Jun 20, 2018 | News
Today we are delving into another fast-growing trend in the construction business – Composite Decking.
Composite decking comes in many styles and colors and is highly durable, and needing little maintenance.
Manufactured to look like real wood, composite decking is made of a combination of plastic and wood fibers. It appeals to many for its beautiful look and the fact that no preservative chemicals are used during the making process.
Composite Decking Pros:
- Durability: Composite decking has a lengthy lifespan and holds-up to most hazardous conditions. No rotting, eroding or termite damage should occur. It also doesn’t fade or show wear from the elements and can stand up to expansion and contraction in changing temperatures.
- Warranty: Most reputable companies provide a 10-25yr guarantee for any structural damage or rotting under normal conditions.
- Many Color & Style Options: There are a wide variety of colors available and many different textures & natural wood-grain looks. Go for that natural look with a Teak or Walnut finish or use a stained finish for a more modern approach.
- Maintenance: Taking care of your new decking is as simple as giving it a good sweep of leaves and debris whenever it’s needed and a more thorough clean every 6 months or so with a mild detergent and brush. Power washing is not recommended as it can cause damage to composite decks. Unlike wooden decking, staining/sealing & waterproofing are not needed.
- Environmentally Friendly: Some companies use recycled materials, making composite decking appeal to those looking for a more environmentally friendly option.
Composite Decking Cons:
- Cost: Composite decking is significantly higher priced than wood, around 50% higher in fact.
- Look: Make sure to chose a high-end product that doesn’t look cheap/fake. Keep in mind that composite decking will never look completely like real wood.
- Safety: One safety concern to think about is that composite decking can be slippery when wet. Take this into consideration when picking a brand and style.
Apr 25, 2018 | News
Exploring Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Another fast-growing trend that is taking over the flooring industry and intensifying in popularity, is replacing old floors with the new and updated Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) or Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT).
Luxury vinyl flooring has come a long way since the days of regular laminate or vinyl. It’s durability and beautiful look have helped create the ever-growing hype over this amazing product.
Many new homes are being built with luxury vinyl already installed, and with its growing popularity, most renovators are leaning towards using LVP/LVT as a cost-efficient and durable alternative to real hardwoods.
What is Luxury Vinyl?
Luxury vinyl is an affordable realistic-looking flooring that is highly durable and water-proof (or highly water resistant). It’s easy to install and creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, for less than the cost of hardwood.
As the name implies, LVP looks like planks of real hardwood, while LVT look like a natural stone, or tile.
Luxury vinyl is constructed in layers and is much thicker than the typical glue-down variety of past. It’s usually around 8mm thick, with the top layer being vinyl, the middle a high-density core board and the last layer an attached back underlayment (e.g Cork) to provide cushioning.
Laying vinyl is much like laying laminate, in that it is clickable, separate pieces that are very easy to install and remove if needed.
Pros:
- Waterproof or highly water-resistant – a definite plus for kitchen and bathroom areas prone to flooding
- Amazingly realistic to real wood or tile/stone – most people cannot even tell the difference
- Feels comfortable on bare-feet – much like walking on real wood floors
- Can be installed on top of virtually any surface – no need to rip up existing flooring and move pre-installed cabinets, as long as it even and smooth
- Cost – generally less expensive than hardwood or tile
- Relatively easy to repair if damaged – pop the damaged plank out and replace with a new one
- Easy to clean with most all-purpose cleaners – no need for speciality/expensive cleaning solutions
Cons:
- Home value doesn’t increase as with hardwood floors – but it’s certainly preferable over replacing with laminate or cheap vinyl
- It can scratch – it is definitely more scratch-resistant than real hardwood floors, but can still scratch with heavier objects such as appliances
- May require a lot of floor prep if your floors are uneven – the shape of the floors will telegraph through, so some prep work will be needed if this is the case
P&R Property Consulting Group can assist from start to finish with improving your properties flooring. It can be preferable to have professionals install luxury vinyl over doing it yourself to ensure the work is done correctly, and quickly! Creating a new and unique space with updated flooring can really change the entire look of a home, and luxury vinyl is definitely a great choice!
Mar 28, 2018 | Maintenance
The Importance of Preventative Maintenance
Keeping your home or business in tip-top shape can take a lot of time and effort; something not all of us have enough of! Being proactive about what needs to be done can help save you money and a major headache down the road.
Preventative maintenance is key to avoiding issues that can arise at a later date. Just like your car (think oil changes and tire rotations), your home needs preventative maintenance to keep it running smoothly.
