Get The Look For Less!

Get The Look For Less!

Are you in love with the oh-so-popular wide plank European white oak hardwood floors? But is the price is out of your budget? Take a look at this real hardwood and a very similar laminate, both from Karastan. It’s hard to tell the difference, isn't it?

How Much Does It Cost?

The hardwood floor (on the left) is Karastan Entrevaux color Blanched Oak. It is 7 1/2" wide European white oak. The product (not including installation) is $7.30 per sq ft.

The laminate floor (on the right) is also by Karastan. The style is Belhancourt and the color is Linen Washed Oak. It's a 9 1/2" wide plank and is is crafted with 64 layers of texture for dimension and realism that you can see and feel. Belhancourt has a surface waterproof warranty and is super easy to take care of. And the best part may be the price -- only $4.50 per square foot for the product!

Stop by and take a look today. Or ask about our "shop at home" option. Now is a great time to invest in beautiful new floors for your home!

Window Treatments ~ The Look For Less

Hunter Douglas Nantucket window shades are the more economical version of Silhouettes. This sheer window shade transforms the light in your space. The S-vane softens the sunlight streaming into your room while saving your furniture and floors from sun damage.

Nantucket shades use the original Silhouette design and feature the Signature S-Vane. With the vanes open, the sheer facings help soften outside views, controlling the incoming sunlight and blocking up to 80% of harmful UV rays. With the vanes closed, you can enjoy privacy and 99% UV protection without complete darkness.

Consider Nantucket soft shades if your are looking for a functional yet well priced option for your window treatments.

Is Your House Over 50 Years Old?

Older houses are filled with charm and character. The architecture of an older home, like a Victorian, Colonial, or Mid Century Modern offers owners a sense of originality not typically found in new builds or cookie-cutter tract home neighborhoods.

The quality of materials, design, and planning that went into many older homes would be extremely costly in 2023. But every owner of an older home or a homebuyer looking to purchase an older home should consider the possibility that they’ll have to spend money on repairs at some point in the future.

So which home repairs are most common among older homes?

New windows

For energy efficiency, the windows in most older homes generally need to be updated from single-pane glass to more energy-efficient glass. Window replacements cost on average around $565 per window, but the price can vary based on material, glass type, and labor costs.

Full HVAC replacement

Vintage (70 years +) homes may not have a whole-house air-conditioning system. A full HVAC unit replacement can cost, on average, around $7,000. This will vary based on the size of the HVAC unit, and whether you need new ductwork.

Update plumbing

Older houses are notorious for having outdated plumbing. The plumbing of an older home may be composed of various generations of pipes based on repairs performed through the history of the home.

To truly bring your house’s pipes up to date and make sure you don’t suffer any plumbing mishaps in the future, owners should expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000 (or more) depending on the scope of the project.

And if you have copper pipes:

The majority of homes in our area have copper piping. If that’s true for your home, there are a few things you will want to know so you can anticipate any upcoming copper pipe problems.

Here are 3 things every homeowner should know about copper pipes:

1. Your copper pipes will need to be replaced at some point.

Although copper piping is usually reliable and resistant to most forms of corrosion, it doesn’t last forever.

The expected life span of copper piping depends on several variables but is generally between 50-70 years. Even if your piping doesn’t fail early, your original piping could simply be nearing the end depending on when your home was built.

2. Copper pipes can fail long before they reach their expected life span.

This most often results in a small pinhole leak, but it can be a sign that more problems are on the way.

Leaks in copper pipes can be caused by a large number of variables, including the type of copper, the quality of the installation, and the chemical composition of the water.

Even external electric currents can lead to premature corrosion through a process known as electrolysis.

A pipe failing before its expected life span could be a result of any of the factors mentioned above.

3. There are ususally warning signs.

When copper pipes start to fail, it’s often slow and gradual. If you keep an eye out for the following items, you can catch copper pipe problems before they get worse.

Here are 3 things to look for with your copper pipes:

1.   Water forming on the outside of the pipes.

2.   Green corrosion on the outside of the pipes.

3.   Spots on the ceiling or walls from water leaking.

These signs don’t automatically mean your copper pipes are failing. Yet a simple awareness of some of the warning signs can help you catch leaks before they do major damage.

Replace appliances

An old stove can add to the rustic charm of an old house, but if it doesn’t work it’s little more than a piece of junk. If the appliances in your old home are nonfunctional or on their last leg (most kitchen appliances last 10 to 15 years), it’s time to replace them.

New free-standing ranges start around $500 and can cost up to five figures for luxury brands like Viking or Wolf.

Electrical repairs

Many old homes might have outdated or faulty wiring, which can be a safety concern. A good home inspector will be able to identify old wiring (like knob-and-tube) that needs to be replaced.

Other electrical problems that owners of older homes are bound to see are outlets that no longer work, flickering lights, and improper grounding. Your home might also be running on an archaic electrical grid that can’t supply enough power to your modern appliances.

The cost to rewire an entire house spans from $10,000 to $30,000 depending on the size of your home and labor. Smaller projects, like replacing your electrical panel, will cost anywhere from $1,200 to $4,000 depending on the number of amps.

Flooring

Of course, we have to mention flooring. If your home is over 50 years old, if the floors are original, it's almost certainly time for a replacement.

Your original hardwood floors can ususally be refinished. If you are in the need for new flooring, you will be pleasantly surprised how much easier to care for and keep clean your new carpet or hard surface floors will be. And if you have subfloor squeaks and creaks (don’t feel alone, most older homes do), the time to eliminate or minimize the sound is during flooring replacement.

Enjoy your older home – they aren’t built like that anymore, but be prepared for necessary maintenance to keep your home in tip top shape.

Design Tip

Is painting on your “to do” list? Wanting to make your house feel inviting, cozy, and comfortable?