NARI META AWARD WINNER 2008
The Best in the Bay
Discover the Critchfield Advantage
They are friendly, nice, and professional.
Heather Lockert, Kitchen Remodel
FAQs
- What are the most important considerations when it comes to bathroom remodeling?
- What are the most common problems associated with household water supplies?
- How about waste line problems?
- Will all my new fixtures require that the plumbing in my home be completely upgraded?
- What does the term 're-pipe" mean?
- What inconveniences can I expect during such a job?
- What are the most important considerations when replacing my roof?
- What if my roof has leaked considerably over the past winter?
- My roof has many layers of roofing material. What gets done?
- What are the advantages of installing vinyl double glaze windows in my house?
- What about the appearance of the new windows?
- How do I decide which windows I need?
- How disruptive is the installation process?
- What installation warranty does Critchfield Construction provide?
- Are vinyl double glaze windows much more expensive than single glaze?
BATHROOMS & PLUMBING
What are the most important considerations when it comes to bathroom remodeling?
A great start is having prior knowledge of what is available to you budget-wise. This will essentially determine what you can do next with design. Many of our clients will want to sit down with one of our registered Home Improvement sales people in the comfort of their own home to discuss what's available. Listed on our Resources page are links to sites maintained by many of the most popular bathroom fixture manufacturers and retailers. A quick tour through a few of these will help develop a rough idea of what interests you. From the beginning, we can discuss the technical details of bathroom remodeling a bathroom.
The
formula is the same for most Home Improvement projects. A number of criteria
are taken into consideration including; dimensions of the room, size and
characteristics of the fixtures and/or cabinetry you select, surface textures,
flooring, lighting, and others. Inclusive to this, and often the largest
issue, are the details surrounding what to do with outdated and/or substandard
plumbing.
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What are the most common problems associated with household water supplies?
One
major problem experienced by many homes built before 7-10 years ago is
that they were outfitted with galvanized steel water supply piping as
standard equipment. Many homeowners begin experiencing problems associated
with these systems once the home is 25+ years old. The reason is simple;
galvanized water piping constricts as plaque forms in the lines.
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How about waste line problems?
Again,
age is what causes most waste line problems. The plastic, rubber, chrome,
and steel components of ordinary household water waste systems simply
begin to deteriorate as the house grows older.
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Will all my new fixtures require that the plumbing in my home be completely upgraded?
This
is by no means a requirement. Many existing systems are perfectly capable
of supporting new equipment. Our skilled consultants can provide an on-site
assessment to reveal whether any further upgrades are necessary.
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What does the term 're-pipe" mean?
Simply
put, all the supplies associated with your dwelling are replaced from
beginning to end; from the meter at your curb, through and under your
property, to the house and into every fixture and appliance associated
with a residential supply. It is a makeover in the truest sense of the
word. When Critchfield Construction re-pipes, only top grade copper pipe
is used (there are many grades available), assuring our customer that
no corners have been cut and nothing has been left to chance.
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What inconveniences can I expect during such a job?
Quite
often, less than you might imagine. Only after all preparations have been
made and the layout of the new pipe complete is the water supply to your
home disconnected. In many cases all the new copper lines can be in place,
soldered, tested, and securely attached inside of 4 hours. With enough
intelligent preparation, nothing about this type of major home improvement
need be bothersome.
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FLOORS
What types of floor covering are available for my home?
Despite the fact that there are so many floor-covering choices on the market today many homeowners find that only a few meet their needs. Everything depends on your specific needs and the area to be covered.
Choices
are plentiful and each has its merits. Among those choices to be considered
are; laminate vs. solid wood flooring; vinyl sheet goods vs. vinyl composition
tile; medium pile carpet vs. low pile industrial; ceramic tile vs. granite
or marble or some other stone.
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What are the key considerations?
Many consideration are important when deciding on flooring; size of the area to be covered; the strength of the sub-floor beneath the application; whether the area in questions suffers from periodic moisture invasion; if the floor area is level from the beginning of the project, or will this need to be done; how expensive are the product varieties available, just to name a few.
As
you can see, when the conversation turns to what is available and/or what
is possible with regard to floor coverings, a skilled consultant is always
a good idea.
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ROOFS
What are the most important considerations when replacing my roof?
Of
the many issues facing a homeowner when replacing a roof is whether to
change types of materials, e.g., from wooden shakes to a composition shingle
roof. This will determine the procedures needed to make certain your new
roof is everything you hope it will be.
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Another
consideration has to do with the type of sheeting that was placed over
the roof framing when your house was built (or last re-roofed). Many homes
with wood shingles/shakes require complete re-sheeting with ½" plywood
before a composition shingle roof system can be installed.
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What if my roof has leaked considerably over the past winter?
It's
entirely possible that the water leaking into your home from rain damaged
either the roof sheeting or the roof framing - or both. If this is the
case, a simple inspection can tell you the extent of the damage and provide
possible repair options.
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My roof has many layers of roofing material. What gets done?
As
a general rule, you are only allowed a maximum of three layers of roofing
material on a structure. However, many local codes have different requirements.
Consultations on this and other matters related to your home are always
free.
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WINDOWS
What are the advantages of installing vinyl double glaze windows in my house?
The
first and best answer to this question is that it will make your home
measurably easier (and much less expensive) to heat and cool. Homes that
have been retrofitted with these windows experience immediate reductions
in energy consumption.
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What about the appearance of the new windows?
Cosmetically,
vinyl framed double-glaze windows offer the advantage of long- lasting
great looks and almost zero maintenance (wiping them down with a damp
rag will suffice). Being fabricated from vinyl, they resist warping unlike
any other material on the market. Exterior trim selections of your choice
can be added to these windows to keep the new additions consistent with
the lines of your home.
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How do I decide which windows I need?
Another
advantage of hiring experienced craftsmen is getting help making an accurate/appropriate
selection and having the windows ordered correctly. Critchfield Construction
and their suppliers have developed a relationship over the years, which
guarantees rapid and accurate ordering of almost every size and shape
imaginable. Many different finishes (or glazes) can be applied to the
glass in order to accommodate all energy and cosmetic requirements.
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How disruptive is the installation process?
In
this instance, there is no substitute for experience. Our long term experience
has developed the methods that have proven the most effective and least
intrusive inclusive of; communication with the customer, flexible scheduling,
on-time arrival at the job site (no exceptions), on-time departures each
day and no debris left scattered in or around your home. Mainly, it's
a simple matter of being treated the way you like to be treated.
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What installation warranty does Critchfield Construction provide?
We
don't hesitate to provide a lifetime warranty from defects in workmanship.
In addition to our workmanship guarantee, we will stand by you if the
need ever arises to contact the manufacturer with a complaint. This has
only happened twice in our twenty-year history, and having a skilled craftsman
in your corner to verify any complaints can make a substantial difference.
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Are vinyl double glaze windows much more expensive than single glaze?
The
prices vary the same as you might expect old-fashioned windows to do.
Many different types of vinyl windows are sold today, many costing only
a fraction more than their aluminum single glaze counterparts. Variations
in types of glaze, custom shapes & sizes, and special applications
will determine how much you'll need to spend to get the performance and
style you're after.
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Associations
