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7 Most Common Home Improvement Projects and Their Costs

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Making a major home improvement is always exciting. You have the chance to upgrade various systems, repair old sections, and update your interior and exterior design.

Unfortunately, only once you commit to the refurbishment do you realize how much work it takes. Even if you hire the best contractors in your city, there’s a chance you’ll still have to hassle with all sorts of problems. To make matters worse, the costs ramp up rather quickly, forcing homeowners to overstep their budgets.

And while we can’t help you with the extent of the work, we can at least assist you in predicting the expenses. In this article, we’ll talk about the most common home improvement projects and how much they’ll cost you. Enjoy!

1.     Roof maintenance

It doesn’t take much to realize your roof needs fixes. If your home is experiencing extensive interior leaks, there’s a good chance that some of the shingles or tiles are damaged. You can also notice signs of damage by simply climbing on the roof and looking for discoloration. In the most extreme cases, the sections will show signs of caving in.

Fortunately, fixing this area of the house isn’t particularly hard or expensive. “The average cost of roof repairs goes from $600 to $6,000,” according to Style Roofing Inc., Roofing Contractors in Fairfax, VA. However, if you need to replace the entire roof, you’ll probably need more than $10,000.

2.     Pipe bursting

Faulty pipes are one of the most frustrating problems. Unlike roof repairs, where you can easily prevent further damage by reacting quickly, nothing can prepare you for a pipe burst. What’s even worse, you can’t implement any control or preventative measures, given that the pipes are deep in the walls.

So, when one of them finally gives in, there’s a good chance that the whole section of your house will be flooded. The repairs present another obstacle, as you’ll have to demolish the entire wall to replace damaged parts. Anyway, sewer line repairs cost around $2,600, while installing new pipes comes down to $1,200.

3.     Foundation repair

Foundation damage is especially common in areas with lots of rain and snow. Having swelling or eroding soil underneath your home is another cause of the problem. And while you can implement certain preventative measures, such as adding an advanced drainage system, you might still encounter this issue.

Detecting a damaged foundation can be tricky. A homeowner should pay attention to things such as sloping floors, cracks in surrounding asphalt, door and window issues, and water puddles in your basement.

The foundation repairs usually cost between $500 and $11,000.

4.     Insect damage

Insect issues, and specifically termite damage, are one of the reasons why you might need foundation repairs. Bug problems can be insidious, causing enormous but unnoticeable damage over time.

Treating your home against termites and other insects costs approximately $500 and is a good way to prevent future issues. However, if you don’t react quickly enough, you’re looking at expenses north of $7,000 (which can be higher for houses mostly made of wood).

5.     Electrical problems

Every homeowner should have a trusty electrician on the speed dial. In the end, electric problems and maintenance are among the most common house fixes.

Similar to pipes, all wires in your home are located in the walls. If you try to repair a section, not only are you at risk of electrocuting yourself, but you might also cause unnecessary damage to the walls. So, hiring a professional is both cheaper and safer.

Electrical problems are somewhat easy to spot. Tripping circuit breakers, flickering lights, and shock from appliances are good indications that something’s wrong. Doing basic repairs will cost you $300, while completely rewiring is approximately $15,000.

6.     Water heater repairs

In the worst-case scenario, a faulty water heater can lead to massive flooding. Even if you’re dealing with a minor problem, not having warm water can be a real nuisance. Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert to notice there’s something amiss. Common indications of damaged heater are leaks and strange noises.

If you wish to prolong the life expectancy of your heater, we suggest you flush the tank every year. You might also want to check the pressure valves from time to time. Repairing this part will cost you $500, while replacement costs $1,000 and more.

7.     Septic tank repair

Damage to septic tanks is both nasty and annoying. Aside from the fact your toilet might not flush, you’ll also have to deal with feces spilling into your backyard. Regular inspections are one of the best ways to prevent such mishaps. If you still need to do some basic repairs, they will cost you $1,500.

7 ways to make your home more energy efficient

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Running an energy efficient household is a worthwhile goal for all homeowners. Not only will you be doing your part to help save the environment by conserving energy, but you’ll also be reducing the amount of money you spend on powering and heating your home. With energy bills across the United States continuing to rise at an albeit slow but steady rate, that can offer a big boost to your family’s finances.

If you’re looking to become more energy efficient, then there are several strategies and products which you can use to reduce your homes’ energy bills and potentially improve your financial situation.

Here are seven for starters.

Improve the insulation of your home

How well insulated your home is can have a considerable say in how energy efficient it is. If you can do everything in your power to prevent heat leaving through the walls of your building, you’ll end up having to use less energy to keep it warm in the winter. You can insulate your home in many ways, but some of the simplest include using draught excluders on the doors, using rugs and carpet to insulate the floor better and shutting your curtains earlier in the evening to prevent the heat generated via the day’s sunlight escaping too quickly.

Install new windows

Did you know that a property’s windows can be responsible for 25 to 30% of a home’s heat gain and heat loss? Upgrading your old and less efficient windows with the latest window technology can, therefore, make a huge difference in how much energy your house uses. Contacting a reputable company such as HCS Restoration who specializes in window replacement can help you keep heat in your house during the winter and ensure that coolness doesn’t escape in the summer when your air conditioning is on full blast.

Use compact fluorescent bulbs

If you are using older lightbulbs, to light up your entire house, then you could well be using much more energy than you need to. That’s why compact fluorescent bulbs – or CFLs – are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners all over the country. In comparison, the bulbs can last up to 12 times longer than traditional incandescent lightbulbs and use far less energy. Although you may feel like it is a bit of an initial outlay to replace every bulb in your home with a CFL to start with, the difference it can make to your energy consumption will be well worth it in the long run.

