What Remodeling Your Bathroom Can Do For the value of Your Home

When we think of home improvement projects, such as a bathroom remodeling job, we tend to think of what that project can do for us, personally.  While you can easily benefit, a number of different ways, from having your bathroom remodeled. Did you also know that your home can benefit as well?  The truth is that your home, itself, can benefit from a bathroom remodeling project, often in more ways than one.

Before you can begin to understand the benefits that your home may get from a bathroom remodeling project, it is a good idea to focus on what a bathroom remodeling project is. Depending on who you talk to, you may get different definitions of a home improvement project.  Although there are some who say that a bathroom remodeling project can only be considered remodeling if all of it is changed, there are others who claim that simply replacing your bathtub is enough to constitute a bathroom remodeling project.  Whatever your bathroom remodeling plans are, whether they only involve replacing your bathtub or changing around your whole bathroom, your home can still benefit from the changes made.

Perhaps, the greatest bathroom remodeling benefit that your home will see will be an increase in value.  The majority of homes that undergo a bathroom remodeling project end up seeing an increase in value. This is because almost all bathroom remodeling projects result in something better. Even though a small bathroom remodeling project may result in an increase in value, the larger projects are often ones that produce the biggest differences in value. Despite the fact that most homes do see an increase in value, after a bathroom remodeling project has been completed, it is important to note that not all homes to. If your bathroom remodeling project was poorly done or never got completed, you may actually find that your home’s overall value decreases.  That is why it is important that all projects not only get finished, but that they get finished right.

Aside from an increase in value, a bathroom remodeling project may help to improve the appearance of your home.  As previously mentioned, most bathroom remodeling projects are done to improve a bathroom, in other words, make it better than it was before.  Whether your home just didn’t look attractive or if your bathroom needed repairs to make it safe again, your bathroom could greatly benefit from a new facelift.  In fact, you may find that your bathroom not only looks better, but so does the rest of your home.

Although it is nice to know what a bathroom remodeling project can do for your home, you may also be wondering what it can do for you.  As stated above, homeowners often end up benefiting, in a number of different ways, from a bathroom remodeling project.  Many of these benefits are, in a way, related the appearance of your home or bathroom.  Since bathroom remodeling projects almost always result in something better, you, as a homeowner, may feel proud of your new bathroom. In fact, you may feel as if you got a whole new bathroom. Since there is a good chance that you will be pleased with the changes, you may find yourself more willing to invite your friends or family to come into your home; thus resulting in a whole other set of benefits.

As you can easily see, there are an unlimited number of benefits to having your bathroom remodeled; benefits that may not only apply to you, but to your home as well.  If would like to reap many of the above mentioned benefits, you are advised to get started today. The sooner you start your bathroom remodeling project, the sooner you can be pleased with the end result.

TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS

Although there are many different types of construction contracts, they generally may be grouped into two divisions. The first division include contracts obtained by competitive bidding. This means that general contractors received the plans and specifications and competitively bid on the project. Generally, the lowest bidder is awarded the work. Almost all public construction contracts, and many private contracts fall in this category. Competitive bid contracts are usually a fixed price basis and consist of two types, unit price and lump-sum. The second construction division is the negotiated contracts. Negotiated contracts are when an owner directly negotiates with one contractor to do the work. Although negotiated contracts can be on any mutually agreeable basis, such as, lump-sum, unit price, or cost plus fee, most negotiated contracts are on a cost plus fee basis. The following types of construction contracts are:

Lump Sum Contract
The lump sum contract is one where the contractor gives a lump sum bid to perform a specific amount of work in exchange for a specific amount of money. The contractor is obligated to complete the work for the specified, stated dollar amount regardless of difficulties and troubles that may be experienced in the course of construction. This type of contract is popular from the owner’s view point since the total cost of the contract is known in advance. If the work is of such a type that its nature and quantity cannot be accurately determined in advance, the lump sum type contract is not suitable.

Unit Price Contract
This type of contract is based on estimated quantities of certain well-defined items in a cost-per-unit amount for each of those work items is assigned in the contract. The units are then performed by the contractor who is carrying out the work and payment to the contractor is made on the basis of the number of units actually performed in the field. The owner does not know the final cost of the project until the completion of the contract.

Unit price contracts are most commonly used where the actual amount of quantities cannot be accurately determined at the time of bidding or the time of construction.

Cost Plus Contracts
Contracts that are cost-plus are usually awarded when a fixed sum contract is undesirable or inappropriate. Cost-plus contracts are normally negotiated between the owner and the contractor. Most cost-plus contracts are open-ended in the sense that the total construction costs to the owner cannot be known until the completion of the project.

