HVAC home improvements: There’s an app for that

Posted by woodrow ~ November 29th, 2011

If you’re reading this, you already have a remote means of controlling your HVAC at home as well as monitoring your security. Using a smartphone or computer with web access, today’s homeowner can log into a secure website to check if their doors are locked or to turn on their heat before they leave work for home.

Let’s start with an easy HVAC home improvement project that can pay for itself. By using a programmable thermostat, ENERGY STAR says you can save as much as $180 annually on utility bills. Depending on your choice of model, a programmable unit can actually cost less than $180. Of course, if you really want remote access, you may pay more for high-end hardware or service.

Make a digital home improvement

Installing a programmable thermostat is a matter of correctly marking your wiring as you remove the old unit and attach the new one.  The Honeywell Aube Telephone Controller, for example, allows you to use an online or smartphone system that is password enabled. Turn on your heat remotely or call and turn your heat off if you don’t plan on coming home for the night.

The Radio Thermostat company makes a remote, programmable model that allows you to adjust HVAC settings as well as other connected devices by smartphone.  The remote controller by Venstar relies upon uses voice recognition access giving you direct control over your heat or air conditioning as well as turning on house lights for your return. Or, you can call and turn off lights you may have left on when you went to work.

Doors have their apps, too

Ever drive off for a long weekend or vacation and leave your front entry doors unlocked? Or, maybe you locked them, but can’t remember. Schlage is a trusted name in door locks. Now they offer remote-controlled locks that include Schlage LiNK, a software program that pops up on a smartphone or computer to let you lock or unlock doors in your home. Check the status of your home security. Adjust your thermostat and operate home lighting.

Have friends or family arriving for a stay? They can call on your cell and you can open the door for them, remotely. Lock bumping is the technique that burglars use for picking a tumbler lock. Today’s keyless, digital entry locks make the job a whole lot more difficult.

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Posted in Electrical, General Remodeling, Green Living, HVAC, Remodeling, Windows | 2 Comments »

Choosing the best bathroom vanity top

Posted by woodrow ~ November 28th, 2011

The bathroom vanity top is basically a countertop surface. You’ll find that the surfacing materials offer many of the same choices as those you’d evaluate for the kitchen: solid surface, granite, laminate and wood. Since your selection may come down to money, rather than aesthetics, this discussion suggests you seek a balance between the two if good looks matter to you.

Bathroom remodeling with marble or granite

Natural stone offers the greatest durability today among the materials options in bathroom vanities You’re looking at the zenith of the price scale when it comes to granite and marble. They’re hard to beat when it comes to great looks. If you’re considering a bathroom remodeling project toward the using top-end materials, natural stone is as beautiful as you can get and it resists staining. The cost: around $250 per linear foot. Remember: stone can be permanently marred with scratches and chipped.

Wood counters

Wood certainly costs less than stone – around $40 per linear foot. But you’ll need to seal it with polyurethane. You’ll need expert installation, too, to keep it level and ensure good sealing around basins and fixtures to prevent rot. When it comes to traditional appeal, it’s hard to ignore maple. It’s not a good idea to store cosmetics bottles with nail solvents on wood counters.

Solid surface material

Many solid surface products will cost as much installed as natural stone, around $250 per linear foot. Made of crushed quartz and resins, many solid surface products come already shaped around a bathroom sink, eliminating a few steps in your bathroom remodeling. You’ll also find a good range of colors and designs, many mimicking the effects of natural stone. Beware that this material is susceptible to scratches.

Laminate counters

Laminate offers the best selections for those who only base their materials on cost. You’ll pay around $50 per linear foot for a wide range of colors and patterns. They are vulnerable to hard blows, can dent and chip, and some products tend to lose color density over time.

Going with green vanity tops

If you prefer green remodeling, you can still use solid stone and wood materials. CaesarStone, Zodiaq, or Icestone are engineered stone created with green in mind. A good price on CaesarStone is around $50 per linear foot, installed. For wood, choose materials made of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood and stained with low-VOC paints.