Be clever with the thermostat

Clever management of your home’s thermostat can help to reduce how much energy you use to heat your home. If you are constantly changing the temperature on your thermostat, then you’ll be asking it to use more energy – which is bad news for your energy bills and the environment. Find a comfortable temperature and stick with it rather than frequently adjusting it up and down throughout the day.

Buy energy efficient appliances

Next time that your dishwasher gives up on you or your refrigerator needs replacing, then be sure to get an energy efficient appliance in its place. Purchasing an appliance which is Energy Star certified means that you’ll be getting a piece of equipment that is proven to need less energy to run.

Replace your desktop computer

If you are still using a desktop computer, then you’ll be using up a lot of unnecessary energy because desktop computers are permanently plugged in. Therefore, they are constantly sucking on electricity, even when they aren’t switched on. Even worse is if you leave your desktop computer permanently turned on as most offices do, or on standby mode. According to technology experts, you should update your computer every four years to ensure that the technology isn’t becoming obsolete or open to increasing security risks. So, when the time comes around for you to upgrade then consider buying a laptop rather than a desktop. Laptops use up to 80% less electricity.

Install solar panels

Although solar panels aren’t cheap, they are one of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient. By harnessing the power of the sun to turn it into energy for your own personal use, you’ll be saving huge sums on electricity bills as well as taking a significant step towards saving the planet. Thanks to the solar tax credit, you can also deduct 30% of the cost of installing solar technology on your home from your federal taxes.

 

5 Benefits of Having a Safe Room in Your Home

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If you’re a home-owner, chances are you’ve taken some basic steps to ensure home safety. However, if you want to feel extra-safe in your home, then certain safety features are worth the extra investment. A safe room, for example, will significantly increase your home’s safety – and the addition of a safe room will also increase your home’s value.

So, what is a safe room? Safe rooms are secure rooms installed to give you and your family a secure room to retreat to in case of natural disasters, home invasions, or extreme weather conditions. Safe rooms come with various safety features that are very unique and reliable. The walls of safe rooms are often reinforced with Kevlar or other bulletproof and weatherproof materials to prevent invaders from entering or shooting through them – and to protect occupants from extreme weather conditions. Home invaders won’t have any weapon or tool that can get them inside of your safe room, and they’re also storm-proof.

Safe rooms are desirable for their reinforcement properties. They are built to withstand hurricane winds and tornados. They’re typically designed using weather-resistant materials, and they’re reinforced with concrete and steel.

Many safe rooms are actually in a hidden location. They’re designed to keep their occupants hidden, and the walls are usually built to be soundproof. Sometimes, safe rooms equipped with high-tech surveillance technology, with cameras and codes. Many of them have alerts and call-out systems so that occupants of the safe room can call for help from inside, and alert authorities of their situation. Below are some more benefits to having a safe room in your home:

  1. Hide From Intruders

A safe room can certainly be used as a panic room in case of a home invasion. Your safe room can protect you or your children from dangerous criminals, sexual predators and other home invaders. If the intruder isn’t aware that you have a panic room, they won’t even know where to look for you. Even if they realized that you have a panic room, they won’t be able to get in, and they won’t be able to break down the walls.

  1. Keep Your Belongings Safe

Some home-owners get safe rooms to protect things and not humans. They know that it’s unlikely they’ll need to use it to protect themselves, so they keep things in there that they’d like to keep protected. It’s still nice to know that you can use to it to protect your family as well, so if you are using a safe room to protect possessions, leave some space for your family as well. Don’t cram the safe room full of stuff.

When it comes to protecting important belongings, safe rooms are perfect since they’re built to withstand even the most extreme weather conditions. They often have a climate-controlled temperature as well. Climate-sensitive items, valuable possessions, confidential documents and other important possessions are often stored in a safe room. Your most precious belongings will be safe from damage in here, and they’ll also be in a secure area where a burglar will never get to them. Everyone has special possessions in they’re home they’d like to keep safe, so why not use your safe room as a vault for the most part? You can still use it to protect yourselves if you don’t cram it full of stuff and leave room for humans as well.

  1. Have Peace of Mind

It will give you peace of mind to know that you have a very safe and secure space to escape to in your home, in case of an emergency. You won’t need to panic if a tornado is coming, or if you hear glass break and you know an intruder has entered your home. You’ll have somewhere safe to go, and that’s a great feeling. It also gives you peace of mind if you know that your safe room is you and your family’s little secret. Builders sign confidentiality agreements, and safe rooms are often kept a secret.

  1. Have an Emergency Plan

Having a safe room might safe your life one day. Being prepared and having a plan (like going to the safe room) is what can save you during emergency situations. If you’re not prepared and you don’t have a plan, that’s when you can become a victim because you didn’t know what to do in an emergency.

Once you get your safe room installed, get the whole family in the safe room for a practice mission. Make sure the whole family knows how to get into the safe room and how to alert authorities from inside the safe room. Ensure the family knows where the emergency supplies are located within the safe room, and how to secure the door so that no intruder can get inside.

  1. Increase Your Home’s Value

You will increase home-buyer interest if you install a safe room. If you’re ever selling your home, a safe room is a unique selling feature that will increase your home’s value, and increase the interest of buyers.

The additional of a safe room is an expense that definitely pays off when it comes time to sell your home. When you’re considering home improvement upgrades with the idea of increasing your home’s value in mind, definitely consider the addition of a safe room.