The provisions regarding compensation of the contractor are the major differences between the various types of cost-plus contracts. The contractor’s fee can be designated as a fixed percentage of the cost of the work, a sliding scale percentage of the cost of the work, a fixed fee, a fixed fee with a guaranteed maximum price, a fixed fee with a bonus, or a fixed fee with an arrangement for sharing any cost savings.

Cost Plus Variable Percentage Contract
For this type of contract, the contractor agrees to a penalty if the actual cost exceeds the estimated job cost, or a reward if the actual cost is below the estimated job cost. In return for taking the risk on its own estimate, the contractor is allowed a variable percentage of the direct job-cost for its fee. Furthermore, the project duration is usually specified and the contractor must abide by the deadline for completion. This type of contract allocates considerable risk for cost overruns to the owner, but also provides incentives to contractors to reduce costs as much as possible.

Target Estimate Contract
This is another form of contract which specifies a penalty or reward to a contractor, depending on whether the actual cost is greater than or less than the contractor’s estimated direct job cost. Usually, the percentages of savings or overrun to be shared by the owner and the contractor are predetermined and the project duration is specified in the contract. Bonuses or penalties may be stipulated for different project completion dates.

Guaranteed Maximum Cost Contract
When the project scope is well defined, an owner may choose to ask the contractor to take all the risks, both in terms of actual project cost and project time. Any work change orders from the owner must be extremely minor if at all, since performance specifications are provided to the owner at the outset of construction. The owner and the contractor agree to a project cost guaranteed by the contractor as maximum. There may be or may not be additional provisions to share any savings if any in the contract. This type of contract is particularly suitable for turnkey operation.

3 Chemicals You Need

Every pool owner has to deal with chemicals at some point in time. When dealing with chemicals, there are a few things that you should know. No matter how many chemicals you have, you should never attempt to mix them together. Also, you should never try to add water to dry chemicals of any form. Last but not least, you should never under any circumstances attempt to handle chemicals with your bare hands.

Throughout your time of owning a pool, there are 3 chemicals that you simply must have for your pool. These chemicals are very important, as you’ll be using them quite frequently.

1. Chlorine tablets
Chlorine tablets come in dimensions of either 1 inch or 3 inch. Chlorine tablets go in your skimmer, normally 3 – 4 tablets at a time. During the summer, when you run your pool on a daily basis, you’ll need to change out your tablets every week or so. If you are planning to use 2 skimmers, you’ll need around 8 tablets each week. You can buy chlorine tablets by the bucket, containing 30 – 50 tablets. They can tend to get expensive, around $80.00 a bucket, so you’ll need to have plenty of money to invest in your pool during the summer.

2. Alkaline powder
Even though chlorine in your water will help to kill off germs, it can also raise the level of acid in your pool. If you aren’t using enough alkaline, parts that contain metal will begin to corrode, turning your water a misty green color. On the other hand, if you are using too much alkaline powder, the water will get very cloudy, raising the level of germs in the water – which can lead to very dangerous health issues. In order to get the right about of alkaline powder in your pool water, you should always use brand name alkaline powders in the amount recommended by the package.

3. Chlorine powder
Chlorine powder is essential to killing germs such as algae and bacteria that exist in your pool and multiply at very fast speeds. To kill off these germs, you’ll need to use a large amount of chlorine powder in your water. Depending on the size of your pool, you may need to use more powder than others. Chlorine powder can tend to be expensive, so you should always check how much you need before you buy. This is a chemical you must have, as it’s impossible to keep your pool free of germs without it. If you have already bought it or if you plan to buy a large supply, you shouldn’t worry as you’ll always have the need for it – meaning that you can never buy enough chlorine powder.

Mold Related Services

Petitioner (Robert J. Koning) asks the Board whether mold related services including assessment and remediation services are within the scope of a properly licensed Division I contractor, pursuant to Chapter 489, Florida Statutes.

Board Response:

Pursuant to section 489.105 (3), Florida Statutes, Contractor means the person who constructs, repairs, alters, remodels, adds to, demolishes, subtracts from, or improves any building or structure, including related improvements to real estate, for others or for resale to others; and whose job scope is substantially similar to the job scope described in one of the subsequent paragraphs of the subsection. Therefore, the Board hereby issues a declaratory statement that mold remediation is within the scope of a Division I contractor as long as the the services are otherwise related to the contractor’s scope of work. Division II is no addressed with this statement.

hmm… That sort of changes the whole license issue for Mold Related Services

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