I had some friends over for a BBQ on Sunday. When everyone was on the deck, I noticed it felt like it was moving a little, some boards are loose and the stain has worn away – it was built with my house in the 1980’s. How do I know if I should replace it? Is this something I can do myself?
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We have mildew growing on our bathroom ceiling! I noticed it a few wks ago – after we had some heavy rain. It’s in our guest bathroom is on the top floor. Is it our roof? Plumbing problem? Is this something we can fix ourselves? Thank you for any advice!
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Replacing your old toilets (which used 3.2+ gallons per flush) with new toilets (which use 1.6 gallons per flush or less) will significantly decrease your water bill. There are any number of new water saving toilets. A few examples are:
• A high efficiency toilet, which uses less than 1.3 gallons per flush.
• A flapper-less toilet, which uses 1.6 gallons per flush and guarantees no leaks, because the parts are not submerged in water, so they will not wear out.
• A dual flush toilet. Different flushes for your different everyday needs… -
Remodeling Specialist
Did you know that if you have a leaky faucet, fixing it immediately will save you up to 20 gallons of water per day?
If you need to replace your faucet, consider replacing it with a WaterSense labeled faucet which uses no more than 1.5 gallons per minute and will save up to 500 gallons per year.
To prevent leaks on your faucets:
- Replace your old washers on your faucets with DripStop valves. The DripStop Valve product is guaranteed for the life of your faucet.
- If your faucets leak, you may want to replace the entire faucet (and update it at the same time). Most modern faucets are “washer-less” and use the “ceramic disc system”. Most manufacturers now give a lifetime warranty on leaking faucets.
- Replace your old washers on your faucets with DripStop valves. The DripStop Valve product is guaranteed for the life of your faucet.
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Remodeling Specialist
- Take a clean bucket and put it in the shower to catch the cold water while you are waiting for your water to become hot. Besides using this water to water plants, see the articles below to find out ways to use this cold water in your everyday household living.
- Also, try to take shorter showers. Even a few minutes shorter will help. If you really want lots of hot water, take a bath in the evening.
- You can attach an aerator to your showerhead, which costs $8-50, depending on special features. Aerators use less water by pumping air into the shower head, so you can keep strong water pressure but use less water in the process.
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You can also check out the “Shower Start Hot Water Saver” or the “ShowerStart Hot Water Smart Shower Saver“ These items screw in between the showerhead and the shower arm, and lets the water from your shower run until it’s hot, then reduces your water flow from the shower to a trickle. Then when you are ready to shower just flip the switch and you get full flow again!
For your kitchen sinks:
- If you wash dishes by hand, take a clean pot and put it in your sink while you are waiting for the water to warm up to wash your dishes. Use the fresh water for your pet’s water dish.
- Keep your kitchen sink a quarter filled with soapy water to rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
- Hint: You can use the water from your shower bucket to fill the soapy water.
For your bathroom sinks:
- Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Just like we mentioned in the shower, attaching an aerator to each sink faucet can reduce your home water usage in half, as well as cut your cost of heating the water in half. A faucet aerator costs $5-10.
- Take a clean bucket and put it in the shower to catch the cold water while you are waiting for your water to become hot. Besides using this water to water plants, see the articles below to find out ways to use this cold water in your everyday household living.
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Remodeling Specialist
Whether replacing windows in an older house or choosing windows for a new house, your decisions on what type of windows to buy will be among the most important decisions you will make in terms of energy use. The best window glazings today insulate almost four times as well as the best commonly available windows from twenty years ago.
Low-E windows are designed to reflect heat. Compounds are affixed to the glass, which reflect heat waves away from the window. The average home with 10-18 windows will save enough on energy bills to pay for the Lo-E windows within a couple of years. To learn more about Low-E windows click here.
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Remodeling Specialist
Your Driveway — Once the flowers and buds have fallen off of the trees and overnight temperatures stay well above freezing, consider having your asphalt driveway resealed. This job is a small investment that can prevent an early breakdown and adds curb appeal.
Your Lawn — Invest in your lawn early and you’ll enjoy it through the Fall. Professional aeration, fertilizing and reseeding, will make you the envy of the neighborhood. In the long run you’ll also benefit financially because you’re watering will go further and you’ll have fewer problem areas to deal with the rest of the year.
Your Wood Deck — Having a sealant applied on your deck is important, especially if you haven’t done this in years. It will extend the life of your favorite outdoor gathering spot and by having a professional do it, you can have repairs performed before they become full blown issues.
Your Garage — Do you hate clutter? Of course you do! Then again, the garage is the usual place where all of our stuff tends to gather. Have your garage overhauled with rugged cabinets, shelving, and other organizational helpers. You’ll be amazed at how a professional can turn your garage into one of the nicest rooms in your house.
Your Attic — It’s so easy to forget about your attic until there’s a major problem. Have the flooring, walls and roof checked to see if anything was damaged over the winter. This simple preventative investment saves wise homeowners thousands of dollars.
Your Home’s Exterior — Have your gutters cleaned and covered with gutter protection. Have a professional touch up paint under the soffits, around the windows and shutters, and your doorways. If your home has siding, examine for damage and replace panels as needed. Consider repainting the home if it hasn’t been touched up in years; this is another preventative measure that has the fringe benefit of adding curb appeal.
Your Home’s Interior — Have rooms painted throughout the house or consider repainting every room. If it’s not time for a major bathroom renovation; how about a minor one? Have your shower and tile grouted to keep your bathroom watertight. Have new light fixtures and accessories installed. Have your windows and doors examined. Make sure that they are still doing their job before the summer heat arrives. Arrange an inspection of your central air-conditioning system to make sure that it is ready to go when the first heat wave rolls in.
Call Attention to Detail Home Remodeling now to discuss your needs. We’ve got the know how to get the projects done right. We’ll do all the heavy lifting and you just get ready to enjoy the summer!
Article from BarrWood Cabinets February Newsletter – http://www.barrwoodcabinets.com
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Remodeling Specialist
This is an interesting and informative chart that describes your return on investment for home improvement projects small and large.
Check out how anything from small change in lightbulbs to a large remodel can save you money and the planet at the same time!
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Remodeling Specialist
Have you been thinking of installing new windows, or upgrading the insulation in your attic, but thought it cost just a bit too much? Well there might be some good news for you.
Hidden in the massive federal bailout in October of 2008 was the extension of tax credits for energy efficient home improvements that had expired in 2007.
The bill also included a number of other energy efficient building tax credits. A full list and explanations can be found here.
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