Three Popular Home Repairs That Won’t Break the Bank

Home repairs are a fact of life. Whether it’s mold and mildew in a bathroom or pool area, a deck that needs some TLC or a non-responsive garbage disposal – making minor repairs from time to time can greatly improve both the look and the safety of your home.  Local companies like Deck Helmet and national home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s have reported a surge of interest in “do it yourself” and professional home repairs.

Home Repairs

Here are three very popular home repairs:

Mold and Mildew: Mold and mildew are likely the result of either a water leak or very high humidity. This can be very damaging to both your property and your health.  She Knows.com writes that if you suspect you have mold or mildew have your home inspected for leaks.  However, if you already have extensive mold or mildew, make sure you hire a contractor who specializes in mold remediation repairs, according to Energy Star.

Decks: Decks can easily get run down by the weather -- rain, snow, ot sun – which makes deck upgrades a very popular home repair.  Allowing decks to become unstable by not inspecting and fixing it from time to time is dangerous – especially if it is a raised deck.  Jason Apter, owner of Maryland-based Deck Helmet reviews the most common deck issues faced by homeowners: Split or rotting wood; loose or missing nails, screws, or anchors where the structure is attached to the building; missing, damaged, or loose support beams and planking; wobbly handrails or guardrails.  That said, the North American Railing and Deck Association or NADRA suggests getting your decks inspected and repaired on a frequent basis to prevent any unfortunate accidents that could damage your property and possibly even harm your family or friends.  “It’s why Deck Helmet has invested so much in their patent pending system to eliminate yearly maintenance and permanently protect a homeowner’s deck for ten years,” says Apter.

Garbage Disposals:  It can be very disheartening to have a garbage disposal that simply won’t work – especially you have already poured a ton of food into it.  According to About.com, you can try and fix it with a few simple tricks:

• If it is plugged in then press the Reset button found on the bottom of the unit. If it has reset, the button will be popped out.
• If that does not work, check to see if the circuit breaker has tripped and turned off in the electrical service panel.
• If the breaker has not tripped and the reset button is not popped out, then it's either a faulty switch or a faulty garbage disposal
• Turn power back on at the service panel and check the disposal for operation.
• If the disposal will still not turn on and makes no noise, the garbage disposal is beyond repair and needs to be replaced.

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5 Great Home Renovations for Under $5,000

Keeping a house up-to-date and safe for its occupants is never cheap but you can install many home improvements that can keep your house safe, warm and decorative without losing the bank.  Here are a few renovations one can make to spruce up the home for under $5000 and in some cases, under $1000.  “It’s amazing what a small investment can do to improve your enjoyment of your home and increase your home’s resale value,” says Jason Apter, founder and CEO of Deck Helmet in Bethesda, Maryland.

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1. Update and Refurbish the Deck: Making renovations and improvements will improve the look of your deck as well as make it safe for your family and guests, according to the folks at Deck Helmet.  Check for loose screws and floor boards, as well as rotted wood and get those fixed ASAP.  Prices for improvements can be a few hundred dollars for buying new wood boards and screws to $1000 dollars to hire a contractor to seal the deck.   The Deck Helmet Revolutionary Deck Resurfacing System transforms your old worn out deck to a beautiful low maintenance composite deck at a fraction of the cost of deck replacement.

2. Paint the outside of the house: No one can deny a fresh coat of paint on the outside of the house can do wonders.  Depending on the size of the home this project can run anywhere from $3,000 to $5000 – but it does means carefully choosing your contractor.  Make sure to get references from your contractor and make sure your contractor uses a “…fresh coat of paint or sealant every two to 10 years for wood siding and every 15-25 years for fiber-cement,” according to AOL Real Estate.

3. Replace Kitchen Countertops:  Most homeowners want very much to upgrade their kitchens but the pricing can be prohibitive -- but not if you do the basics like replacing the countertops.  Moneypit.com says that there are “budget-friendly materials to choose from, including green options like stainless steel, cast concrete, and solid surfacing and terrazzo composites made from recycled materials.”  Also, you can spruce up the look by adding new knobs and drawer handles to your cabinets.  MoneyPit.com also says new countertops can be done for $1000 upwards.

4. Replacing the Roofs: No one can deny that a sturdy, leak-proof roof is a luxury – especially during rough weather seasons.  New roofs now come with 30-year guarantees so a one-time cost from $3000 to $5000 can help you outlast a lot of cold and wet winters – not to mention increase the value of your home.

