Happy Holidays!
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We are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but we are never too busy to remember our friends. We wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a wonderful and joyous holiday. Qualtire Plumbing & Construction has been your Phoenix plumbing and remodeling company since 1964, and we value the many friendships we have made through the years. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to serve you, and we wish you and your family the very best!
Are You Ready for the Holidays?
By · CommentsAs we enter into the busy holiday season, we start our lists and begin checking things off. Aside from the gifts to purchase and cards to write, we begin to think of the guests that will be arriving and if our homes are ready to accommodate them and the holidays.
If you have guest bathrooms that haven’t been utilized much, now is the time to check to see if the bathroom fixtures are operating correctly. In addition, is everything working adequately in the kitchen? Now is the time to take care of those pesky kitchen and bathroom plumbing repairs before the festivities begin and the guests arrive.
We are offering December specials to help you with those repairs, so give us a call at 602-246-0656, and let us help you get ready for the holidays. Remember Qualtire Plumbing & Construction has been your Phoenix plumbing and remodeling company since 1964, and we are always just one phone call away.
A Thanksgiving Story
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A few years ago I asked my 96 year old grandmother what she thought the greatest technological advancement was in her lifetime and without any hesitation, she replied hot and cold indoor running water.
I was rather surprised by this reply; after all, she was born in 1913 and raised with 10 other brothers and sisters on a farm in Nebraska. Her idea of a family car was a wagon pulled by a team of horses; surely there were much better advancements than hot and cold running water, that’s just something we take for granted. She explained to me how all the years she was growing up it was one of her many chores to carry water in from the well that would be used throughout the day for cooking, cleaning, doing the dishes, washing up, etc. If you wanted it hot, you had to heat it on the wood or coal burning stove. Try bathing 11 kids and heating all that water. Needless to say, bath water was shared. Winters in Nebraska can be harsh, try carrying water in from the well when it’s freezing outside. When she was in her 20′s, she finally moved into a home that had indoor plumbing. It wasn’t too many more years before they had electricity and a party telephone line. She said none of those innovations improved the quality of life and health for her family as hot and cold running water.
Now I understood why she never minded doing all those dishes or bathing the grandbabies and great grandbabies in the kitchen sink. She said it never stopped amazing her how all you had to do was just turn a handle and water was at your fingertips. She used to say that whoever thought the cell phone was a great invention never had to use the outhouse in the middle of the night.
My grandmother is no longer with me to stand at the kitchen sink this Thanksgiving and help with the dishes and tell stories about growing up in the early 1900′s; but I think about her often when I turn on the faucet and just like her, I’m thankful for something that I take for granted everyday. To her it was magic.
We at Qualtire Plumbing and Construction hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and have time to pause and reflect on the little things that make our lives better and for the family and loved ones that make life worthwhile.
Kitchen Cabinets
By · CommentsJuly and August have been Kitchen Remodeling Months here at Qualtire Plumbing & Construction. We have discussed painting, countertops, fixtures, tile, stoves, etc. Now comes the big one – cabinets. In order to do a complete makeover of your kitchen, new cabinets are a must. It increases the value and look of your kitchen. Cabinets come in a variety of sizes and finishes to satisfy your taste and budget. Factory-made cabinets are the most cost effective, and custom cabinets are the most complete for your existing space.
Because we always like to offer affordable options, another possibility is refacing or painting your existing cabinets. With refacing, you can even order just doors and hinges. This is a nice budget conscious way to go. Just remember, your cabinet boxes should be in good shape.
Call us at 602-246-0656 for a free in-home evaluation of your kitchen. Qualtire Plumbing & Construction has been your Phoenix plumbing and remodeling company since 1964, and we are always here to answer your questions.
Go Green with Hybrid Water Heaters
By · CommentsDid you know that in the Phoenix area your water heater is the second largest user of electricity? Hybrid electric heat pump water heaters can save you about $320 in your electric bill per year. That’s $3,200 over a ten-year period! And don’t forget, they qualify for a federal tax rebate of up to 30%.
