More Options for Kitchen & Bath Remodeling

Beyond style, today’s projects focus on practicalities, includingconsideration of what’s behind the walls

According to figures released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Americans spent more than $4.8 billion on kitchen remodeling projects in 1999 (the last year statistics were available). During that same year, nearly another $2.5 billion was spent on bathroom remodeling. With numbers like these, it’s little wonder that kitchen and bathroom projects topped the list of most common remodeling jobs in 2000.

Studies show these large expenditures on kitchen and bath projects may add more to a home’s value than any other room. And considering the fact that the average house has nearly twice as many bathrooms as a few decades ago, it’s little wonder that the dollars spent on bathroom additions have increased. In fact, according to the NAHB, in 2000, 56% of all new homes were built with 2-1/2 baths or more, compared to only 1% of new homes built in 1950 and 16% in 1970.

So exactly what are homeowners putting in all these new and improved baths and kitchens? Definitely not the same old products once used by previous generations.

First there are all those new bathroom amenities to keep us comfortable in and out of the shower. Vertical spas, as well as in-home steam units and even towel warmers are now available. And in the kitchen there are “smart” appliances that turn themselves on and off automatically.

For conservation purposes, we now have low-flow toilets with improved flushing power. And floors can be heated from beneath with either hot water or electric heating elements.

Yet, not all of the upgrades to today’s kitchens and baths are quite so noticeable. Looking behind the walls, for instance, you may well find plumbing in need of repair.

Outdated copper and galvanized plumbing systems may require repair or replacement as a result of the damaging effects of corrosion, pitting and scaling which are inherent problems with all metallic systems. Pinhole leaks, caused by corrosion, can eventually result in premature failure of the system, while scale buildup inside metallic pipes can significantly reduce water pressure and flow.

To eliminate these problems, while also reducing the noise and condensation associated with metal, CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) plumbing systems are being installed. This high-performance resin has more than 50 years of field-tested experience in a wide variety of demanding residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Homeowners and plumbing professionals often choose CPVC products, like FlowGuard Gold® pipe and fittings, over metal because they will never pit, corrode or scale, regardless of water quality. Independent laboratory testing further confirms that FlowGuard Gold CPVC systems are 4X quieter than copper.

For remodeling projects, FlowGuard Gold systems can be easily transitioned to existing copper pipe. Even better, whether for complete repipe projects or partial replacements, is the fact that FlowGuard Gold systems are installed using solvent cement (vs. soldering with torches) that forms a permanent bond within minutes. This eliminates the risk of fire damage during installation by removing the torch from the worksite.

Homeowners have a lot more choices when it comes to kitchen and bath remodeling projects. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with choices relative to color, style and comfort. But it’s important to consider the maintenance and service life of the finished project. This means also focusing on what’s behind the walls before a problem develops. Otherwise, you might just find yourself ripping out those beautiful new appliances and fixtures to repair corroded, leaking pipes down the road.