Make a list of positive attributes for each material, their drawbacks and costs, and you’re sure to discover the right vanity top for your home.

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Posted in Bathrooms, Finish Carpentry, General Remodeling, Green Living, Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

Weekly Digest of Reliable Remodeler Tweets 2011-11-27

Posted by Hugh ~ November 27th, 2011

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Simple, routine vinyl siding maintenance

Posted by woodrow ~ November 21st, 2011

One of the top selling points for vinyl siding is the ease of maintenance. But that doesn’t mean there’s “no maintenance” involved in extending the life of your product. Vinyl siding has come a long way since it caught on as a relatively inexpensive alternative to wood and stone. It’s more durable now and holds its color better than it did years ago. That said, you have a continuing role in maintaining the performance and appearance of your siding.

Routine cleaning of vinyl siding

In winter, people tend to let their vinyl siding maintenance schedule fall by the wayside. Who wants to drag out buckets and brushes into the cold air? In truth, you can spare yourself the last-gasp maintenance that requires renting a power washer if you get out regularly and simply use laundry soap, warm water, and a soft-bristled brush to clean off winter grime.

Unless it’s freezing outside, you can perform simple maintenance several times during the winter. One of the best tools for cleaning vinyl siding is a soft brush mounted on a telescoping pole. Start off the project by rinsing down the siding with a garden hose. Mix up a solution of laundry soap (1/3 cup) and powdered detergent (2/3 cup) in a gallon of warm water and brush it on from the bottom edge of the siding, up to the top with the detergent mixture.

When you’re done soaping and scrubbing, prevent streaks by hosing the siding down from the top to the bottom. Remember, even a top-brand of vinyl siding can be scratched whether it’s board and batten, Dutch lap or vinyl log siding. Don’t lean a ladder against siding as you clean.

Removing vinyl siding stains and mold

Battle the mildew with a solution of five parts water to one-part oxygen bleach. Never use chlorine-based bleach or you’ll end up with regrettable stains. If you perform cleanings throughout the year, there’s no real need to get a pressure washer or call in a siding contractor to handle upkeep.

If you don’t, you might have to plunk down $75 to rent a pressure washer from an equipment rental company. These washers are not made for horseplay. You can blow yourself right off a ladder or blast someone in the face. Be careful.

It’s a good idea cover lighting fixtures, electrical outlets, and landscaping with drop cloths, plastic trash bags and duct tape before bringing on the power washer. Hopefully, you won’t let things get this far!

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Posted in General Remodeling, Home Maintenance, Painting, Uncategorized, Working With Contractors | 5 Comments »

Going with the flow: look at energy efficient plumbing

Posted by woodrow ~ November 21st, 2011

Low-flow plumbing fixtures can save you money in the long haul. The jury is still out whether you can quickly gain a return on your investment since water savings may only tally $100-$150 a year. But in the day when many of us are counting nickels and dimes on our water bills, everything that helps should go on the home improvement radar. If the fixtures end up increasing home value at the time of sale, it’s definitely worth investigating.

Green shower heads for the bathroom

If you’re looking to green your home, low-flow and hand-held shower heads are a great idea for the bathroom. Hand-held shower heads let you shut off the water supply while you soap up. Plus the head is closer to your body when you turn it on, allowing the hot water to hit you without having to travel through the cooler air.

You can also install flow-control inserts into existing shower heads. These are basically washers that reduce the gallons-per-minute (GPM) level. Low-flow shower heads cut the GPM rate in half. Of course, whenever you use any new low-pressure shower solution, you’ll have to help family members change their learned behaviors. After a little discomfort, they’re sure to get used to the new arrangement.

Consider low-flow toilets

New low-flow toilets use about 1.6 gallons of water per flush, about half of what traditional toilets use to handle the job. The process is governed by a chain float that closes the flapper to the level set by the manufacturer.

