Home Improvement Cost Guides

In 2019 US News ranked Vermont in the top five best places to live in the continental US. Vermont consistently scores high with families as a prime destination to make a home from scenery to education. Fortunately, the cost of home building in Vermont is reasonable and compares favorably with many other parts of the US.

The crawlspace often winds up as an underutilized part of the home mainly because it isn’t comfortable. If you want to make that crawlspace more functional, you should consider converting it into a basement. Before embarking on this big project, you should know the cost to convert a crawlspace to a basement is very expensive.

Brick or stone walls can be terrific additions to just about any type of outdoor landscape. Once installed, those walls can be used to enhance the landscape, organize your yard, or even provide more privacy. You can also use those brick or stone walls to complete new structures you’re building outside like a kitchen.

We use our driveways on an almost daily basis, but can you even remember what kind you have? You should know which materials went into the construction of your driveway. Those materials can have a discernible impact on the quality and longevity of your driveway so making the right choice is crucial.

Many people buying an existing home put a backyard pool as one of their most wanted features. In many instances, the pool may be dated or in need of repairs. Bringing an existing pool back to pristine condition and making it a focal point rather than an eyesore can be challenging.

Early morning showers are not everyone’s favorite, but they are necessary. Thankfully, water heaters make those early morning showers way more tolerable and comfortable. You don’t have to dread the thought of being splashed with ice-cold water so early in the morning.

Concrete is a remarkably durable material, but it’s still not immune to different types of damage. Over time, the concrete you installed may start to look worn down and its outermost layer may become uneven as well. Demolishing and replacing that old concrete may seem like your only option, but it’s worth noting that you can resurface it.

The air conditioner is crucial to maintaining comfort for many households. A malfunctioning air conditioner could make dealing with the sweltering summer heat next to impossible. If one of the coils inside your air conditioner breaks, you need to replace it as soon as possible.

After some time, the old deck attached to your home may start to look worn down. Time and harsh outdoor elements tend to have that effect on wooden materials and your deck is no exception. Thankfully, there are ways to restore the appearance of your deck and staining is one such option.

Light switch covers are wall plates that cover the switch mechanism and electrical wiring that operate the installed electrical fixtures. Their primary function is to protect the wiring and prevent electrocution, and most have a plain design that blends in. However, there are lots of different designs, types, and combinations that combine form, function, and even fashion.

Wild animals are constantly motivated by a need to seek shelter and sustenance. They are willing to head into any location in pursuit of those things and your home is not an exception. Once inside your home, a wild animal can cause a lot of damage and possibly even injure someone.

The cost of buying a home is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to affordability. Maintenance costs are often unexpected, and they can leave many homeowners stressed and overwhelmed. So, how much should you spend per year on home maintenance?

With COVID-19 scaring everyone and more people than ever working from home, it’s not surprising that services like Instacart are hitting the forefront. Instacart allows you to get groceries delivered from the grocery store straight to your door. It’s convenient, sure, but it’s also notoriously pricey. How much does it really cost?

A pressure-reducing valve (PRV) is an essential piece of your residential plumbing. It prevents a multitude of costly plumbing-related issues and should therefore be maintained and replaced as soon as a problem is observed. There are a few options you need to consider when you replace a PRV, but the first thing everyone wants to know is how much everything will cost.

Family needs have changed, and many older homes place the washer and dryer where they no longer fit our lifestyles. Many homes have washer and dryer connections in out-of-the-way locations like basements. Many homeowners wonder what it costs to relocate washer and dryer hookups to more convenient locations.

Whether you’re building your shower for the first time or renovating it, choosing the right materials for it will be crucial. Your shower is going to be a prominent part of your bathroom. It’s understandable if you want to use some special materials to make it stand out.

If you are doing a bathroom remodel, one of the biggest parts of the project can be removing the old bathroom vanity. Removing the old vanity can involve electrical work, plumbing work, demolition work, and cleanup of the space. As you plan your bathroom remodel, it is important to understand the cost of removing your old bathroom vanity.

If you’re moving to a new home and you want to bring your pool table along with you, you should consider hiring professionals for the job. Moving pool tables is serious business. Not only are they often one of the heaviest items that people own, but the disassembly process is also very long, tedious, and complicated

Many homeowners dream of someday building a swimming pool, but it’s not always an option. Whether it’s due to cost or a lack of space, building a new pool may simply not be feasible for them. Before you give up on your dream of having a pool at home, you should first consider installing a plunge pool.

