Tag: stress free home remodeling

Home Maintenance : Gas vs. Electric Water Heater

Home Maintenance/Repairs

what type of water heater should you chooseYou May Think You Know Who the Winner Is…

First some clarification must be made.  If you do not already have fuel lines in your house for natural gas appliances, adding them is very expensive – more than negating any savings in energy costs.  Also, the initial cost to purchase and install a gas water heater is higher than an electric one, which also must be taken into consideration.

Now let’s assume you are strictly looking at the energy cost of running a natural gas versus electric water heater.  A very good, scientific study was performed by the City of Statesboro, GA consisting of three tests.  Here is what they found.

Operating Costs

“Test #1 , between the traditional electric and gas tank water heaters, showed natural gas water heating operating costs to be 35% less than the electric water heating system operating costs.”

Delivery

“Test #2 measured delivery (how much hot water can you get from the tank before you run out). The natural gas tank delivered 36% more hot water than the electric unit. That’s an extra 33.2 gallons of hot water for bathing, washing clothes and dishes.”

Recovery

“Test #3 measured recovery (how much time does it take for the water heater to heat the incoming water to the desired temperature). The natural gas tank recovered 64% faster than the electric tank.”

AND THE WINNER IS…

Which costs less?  Natural gas costs less strictly to run.  Just remember all the other costs to get there if your house is not already set up for natural gas.  The payback period in cost savings may exceed your lifespan.

If you have specific questions about any home improvement project, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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Home Remodeling: Hidden Gems Inside Your Walls

Home Improvement

What’s Inside Your Walls?

When we open up a wall during a remodeling project on an older home, we never really know what we will find.  It’s one of the most vexing and intriguing aspects of remodeling.

Sometimes we find a litany of unpleasantries: creative (unsafe) framing, questionable or illegal wiring, carpet over asbestos tile, and dead rodents of all types.  All of these things have to be cleaned out, and cleaned up, whether with a broom, a hammer and new studs, or an abatement company.   The expense involved varies, though it invariably involves additional cost to the homeowner.

House Age Related

Some of these problems can be generally anticipated based on the age of the home. However, there’s almost always something that surprises everyone: the rogue run of power cord buried in the wall, electrical tape covering the connections; the plumbing that would not have passed code anywhere at any time; the rock holding up three stories at the back of a home.  All of them make me shake my head and wonder: What were these people thinking?

House History

Those open walls also provide a road map to the history of the home.  It can be entirely evident from the framing where there was once a window or a door, or where stairs once ran.  All of these are clues to the home’s past, and the relative skill of those altering it – a sometimes cryptic record of remodels, both small and large.

Fascinating Finds

Inside the walls there are also sometimes amazing finds.  Sometimes it’s as simple as a scrawled number or measurement on framing lumber, or a glass soda bottle left unintentionally and plastered over before anyone noticed.

There’s also the newspaper.  At a time when insulation wasn’t commonly installed, many homeowners stuffed their walls with newspaper, or layered it on to try to keep the cold and damp out of their homes.

If Forest Gump had been a remodeling contractor he probably would have said: Opening up a wall is like a bowl of cherries – you never know what’s inside.

If you have specific questions about any home improvement project, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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Home Improvement: Is Hard Water Driving Up Your Electric Bills?

Home Improvement

Is Your Water Increasing Your Electric Bill?

 

Not too long ago, I came across this interesting article. Who would have thought your water can be increasing your electric bill?

(BPT) – For many homeowners the biggest utility bill is electricity. Heating and cooling the home makes up nearly half of electricity costs, but the next biggest source is the water heater. Water heaters can account for up to 25 percent of total household energy use. Taking steps to improve the energy efficiency of a home with better insulation and more efficient furnaces and air conditioners can reduce energy costs significantly, as can making sure water heaters are operating properly.

Hard Water Reduces the Efficiency of Water Heaters

However, purchasing a high efficiency water heater does little good if the environment in which it operates is not right. The main culprit in reducing the efficiency of water heaters is hard water. Nearly 90 percent of American homes have hard water which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. These minerals cause scaling, a buildup that clogs waterlines and plumbing forcing appliances to work harder and operate less efficiently. Hard water can reduce the efficiency of water heaters and increase electricity costs by as much as 48 percent according to the Battelle Memorial Institute.

Hard Water Damages Your Appliances

The problem can be particularly severe with electric water heaters. These can accumulate up to 30 pounds of calcium carbonate, a rock-like scale, eventually damaging the heating element which will have to be replaced. The cost of hard water is not higher just because of reduced energy efficiency and higher electric bills; hard water also damages appliances like water heaters, dish washers, shower heads and faucets. These must be repaired and replaced more often as a result.

