Over the weekend, to my mother-in-law’s displeasure, were hundreds of ants walking along her ceiling, around her family room, and into her remodeled kitchen.
She had not remodeled by choice a year and a half ago… but because her ice maker line sprung a pin hole leak that turned into the flood of the century for her. Her cabinets, made out of particle board, immediately swelled up and the cabinets were a total loss.
If it were not for those pesky ants, this could have been an instant replay two years later.
While searching for ant killer (sorry ants) in the cabinet under the sink, she reached in only to find every package was wet… but the ant killer was NOT leaking. Lucky for her, the ant killer was in a bucket, so the water did not damage the cabinets.
WHERE WAS THE WATER COMING FROM?
Under-sink leaks can do a lot of damage. The water can be coming from the drainpipes, the supply hoses, the garbage disposal or even the faucet itself. The source is usually apparent as soon as you crawl under the sink with a flashlight.
In my mother-in-law’s case, it was her garbage disposal.
DISPOSAL COULD HAVE MULTIPLE LEAK LOCATIONS
While the water draining from your disposal may look like it’s coming out right from the bottom, sometimes that’s not the case.
The leak could be coming from one of 5 common areas, as pictured here:
The sink flange — where the sink and the disposal unit directly connect
The dishwasher hose — where the hose and the disposal connect
The drain — where the drainage pipe and the disposal connect
The bottom — water actually draining from the very bottom of the disposal
The sides – if the disposal has rusted or corroded
FINDING THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK
Unplug your garbage disposal. If the area around the electrical socket is in any way damp, turn off the breaker for that section of the house beforehand. Don’t risk getting shocked.
Remove everything from under the sink and place a bucket, deep-bottom pan, or small trash can underneath the disposal to catch any water that may come out. No sense cleaning up twice.
Get the plug for your sink and place it in the drain.
Fill the sink with water until it’s a little less than halfway full (not even close to a majority of this will be coming out of the leak, don’t worry). Then, place a few drops of food coloring in the water. The color doesn’t matter, just so long as it makes the water stand out against the black of your disposal unit.
Observe if there are any leaks coming from under the sink. If there are, you’ve found the problem: the sink flange.
If there are no visible leaks, remove the plug from the sink and use a flashlight to observe where the water is coming from (checking the 4 places in the image above).
PROBLEMS AND FIXES
1 THE SINK FLANGE
Likely problem: If the leak is visible before you unplug the drain, it usually means the seal between the sink and disposal has broken.
Fix: You need to detach the disposal from the sink, remove the plumber’s putty and then reseal the flange.
2 & 3 THE DISHWASHER HOSE
Likely problem: The seal between the disposal and one of these lines is likely broken.
Fix: You’ll need to replace the seal. This will vary depending on the disposal unit you have and the plumbing in your home.
4 DISPOSAL BOTTOM
Likely problem: Broken seals inside of the garbage disposal itself.
Fix: You can replace the seals inside of the disposal. However, if one is broken now, it won’t be long before another wears out and needs to be replaced. So it’s usually more economical and easier to replace the garbage disposal.
5 CORRODED DISPOSAL
Fix: You’ll need to replace the disposal
DO NOT ATTEMPT REPAIRS YOURSELF IF YOU ARE UNSURE WHAT TO DO! CALL A LICENSED PLUMBER!!!
PREVENTING A FLOOD
If you can, place the items under your sink in a bucket or water proof container
My mother-in-law averted a disaster because her items were organized in a water proof container. Yes, it had water in it, but the water never touched her cabinets.
Periodically check for leaks.
Every month (or week) check under you sink to make sure there are no leaks. This is as simple as looking with a flashlight, running your hands under the cabinet, or checking the bucket (see the above suggestion) to ensure there is no water in it.
If you are not as lucky as my mother-in-law was and have a flood:
Turn off your water
Contact your insurance company and call a water extraction service
If need be, contact a public adjuster
and then, when you are ready to have your house put back together and want a professional remodeling experience, contact your local design-build contractor, Leading Edge Homes. Inc. Want to see some of our work? Visit ourwebsiteorview our online book.
