Ask Jerry the Handyman

Going green does have to be about buying a new solar roof system, or even replacing all your appliances with newer more energy efficient models. You can start by doing something as simple as adding insulation to your hot water heater. Doing so can cut your home’s CO2 emissions and save you around 4% to 9% in water heating costs. You also reduce standby heat costs by 25%-45%. To see if you need to insulate, touch your heater. If it’s warm to the touch, it needs additional insulation. We also recommend adding a timer to turn off the water heater when you are asleep or not at home and turn the water heater back on 30 minutes or so before you get up in the morning or come home from work.

Also consider plugging the “energy leaks” in your home, a 1/8″ space around your door is like having a brick size hole in your wall. Window frames and light switches can be other overlooked sources of energy leaks. Your handyman can easily plug these energy leaks with foam strips, gaskets and door sweeps. Do not over look the duct work either. Duct wrap or sealant around the seams of your heating and air conditioning ducts can save you up to 25% on your energy bill.

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, caulk the outside of your home. This not only seals any energy leaks, but also protects your home’s structure from water damage, your home structure’s worst enemy. So you are actually hitting two birds with the same stone.

So as you can see, you do not have to bust your budget to start greening your home. By starting with the basics first, you will not only starting saving money right away, you also be helping the planet.

HUD’s 203(k) program can help you with this quagmire and allow you to purchase or refinance a property plus include in the loan the cost of making the repairs and improvements. The FHA insured 203(k) loan is provided through approved mortgage lenders nationwide. It is available to persons wanting to occupy the home. To find out how go to www.HUD.gov

he cost of remodeling your kitchen depends on current layout, size and condition of your room, as well as the quality of replacement products you prefer. According to an annual construction cost survey by RemodelingOnline, a minor remodel of a 200-square-foot (10×20) kitchen averages $17,037-$19.366 nationwide; a mid-range major remodel including an island and other upgrades runs $50,860-$59,716; and an upscale remodel for the same size kitchen can be $103,529-$115,549. These are averages; actual costs may be higher or lower.

So what are the average costs of bathroom remodeling? This is a hard question to answer as prices range anywhere from $5,000 up to $30,000 depending on the amount of work and change you want to implement into your bathroom remodeling project.

One thing we remodeling contractors usually will not do is to give ballpark estimates for bathroom renovation. After all, we do need to see the bathroom, at the very least, before throwing out a figure. And plumbing fixtures can vary greatly depending on what you really want.

We recommend you get several estimates and have a detailed idea of what type of plumbing fixtures and the cost of those fixtures to keep your bathroom remodeling job on budget.

Painting a bedroom or a bathroom are common tasks for a handyman.

The great majority of handymen will use a brush and roller to paint a single room. The effort required to prepare for a sprayer is too great to be economical for a small paint job.

The choice of colors made by the homeowner will greatly effect the number of coats needed to cover and the final cost of the job. If dark colors are chosen the painter will probably need to apply nearly 3 full coats of paint.

When purchasing paint, always buy the best quality available. The extra money spent on paint will be saved many times over in labor. Less coats will be needed and you’ll have a better finished product.

Another way to save money on your paint job is to buy primer tinted to the same color as the paint. The primer will more easily cover existing paint and you will almost always be able to get away with a single top coat.

Cost wise figure 4 to 6 hours of labor plus the cost of paint and primer.

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