Urban Blog

Dreaming of the perfect home? You are not alone. But dreaming of the perfect home can quickly devolve into a nightmare. A few home improvement wrong turns and both you and your wallet can be in for a very rough ride.

Many home improvement options come with some risks. But that doesn’t mean you have to shy away from your remodeling goals. Home improvements are a way to dramatically increase the livability of your home as well as its resale value. Let’s explore the steps you should take as well as repair disasters that you should avoid at all costs.

#1. Lead Paint

Mankind has known of the dangers of lead paint for not just decades, but for centuries. However, in the quest for profit, lead made its way into a simply staggering number of homes. Homes built before 1979-1980 will likely have some level of lead contamination. The older the home, the greater the chances are that lead paint is present. Lead is highly toxic and damaging to human health, and this is especially true for infants and children. Lead exposure leads to lower, potentially dramatically lower, I.Q. and other health problems.

When you start any home remodel project, be sure that you know what areas have lead paint and what areas are safe. If an area has lead paint, never under any circumstances sand the paint off, as this disperses the paint into the air and environment. Upon discovery that you do have lead paint, it is extremely important that you consult with a proven and reputable lead remediation expert. Once your home is contaminated with lead, it is a very expensive, stressful and time-consuming process to remediate it.

#2-Not Cleaning or Repairing Your HVAC System

HVAC systems are very expensive. The lure for shady companies to damage your system so you have to buy a new one is a very real thing. Yet, it is essential that you clean, maintain and repair your home’s HVAC system for many different reasons. A properly functioning HVAC system has lower operating costs and provides superior performance such as cleaner and healthier air.

Not properly vetting any repair personnel that enter your home can be a costly mistake. For these reasons, invest the time to find recommendations that you trust. High priced items like HVAC systems are prized targets for scam artist. So ask your friends or relatives whom they’ve used over the years for HVAC and other service and what the outcome has been. The second part of the step is to let your HVAC repair company or other companies you’ve worked with know who referred you and why.

#3-Forgetting About Insulation

Insulation is a unique home improvement. The bottom line is that from the moment you install insulation you begin saving money. Not properly installing insulation in your home, especially your attic, is nothing short of a home improvement disaster. Insulation saves you money as soon as it is installed by cutting down on your energy usage.

With that stated, not all insulation is created equally. The market is saturated with chemical based insulation products that are bad news both for the planet and for humans alike. Options such as blue jean insulation and wool insulation may cost a little more, but they are highly effective and largely free of the chemicals found in other insulation products.

#4-Converting Your Garage

Why is it usually a bad idea to convert your garage into new living space? The answer is actually fairly simple: some people really, really want a garage. If you want to make your home as attractive as possible to potential buyers down the road, then you should keep your garage.

The garage isn’t just a place, but is actually something of a concept that is firmly fixed in homeowners’ minds. For many, the garage is not just a place to park a car but also functions as a workshop, area for doing dirty jobs, a workout area, a home car repair shop and the list goes on and on. The extra space a garage provides might be wonderful but when it comes time to sell you may be left regretting your decision.

#5-Tackling Home Demolition Projects Yourself

You’ve maybe heard that “anybody can knock out a wall.” Yes, that is very true, but can you do it safely. For example, do you understand where load-bearing structures are located in the house? Do you have the expertise to recognize issues such as asbestos? Do you know what kind of protective gear to wear and how to maintain proper indoor air quality? What about lead safety precautions when undertaking demolition projects?

The bottom line is that you are far safer allowing professionals to handle any demolitions you may have in mind. In the process of demolishing an area of a home, you may expose you and your family to a variety of unexpected health risk, and this holds true for both new and older homes. A lot of varied building materials go into the construction of a home and, as a result, there is much that can go wrong. Side with caution and leave demolishing up to the professionals. When it comes to demolishing, a mistake such as hitting your electric wiring or plumbing can be both costly and dangerous.

It’s possible to avoid home improvement headaches. Owning a home should be a pleasure and not a nightmare. There are health risks that can take place when remodeling but by following prudent safety procedures you can save money, protect your sanity and your health all at the same time.