For all of your home remodeling and inspection needs, contact your local certified “roomologist”, Leading Edge Homes. Inc.at 561-795-2551.
Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.
Consumers have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau, the Florida Attorney General’s Office and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the agency charged with regulating and licensing contractors.
This month, DBPR filed an administrative complaint against Scott Berman, the company’s owner, alleging that he violated a provision of a state statute in a contract for an installation at a house in Jupiter’s Abacoa.
The BBB has given the company an “A” rating.
COMPANY CHANGED NAMES AND SHUT DOWN OLD COMPANY
According to the article: in 2009, the Florida Attorney General’s Office shut down… Florida Window, over allegations the business violated state consumer laws. The company paid $118,000 in consumer restitution and $10,000 to Seniors vs. Crime. That same year, [the owner] established Northfield Holding Corp. doing business as Florida Window & Door.
Now, six years later, that company faces a slew of very similar complaints, some of which are being aired via social media. Customers have created a Facebook page, “Florida-Window-and-Door-is-a-Rip-Off.” The page states, “We are here to shed light on the deceptive practices and shoddy work this company performs.” There is also a You Tube video one customer has posted, which describes his experience.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF?
Unfortunately, the Better Business Bureau, which most people see as a watch dog really isn’t. An “A” rating just means that the Better Business Bureau believes that a company will resolve any problems customers encounter.
Do your due diligence. Read consumer complaints on the Better Business Bureau website. Search the company on the internet and on social media. Get and verify references. Talk to past clients.
Today, you have to almost be a detective and verify that a home improvement company is worthy of your business.
Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.
When hiring a remodeling / home improvement contractor, it is common practice to ask for references. In my experience, almost everyone asks me to provide references before they hire Leading Edge Homes, Inc.
Most People Don’t Call References before they Hire A Home Improvement Contractor
Call at least three of the references you’re given.
You can never learn too much about the company you are considering using. Take a few minutes to talk to these people. It will be worth it!
Ask if the job was done to their satisfaction and at the agreed upon price. Ask if the contractor was easy to communicate with and deal with.
Call the references and see example work. You can learn a lot by seeing the finished product. If the contractor is good, many previous clients are extremely proud of their “new” home and will be glad to let you look.
Also… VERIFY A Contractor’s Insurance
Anyone can say they are insured. Insist the contractor prove it by having their insurance company FAX or mail to you a certificate of insurance with you as the certificate holder.
The most important advice I can give you is:
TRUSTthat you have chosen the right home remodeling professional to complete your home improvement project but VERIFY that what he has told you is true.
Common Mistake 2 – Using Only the Better Business Bureau to Assess a Contractor’s Reputation Only
Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes 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.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
It is a warning to all people who believe that an “A” rating from the Better Business Bureau means a company is reputable.
What is Leading Edge Home’s Rating?
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is often asked, what is your Better Business Bureau rating? We used to have an “A+” rating until the Better Business Bureau only rated “accredited” businesses.
Not having a rating doesn’t mean we are not a reputable company. It means…
Leading Edge Homes Refuse to Pay to Play
A business only gets accredited if they pay an annual fee. In our experience (we were once a member), once a business is accredited, it gets an “A” rating, and then has the “privilege” of using the Better Business Bureau logo on all of its advertising. The BBB does not do an initial, thorough investigation of a company and does not re-investigate a company before renewing their membership. It seems as though they are only interested in collecting money.
According to the CNNMoney article, [The Better Business Bureau] says that its ratings are not endorsements and that they don’t mean that a business’ products or services have been evaluated. Instead, the organization told CNNMoney in a written statement that the ratings represent the “BBB’s opinion about a business’s trustworthiness and how it is likely to interact with its customers.”
Yet, millions of American consumers are counting on them to be reliable and reputations of businesses all over the country are depending on them. Last year alone, company ratings were viewed on the BBB website more than 165 million times — a 25% jump from 2013.