Stabilizing your home is the main job of your foundation and that’s why maintaining it properly is crucial. Any issues affecting your foundation can quickly affect the rest of your home. Don’t be surprised if certain parts of your home sustain lasting damage due to problems plaguing your foundation.

The blower motor inside your HVAC unit has an important role to play. That blower motor is responsible for moving the fan in your HVAC unit so the air will not circulate without it. Simply put, your HVAC unit will not be able to provide the comfort you seek if the blower motor is malfunctioning.

Backyards can serve as fun blank slates to work with for creative homeowners. All kinds of possibilities can be explored when you are first designing that part of your home. While putting your plans together, don’t forget to consider the addition of landscape curbing.

Do you want to take full advantage of the backyard space you have available? One way to do that is by building some structures that will help define and beautify that available space. Consider building a gazebo if your goal is to maximize that part of your property.

Asphalt is a remarkable material that can be repurposed and reused for different applications. The aforementioned material is commonly used for roads, but it also helps smooth out walkways and play areas. Even when the asphalt is old and starts to break down, it can still be turned into asphalt millings.

Almost everyone dreams of a custom-built home. Getting exactly the amenities you want, on the location you want, with the finishes and colors you want is the goal. Many factors influence the overall price of a custom-built home in South Carolina.

A swimming pool can be a terrific investment due to the value it adds and just how useful it is. If you have a swimming pool at home, you can use it for exercising or cooling down during the summer. Unfortunately, there’s also a chance that your swimming pool may largely go unused.

Are you interested in transforming your yard by building some new walkways, a patio, and even a deck for your pool? If so, you will need to install some new stones in your yard. Among the material options that can be used for those aforementioned installations are flagstones.

Some people call it paradise. Others see it as Eden in the Pacific. Whatever your views, you will probably admit that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Many people dream of living in Hawaii but wonder how much it costs to build a home in Hawaii?

For many people, nothing says elegance and quality like marble. For centuries, marble has been the choice of building material to symbolize wealth and power. Marble has been used to adorn some of the most well-known palaces in the world. It is no wonder that many homeowners want to evoke the same feelings in their bathrooms but wonder about the cost.

When you need something sturdy to serve as a long-term structural fixture on your property, you can turn to cinder blocks. Cinder blocks are prized mainly for their strength, but they are also eco-friendly options. If you want to build a strong supporting wall or erect one outdoors, using cinder blocks makes a lot of sense.

Doors don’t get enough attention for the impact they can have on your home. They protect against the elements, security against individuals with bad intentions, and they also offer some much-needed privacy. Beyond those more obvious benefits of doors, you also cannot overlook the fact that they can help bring your home’s design together.

What’s the best way to refresh your interior home design? Some would suggest moving pieces of furniture around, making adjustments to the window treatment, or changing the lighting. We want to remind homeowners that refreshing the coat of paint over their interior doors and trim is also an option.

Baseboards are underappreciated elements of your home décor. We all know they’re used to create aesthetic harmony between your floors and walls, but that’s not all. They also serve the purpose of shielding applied plaster from the effects of wear and tear.

Making it through the fall and winter seasons without your furnace can be a downright impossible task. You need the heating it provides to comfortably sleep through those cold nights. If you don’t have a furnace just yet, it’s probably near the top of your shopping list already.

Not everyone is aware that an invisible substance found in many homes can put us at risk of developing a disease. The invisible substance we’re talking about here is radon and the disease in question is none other than lung cancer. You must do what you can to keep your household safe from that potentially deadly substance.

The walls that line the perimeter of your home present you with opportunities to indulge your sense of style. Treat them as blank canvases that you can beautify in any way you prefer. To beautify those elements of your home, you can consider installing some wainscoting.

Not all issues that can affect a refrigerator are equal. Some of those issues may temporarily affect how the appliance operates, but you can fix them and return things to normal. An issue that involves your refrigerator’s compressor is more serious and will require more money and skilled labor to resolve.

Adding a swimming pool to your home can be beneficial in a variety of ways. For instance, having a swimming pool is just a lot of fun because you can take a dip whenever. You can even use the swimming pool to stay in shape and it also increases your home’s resale value.

Concrete steps are sturdy, resistant to all kinds of external forces, and they also look great when built properly. They can be genuine assets to any property and that’s why many homeowners covet them. If using poured concrete is not an option for your property, you can still opt for precast concrete steps.

What kind of look are you aiming to bring to life in your yard? You can go for something casual or modern by adding the right fixtures and pieces of furniture. If your goal is to build a backyard with a beautiful natural aesthetic, you will need to introduce some landscaping elements.