Benefits of Soft Water

Kitchens benefit from soft water as well because soft water is up to 12 times more effective at cleaning dishes than increasing the amount of detergent used. Researchers also found that for washing machines, the most important factor in removing stains from clothing was water softness. Reduction of water hardness was up to 100 times more effective at stain removal than increasing the detergent dose or washing with hotter water. In fact, soft water can reduce soap use by as much as half.

How do I Know If I Have Hard Water?

To determine if you have hard water, look for spots and scale build-up on fixtures. “A less obvious indication is the lack of that luxury feeling of a hot shower you get at a nice hotel,” says Michael Mecca of Performance Water Products. “That feeling is not because of the nice towels and soaps. It’s because nice hotels use soft water not only for their guests’ benefit but also to protect their investments in boilers, piping and fixtures.”

Many water treatment companies offer free tests to homeowners to measure the degree of hardness in the water and offer appropriate systems that fit. “Hardness in water can vary widely in some parts of the country and pipe size, number of bathrooms, number of people in the house, types of showerheads and intended use all need to be considered for the right system,” says Mecca.

“Wells in particular are susceptible to hard water since municipal water departments often take care of the worst offenders such as iron-manganese-hydrogen sulfide. Even if you get municipal water you likely still have calcium and other hard water deposits and can benefit from a water softener. Systems for well water will cost a little more but it is well worth it,” he adds.

How do I Soften My Water?

The only way to truly remove the calcium and magnesium from household water systems is with a salt-based water softener. These remove the scaling in the pipes entirely by running the incoming hard water through a resin filter that traps the calcium and magnesium in the water – as well as any iron, manganese or radium ions. It then replaces them with sodium ions.

A salt-based water softener is one home improvement that will not only pay for itself but add value to a home. A properly sized quality water softener appliance can save a homeowner thousands of dollars over its life in reduced soap and detergent costs, electricity, efficiency and extended life for expensive appliances.

Questions?

If you have questions about about any home improvement or remodeling project, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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HELP! There is a Water Stain on My Ceiling

Home Improvement

Air Vent StainingWhy Is There A Water Stain On My Ceiling Next To An A/C Vent?

Now that summer is in full swing, the temperature inside your attic can be well over 100 degrees.  The temperature inside your air conditioned house is probably between 72 and 80 degrees.

Construction Details Count

If there is an air gap between the register “can” and the ceiling drywall, condensation (water) will form on the warm side because of the extreme temperature differential and drip onto the drywall leaving a stain when the drywall dries out.  Do not fear.  There is a solution for this problem.

How To Solve The Problem

First, remove the grill from the ceiling.  Then, carefully spray expandable foam between the register “can” and the drywall that surrounds it.  I say carefully because the foam can drip, or if too much is applied, it can get over everything and it’s difficult to clean up.

Once the foam is completely dry, tear off any excess foam and spray the water-stained ceiling drywall with oil-based Kilz (white pigmented shellac).  Once the Kilz dries, touch up the ceiling with matching paint and reinstall the grill.

Problem solved!

Questions?

If you have questions about about any home improvement or remodeling project, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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Home Improvement: Taking the Heat – Spray Foam VS Batt Insulation

Home Improvement

Spray Foam VS Fiberglass Batt Insulation: Which Is Better?

Virtually every room addition and home remodeling project I have completed over the last 24 years has needed wall and ceiling insulation.  I understand the trouble homeowners are faced with when making the decision of which type of insulation to use due to the long term consequences.  While both types of insulation have their own unique pros and cons, this article will explain enough of the benefits and drawbacks of each type so you can decide for yourself which is best for your situation.

The Difference Between Price and Cost

Before getting into each type of insulation, it would be helpful to review the difference between price and cost.  Price is the amount of money you need to take out of your pocket to initially buy a product.  Cost is the amount of money you need to take out of your pocket over the lifetime of owning a product.  If you are remodeling a bathroom and just need to insulate the ceiling, the low price option (fiberglass batts) makes the most sense.  If you are adding 1000 s.f. of living space to your house, the low cost option (spray foam) probably makes the most sense if you have no intentions of moving.

Fiberglass Insulation Pros/Cons

The upside of fiberglass insulation is its low cost, availability in small quantities, and ease of installation by almost anyone.  The downside is that it allows a lot of air movement because it does not seal tightly to itself or structural members, it gets installed above the ceiling still allowing the attic above it to get very hot in the summer, and it is not as efficient of an insulator on an inch by inch basis.