Some models of low-flow toilets employ supply line pressure through a compressor or vacuum pump, facilitating quick, efficient drainage. Dual-flush toilets will go a long way into turning your home green.

Introduced in Australia in the 1980s, dual-flush toilets allow you a choice when you activate the unit. Push one button for liquid waste and another for solid waste. You’ll get a shorter blast of water for liquid waste. These models come with a larger trapway than found in conventional toilets.

If you’re looking for the Rolls Royce of dual-flush commodes, consider the Power Lite by Kohler. The manufacturer claims you’ll save 2,000-5,000 gallons of water every year if you use the pump-assisted unit as recommended.

Are you a chronic overflusher? Kohler sponsors a Facebook page called Multi-flushers Anonymous.

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Posted in Bathrooms, General Remodeling, Green Living, Home Maintenance, Remodeling, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Weekly Digest of Reliable Remodeler Tweets 2011-11-20

Posted by Hugh ~ November 20th, 2011

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Last chance for tax rebates on energy efficient home improvements

Posted by woodrow ~ November 14th, 2011

Homeowners have until December 31 to buy materials and install energy efficient home improvements under the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. Provisions of the bill, an extension of previous tax credits, mandate that you buy only ENERGY STAR-compliant biomass stoves, heat and air conditioning units, insulation, roofing, water heaters, windows, doors and skylights.

Consumers must check with The Department of Energy to view precise details of products included in the tax credit program. To file for the credit, you need to include IRS Form 5695 in your April 2011 returns. Each product that complies is sold with a Manufacturer Certification Statement, which you’ll need to photocopy for your records and send along with your tax filing. You can install as many qualifying items as you wish, but there is a $500 lifetime limit on credits that expire on December 31, 2010.

Home improvements to consider for credits

Energy Savers lists the following projects and potential tax credits for items installed in your primary residence:

Biomass stoves, includes contractor installation costs: $300

Central air conditioning, includes installation, $300

Electric Heat Pumps, includes installation, $300

Furnaces and Boilers, includes installation, $100

Advanced Main Air Circulating Fan, includes installation, $50

Insulation, materials only, 10 percent of the cost, up to $500

Roofing, materials only, 10 percent of the cost, up to $500

Water Heaters (non-solar), includes installation costs, $300

Windows, Doors, and Skylights, materials only, 10 percent of the cost, up to $500, but  windows are capped at $200.

According to ENERGY STAR, performance criteria for windows, doors and skylights are determined by climate zones across the country and performance ratings established by The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).  Each product will contain the NFRC label that lists the performance based on U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, Visible Transmittance, Air Leakage, and Condensation Resistance. In addition, the manufacturer or retailer will give each buyer the Manufacturer Certification Statement required for a tax credit.

Looking ahead to the future

There are green, energy efficient products and home improvements that will remain eligible for tax credits through 2016 at 30 percent of the cost with no upper limit. These include geothermal heat pumps, solar energy systems, fuel cells, and wind energy systems. FYI: You can also receive credit up to $7,500 if you purchase a plug-in electric vehicle.

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Posted in Additions, Electrical, General Remodeling, Green Living, HVAC, Home Maintenance, Roofing, Windows | 4 Comments »

Poor ROIs for these 2011 home improvements

Posted by woodrow ~ November 13th, 2011

As each year draws to an end, pundits like to sermonize on the best returns on investment homeowners receive from remodeling. The latest analysis that caught my eye appeared at the personal finance pages on Yahoo last week where writer Dana Dratch identified the home improvement projects that delivered the worst ROI.

Near the top of the deadliest makeovers was the sunroom addition, wherein homeowners could expect a mere 48 percent return for the average $75,224 outlay. The fact that the project involves an addition – increase in total square footage – makes the Yahoo writer wince. Dratch claims increasing square footage is not a bad idea in and of itself, however a sunroom constitutes a specialized purpose that really doesn’t contribute to overall usable space in this tight market. I’d have to agree.

