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Room Addition
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Many homeowners now staying put and remodeling
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(ARA) - Have you outgrown your small home, but you're staying put for
financial or economic reasons? Or maybe you recently bought a house in
foreclosure that was a great deal, but needs fixing up.
If so, you're part of the re-energized remodeling market. For the first
time since 2006, home-improvement spending is up, according to the
Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
The surge is being aided by lower materials costs. And with more custom
builders swapping out their blueprints for hammers to get in on the
remodeling boom, labor costs have fallen in many areas as well.
In short, this is a great time to remodel, and if a new bathroom is on
your wish list, you're not alone. A recent survey conducted by the
American Institute of Architects (AIA) showed that 28 percent of
responding architects are seeing greater interest in kitchen and bath
remodels.
Most homeowners aren't going for dazzle, however. AIA reports
that typical bath projects today reflect practicality and a desire to
control utility costs. Although people tend to add or improve
bathrooms with comfort and convenience in mind, these projects are also
smart values.
According to Remodeling Magazine, creating a new bathroom is one of the
most solid investments you can make in your home. The magazine's
2009-2010 "Cost vs. Value" report estimates that a midrange home
bathroom remodel will recoup 71 percent of its cost, while a bathroom
addition recoups nearly 60 percent.
Up flush toilets: Low-cost installation, great results
With big value like that, adding a new bathroom remains very popular
with homeowners. But you may be wondering how you can get the most for
your investment, since creating below-floor drainage for new plumbing
fixtures is messy, costly and time-consuming.
Get quotes from local service providers
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One savvy idea is to choose a Saniflo up flush toilet for your new bath
project. Because this type of technology - macerating plumbing
- doesn't require digging, a completely new, full bathroom can be
installed quickly and for a lot less time and money than conventional
plumbing. What's more, an "up toilet" can go anywhere in your home.
Even in the basement.
With up flush technology, there is no need for digging up cement
floors. The unique technology pumps waste and water upward, through
small-diameter piping, directly into your sewer or septic tank. And
unlike sewage
ejection systems, up flush toilet waste is removed with every
flush, so there is no need for undesirable waste storage.
For smaller homes, nothing could be easier than adding a bathroom with
an up flush toilet. These systems can be installed in any room and are
ideal for small spaces. An unused closet or the area
underneath a stairway can easily be converted to a bathroom.
Here are some ways you can save even more:
Federal tax credits: Energy-efficiency improvements to
existing homes can net you big tax credits. Visit
www.EnergyStar.gov to see if your project qualifies. Examples
include HVAC improvements, insulation, storm windows and certain water
heaters.
Save water: According to the AIA survey, water-saving
toilets are one of the five most popular bathroom products.
The Sanicompact is a low-flow, up flush toilet that uses only
1.3 gallons per flush.
Use LED lighting: Long-lasting light-emitting diode lighting
can use 75 percent less energy than incandescent lights. Choose a
product that is Energy Star qualified.
Go door-less: A walk-in shower saves space and requires less
cleaning. Depending on your design, you may even save money with this
option.
Learn more about low-cost, above-floor bath
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