The holidays are here and many of us have decided to take on a last-minute home repair or remodel project before our guests arrive. Home repair & remodeling projects can be tricky when time constraints are involved and it is important to not forget the functioning parts of your home. Directly from our technicians, we’ve laid out 5 home remodel tips for homeowners.
5 Common Oversights Homeowners Make During a Remodel
- Ignoring Plumbing & Water Problems
- Ignoring Heating, Cooling & Ventilation Problems
- Home Water Temperature Problems
- DIY Plumbing & HVAC
- Home Construction Permits & Inspections
Plumbing & Water
Our technicians shared story after story about beautiful bathroom & kitchen remodels that had to be immediately replaced out due to an ignored plumbing problem. From leaky pipes to improper plumbing, basement water problems and more, once the drywall is up, it is very difficult to repair any plumbing problems. Making sure that you have a licensed and insured plumber complete the plumbing portion of your remodel will ensure that it’s done correctly, that you won’t have to spend money on additional repairs and also frees up your time to focus on the rest of your project.
Heating, Cooling & Ventilation
Sometimes during a remodel, you get so focused on the visual aspect of the finished product that you sacrifice the heating, cooling & ventilation efficiency of that space. Our HVAC technicians shared several stories with us about the challenges of warm and cold spots in homes post remodel. Remodelers will move HVAC equipment to one end of the house, put vents in where it doesn’t make sense, forget ventilation and exhaust fans & more.
If you’re spending big money on a remodel project, don’t forget to consult a certified HVAC expert before you move any equipment or vents. Also, don’t forget the exhaust fan in your bathrooms and kitchens. Just like plumbing, once the walls are up, it is very difficult to move anything and if not done properly, you may need to tear down newly constructed walls.
Water Heaters
It’s no surprise that many homes remodels have unexpected expenses. Sometimes during a home remodel, you have to choose what you repair and replace and what you think you can live with. Often, equipment like a water heater gets overlooked. Imagine spending thousands of dollars on a beautiful new bathroom & shower and not having enough hot water to enjoy it. When you’re planning, budgeting, and maybe financing a bathroom remodel, be sure to work your bigger equipment into the equation. Water heaters that are more than 10 years old tend to be inefficient, need new anode rods, or, need replacing. It’s better to replace it during the remodel than have to spend additional money soon after.
DIY Plumbing & HVAC
We are huge supporters of homeowners taking on their own home repairs but there are some repairs we don’t recommend taking on yourself. Plumbing & HVAC repairs can cost a homeowner thousands of dollars and cause a lot of damage if done improperly. Finding a plumbing and HVAC contractor you can trust means you won’t have to worry about issues down the road.
Even the stars of your favorite home flip and repair shows use certified plumbing & HVAC experts for all of their behind the scenes repairs. Our techs feel terrible when they have to go out and repair something that homeowners tried fixing themselves because they know how hard the homeowner probably worked on it. We want our homeowners to be able to focus on the fun parts of remodeling and not have to worry about doing the not-so-fun parts themselves.
Home Construction Permits & Inspections
When considering our home remodel tips, one of the most important things you should remember is to take care of getting the correct permits and inspections for your project. A lot of people skip it because it can be a pain to arrange permits and inspections. One benefit of working with a contractor is that contractors take care of and arrange all of the proper paperwork and inspections. Although this process is daunting, it’s meant to keep you and your family safe.
The city requires permits and inspections for most repair and remodel projects because they want to make sure you’ve done everything properly. If you’re not sure if your repair or remodel project requires a permit, call your local city permitting office or ask your contractor for advice.
Our plumbing and HVAC team wants to help make sure that your home holiday repair or remodel project goes as smoothly as possible. Remember not to rush or ignore the key things behind a remodel. If you have questions about your remodel or repair project, call our friendly & knowledgeable staff. We provide 24-hour plumbing, heating, cooling & sewer service 365-days of the year. You can also reach us online.
Good luck out there and Happy Holidays! For more home remodel tips, be sure to check out the rest of our blog page or follow us on Facebook.