Beware the home-office remodeling craze

A home-office renovation complete with high-tech wiring and storage space is another ROI loser for 2011. Again, with square footage at a premium, buyers are looking for multiple purpose — rather than dedicated – living space. According to Yahoo, homeowners spent an average of $28,888 on home office remodeling and should see only some 45.8 percent ROI.

Any remodeling project that carries the tag “super deluxe” ought to send you running. A high-end super deluxe master bedroom addition or renovation that cost homeowners $232,062 on average might fetch (read and weep) a paltry 52 percent return. That’s flat-out brutal.

Money Magazine says that while completing a $30,000 kitchen appliance renovation might excite you, owning top-shelf, restaurant-grade appliances may not be what home shoppers are looking for. The magazine adds that in this market, buyers may not appreciate pools or hot tubs, especially in the Midwest.

Which home improvements make sense now?

RISMedia recommends you consider small-scale, functional repairs and upgrades for your home. That includes plunking down some $540 on landscaping for a 586 percent ROI. Repair faulty plumbing or electrical work and invest $535 on it to recoup an 181 percent ROI.

Some 600 real estate professionals surveyed by HomeGain agreed that the greatest factor increasing home prices for resale while costing homeowners the least was in de-cluttering and cleaning the house. For an investment of $290, they said you could recoup a $1,990 price increase.

In short, if you plan on staying, improve your home for your own use. But if you plan on selling someday, consider changes that suit most everyone.

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Posted in Additions, General Remodeling, Home Maintenance, Kitchens, Landscaping, Remodeling | 5 Comments »

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Looking to Kill Your Lawn?

Most likely, you're not.  Typically, I prefer to write about the need for testing your soil pH, amending the chemicals, aerating your lawn, and mowing just the right height to avoid having to use pre- and post-emergent weed killers. But here in the Sacramento area where I reside, we're in the midst of another hot summer and lawns all around are tending toward brown…or dead. The local weekly, The News and Review, called on owners to do a gut check on whether it's worth the water waste and trouble to keep their lawns green in this relentless summer heat.  A reporter drove around (wasting gasoline) to see if most green lawns had kids on them after school. When I was young, that's where you went in the summer to run through the sprinklers and keep cool. No such luck across the greater Sa

Trouble-free, Inexpensive Makeovers

Most homeowners would spend their limited resources on remodeling a kitchen or bathroom in a challenging economy. That's what a survey by Consumer Reports has revealed.  Quality, rather than quantity, is the norm and fewer Americans are willing to plunge a lot of cash into huge additions or big ticket items. It does mean, however, that we're more than willing to invest in our homes during troubled times, rather than knock out walls in an effort to flip an investment. One common home-improvement strategy is to add patio space or decks to extend the reach of the kitchen or living room. Another is to open pantry or closet space by taking out a wall. For countertops, Consumer Reports says, homeowners are choosing less costly laminates and faux stone.  Nearly 60 percent of poll participants

Congratulations to Alure Home Improvements for being selected for their 8th appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Reliable Remodeler would like to congratulate one of its very own members, Alure Home Improvements for being selected for their 8th appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition! Between 2004 and 2008 Alure teamed up to tackle seven home remodels for ABC’s hit show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Alure Home Improvements of East Meadow N.Y., with a long standing reputation in the industry as a leading and premier remodeler, and also with a history as a philanthropic contributor to the community, has become the show’s go to remodeler for makeover projects in the New York metro area. The full press release can be read here. While Alure is the main builder and a major contributor, the makeovers rely on numerous volunteers and community support.  Alure will host a pep rally on Monday, Ju