Qualtire Plumbing & Construction is offering $500 off a new GE Hybrid water heater and installation. It saves electricity by using a heat pump on top of the water heater that takes warmth out of the ambient air and pumps it into the water tank. It draws cold water from the bottom of the tank and circulates it through the heater pump and back into the tank. The process will also cool the outside air which can be an advantage in your laundry room or garage.
Some other advantages are that it comes with a ten year warranty, has the Trusted Energy Star rating, fits in the same location as your old water heater using existing water and electrical connections, and has multiple settings for vacation and high demand for when you have guests.
Call Qualtire today at 602-246-0656 for more information or to schedule a technician to come to your home and see if this water heater is right for you. Remember Qualtire Plumbing & Construction has been your Phoenix plumber and remodeler since 1964. We do our own warranty work, too, so you always know who to call!
If anyone has any specific issues you would like us to discuss, by all means, please let us know. We’re always here to answer your questions and give you the best advice we can. You can call us at 602-246-0656 or email us at info@qualtire.com.
What About Kitchen Countertops?
By · CommentsToday let’s discuss countertops and backsplashes and how they can make that tired old kitchen look new. I used to think that when you updated your kitchen you had to do cabinets, countertops, sinks, the whole ball of wax. I have since leaned that is not altogether true.
A couple of years ago, my wife decided we needed to spruce up the kitchen, The cabinets were not quite ten years old, so she suggested that we install new granite kitchen countertops and backsplashes. Viva la difference!! Almost instantly, a new look but not at a huge cost.
We suggest when installing backsplashes, you can use matching granite or a complimentary tile splash with your solid countertop. Accent tiles come in myriad colors and styles, so you can get very creative with your backsplashes to give your kitchen a custom and unique appearance.
There are a number of products out there to fit any budget. From the new formicas to custom soapstone, you can get any look you like. Call Qualtire Plumbing & Construction at 602-246-0656 and schedule your free kitchen consultation. As I have said before, we have extended our kitchen remodel specials into September so take advantage of the savings and update that kitchen before the holidays.
If anyone has any specific issues you would like us to discuss, by all means, please let us know. We’re always here to answer your questions and give you the best advice we can. You can call us at 602-246-0656 or email us at info@qualtire.com.
Gas or Electric Stoves?
By · CommentsSometimes your stove can just be an unused appliance since we all rely on those microwaves so much these days. But the right stove can make a big difference in meal preparation. Here are some basic differences.
1. Cleaning
Traditional stoves were hard to clean. Generally, you had to take them all apart just to get at the mess. Newer electric stoves come with easy clean glass solid tops, eliminating this problem. Gas stoves require a little extra effort as you must clean the burner grate and the area underneath.
2. Cost
Electric stoves either traditionally or the new easy clean are generally less expensive to purchase than gas units. If your house has only an electric outlet for the stove and you would like to purchase a gas stove, you would have an additional cost to install a gas line to the unit (if you have a gas provider in your area). This cost will depend on how far from the gas meter the stove is located. Qualtire Plumbing & Construction does provide free estimates for gas lines and services such as these. Operational costs are fairly comparable.
3. Convenience
Gas will get hotter faster and also cool down faster. Electric sometimes takes a little more getting used to as it heats slower and cools slower. When you are cooking with electric and are through, you need to remove the pan from the burner as it stays hot. Gas stoves will cool as soon as you shut the gas off so pans don’t have to be removed immediately. Professional cooks, as I’m sure you’ve noticed if you watch the cooking shows, often prefer the gas stove.
4. Preference
Since there are pros and cons to each, it really just boils down to what you like and are comfortable with. Appliances are an important part of updating that kitchen, and stainless steel is still quite popular whether you choose a gas or electric stove.
Being out of town some this past month, I haven’t written as many kitchen remodel blogs as I had intended so I’m going to continue with kitchen remodeling ideas into September. If anyone has any specific topics you would like to discuss or have me address, please let me know. We’re always here to answer your questions and give you the best advice we can. You can call us at 602-246-0656 or email us at info@qualtire.com. Qualtire Plumbing & Construction has been your Phoenix plumbing and remodeling company since 1964.
