Tag Archives: plumbing

How Improper Tiling Will Wreak Havoc On Home Value & Your Health

ICYMI: Poorly installed tile can cause serious health issues due to mold, and significantly decrease  home values. Gregory Norman, founder of BathMasters, highlights the advantages of hiring a professional for tiling projects and encourages homeowners to resist cutting corners.

(Clearwater, FL) —The homeowner improvement and repair market reached $317 billion USD in 2017 alone and continued to hover around that mark right up to this year-even when factoring in Covid, (1) and the number of homeowners utilizing DIY and unlicensed contractors for renovations is also on the rise.

13% of all households undertook a bathroom remodel or replacement project in the past 5 years, and of those, 42% failed to use a licensed contractor.(2)

The risks associated with improper renovations—especially tiling—can not only slash a home’s value, but also prove hazardous for homeowners’ health, warns bathroom renovation company BathMasters.

When it comes to bathroom overhauls, homeowners are generally unprepared for surprises, such as mold or leaks that can be hiding inside walls and beneath floors.(3) Improper tiling performed by a homeowner or unlicensed contractor can inadvertently allow water to seep in, facilitating accumulation of mold spores and thereby causing serious damage to a homeowner’s house and personal health.(4) Per BathMasters founder, Greg Norman, statistics show that in all remodeling projects, tile showers are the number one botched renovation.

Norman says the room for error is vast; if the underside of the shower pan is not waterproofed, or the membrane going to the drain is improperly installed, costly leaks and mold can – and likely will – occur.

(3) And the risks are alarming: mold and water damage under shoddily-installed tiles can cause heightened asthma problems, skin rashes and even autoimmune diseases.(4) Per Norman, preserving health and the value of the home are invaluable to cutting corners on a renovation project.

“No home renovation project in the world is worth putting one’s health at risk,” said Norman. “Additionally, home renovations are intended to increase the value of a home; DIY projects or renovations done by unlicensed contractors run completely contrary to that.”

Although it may seem like homeowners can save money by not using a licensed contractor, even a small defect can significantly devalue a property. Most cities require homeowners to tear out walls, along with any ceramic wall tiles, if the renovation project wasn’t inspected by the city beforehand. Also, a home appraiser may not include a non permitted addition in the square footage for the home value, which could cost homeowners thousands of dollars.

When considering home renovation projects that include electrical work, plumbing jobs, tiling or knocking down walls, hiring a licensed contractor is key.” Norman went on to say that when hiring a contractor, homeowners need to do their homework by checking reviews and ensuring that permits are being pulled consistently.

“BathMasters regularly replaces showers that have been done incorrectly by unlicensed contractors, generally within five years of installation.

The company is dedicated to providing the highest quality work; as such, its team is equipped with specialized training from the Tile Council of North America in South Carolina, enabling its contractors to offer customers the highest standard of work for all bathroom renovations. For the Silo, Ashley Richardson.

About BathMasters:

BathMasters is a Virginia plumbing, electrical and building contractor with showrooms and warehouses in Northern Virginia and the Tampa Bay Area (Florida). BathMasters is rapidly expanding to meet the demand of its customers for high-quality, full-service bathroom renovations and tub-to-shower conversions built to withstand the test of time. With thousands of custom bathroom remodel jobs under its belt, BathMasters has become the premier choice for all bathroom renovation needs.

Co-founders and brothers Gregory and David Norman grew up in a family of masters: their father was a master plumber, and their uncles worked as a master electrician, master carpenter, and class A home builder. The Norman family legacy has always been about high-quality work, never cutting corners, and an unparalleled commitment to communication, honesty and integrity in their dealings with homeowners. It is this legacy that Gregory and David carry forward at BathMasters. Their mission is to improve the skill level of bathroom installers through their extensive workforce training programs, to the benefit of homeowners and the industry itself. Visit BathMastersVirginia.com and BathMastersFlorida.com.

  1. Donahue, Kerry. “STRONG AND STABLE GROWTH PREDICTED FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT AND REPAIR MARKET IN 2017.” Joint Center for Housing Studies. N.p., 19 Jan. 2017. Web.
  2. Webb, Craig. “Homeowners Hired Pros to Remodel 66% of Kitchens, 58% of Baths, NKBA Survey Finds.” Remodeling. N.p., 11 Jan. 2017. Web. 09 Mar. 2017.
  3. LaPonsie, Maryalene. “7 Reasons to Back Away From DIY Home Improvement Projects.” Money Talks News. N.p., 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
  4. Is Your Home a Death Trap? How Mold Affects Your Health and Your Home’s Value. N.p., n.d. Web.

Little Known Facts About Modern Sewer Repair Technologies

When dealing with damage to your house or municipal sewage system, you may have numerous concerns regarding your repair choices and preventive actions you may take to avoid future damage. Going through your repair choices and acting against sewage damage may be a lot easier with expert assistance.

Any pipe repair expert like pomplumbing.ca will tell you that there are methods available that offer long-lasting, reliable repairs without causing damage to your property or interfering with municipal traffic. We have taken the first of these repair measures for you in this article by presenting some little-known facts regarding contemporary sewage repair. 

1.) Modern Line Replacement is Extremely Effective

When we speak with homeowners about broken water lines or other severe plumbing problems that may arise under a number of conditions, we often discover that they are astonished to learn that repairs can be finished in only one day. What makes this possible?

By removing the need for significant work and physical digging, trenchless technologies enable plumbing experts to replace whole water lines in a matter of hours. Using sophisticated underground procedures, these experts can completely replace your water line pipes in a fraction of the time that conventional methods need. 

2.) Trenchless Alternatives Maintain Your Lawn

Trenchless experts may patch in or repair underground portions of broken pipe without digging the pipe out using epoxy Perma-liner solutions. The experts construct tiny, non-intrusive entrance ports and line these solutions along the walls of existing pipes using air pressure.