Avoiding Unscrupulous Contractors

Even the more scrupulous building contractors may be tempted to manipulate the details in hopes of a sweeter deal. That's the word out this week from Josh Garskof of Yahoo Finance. In his column, he quotes the enforcement head of the California Contractors State License Board, who tells consumers to keep transactions with their contractors on the straight and narrow. The Yahoo article suggests that in the current struggling economy, some contractors try clever "fast and loose" tactics to get you to pay "boom-time" rates. Considering that many a contractor has been forced to drop prices as much as 40 percent to compete for fewer home improvement jobs, don't give them enough rope to tie you to higher rates. Instead, Garskof writes, you should do all you can to resist contractors assertions

Know Your State Green Remodeling Initiatives

By now, most of you know all about the ENERGYSTAR programs that can bring tax credits for green remodeling if the products are purchased by the end of this year. But there are plenty of other incentives around the U. S. for doing green remodeling. And some states and municipalities have their own provisions and covenants that apply to sustainable projects. That's why you should get acquainted with the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is jointly managed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and the North Carolina Solar Center. The DSIRE website provides a one-of-its-kind comprehensive listing of each state's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency databases, along with federal ini

Openness and Natural Woods for the Hopper House

After Hollywood actor and director Dennis Hopper passed away this May after a long bout with cancer, his house went on sale. The Hopper compound--located on Indiana Avenue in Venice, CA--includes the main house, guest cottage, and a trio of two-story condominiums and it's for sale at $6.245 million. Hopper, who had been a serious student of fine art and an aficionado of Jasper Johns and Roy Lichtenstein, owned one of Andy Warhol's soup can paintings. He had the condos designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry. [caption id="attachment_1421" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Simon Berlyn photo"][/caption] The main house, offered by Jade Mills Estates, has 4,800 square feet, eight bedrooms, and seven baths on a 15,500-square-foot lot not far from the beach. According to Yahoo, there

Remodeling Goes to the Dogs

It happened early in August. The venerable New York Times ran an article by Sonia Zjawinski noting that homeowners were "remodeling with their pets in mind." That's like the tail wagging the dog when it comes to home improvements, isn't it?  Not so, claims Zjawinski, who writes that simply laying out feeding bowls and water dishes on the floor is fashionably outré. The piece, reprinted in the San Jose Mercury News, claims that "animal-friendly design"  is part of interior design's latest wave.  Consider the Cape Cod resident that asked her designer to include specs for embedding niches and alcoves for pet feeding dishes in the newly ordered kitchen island, along with roll-out bins for doggy treats and kibble. One new idea is to create doggy doors and cat doors of proportionate sizes

Beware Failing Appliances and Suspicious Plumbers

You'd think that torrential rain gathering in clogged gutters or burst frozen pipes are the largest cause of water damage in the home. Not so, says a vice president at Safeco Insurance in Seattle.  Two-thirds of water damage, according to Safeco's Jim Swegle, is caused by faulty plumbing. The balance? Household appliance failure. SmartMoney Magazine says it's largely up to you, the homeowner, to take inventory of your appliances and perform routine maintenance (or have it done) to minimize the damage caused by appliance or pipe failure. When appliances fail or faulty plumbing leaks, homeowners can cough up $5,000 per episode to clean up the mess. Start With the Water Heater Hot water heater failure is hard to predict. Count on replacing your water tank every decade. Swegel says there's

Watch that Nail Gun!

Between 1991 and 2005, hospitalizations for do-it-yourselfers for nail gun injuries rose by 300 percent. Obviously, part of the reason is that more people are undertaking DIY projects at home. Another contributing factor may be the decline in prices for nail guns. But, I'm pretty confident the main reason is that people never learn how to use them safely and think they can wield one like they're a wild-west gunslinger. Emergency room physicians across the land have taken nails out of skulls, lungs, and extremities of wounded DIYers. Duke University associate professor of occupational and environmental medicine, Hester Lipscomb, finds that homeowners are safer using nails guns that come equipped with a sequential-trip trigger. The New York Times reports that an emergency room nurse in Main

What's on Your Kitchen Must-Have List?