Michigan resident Christopher DiPiero says he chose Jack’s Wholesale Windows & Design to replace the windows in his Michigan home five years ago based on its A rating from the BBB. But he claims the $5,000 job turned into a nightmare when the new windows he ordered were too small and improperly installed.
The BBB ‘could care less about consumers’
DiPiero says Jack’s refused to replace them so he turned to the BBB. After months of asking for help through the BBB’s online complaint process with no success, he sued the company and ended up winning a more than $20,000 judgment (including attorney’s fees), in part because the judge found that Jack’s had broken a federal warranty law. He notified the BBB about the ruling but says the organization still did nothing to help or warn other consumers by including the ruling against Jack’s on its website or factoring it into its grade.
So DiPiero turned around and sued the BBB itself, alleging that the nonprofit violated consumer protection laws by allowing paying members to retain membership and high grades even when they broke the organization’s own rules. But judges threw out his case because no consumer transaction took place between DiPiero and the BBB, and the state supreme court declined to hear the case.
“The Better Business Bureau is 100% a fraud,” said DiPiero. “They’re not doing what they’re saying they’re doing in terms of making sure these businesses are credible.”
The owner of Jack’s, Jack Tilka, blamed a personnel issue and said he regrets that Jack’s didn’t do more to resolve DiPiero’s grievances sooner. But he says he tried to offer DiPiero a full refund during court proceedings.
Jack’s Wholesale Windows, in Schoolcraft, Michigan.
The BBB has come under fire for allegations of unfair ratings and unethical practices in the past. In 2010, the Connecticut Attorney General likened its membership program to a “pay to play” scheme after a local bureau gave an annual award for business ethics to a company that was under investigation by his office. When the organization vowed to address the issues, which included eliminating a policy that barred non-members from earning A+ ratings, he backed down.
Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes 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.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
BIG MISTAKES HOMEOWNERS MAKE WHEN DOING A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT – PART 1
Just because someone is your relative, friend, or thinks they are well versed in construction, doesn’t mean they know the answers to your remodeling questions or problems.
Listening to the wrong people.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people take advice on their construction and remodeling project from people who are totally unqualified to give this critical advice.
Quite often, when I see construction messes (as many as three in one month) and I ask where they got the idea to do this or that, I inevitably hear things like:
My brother-in-law told me to do that. He used to do work like this on the side over summers when he was in college 35 years ago.
I asked the guy in the office next to mine. He did the same thing to his home when he lived in Wisconsin..
I read an article by so-and-so that said we should….
Everyone Has An Opinion
Everyone’s got an opinion on what you should do with your remodeling dollars. “Do it yourself” or “Hire the subcontractors and run the project yourself”, etc. Just because someone is your relative, friend, or thinks they are well versed in construction, doesn’t mean they know the answers to your remodeling questions or problems.
Call Someone Qualified
If you’ve got an idea or a thought about improving your home, call someone qualified to answer your questions.
Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes 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.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT HIRING A REMODELING CONTRACTOR
Price should not be the only factor when hiring a professional home remodeling contractor.
Choosing the lowest price saves you money.
This is not always true!Although a low price seems tempting, you must ask yourself what is the contractor omitting or what shortcut is the contractor taking?
A True Story:
One roofer’s price on a job was $300 lower than the other price estimates.The homeowner wanted to save money and accepted his proposal.After the roofer installed the new roof covering, all the old shingles, tarpaper and nails were lying all the way around the house in the shrubs, trees, and grass.When the homeowner saw the debris strewn throughout his yard, he was enraged!The contractor told him that cleanup was not a part of his proposal and that was how he could do the job for less money than the other contractors could.
Signs of Trouble
One of the most common signs of trouble ahead is someone offering to do work for less money than others do.Like anything else, you cannot get something for nothing.Be careful of choosing your home remodeling / general contractor based upon the lowest price.
Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes 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.
Visit the Leading Edge Home’s website or call 561-795-2551 todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
Are you sure you want to be your own general contractor?
