subject: If Remodeling Is To Boost Home Value, Experts Recommend Professional Plumbing Services [print this page] If Remodeling Is To Boost Home Value, Experts Recommend Professional Plumbing Services
Copyright (c) 2010 Gerry StringerWith mortgage markets and real estate still struggling to recover, signs indicate home upgrades and remodels are on the rise to preserve property value. Stock prices, sales and earnings at home improvement retailers including Lowe's and Home Depot, voted most popular in the remodeling market, are topping sales forecasts for the first time in three years.Adding a room, redoing a kitchen or a bathroom, remodeling or finishing a basement - among these are the most most common home remodeling endeavors, and they may also include dividends in property value.According to a variety of published reports from major cities around the country, the amount invested in a minor kitchen remodel will be returned 125% in home value, with a basement remodel upping the ante 98%, a major kitchen remodel 92%, and a bathroom addition 96% compared to a 90% return for a bathroom remodel.Ultimately the common denominator in all of these projects is plumbing. Of course, kitchens revolve around new countertops and cabinetry and bathrooms utilize storage and vanities whereas game basements focus on entertainment space and game rooms. But each of these home amenities revolve around the water resources: a wet bar and bathroom in the basement, the toilet, sink, tub and shower in the bathroom, and the sink, disposer, ice maker and dishwasher in the kitchen.Whether the home owner is the classic DIYer (do-it-yourselfer) or is hiring a contractor and designer to handle the job, it is not only wise but often required by code to contract with a licensed plumber to handle the lion's share of the plumbing.There are many reasons for this, of course, but chief among them is to ensure that the plumbing systems not only perform to expectations, but also don't compromise the existing plumbing in the remainder of the home. All too often a remodeling project compromises the home's water pressure or puts too much stress and strain on the hot water heater. Also, many plumbing projects in remodeling, particularly those done by the DIYer and involving home additions, place piping in outside walls or crawl spaces, putting the system at risk to unintended freezing which can compromise existing plumbing throughout the home. An experienced, licensed plumber doesn't "hook up" the new faucets, basins and plumbing appliances, but implores the home's entire pluming system when expansions and upgrades need to be planned. A comprehensive overview of the plumbing can avoid any major potential problems. In plumbing fixtures, for example, basements (especially the formerly unfinished) require a sump pump to aid in below-grade drainage, and it must be considered that drains require specific expertise to guarantee appropriate drainage without risk of expensive, and need we mention, smelly, backups. Proper hookup to the home's ventilation access and home's sewage systems are required in bathroom and kitchen projects. Especially in older homes, but even in new homes not designed for increased capacity, adding more plumbing appliances with greater capacities may require larger water lines or redirecting water lines to assure the system will operate worry-free.And there is also the consideration of building permits: government inspectors from the city or the county will pay particular attention to intricate systems like electrical and plumbing, and it will go a long way to completing the remodeling project to involve a licensed professional right from the start.Licensed plumbing contractors also bring other benefits to the table for homeowners contemplating a remodeling project. Most top residential plumbers are very experienced in remodeling projects and employ designers who can be of assistance to make the project more cost beautiful functional, water-consious and cost-effectyive. Plus, most of these plumbing contractors also have long-standing relationships with building supply companies and fixture manufacturers, and can offer homeowners a wide array of choices at significant savings over even the warehouse appliance and fixture outlets. Remodeling a whole home or even just a room can add up to a significant value-added project - if done properly. Even construction remodeling pros know there is more to plumbing than the basics, and their bids to re-do a room or a house most often involve a subcontracting fee to a licensed and experienced plumber. Also, in most cases these remodeling firms will work with a homeowner's preferred plumber; in fact they advise it because the plumber in question probably already knows the home's plumbing and can make expert recommendations in advance of building.