Much like they have opinions on movies and restaurants, everyone has their own view of must-have features to put in a new kitchen. I tend to think that the scope of your kitchen remodeling project and your available budget dictates most of the terms. There's a big difference between a dream kitchen and the best one you can build within your financial limitations. Better Homes and Gardens has its own ideas of kitchen essentials. They include: Double Ovens Dishwasher in a Drawer Island Cooktop Commercial-Style Range Pot Filler Coffee Bar On-Counter Appliance Garage Corner Storage Deep Drawers Full Extension Drawers Divided Storage Stainless Steel Pot Rack Pot Rack/Stainless Backsplash Utensil Racks Tray Storage Cabinet Home Office Computer/TV Glass Cabinet Doors Built-In

It's a Boom in Home Improvements

M.P. McQueen of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) weighed in this week on the do-it-yourself boom. It seems as the housing market continues to circle the drain, the home improvement industry is about to profit from the first spending increase in four years. Driven by plunging prices, cash shortages, and ongoing house payments, homeowners are strategizing for—and completing—renovation, addition, or improvement projects. Remodeling spending is up 5 percent this year. Some renovations beautify and preserve the homes that people now realize will be theirs for the near future. The WSJ reports that 13 million recent borrowers are above water on their mortgages. One San Francisco bay area executive chose to complete a kitchen remodeling project on a $750,000 tract home, rather than to start an

Considering Solar Water Heaters

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New Lead Paint Laws for 2010

It's hard to keep track of new legislation that affects home building and remodeling across the 50 states. Too often homeowners and re-modelers get going on a project that requires a local permit and suddenly discover they have to lay out additional money to meet building codes. I know people who have had to rip out improvements and start over when they neglected to observe the law. If you've ever had a surprise visit from a building inspector–-sent your way by a neighbor's complaint--you won't want a repeat experience! One of the most sweeping new federal laws that impact contractors in all states goes into effect the first of April 2010.  The regulations, established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), require that contractors, renovation builders, or home maintenance perso


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  • Are high end kitchen appliances worth the extra money?

    I am remodeling my kitchen and need to decide which new appliances to buy. I am amazed at the range of costs for kitchen appliances, and do not know how much I should spend. Do you think that expensive appliances are worth the extra cost if I will be selling the house in 5-7 years?

  • How much does it cost to add a sink in a bathroom?

    What might it cost to add a double sink vanity to a bathroom? Currently there is a small vanity with a single sink in the bathroom?

  • How can I install ceramic tile over exterior concrete?

    We have a concrete patio in our back yard that we would like to cover with ceramic tiles. How can I attach the tiles to the existing concrete patio? Can I use regular grout to to fill the gaps in the tile?

  • Which brand of composite wood decking should I use?

    I want to replace a small wood deck (18'-10') and build the new deck out of composite wood decking. What brand do you recommend? Do you have any tips for a DIY installer?

  • Who can I hire to restore my old wood windows?

    My sunroom's old wood windows are weathered and in bad shape. I would replace the windows, but I live in a historic district and the cost would be astronomical. I would like to have someone clean the window sashes and sand down the window frames, then refinish all the wood with some sort of exterior sealer. What kind of contractor does this type of work? There are 7 windows total, what might project cost me?

  • How long does it take to install a new exterior door?

    I would like to have a new exterior door installed in my bedroom. Because my house is sided with brick, do you think it would be best to install the new door in one of the existing window openings? How many hours would it take a contractor to do this sort of job? Thanks!

  • How can I improve the hot water supply in my house?

    It takes several minutes for the hot water in my house to reach the kitchen faucet (which is the furthest away from the hot water heater). How can I improve this situation? Should I add a second tank or a circulation loop? Thanks in advance.

  • What home renovations will most increase the overall value of my house?

    I want to spend some money to update my pre-war co-op apartment, but am unsure which remodeling projects make the most sense for my budget. Should I go for looks (new floors, fresh paint) or worry more about functional items like updated appliances, new fixtures, modern furnace? Thank you.