5. Wood fencing: Putting a nice wood fence in your backyard is always attractive and you can do so affordably – go to your local home improvement or lumber center and do some searching.  AOL Real Estate suggests “…take a look through magazines and around the neighborhood. There are more options within your budget than you realize.Costs can be up to$2,858.

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Five Popular Home Renovations for Right Now

With home prices are rising throughout the United States for the first time in the past five years, many homeowners are thinking about making modest renovations that can increase the value of their existing home without breaking the bank.  “People are still budget conscious,” says Jason Apter, President of Deck Helmet in Bethesda, Maryland, “but they understand that a few updates to set their home apart from their neighbors and other real estate listings, can make a big difference in the long run.”

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1.      Decks- Although a new deck may be out of reach for some homeowners, many people with older decks are deciding to refinish and restore their deck so it looks like new.  Deck Helmet, a top-rated deck restoration and repair company located in Bethesda, Maryland reported a significant increase in calls over the past couple of months from customers interested in restoration and refinishing their older decks with a patent-pending system that eliminates yearly maintenance and permanently protects a deck for ten years.  “Deck Helmet reviews a cost effective alternative to deck replacement which can easily cost homeowners $10,000 or more,” says Apter.

2.      Basement/In-law Suite- Forget about the jokes about the in-laws, but according to NAR, a recent survey of homeowners showed that the rooms home buyers were willing to pay the most for were a basement and an in-law suite. Thirty-three percent of buyers would be willing to pay a median of $3,200 more for a home with a basement, and 20 percent of buyers would be willing to pay a median of $2,920 more for a home with an in-law suite.  That said, with more families

3.      Window and Door Replacements- Are another big one for renovations according to the Huffington Post which referenced NAR’s home remodeling index.  More than 44-percent of people surveyed felt replacing windows and doors were top priorities.

4.      Adding Bedrooms- While many people might desire a larger house or a new one when neither is in the budget planar said that 33-percent of those surveyed engaged in room additions. 

5.      Roofs – Roofs may not be as exciting to renovate as adding a new bedroom or remodeling a kitchen – but they are very important to keep up to date.   Approximately 25-percent of people surveyed in NAR’s home remodeling index said roofing – replacing, adding, fixing – were a big part of home renovation projects.

DeckHelmet is a professional deck cleaning and refacing service provider. This team of experts work on a step by step process and provide customers with deckhelmet reviews, recommendations , condition of the wood, and color options for the deck. From evaluation to final inspection, get detailed information about the team and the process visit here http://www.crunchbase.com/company/deck-helmet .

 

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Deck Helmet Reviews: How to Prevent Deck Accidents

Rotting beams. Unsteady railings. Lagging bolts.  These terms may not be very exciting– but they put your family and friends at risk every time they visit your outdoor deck. News media have reported numerous incidents and accidents involving serious injury and death.

Having a deck attached to your house – especially if it is elevated and up a few stories – is a wonderful luxury – but with it comes responsibility.  If the deck is not inspected or kept up properly, accidents can occur.

Deck Accident

Unsure this is something that could affect you?  No matter where in the United States you live, you can be liable if your deck is not secure.  Deck Helmet reviews some of the worst deck accidents in recent years according to the ASHI Reporter:

• Chicago, Illinois - apartment building porch collapsed on June 29, 2003, 13 people were killed and more than 40 were injured. Inspections showed the lag bolts were actually bent.
• Elyria, Ohio - a deck collapse that injured six people June 2004. The building inspector’s report, filed just hours before the collapse, read, “The balcony’s beams were badly rotted and work done earlier in the day to shore up the rotted beams did nothing to resolve the structural problem.”
• Atlanta, Georgia - Dozens were injured when the 12-year-old deck of an Atlanta mansion collapsed during a Salvation Army party in 1995.

Deck Helmet has helped hundreds of homeowners avoid serious deck accidents because their unique system eliminates rotting, cracking, warping, and splitting.  Resurfacing rather than costly deck replacement is the answer for most homeowners.  Deck Helmet has received positive reviews for their outstanding customer service, attention to detail, speed and cleanliness.  Find out why Deck Helmet may be right for you, visit www.deckhelmet.com to learn more.

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