The chimney serves a vital role in your home as it provides an exit for the harmful gases produced during combustion. Instead of those gases lingering inside your home and potentially causing problems, they are just carried out by the chimney. Your chimney has an important job to do and you need to keep it protected.

Propane is a versatile fuel that can be used to power numerous appliances in and around the home. You can use propane for cooking, heating water, and it can also help provide some warmth.  Many homeowners even purchase propane tanks so they can store that fuel and use it on-demand.

The dryer is an underappreciated appliance in just about every household. Instead of waiting around for hours for your clothes to dry, your dryer can get them ready for storage relatively quickly. You always need a functioning dryer in your household and the vent attached to it must be in good shape too.

What kind of water do you often drink at home? Many homeowners spend the extra dollars to purchase a bulk supply of bottled water at the supermarket. Others order purified water from local businesses to guarantee that they can rehydrate their bodies without being exposed to potential contaminants.

Preparations need to be made before the start of winter each year. The winter season can be harsh in certain parts of the country and your household must be ready to handle it. As part of your preparations, you may need to get some firewood, and buying by the cord is commonplace.

Certain parts of homes simply don’t get as much attention in terms of regular maintenance. Outdoor areas, in particular, are frequently overlooked because we don’t spend a lot of time hanging out on driveways or walkways. Eventually, those areas will be covered in dirt and debris and they will need serious cleaning.

The home you bought years ago may no longer be capable of comfortably accommodating your growing family. At the very least, it may seem that way given how cramped it currently feels. Before you put down money on a new home, you may want to consider modifying your current place of residence first.

Are you trying to figure out which type of siding is going to look best on your home? The variety of available options can make finding the right type of siding difficult. While exploring your options, don’t forget about the merits of stucco.

Using a water heater is a necessity for many of us who need to take early morning showers. We find room for it in our home because we consider it an essential appliance. Still, you may find that the water heater is constantly getting in the way and so you want to move it.

A fresh coat of paint can revitalize the look and feel of almost any area of your home. This is particularly true of a kitchen. Painting can bring color and light to a space. Many homeowners choose the relatively less expensive option of fresh paint over a total kitchen remodel. Budgeting for fresh paint in your kitchen may not cost as much as you might think.

Your dream kitchen would not be complete without the right set of countertops. Countertops are functional and decorative additions that can round out your kitchen. All kinds of materials can be used to create kitchen countertops, thus opening up numerous design possibilities for you to try.

After finishing the construction of your new staircase, you may suddenly find that it’s missing something. Without a railing, a staircase can look unsafe to use especially if you have children or elderly people in your household. You can take that opportunity to create something special and make the staircase railing out of wrought iron.

We don’t talk enough about how important the dryer is to the typical household. Can you imagine working your way through your laundry pile without the help of a dryer? A job that typically takes less than an hour to finish may suddenly take up a big chunk of your day.

Having your own wine cellar is the dream of many wine lovers and collectors alike. Detailed plans and budgets can help make this dream a reality. Below we will break down the cost to build a wine cellar.

Building your home often means taking on expenses that you might not have seen coming. For example, while laying a foundation or building new walls, you might have assumed that concrete will suffice. More often than not, however, you need to support those concrete structures with rebar.

Texas is growing faster than almost any other state in the Union. In Texas, Houston is experiencing an economic and population boom as businesses relocate and their employees follow. The lower cost of living and the relatively modest cost of homes than other states make Houston particularly attractive. Many people are surprised at how much it costs to build a house in Houston.

You love your screened-in porch, but it is only useable a few months a year. The option is to convert your screen porch to a sunroom. There are several options to consider as you ponder the possibilities. Each option comes with pros and cons and, of course, a price tag. Here are what we think are the average costs for converting a screened porch to a sunroom.

Wear and tear will affect every element of your home at some point. One day, you may pull into your driveway and be greeted by a garage door that’s in rough shape. You cannot be surprised since even a sturdy garage door is susceptible to the elements.

Colorado is one of the premier vacation destinations in the United States. As people visit, many are deciding that Colorado is the place to live as well. Colorado is rapidly becoming a favored relocation area for many families. Learn about building in Colorado and how much your new home may cost in this article.

Oil tanks store the fuel households need to power their HVAC systems. They serve as the main resource for the comforting heating we need to get through the coldest winters. Depending on where you live, your oil tank may be one of the most important fixtures on your property.