What Can We Say About Kitchens?
By · CommentsWhat can we say about kitchens that has not already been covered a multitude of times? That’s the hard part.
Maybe something as simple as a new kitchen faucet to replace that old, crusty dripping one; or maybe a complete kitchen remodel with new modern cabinets, counter tops and lighting. Whatever your project, we can handle it from design to completion.
As Karen said previously, this month we will be discussing individual items that will make your kitchen look like new.
You might want to start with new plumbing fixtures, i.e. faucets, sinks, garbage disposals. These items are readily available and can be installed for a nominal cost. Just make sure you install all new piping, valves, and those non-burst faucet supplies under that new, maybe stainless steel, sink. The reason for starting with the sink is to eliminate any existing leaks which could cause future problems – mold or mildew. We want to make sure our “new kitchen” is leak free before we proceed.
Qualtire Plumbing & Construction has been serving Phoenix and the greater valley as your trustworthy plumber and remodeler since 1964. One of the unique aspects of our company is that we are licensed plumbers, general contractors, and electrical contractors and can consequently handle your kitchen remodel from start to finish. We don’t outsource!
If anyone has any specific issues you would like us to discuss, by all means, please let us know. We’re always here to answer your questions and give you the best advice we can. You can call us at 602-246-0656 or email us at info@qualtire.com.
Does Your Kitchen Need Updating?
By · CommentsWe’ve returned from San Diego, and it’s time to get back to work. Summer vacations are winding down, and the kids will soon be back in school. So we would like to turn our attention to kitchen remodeling. Does that kitchen of yours need a little updating? In these challenging economic times, we tend to let things slide for awhile. And then one day, we look around and think maybe, just maybe, we’re a little tired of that 70′s, 80′s or even 90′s look we have going on in that kitchen of ours. But what can we do within our budget constraints?
So we’ll take the next several weeks and address various aspects of a kitchen remodel. From cabinets and counter tops to flooring, plumbing fixtures, and appliances, we’ll discuss different ideas and ways to modernize that kitchen.
Qualtire Plumbing & Construction has been providing Phoenix and the greater valley quality plumbing and remodeling services since 1964. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling are our specialties, and we’ve seen myriad style changes through the years. One of the best ways to maintain your home value is to make sure your kitchen and bathrooms are updated and modernized periodically.
If anyone has any specific issues you would like us to discuss, by all means, please let us know. We’re always here to answer your questions and give you the best advice we can. You can call us at 602-246-0656 or email us at info@qualtire.com.
You Want to Paint the Walls What Color?
By · Comments“Well,” the contractor said to the clients, “What colors did you say you want to paint the bathroom walls?” They replied that they wanted it to look just like that cute, little casita they had stayed in while on their honeymoon in Acapulco. The walls should be a deep blue, the ceiling a purplish-red, and the trim a bright yellow.
What an idea if you live in a tourist destination like Acapulco, but they may want to rethink that color scheme in Phoenix, Arizona. A few things to consider when repainting a bathroom or any other room for that matter:
1. How long am I going to live here?
2. Resale, resale, resale.
3. What is the look I am trying to achieve? If I want boldness, how can I achieve this and still think resale?
Most of our clients generally end up with some neutral colors on the wall with maybe a contrasting color on the trim or an accent wall. Ceilings are mostly white to reflect the lighting. Your bolder colors can come from curtains, towels, toilet covers, a nice rug, pictures, or other decor. This will allow you to redecorate every few years, if you wish, at a minimal cost.
Paint selection is a huge part of that bathroom remodel with such a variety of colors and shades to choose from. Just come by our showroom at 3518 W. Bethany Home Rd., and our design staff can help you.
This about wraps up bathroom remodeling blogs for this month. We’re headed out for a short San Diego vacation next week. When we return, we are going to turn our attention to kitchen remodeling for awhile. However, if there are any other bathroom remodeling ideas you would like us to address, we would be happy to do so. Qualtire Plumbing & Construction has been involved in bathroom and kitchen remodeling in Phoenix since 1964. As always, we’re here to answer any questions you may have, contact us via email or by phone 602.246.0656
