What type of remodel will give me the best return on investment?

1. Dollar for dollar there are two remodeling projects that stand out:

        a. kitchen remodel
        b. adding a bathroom

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What is your opinion of hardwood flooring in the kitchen?

Even though it’s very popular, it’s not recommended. It is a room in the home with high potential for water damage.

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How can I reduce my heating and air costs?

1. Replace furnace filter on a regular basis.

2. Have furnace serviced annually.

3. Install a programmable thermostat.

4. Don’t keep your hot water heater up too high

5. Put an insulating jacket on the hot water heater

6. Seal windows and doors with caulking and weather stripping.

7. Add another layer of insulation to your attic.

8. Seal around pipes under sinks on exterior walls with expandable foam.

9. Consider double pane replacement windows if you currently have single pane.

10. If your fireplace doesn’t have glass doors or a blower system, don’t use your fireplace for a primary heat source it will draw the warm air out of your house.

11. If you live in a two story house, add zoning to your furnace system.

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What are some of the things I can do to prevent water from damaging my home?

1. Keep gutters and downspouts clean at all times.

2. Make sure the ground/grading is sloped away from your house

3. Make sure downspouts dump water at lease three feet away from your house

4. Inspect for cracks in your foundation regularly. If you do sight cracks, be sure to seal them with a water tight sealer.

5. Keep leaves and debris that trap water off of your roof.

6. Don’t allow branches of tress to brush against roof shingles. They can damage the roof shingles and allow mold to grow.

7. Have a roofing contractor inspect your roof if your roof is 10 years old or older.

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My hot water heater sounds like it’s always running, what is causing that?

There are two possibilities:

The first is the obvious, you’re using a great amount of water and the hot water heater is trying to keep up with that.

The other, more probable, cause is your pressure relief valve is opened and is continuously letting hot water flow through the valve. That valve should always be closed during the normal operation of the hot water heater. The best solution is to replace the pressure valve with the same PSI rating as the one that you take off and add an expansion tank (which is currently required by code). This should be done by an experienced handyman or licensed plumber.

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What are the pros and cons of a tankless hot water heater?

Pros                                                                                            Cons

Instant, on-demand hot water - Whenever You Want It                      High Cost
Heats water for only as long as it’s being used
Lower energy costs
Up to 98% efficient
Lasts for a lifetime as opposed to 3 to 12 years
No leaking
Less pollution
No storage tank, it’s tankless!

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How does Hardi-Plank siding compare to vinyl siding? Which do you consider better?

Hardi-Plank is rigid which means it is more impact resistant. The flexibility of vinyl, especially in cold weather leaves it more susceptible to damage.

Vinyl never has to be painted. Whereas, Hardi-Plank will need to be painted every 5 to 7 years.

Vinyl siding gives you a small, but measurable, insulating factor due to its foam backer board.

Because Hardi-Plank is blind nailed it tends to leave spaces between the siding laps which make it appear to be loosely installed on the home. Vinyl siding is interconnected at each lap.

Proper installation of vinyl siding requires that the nails not be fully set and the pieces are cut one quarter inch short of the actual measurements at all window openings, doors and corners, to allow for expansion. If this procedure is not followed, the vinyl siding could actually become dislodged at its lap joint.

Vinyl siding is easily put over existing siding. Hardi-Plank must be installed over original framing.

Hardi-Plank will add more value to your home versus vinyl.

Hardi-Plank is a fiber-cement product and is non-combustible. Not only is vinyl combustible but it will give off poisonous gases when burned.

Hardi-Plank and Vinyl are comparable in overall costs and the warrantees are basically the same. The application has to be considered before determining which is better for you.