Spray Foam Insulation Pros/Cons

The upside of spray foam insulation is many:  more efficient than fiberglass bath (inch per inch), near 100% air sealing, soffit and ridge vents are not needed, applied to the underside of the roof deck so attic is kept cool and a smaller size HVAC system can be used, and it won’t get stepped on and have its R-value reduced due to its application location.  It’s downsides include it must be applied by an approved application company and set-up/minimum charges start at about $1,500.

 

Questions?

If you have questions about  about any home improvement or remodeling project, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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Kitchen Ideas: Bermuda Triangle or Perfect Triangle?

Home Improvement, Kitchen Ideas, Uncategorized

Making Your Kitchen Easier to Work In

The kitchen is the most used room in the house.  At parties, guests seem almost magnetically drawn to the kitchen.  That’s where the food and drinks are, so this makes sense.  But when you’re cooking before they arrive, is your work triangle like the Bermuda Triangle?

Leading Edge Homes Inc. - Kitchen with Work Triangle

The work triangle refers to the triangle created between your stove, refrigerator, and the sink.  These three “areas” are some of the most important components.  If you have a small kitchen – and as a result, a small work triangle – you almost don’t have enough space to maneuver.  On the other hand, if your work triangle is too big, you not only run yourself to death, but you also have to carry heavy dishes long distances.

Work Triangle Basics

Long ago, when designers started paying attention to how kitchens function day-to-day, they realized there was a natural triangle of traffic for whomever was doing the cooking.  Through years of research they discovered some figures and principles of sound kitchen design.

  • No one side of the triangle should be greater than nine feet or less than four feet.  If you slightly exceed or don’t meet these measurements, this doesn’t mean that your kitchen is dysfunctional.  However, you should measure the distance to each triangle component to see exactly how your kitchen measures up.  If you notice that you feel cramped on one side or can barely make it to the sink with a pot of boiling water on the other, then you might benefit from a kitchen remodel.

 

  • The triangle should not be interrupted by traffic or cabinetry.  If your work triangle dimensions are correct, but they don’t include walking around the island to get to the stove, or that people are always moving to the trashcan or standing by the refrigerator, then maybe kitchen traffic needs to be detoured.

 

  • The perimeter of the triangle should measure no more than 26 feet and no less than 12 feet.  If you have a small kitchen and each component is four feet away from the other, there’s not much you can do.  But consider how easy it is to work in your kitchen.  If something always feels a bit off when you are preparing a big meal, interior designers can help to restructure your kitchen.

If your kitchen doesn’t measure up and is not working for you, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 so we can collaborate with you to create your dream kitchen that functions properly.

Questions?

If you have specific questions about kitchen design, kitchen remodeling, or any other home improvement project, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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Home Improvement: Will My Air Conditioning System Be Sufficient When I Do My Room Addition

Home Improvement, Room Additions

Will I Need A Larger Air Conditioning System Or An Additional One For The Room Addition?

The answer depends on how much additional air conditioning is required, how old the existing system is, and whether you want a back-up system if the main system has a failure.  Sometimes it’s a matter of personal choice.

Common Myth

Bigger isn't always Better

Bigger isn’t always better!

Before expanding on each option, a typical notion must be dispelled.  Air conditioning is a prime example of where more is not better.  Having too large of an air conditioning system can cause the formation of mold and mildew.  This is because an over-sized system will cool the house down quickly and shut off, but not stay on long enough to remove humidity from the air.

Industry Change

Manufacturers have stopped making one ton units due to a lack of demand.  One and a half ton units are often too large for an addition.  If this is the case, the existing system would need to be replaced with one that is one ton larger.  This is easier to justify if the existing system is 10 years old or older, but sometimes there is no other choice.

Alternative Idea

Provided the addition has at least 600 s.f. of living space, or if part of the existing house ductwork can be fed off the new system to reach 600 s.f., a separate system is the way to go.  If one A/C system goes down, you can always stay in the part of the house that has working A/C until the other one is repaired.  If you only have one A/C system and it goes down on a Friday night, you and your family could be miserable and fighting with one another, or out more money for a hotel room, if it doesn’t get repaired until Tuesday.

Questions?

If you have specific questions or need a home inspection, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach Count
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Bathroom Ideas: Funky Stylish Grab Bars Hide You Need Help

Bathroom Renovations, Home Improvement

Do I Have To Show I’m Getting Older?

The short answer is no.  Members of the baby-boomer generation now have new concerns in the bathroom, but they would rather not announce it to the world.  As more people age in place (right at home), safety is on their minds when they remodel the master and even guest bathroom.

