons per year.
• A low-f lush toilet saves up to 18,000 gallons of water per year.
• A person can live without food for more than a month, but without water for just one week.
• Our nation’s water consumption has increased tenfold in less than 100 years.
• Just .01 percent of the earth’s water is drinkable.
• The amount of water on earth has remained the same for two billion years.
• Groundwater can take a lifetime to travel one mile.
• Water is the only substance on earth found naturally in three forms: solid, liquid and gas.
• The average person consumes 16,000 gallons of water in a lifetime.
• An ear of corn is 80 percent water, just like the human body.
Oh, My Leaking Pipes
Monitor your water bill. Seem a bit high? A higher- than-normal water bill can indicate a leaking pipe.
First, be sure it can’t be credited to watering yourparched summer lawn. If you suspect a leak,turn
all fixtures off and observe the dial on your water meter. If it is moving, water is flowing somewhere
within your system.To locate the leak, first listen carefully for the sound of water. Sound obvious?
House- holds can be loud places, making it easy to forget trying this first. If water stains on the ceiling
are your clue, you can be sure the leak is somewhere above it. In fact, even if the stain is on the wall,
its source is likely somewhere above. Unfortunately, a portion of the wall will need to be removed in order
to locate the burst section of pipe.
But finding the leak without the preceding signs can be difficult. Call a professional who can use amplifiers,
fluorescent dyes or other methods to locate an otherwise undetectable leak.
If you were successful in locating the culprit, there are some steps you can take to hold the pipe over until
a professional arrives.
• A clamp can put the leak on hold when properly attached using a rubber sleeve.
• For tiny holes, stick the tip of pencil in the hole and break it off. This will temporarily plug the hole.
• Epoxy putty can be useful in situations where the hole is neither miniscule or compatible with a clamp fix.
Be sure to shut off the water supply to the epoxied pipe until it hardens.
These tips only apply to minor leaks. Did your coffee table just float by? A pencil tip will do nothing for you.
Whether it’s minor or you’re swimming, call a plumber.
“Call a professional who can use amplif iers, f luorescent dyes or other methods to locate an otherwise undetectable leak.”
B.Y.O.P.
Buying Your Own Parts
Many times, when homeowners call us for repairs,they’ll be supplying the parts. Many folks think that doing so will save money, avoiding the cost of plumber-supplied parts. The fact is we don’t make our money on inflating the price of your kitchen or bathroom fixtures. Owner-compounded drain clogs are much more lucrative. Our parts might cost a bit more than those found at your local home improvement center because we buy from commercial sources. Even the best name brands make different grades depending on where the product is sold. Many sold at discount stores are comprised of plastic parts which a plumber would rarely choose. For this reason, plumbers will usually only guarantee products they have supplied.
Does the phrase “you get what you pay for” ever not apply?
Ask a Plumber
Dear Paul Gavic:
I’ve looked high and low for the source of my water leak and have found nothing, but
my water bill continues to increase. What is happening?
AIn my experience, almost all mystery of water levels, this should never be above the overflow tube. If it is,this is likely leaks are located in the toilet. These types of leaks result from worn parts or misaligned flushing mecha- nisms. Toilets will often leak around the flapper plug. To test for this, shut off the water supply to the toilet, and note the tank’s water level. If it changes after 10 minutes,water is exiting the tank. Your flapper plug will need to be repaired or replaced. And on the topic where water is leaking. The water level can be controlled by adjusting the float located in the tank. Because the problem is sometimes already submerged in water, it can be especially difficult to detect. If the source of your high water bill is the toilet, do not delay repair. A leaky toilet can easily add hundreds of dollars to your water bill.
If you can’t locate the source of your problem, give us a call.