IT WILL BE LESS EXPENSIVE TO DO THE WORK YOURSELF — REALLY?
One of the most common misconceptions about home remodeling is that it will be less expensive to do the work yourself or act as your own general contractor.
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE DOING A DIY HOME REMODELING PROJECT
There are many things to consider before beginning a home remodeling project on your own.
SUBCONTRACTOR LICENSE VERIFICATION
First, you need to verify that every subcontractor or tradesmen you hire has the correct license and carries insurance. If a person does not have Worker’s Compensation Insurance, or an exemption, then you are liable for their lost wages and medical bills if they get hurt while working on your home.
WHAT IF THE TRADESMEN DAMAGE YOUR HOME?
What happens if one of the tradesmen damages your home? Your homeowner’s policy will not cover the damage caused by them. A general contractor carries both general liability and builder’s risk insurance policies to protect you.
PERMITS… PERMITS… PERMITS
Although you can typically pull a building permit for your job if you live in a single family home, will the subcontractors you hire be able to pull their permits? If you live in a multi-family dwelling, you will not be able to pull your own building permit.
Failure to pull a permit can cost you three times the original cost of a permit if the building department catches you.
If you decide to pull your own building permit, you will have to schedule your inspections, may need to take time off from work to meet with building inspectors, and you will have to take responsibility for all the work performed on your home.
WILL YOU BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTIONS? – TAKE A VACATION DAY
You may have to rely on the electrician, plumber, mechanical contractor, and roofer to pull their own permits and schedule their own inspections. You still may have to take time off from work to make your house available to them and their building inspectors.
How much is your time worth? When you schedule subcontractors and inspectors to come to your home you must ensure access to your house
BUILDING CODES… HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?
Do you know the latest building codes? If you do not build to the current codes or hire subcontractors who do not build to the current Florida Building Codes, you could end up wasting money having to redo work.
PRICING… YOU WILL PAY RETAIL FOR YOUR SUBCONTRACTORS
You may think you are saving money by contracting with trades directly, but they have multiple sets of prices. One for contractors they work with all year long, one for the occasional contractor, and one for the public. The public pays the highest price.
WHICH COMES FIRST… THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?
It is critical to know the order in which subcontractors need to perform their work. If you get the order wrong, you may need to remove a subcontractor’s work. This will not only cost time, but money as well.
These are just a few of the potential issues that you may run into if you decide to act as your own general contractor. Before following this path, consider the risks, the time you may waste, the monetary losses you could face, and the added stress of completing your home remodeling project.
Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes 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.
To ask Todd a question, contact him at 561-795-2551 orvisit the Leading Edge Home’s website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
The following article by Melissa Dittmann Tracey provides interesting information about the 10 Top Trends for 2015. (See below for the full article)
Photo Credit: National Kitchen and Bath Association
The top 10 overall bathroom design trends expected to be hot this year:
1. Clean, white, contemporary designs
2. Floating vanities
3. Open-shelving
4. Electric heated floors
5. Purple color schemes
6. Trough sinks
7. User experience (ease of use and low maintenance) and accessibility features
8. Extra amenities (like steam showers, anti-fog mirrors, lighted showers, and shower seats)
9. Innovative storage (such as drawer pullouts and rollouts to hold hair styling equipment)
10. Showers and freestanding tubs
Just keep in mind, that the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s trend report on what’s driving bathroom design in 2015 does not mean you need to update your bathroom to conform to the latest styles and trends.
There are ways to add some of these features … such as installing a tiled back splash, replacing your faucets, adding crown molding, or even changing your paint color to update your bathroom’s look.
If you plan on remodeling your bathroom, functionality, safety, and personal preferences should be your primary focus. Color trends, materials, and other hot designs trends will be outdated in years from now.
If you have questions about a home improvement project, callLeading Edge Homes 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 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County
Just like the kitchen, contemporary designs are growing in popularity in bathroom remodels. These contemporary touches in the bathroom equate to clean and open designs, with floating vanities and freestanding tubs.
