Budget Plumbing Tips

Plumbing is one of the most important working systems in a dwelling. It can also be the priciest. Running water, and all plumbed fixtures that are associated with it, are crucial to the livability of a home. A homeowner can do without a lot of luxury items in their house, but this is not one of them. Buying a fixer-upper house can be a great investment if the new owner knows how to remodel on a budget.

One thing that it is necessary to spend money on is a licensed plumber when installing or retro-fitting pipes and the initial plumbing systems during a remodel. The foundation items of plumbing, roofing and electrical systems are not to be tampered with by the weekend handyman. Each of these items can cause damage to the entire house if they malfunction. Think about flooding of carpets, walls, ceilings, roof leaks, electrical fires and shocks. Once the foundation components have been set up, the amateur can step in.
Ways to save money:

- Buy low-end fixtures. When shopping for showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilets, there is a huge price range to select from. That pricey designer toilet may seem so cool while strolling the aisles of Home Depot but the one a few feet away for a fraction of the cost will do the job. Once a toilet has been installed and is functioning, is anyone really going to care whether it starred in the latest architectural design magazine? When the credit card statement shows up, the budget model will be throne enough.

- Resale fixtures: Did you know that some homeowners donate perfectly good sinks, faucets, and bathtubs to their local Habitat for Humanity? When a wealthy person remodels their home, they may just want a new and trendy look. Perfectly workable, barely used fixtures are donated to make way for their preference du jour. Many of the donated items are upscale and beautiful. Once they’re installed, who cares that they are second hand? A bit of Comet cleanser and 409 all-purpose-cleaner and they’re as good as new. Recycling is good for the environment, too.

- Handyman install: The fixtures can easily be installed by a homeowner with a bit of know-how or a low cost tradesperson. While a licensed contractor is a must-have in laying the initial plumbing pipes, a novice can install fixtures such as faucets, toilets and the new kitchen sink.

Buying a fixer-upper can be an excellent way to save money if sweat equity is put into the investment. Put the plumbing dollar where it matters and save on the rest.