Owning a home is a great achievement and a significant financial investment. Over time, it’ll develop issues. When this happens, you’ll need to contact a home repair consultant and have them take a look to help you determine the repairs your home needs. Here are eight questions to ask them when they come for a visit.
1. Should I Install New Cabinets?
When considering repairs in your home, ask your home repair consultant if you should install new cabinets. There are several reasons why your consultant may recommend new cabinet installation. If your countertops are full of things you can’t fit in your kitchen cabinets, installing new cabinets will give you more storage space, making cooking easier in your kitchen. For example, placing kitchen appliances on high cabinets will free up valuable counter space for all your prep work needs if you rarely use kitchen appliances.
If you don’t have room for more cabinets, they’ll recommend smart cabinet options to maximize your space. For example, your consultant may suggest swapping lower cabinets for deep drawers or increasing the height of your upper cabinets. They may also ask you to consider adjusting the inner shelving to create distinct sections for jars, bottles, and paper towels.
A home repair consultant may also recommend new cabinet installation if your cabinets are basic or outdated. In the past, simple cabinets with just enough room for dishes and cups may have been sufficient. Today, you don’t have to settle for conventional kitchen cabinets. You have various options for tailor-made kitchen storage solutions.
You can choose from innovative features such as spacious drawers for baking sheets concealed at the base of your cabinets, mini-wine racks, glass display cabinets, and integrated spice racks. You won’t need to jam your pans, wine bottles, spices, and herbs into spaces they can’t fit if you have these options. Alternatively, you can choose brand-new cabinets that meet your needs. Your home repair consultant will also recommend the best cabinet manufacturer for your chosen storage solution
2. Should I Hire a Landscaper?
If your home has a front and back yard, you should also ask your home repair consultant if you need to hire a landscaper. Skilled landscapers use their creativity and passion to make your landscaping goals a reality. They use their knowledge and experience to maximize the space’s opportunities and problem areas. They’ll consider climate, plants, maintenance, design, styles, and color schemes, saving you valuable time and effort. For instance, a landscape architect will know the best locations for planting trees to reduce energy bills and if you need the services of an excavating contractor.
A professional service will work with you from start to finish. During the construction phase, they’ll update you and allow you to make suggestions as they construct different sections. This allows you to visually see your landscape come to life, which goes a long way in ensuring their job meets your standards. They also have a network of contractors they typically work with, which you would otherwise have to find yourself.
If you have a day job or are generally busy, then time is already scarce enough. It takes much time and effort to transform a landscape into a beautiful outdoor space. When you hire a professional landscaper, you can relax as your backyard dreams come true. As a result, you’ll have more time to devote to pursuits such as hobbies, careers, family, and anything else your heart desires.
Working with a landscaper will also make breaking down project and development costs easier. This is key to establishing a realistic, sustainable, and achievable budget for landscaping goals. The initial stage of deciding on a design requires unlimited creativity and imagination.
Once you decide on a direction, you’ll have to start considering the monetary figures and if they work for your set budget. They’ll consider factors such as materials, permits, and if you need to rent equipment such as bush hog rentals. Professional landscapers have the expertise to guarantee that you’re getting the best results for your investment.
3. Should I Install a Patio?
Depending on your space, a home repair consultant may recommend installing a patio. Patios make for an ideal setting for gatherings with loved ones and friends. They offer an outdoor living space that’s both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Numerous paving options are available today, so you can be sure you’ll find something that fits your unique design and aesthetic preferences.
Adding a patio is one of the finest decisions you can make for your home. Whether you choose to construct something entirely new or upgrade your outdated decking, there are numerous advantages to having a patio. Patios offer a practical surface covering. On a patio, you can install landscape features such as outdoor kitchens, pergolas, cabanas, or an inviting fire pit.
Patios also offer numerous customization opportunities for your garden. They’re available in various hues, textures, and patterns to go with whatever design aesthetic you wish to use them in. You can choose between circles, diamonds, or other creative designs for the patterns. If you want the appearance of a tile without its slipperiness or fragility, some pavers or flagstones resemble tiles. Patios make creating a custom landscape feature easy to impress friends and family.
When installed properly, paved and flagstone patios last a lifetime. Decks often begin to fail after 20 to 30 years, sometimes even sooner. Why do flagstone and paved patio constructions endure longer? They’re typically constructed using stone or concrete, which hold up better when exposed to the natural elements. Wooden decks, conversely, are made of a weaker material that’s more vulnerable to damage.
Installing a patio will enhance your yard while keeping maintenance needs minimal. The maintenance needs depend on the paving type you choose and the activities for which you use your patio. Some patios only need occasional cleaning, while others may need extra care, like resealing every summer or spring or commercial concrete polishing if exposed to direct sunlight all year.