Specialists then cure the pipe to the interior walls using a long air bladder, resulting in a fully repaired pipe in a matter of hours. This avoids the need for costly pipe digging, or “trenching,” while still delivering high-quality water line replacements.

3.) Water Line Replacement Is Affordably Priced For Any Budget

The absence of digging, the smooth installation procedure, and the minimal overhead expenses all add up to one major advantage for homeowners: substantial savings. Trenchless line replacement makes sense not just from a practical perspective, but also from a budgetary one.

The effectiveness of trenchless replacement leads to significant savings in labor expenses, just as minimum grass digging reduces the need for costly landscaping. Trenchless restorations make sense in both the short and long term since the new pipe sections will last at least 50 years. 

Burst Pipes Causing Flood and Water Damage: The Facts – ServiceMaster of  Lethbridge

4.) A burst pipe may cause an existing water line to expand.

Pipe bursting, a water line replacement method, may potentially enhance the flow and efficiency of your current water lines. A replacement pipe is attached to a pointed bursting head and fed through badly damaged pipe sections in this manner. The bursting head actually bursts through the existing pipe, clearing the material away with its expanding, conical form.

This method clears the way for the larger (and more efficient) replacement pipe. It is a “two birds with one stone” line replacement method that addresses a broken pipe emergency while also improving general performance for decades to come.

5.) Trenchless Replacement is more secure than the alternative

Because trenchless water line replacements remove the need for significant digging, workers are less likely to uncover dangerous subterranean gasses, guaranteeing the safety of both the workers and your family.

Subterranean mold and asbestos are always a significant worry when it comes to trenching replacement techniques. Fortunately, with trenchless treatments, the worry of inadvertently coming across a hazardous mold concentration is a thing of the past. 

6.) Unrivaled Lifespan of Trenchless Water Lines

One of the most important things homeowners should know about trenchless water line replacement, as we said briefly earlier in this article, is how long the improvements can be anticipated to endure. While you may believe that Perma-liner, PVC replacement options are less dependable than other materials, this is a clear misunderstanding.

Homeowners should anticipate their new pipes to endure at least 50 years, if not much longer. Not only are these new pipes simple to install, but they also provide the peace of mind that homeowners want in their plumbing. 

How to Deal With Burst Water Pipes

7.) These Solutions Are Capable of Repairing Any Type of Damage

Before replacing your water line, trenchless plumbing experts will inspect it using snaking video technology to determine the amount and kind of damage. However, this is not the expert deciding whether or not they can repair your pipe; rather, it is for assessment reasons.

In fact, trenchless methods may repair damage from any cause or kind of damage. Trenchless replacements may address your line repair requirements whether they are caused by corrosion, root incursion, shifting soil, or fracture. 

8.) Trenchless technologies shield you against larger, more costly repairs.

Many people underestimate the usefulness of trenchless repair techniques as preventive measures when dealing with water line problems. The sooner you act, like with any other kind of house damage and repair job, the better.

Responding promptly to water line damage and finding creative trenchless repairs early on may save you from far more costly and extensive upgrades later on. When homeowners take action and treat their water line issues seriously, they will be able to obtain the repairs they need at much more suitable and inexpensive times. For the Silo, John Brooks.

4 Simple Situations That Call For Investing In New Residential Windows

There are plenty of reasons to consider replacing your current residential windows with new ones. All it really takes is determining that making repairs would be more costly and ultimately less satisfying than investing in new Oshawa windows. Outside of that, why else would you take on this type of project? Here are four scenarios to consider. One of them may relate to your current circumstances.

You’re Buying A First Home

Purchasing a first home is exciting, even if the place could use some work. One of the benefits of new windows is that they will make the place for energy efficient. They’ll also improve the look of the place. As you look around for the best deals for Waterloo windows, keep factors like cost, energy rating, and style uppermost in your mind. Your choices now will pay off in the years to come.

You’re Planning on Flipping A Residential Property

Your entrepreneurial instincts tell you that a certain residential property can be purchased for a low price, remodeled, and sold for quite a profit. One of the upgrades you’ll make is ripping out the old windows and replacing them with new ones. Make sure you go with Energy Start windows that fit nicely with the home’s style. Doing so will impress potential buyers and go a long way toward generating interest in the property.

You Hope To Sell The Home In Five Years

For now, the plan is to live in the home for several years and then place it on the market. Opting for new windows now will benefit you in two specific ways. The first is that the home is more comfortable during your years of occupancy. Since it’s easier to heat and cool, that means lower utility costs.

The second has to do with ensuring the home enjoys plenty of attention from potential buyers. When they see the windows are in great condition, that’s one more reason to see what else the property has to offer. See the windows as a way to receive offers sooner rather than later. There’s also more of a chance of getting higher offers. Think of what that means in terms of having more money to go toward your next home.

You Want To Remodel The Home Before Retiring

You’ve loved your home since the first moment that you saw it. The plan is to remain in the home for the rest of your life. With retirement looming in several years, now is the time to make any changes, repairs, and upgrades that will ensure the place is in top condition.

Along with determining if anything needs to be done with the wiring, plumbing, and insulation, take a good look at the windows. Do they all work properly? Are they energy efficient? Would you prefer a different style?

Preparing the home for retirement means wanting to avoid costly repairs later on. It also means making sure your utility costs are more affordable and that the place is easier to maintain. The right replacement windows will go a long way toward guaranteeing that the place will be a home sweet home during those retirement years.

Whatever your reasoning, spend some time looking into all your options for new residential windows. Feel free to ask questions and listen to the answers that the professionals provide. In the long run, you’ll end up with windows that make life easier in more than one way.