Stylish Grab Bars Add Bathroom Safety

Great bathroom idea: A toilet paper holder that doubles as a grab bar!

While grab bars make navigating the shower or getting up from the toilet safer, the typical stainless steel ones with exposed screws look like they would be more appropriate in a hospital than in a private residence.  Fear not!  There are manufacturers that make stylish ones with concealed mounting hardware, “funky” shapes, and in chrome, brushed nickel, and polished nickel finishes.

Instead of installing one of those thick, plastic toilet seat risers that scream “ugly”, look for a toilet that is labeled as universal height, or ADA compliant.  The toilet, with seat installed, will be 17″ to 19″ off the floor – a comfortable height for most people.  I also recommend using a “soft close” seat which slowly closes by itself after giving the seat only a slight nudge toward the closed position.

Roll-Out Shelves Add Additional Safety

Stretching to reach items in the back of a base cabinet can be dangerous.  Instead of risking losing your balance, install roll-out shelves. If you have room on top of the counter, consider adding a tower with doors and/or drawers to avoid bending altogether.

Using a rubber mat with suction cups on the back side is great for the shower floor.  It is extremely functional, gives terrific traction, makes bathing less stressful, and yet it can be removed when guests are coming over.

Baby boomers have many more years of life ahead of them so they may as well make their bathroom work well for them.  The beauty of the above suggestions is that style is not compromised for safety, and your home can still be shared with people of all ages.

If you have specific questions, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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Bathroom Ideas – Choosing a Vanity Sink / Bowl

Bathroom Renovations, Home Improvement

BEWARE OF WHAT YOU PURCHASE

The new vanity for your bathroom make look great in the store and the price is too hard to _MG_1996pass up.  You think the vanity will look perfect in your home. However, like so many things in life, you get what you pay for.

YOUR PERFECT VANITY MAY END UP COSTING YOU MORE

A past client of mine found out the hard way and it cost her over $700 to correct the problem.  She purchased her “prefect vanity” from a furniture / art store.  What she didn’t know was that the vanity had a vitrous china bowl (what some of you refer to as the sink) made in Mexico.  Others are made in China, Spain and elsewhere.

Vitrous china bowls are glazed and MUST have either a sticker on them stating what bathroom-sinksAmerican or Canadian safety standard they have passed or have manufacturer’s documentation stating what American or Canadian safety standard they have passed.  For tempered glass vessels (bowls that sit on top of the counter like in the picture to the left) there is a Canadian safety standard they must pass.  Plumbing inspectors check for this.  Without the proof…  you will have to purchase a bowl and have it installed in your cabinet.

Don’t fail an inspection needlessly.

If you have specific questions, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more!  In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
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Bathroom Ideas – Things to Consider

Bathroom Renovations, Home Improvement
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. bathroom addition - in progress.

Great bathroom idea – no shower doors or shower curtains needed!

Your bathroom is one of the most heavily trafficked places in your home.

Bathrooms need updates and maintenance because the constant use and moisture may contribute to the breakdown of the major components over time. Your family’s changing needs may also require an update including taller or shorter counters, handicapped accessibility or other modifications; or you may want to get a fresh start by revising a layout, remodeling to add storage, or replacing fixtures.

Before you remodel or do a bathroom update there are many things to consider:

● Layout of room, take space away from adjacent room or add on to house
● Location of sewer and water supply lines
● Vanity or kitchen height cabinets
● Cabinets, pedestal lavatory, or furniture
● Traditional shower head/valve or multiple heads and body sprays
● Tub – reglaze, replace, material, whirlpool function, soaking, walk-in
● Faucets – single or two handle, style, finish, how many
● Medicine cabinet – side wall mounted or in front of lavatory with mirror, not at all, grade
● Shower doors or 5’ wall with cap
● Recessed niches or radius shelves
● Grab bars or backing inside walls for future installation
● Wall materials – tile, cultured marble, granite, etc.
● Toilet – standard, one piece, ADA height, colors
● Quiet exhaust fan ducted outside – optional heat, light
● Lighting – recessed, wall-mounted, sconces, etc.
● Dropped ceiling over shower
● Additional GFI receptacles beyond code
● Towel bars – number, location, style to match faucet handles

 

If you are considering a bathroom update or adding a new bathroom and have questions, you can contact Leading Edge Homes, Inc. through their website, complete the comment section of this post, or call 561-795-2551.

 

 

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, and hurricane-resistant screen enclosures. In business since 1991, the most important thing they demolish is your stress and build is your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website to discover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

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