The average yearly cost for a conventional gas or electric storage hot water heater is approximately $600 for a 1300sq.ft. 4 member family home. It lowers or increases depending on how many people live in the house and on their particular water usage habits.

Conventional hot water heaters store water and maintain the water temperature to the temperature setting on the tank - usually between 120° and 140° F. That means keeping water hot even when you do not need it - while you are at work; while you are sleeping; while you are away on holidays.

These “standby” losses represent 20% to 30% of a household’s annual water heating costs.

Another thing that annoys all of us, is waiting for the water to heat up because someone took a bath before us. The tank of a conventional water heater has limited amount of hot water. After that is used you have to wait for the tank to get hot again.

Throughout the rest of the world, where energy costs have consistently been higher than in North America, different methods of heating water are common.

Tankless Hot Water Heaters began appearing in the United States and Canada about 25 years ago but have been used in Europe for the last 50 years.

Unlike "conventional" tank water heaters, tankless water heaters heat water only as it is used or when you open the hot water. Opening a hot water faucet ignites the powerful burners and the computer monitors the water temperature and adjusts the burners according to the need. High demand, high heat. Low demand, low heat.

Because the efficiency rate of tankless water heaters is about 20% higher, averaging around 90% and going up to 96% and there is no stand by losses, savings on your utilities are evident.

Some models can be mounted on the exterior of a home, freeing up valuable floor and closet space on the inside. The unit can be placed in a recessed box, flush-mounted and painted or textured to match the exterior of the home.

Tankless water heaters can also be used for supplementary heat, such as a booster to a solar hot water system, or snow melting systems, or to meet all your hot water needs. Schedule a free inspection and a tankless water heater free estimate. 

While cabinet and counter space or accommodating more modern appliances is usually a big part of the reason why people want to renovate their kitchens, it is important to also remember that kitchen lighting has a lot to do with the look and feel of the room.

While building homes, many contractors simply include the basic overhead lighting fixtures that will provide general light in the kitchen. Every once in a while, a builder will get creative and also include some under cabinet lights or accent lights.

But for the most part, the lighting in a home’s kitchen is not given much creative thought. For those that look at their kitchens as more than just places to cook and clean, a remodeling project can provide the perfect opportunity to breathe some much needed life into this highly utilized room.

Kitchen lighting comes in many different shapes and sizes, and the style and fixture types that are right for you depend mostly on what kind of kitchen you have and what you are hoping to be able to accomplish with the lighting. Before you start selecting fixtures and cutting holes in your ceiling, take some time to assess your kitchen. Is it open or closed?

Are the ceilings high or relatively low? Is the kitchen also doubling as an office space or dining room? Is the current décor light or dark in tone? Answering these questions will put you in a good position to know what you need both functionally and stylistically.

Help U Build will design your kitchen or bathroom professionally and satisfactory for your needs. 

Hand made projects such as staining or refinishing wood cabinetry a quality sanding job will significantly contribute to the workmanship of the final piece. To achieve the best results, wood should be as smooth as possible before paint or stain is applied. Adhering to these sanding best practices will put you on track to achieve a polished wood finish:
Sanding against the grain can create deep scratches that are difficult to remove. Though experienced woodworkers may sand against the grain in certain circumstances, they typically finish by sanding with the grain to remove imperfections. As a general rule, always sand in the same direction as the wood grain.
The appropriate sandpaper to use will depend on the project at hand, but in general, larger imperfections like scratches and dings should be sanded out with coarser sandpaper before final touches are made. Scratches left by the coarse sandpaper are to be expected, and are acceptable as long as they are uniform across the piece. These scratches will be smoothed when you follow up with finer grit sandpaper.

Since a good sanding job can be tedious, you may feel the temptation to rush through it. Though sanding may not seem immediately gratifying, any imperfections that are missed during sanding can show through in the final piece. Taking the time to do the job right will pay off with a beautiful smooth finish that serves as a clean and uniform foundation for stain or paint.

Here at Help U Build we take the extra step toward a flawless staining or painting finish

Having your dated, unfashionable doors and windows replaced is one of the best investments you can make in your home. Two of the most common questions that realtors are asked when displaying a home for sale is “How old are the windows?” and “How sturdy is this front door?” If a realtor cannot offer a positive response to these questions, your chances for receiving the full value of your home plus a hefty profit will likely be diminished.

Your home’s curb appeal