If you are a home owner or if you own a residential business, then chances are you have thought about doing some remodeling at one time or another.  When it comes to planning out a bathroom remodel project, there are many points to consider.  For one, you need to have a confident team on your side.  There’s nothing like getting knee-deep into a bathroom remodel project and finding out that you simply don’t have the means to complete the job.  This is where Barner Murphy can come in handy.

    At Barner Murphy, we try to help our customers take some of the stress out of their home projects.  Likewise, we also work to assist our residential business clients in the same way, by offering tips and suggestions when they feel they need them most.  A bathroom remodel project doesn’t have to be stressful.  In fact, it can actually be a lot of fun if you have the right amount of time, the proper tools and the necessary support.

    The way that we choose to approach a bathroom remodel project is what helps us stand out from the competition.  At Barner Murphy, we like to use contracting partners for each phase of the job.  What this means is that each person we choose for the project is fully licensed and insured.  The partner is up to date on all of the current codes, regulations and trends in the respective industry.  At Barner Murphy, we believe that by choosing our contracting partners selectively, we can consequently guarantee that each phase of the project is being completed by a fully qualified craftsperson, rather than by an individual who is less qualified.

    While it’s true that everyone wants to find the most cost-effective bathroom remodeling contractor, many opt for contractors with a narrow skill-set.  While this might save some money up front, it can also hurt your pocket later, because you might end up having to make modifications later that could have been avoided.  It used to be that a one-man-do-it-all approach was the most requested, but trends are slowly changing, and at Barner Murphy we tend to think that it’s for the better. 

 Our skilled craftsmen guarantee quality work, and because we choose to focus on value over price, we stand by our services with pride.  At Barner Murphy, we oversee the entire project and complete the plumbing portion of the bathroom remodel.  Our contracting partner team consists of a qualified electrician, carpenter, tile installer, shower door installer, painter and designer.  Our vendors include professional sales people.  We offer showroom displays for tile and countertop materials, as well as plumbing fixtures and cabinetry.  Our pricing falls somewhere in between the “one-stop shop” prices and the higher end designer showroom prices.

    They say that April showers bring May flowers, but maybe we should add May plumbing, as well.  If you’re a home owner, a renter, or a residential business owner, then now is the time to get yourself in gear for spring.  When it comes to spring plumbing tips, there are many, but we’ve devised a simple checklist to help you get started for the warmer months that are upon us.  At Barner Murphy, we are always at the ready for plumbing tips and tricks.  Feel free to reach out if you ever require the assistance of an expert.

    Kitchen checklist:  Some of the more obvious areas to check for include the faucets and the sinks.  It’s a good idea to make sure that none of your faucets have any leaks or any drips.  Sometimes the cold winter months can disguise problems that only surface when spring has sprung.  It’s also advised to make quick repairs if you do spot any leaks or drips, as thus will reduce complications further on down the road.  Also on the kitchen checklist is the suggestion to ensure that all drains have some sort of strainer on them to prevent large pieces of silverware or other non-disposable items from sliding into the pipe system.

    Bathroom checklist:  It might seem obvious, but many people forget or get complacent about it.  Ensure that all drains have some sort of hair-snare or other catchment device to prevent hair and sop from clogging your home’s drain lines.  This will save you from having to call for a plumber when a clog becomes a catastrophe.  Another bathroom checklist suggestion is to check your toilets for hidden leaks.  You can add a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank and if the toilet is leaking, the food coloring will appear within a half-hour, inside the bowl.  

At Barner Murphy, we also advise checking the toilet tank for any leaks or cracks.  Another suggestion on our checklist is to make sure that the toilets flush properly.  A simple check might be all that’s required, but make sure that you fix any issues promptly.  One more bathroom checklist tip is to clear mineral deposits from the showerhead.  You can do this simply by just unscrewing it from the shower supply and soaking it in some vinegar for a few hours.  

Finally, for our water heater checklist:  Make sure the temperature setting on your water heater is no more than 120 degrees.  This will prevent any unnecessary scalding and it will also reduce your overall energy use.  Another checklist tip is to think about replacing your water heater if it’s over fifteen years old.  Updated water heaters are simply more efficient.