You can find plants specifically meant for patios. Regardless of your paving option, you typically won’t have to do much maintenance, saving you time and money. You may need to hire concrete cutting companies depending on the nature of your project.
4. Can I Install a New Mantle?
Ask your home repair consultant if you can install a custom mantel. Mantels are a beautiful addition to any home and can significantly enhance the aesthetics of a fireplace. Traditionally, mantels were projected over a fireplace to catch smoke. These hoods, however, are no longer necessary for modern fireplace designs.
To enhance the facade of an existing fireplace, consider installing a bespoke mantel that matches your interior decor. When you hire professional mantel installers, you can have a wooden mantel frame custom-built for your hearth, finished to your preference, and installed securely around your existing masonry fireplace. They’ll mount the mantel using cleat bolts and mounts and use fire-safe molding to seal and finish the interior of your fireplace. Professional mantel installers are also knowledgeable about fire-safe building codes, which mandate that all flammable materials be kept a predetermined distance from your fireplace box.
Working with professionals is key to ensuring safety in your home. Old barn beam mantels and large mantel shelves can weigh 75 to 200 pounds, so let professionals mount your mantle. They’ll ensure the mantel placement and height are right because the shelf will be fixed once they install the mounting brackets. Installing a mantel typically takes half a day of work.
The cost of installing a custom mantel varies with the materials and style you choose. Skilled installers go through training to guarantee a safe installation and compatibility with your current fireplace. They’ll clean your house after they’re done with the installation, letting you enjoy your remodeled fireplace. Ask your contractor to estimate the installation time and material costs.
5. Should I Install a Personal Well?
Ask your home repair consultant if you should install a personal well. Installing a water well in your home offers an alternative to relying on the municipal water supply system or water delivery companies. The water your home uses when you own a private well is free. Your expenses will stay at zero because there won’t be any monthly bills, rising costs, or hidden fees. You may have to incur maintenance costs, but they’ll be significantly lower compared to relying on the municipal water supply system.
Chlorine and other harsh chemicals that are difficult to filter out are often used to treat municipal water. Yes, it’s safe to drink, but ingesting traces of these chemicals isn’t in the best health interest of your family. A private well puts you in control of the contents of your water supply.
Well water is also known to taste better than municipal water. Its mild refreshing taste is obtained from being filtered through sand and stone layers. Chemical treatment undoubtedly affects your tap water’s quality and flavor.
Municipal water treatment plants employ heavy-duty equipment, which consumes significant energy. The treatment process generates a significant amount of chemical and industrial waste. Constructing a private well is a greener option than municipal water because it uses less fossil fuel and produces no harmful pollutants.
A water well is a desirable amenity for most homebuyers. Even if you don’t have any immediate plans to sell, you never know what the future will bring. If you decide to list your home at some point, a private well will allow you to set a higher asking price because it increases your home’s value.
6. Do I Need a Plumber?
Ask your home repair consultant if you need plumbing services. To give you an informed answer, they’ll check for several things. Low water pressure from showers and faucets usually indicates issues with the plumbing system. If it’s only one faucet, it may be a minor issue, like a clogged aerator. However, if the problem is in multiple sinks, it’s a sign of a bigger problem that needs professional attention.
They’ll also check for faucets that won’t stop dripping. Sometimes, a dripping faucet may only need a little tightening, a plumbers’ tape, or a new bracket. However, some drips result from cracked pipes or an incorrectly installed element. In such cases, it’s always best to call a plumber.
7. How Can I Fix My AC?
If you’ve been having issues with your AC, ask your home repair consultant what you can do to address them and if you need professional ac repair. If the issue results from a dirty or clogged filter, swapping in a new one should do the trick. If you have pets, be sure to change your filters more often.
Your breaker may have tripped if the unit doesn’t come on. This typically happens when running multiple appliances and lights on the same breaker. Check your breaker to rule it out. If that’s not the issue, contact a professional ac repair company.
8. Does My Roof Need Repairs?
Your roof is one of the most important components of your home. So be sure to ask your home repair consultant if you need to call in local roofers. There are several things they’ll check to answer your question.
They’ll check for sagging. The only way to remedy structural issues like plywood on the roof deck sagging between the rafters is to replace the roof and the decking boards. The sun and weather can be harsh on roofs. It could be time to replace the roof if you notice shrinking or curling shingles, shingle granules in your gutters, blistering, bare patches, or significant algae or moss growth.
If your roof has more than a few missing shingles, it’s also a sign that you need to replace it before it affects the rest of the house, as it often indicates a deeper issue. Modern roofs use plastic, tar, and rubber around vents and pipes. These materials tend to degrade faster than the roofing material, causing leaks. They’re easy to replace, and likely all that’s needed to mitigate leaks at these spots.
Your home repair consultant will help you establish your home’s repair needs and how to address them. Make the most of their service when they come for a visit by asking these questions.
