HOUSE REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS

Category: Home & Garden

I found one of my friends one day doing some minor home repairs and improvements on his modest home. He was also adding an additional room at the basement. My friend later replaced 2 pieces 2' x 4' posts at the dirty kitchen and 3 pieces 2' x 2' beams at the outhouse. He replaced a leaking P-trap at the kitchen sink, then installed a 12-foot thumb-sized PVC pipe from the main water line that runs at the back of the kitchen wall direct to the outhouse. It would serve as convenient water outlet to the outhouse and dirty kitchen. When my friend and I examined the pieces of lumber that he replaced with new ones, guess what we found? The three (3) pieces of beams from the outhouse were all eaten up inside by termites and what remained were hollow shells of the beams. The two (2) pieces of posts from the dirty kitchen were still in the process of being attacked by the vicious termites. When my friend shook the posts extra hard, the vicious termites dropped down the ground by the spoonfuls. It was a disaster and my friend could only shook his head in disbelief. I myself could not offer my friend any substantial assistance except to commiserate with him. It was the least I could do as I really had no carpentry and plumbing skills and the patience and determination to apply said skills to productive use. My friend asked me once if it was practical, economical and less costly if he just replaces his house with a new one. My advice was both sympathetic and brotherly - - - look closely at your bottomline, your financial capacity to undertake a big project, even a modest house. If your finances will allow it, then go build that replacement house; if not, then let's talk about home repairs, improvements, and additions. I told my friend that some guys in Chapel Hill, NC who operate in nearby areas such as Carrboro, and Durham do all kinds of home repairs, improvements, and remodeling at very affordable costs. They do different varieties of services to beautify the home and make it like newly-built. They do simple repairs, as well as major improvements, room and bathroom remodeling. They do things with passion to reflect their excellent craftmanship and creative skills. My friend will most probably appreciate the guys' work because they are willing to give an estimate of the total cost of the services they will be performing before actual repairs are made. This way, my friend can determine if his total budget will be in sync with the expected expenses. Not only that, because said guys say that if there is already an existing quote with another supplier, they will be more than glad to match the existing price should the initial estimate prove to be more expensive.