Preventative Maintenance Checklist:
- Changing air filters quarterly
- Checking all plumbing and plumbing fixtures for leaks
- Changing smoke detector batteries
- Gutter cleaning
- Examining and fixing as needed of any caulk and/or sealant issues
- Replacing weather stripping as needed
- Dryer vent/duct cleaning
- Draining water heaters annually
Changing your air filters on a regular basis helps keep the airflow in your home fresh and healthy. Air filters are the key to keeping your HVAC system running smoothly and prevent any major issues. Clogged air filters are the number one reason for HVAC system failures.
Plumbing issues and leaky faucets/pipes are the main cause of increased bills and wasted water.
Check your plumbing and the inside of your toilet (flapper/valves) on a regular basis can help save you hundreds of dollars. This is an important step for every home, but imperative for multi-family communities where multiple defective faucets/toilets can amass to huge amounts of wasted money.
Changing smoke detector batteries is a no-brainer. Keeping your home fire-free is of course a number one concern of any home or business owner. Keep your smoke detectors working properly with regular battery changes.
Gutter cleaning is one of those often over-looked maintenance requirements. Clogged gutters can cause many issues to your roof, foundation and the surrounding areas. Keeping your gutters clean and the flow of water away from your home, is a very important step in preventive maintenance.
Fixing broken or damaged sealant/caulk issues can help keep mold at bay and prevent leaks and erosion. It also keeps the pests away and out of your home.
Weather stripping helps keep your home at the temperature you’ve set it and saves on energy costs. Replacing damaged weather-stripping is an easy preventative fix that will keep your home feeling comfortable and your bills looking low.
Getting your dryer vent cleaned out on a regular basis is another of those often over-looked preventative maintenance items that is highly important. Dryer vent fires are the leading cause of household fires and are on the increase. Water damage and appliance failure are also issues caused by clogged dryer vents. Having your vent cleaned regularly is not only for safety, it can also help save on your energy costs.
Lastly the draining of water heaters (or “flushing”) can help save your water heater from a premature breakdown, lack of hot water and any troubling noises coming from it. Having your water heater annually flushed will help remove the buildup of sediment at the bottom of your tank, which is the leading cause of the above issues.
P&R has been helping our customers for years with preventative maintenance. We care about keeping your home and businesses safe and in a pristine and healthy condition, and believe that preventive maintenance is key.
Feel free to contact us today with any questions, or to secure a free QUOTE!
Mar 21, 2018 | News
Thinking about going ‘tankless’ and wondering what the benefits might be? Tankless water heaters (also known as “demand-type” or “on-demand” water heaters) are rising in popularity for energy-conscious home and business owners – and for good reason!
Not only are they smaller than regular water-heaters, their main benefit is an unlimited supply of hot water (who doesn’t want to take a nice long HOT shower?).
The Pros:
- Energy efficient
- Compact size
- Endless supply of hot water
- Longevity
- Less chances of flooding
- Rebate/tax credit on your purchase
- Increase your home value
Energy Efficient: Tankless water heaters use much less energy over the course of a year. On average, you may be able to cut your water heating energy costs by 10-15%. This can end up adding to a savings of $100 or more a year!
Compact Size: Tankless units are mounted to the wall and take up far less space than the over-sized systems we are used to.
Unlimited Hot Water: One of the main selling points of the tankless system is its endless supply of hot water. Never running out of hot water, especially with a large family or lots of house guests, can be a life-saver!
Longevity: Tankless water heaters have a longer life-span, usually lasting for 20+ years instead of 10 years of a standard water heater.
Flooding: Flooding from traditional water heaters can be a major cause of home and/or business destruction. Tankless water heaters don’t store a large amount of water, therefore flooding issues aren’t a problem. This is especially crucial for multi-family communities, where flooding can cause severe damage to multiple homes and belongings.
Tax Rebate: According to Turbo-Tax, you can possibly receive up to a $300 tax credit on your purchase of a tankless water heater.
Home Value: Tankless systems appeal to new home buyers for all of the above reasons, therefore your home’s value can increase if it contains a tankless water heater.
The Cons:
- Upfront cost
- Flow-rate limit
- Venting requirements
Upfront Cost: The average cost of a tankless water heater plus installation can be around $3000. This price can fluctuate depending on what model you choose, and whether your home/business needs retrofitting for the new unit.
Flow-Rate Limit: Sometimes even the largest system cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example; taking a long, hot shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a tankless system to its limit.
Venting Requirements: Tankless units have high-powered burners which require a dedicated, sealed vent system that must be installed professionally.
To summarize; adding a tankless water heater to your home or business is, in general, a great choice. From energy savings to endless supplies of hot-water, you can’t really go wrong when going ‘tankless’! If you are interested in having P&R quote or install your new Tankless Water Heating system – head over to our REQUEST A QUOTE page today!