Last week, at Styled Staged & Sold, we highlighted the top 10 trends for the kitchen this year. This week, we focus on the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s latest trend report on what’s driving bathroom design in 2015.
Here are the top 10 overall bathroom design trends NKBA designers expect to be hot this year:
1. Clean, white, contemporary designs
2. Floating vanities
3. Open-shelving
4. Electric heated floors
5. Purple color schemes
6. Trough sinks
7. User experience (ease of use and low maintenance) and accessibility features
8. Extra amenities (like steam showers, anti-fog mirrors, lighted showers, and shower seats)
9. Innovative storage (such as drawer pullouts and rollouts to hold hair styling equipment)
10. Showers and freestanding tubs
Most popular colors: White and gray are the dominant colors for bathrooms. Half of designers expect to see gray growing in 2015, and several designers also mentioned the growing popularity of purple, lavender, and lilac tones gaining steam in bathroom designs. For fixtures, white continues its dominance.
Out of style: Jetted tubs, whether whirlpool or air, are decreasing in popularity, according to NKBA’s report. “People are moving away from jetted tubs to more classic soaking tubs,” says Bill Donohoe with Donohoe Design Works in the Los Angeles area. Also, beige fixture colors are increasingly dropping in popularity.
Nothing makes our blood boil more than seniors, or anyone else, be scammed by “contractors.”
1 in 5 Victimized by Scams
According to a recent article in the Palm Beach Post, 1 in 5 seniors have been victimized by scams… including home improvements.
The Knock on the Door Scam
One story sited in the article talked about a 92 year-old woman who was “offered what sounded like a good deal to repave her driveway.” She was told, by the woman who knocked on her door (RED FLAG) that her family’s business was finishing a job down the street, had materials left over, and could give her a low price. But all they did was take up front fees and did no work. This story is a common one.
The Pay Up Front Scam
Here’s another one about a woman who paid for her kitchen to be remodeled by an unlicensed contractor who paid up front and was left with nothing in her kitchen. The victim paid everything up front and then was asked for more money. This is what she was left with.
Press on the picture below to hear the victim’s story!
Only Hire A Licensed Contractor
For your safety, financial well-being, and to get your home remodeling project done properly… only hire a licensed contractor.
If you have questions about any home improvement project, please callLeading Edge Homes 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 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
Home improvement projects don’t happen overnight like they do on television. Know what to expect before you begin the process.
Dust.
Even when temporary plastic sheeting walls are erected, a fine layer of dust and dirt will still get passed it. Remember to change the air filters on your HVAC system often.
Noise.
There is no way to get around it – from circular saws to air guns and compressors, construction is noisy. Plan to take a daytime nap somewhere else or invest in a good set of ear muffs if the noise will bother you.
Soaring highs.
It may be the demolition of those ugly kitchen cabinets you’ve hated for years or the installation of drywall signaling a milestone toward completion. Celebrate them.
A few sighs. You may become tired of making so many decisions or writing large checks. Don’t be discouraged, it will be worth it when the project is complete.
The unexpected.
Lead based paint, crooked existing walls, or a cracked tie beam. No, you won’t be laughing but neither will the contractor.
Change orders.
You may want to upgrade materials or add to the scope of work. Yes it will cost more and the project may take longer, but you will be enjoying the new or remodeled area for years to come.
Cash concerns.
You may start getting upset over the amount of money you are spending, especially if you have made many change orders. A good rule of thumb is to set aside a minimum of 10% of the project cost for extras. Doing so will help alleviate some of the stress.
Delays.
Rain storms, sub-contractors not showing up, materials on back order – the list is endless. Construction is far from a perfect world. You need to be resilient.
Decisions.
Where do you want the switches, how high should the fixture be hung, oil-rubbed bronze or chrome? Count on lots of questions. Your selection of a contractor is just the first of many decisions you will have to make.
A party.
When everything is complete, you are going to want to show off your project. It’s fun for both you and your guests to see a beautifully finished home.
If you have questions about any home improvement project please callLeading Edge Homes 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 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.
