Repair or Replace?

10 Questions to Help You Decide

Written by Laura Hills

Photo by Omar Salinas, courtesy of Kleppinger Design Group Inc.

Refreshed and Renovated: This kitchen remodeled by Kosna Design/Remodeling Inc. in Springfield sports new Oxford Square cabinets by Shiloh from Kleppinger Design Group Inc. Maple with an ivory stain and pewter glaze, they contrast pleasantly with a Verde Butterfly granite countertop from Marblex.

Your heater’s on the fritz, your siding is peeling, your driveway is cracking, and your leaky windows won’t open. You wonder: Should I repair or replace? Which is most cost-effective?

Our panel of Washington-area experts provides insight and answers to ten questions homeowners should consider before making a repair/replace decision.

Photos courtesy of Case Design/Remodeling

Blending Old and New: Replacements and
restorations must be in harmony with the rest of the
house. New porch additions should meld with the
architecture of the home and the community.

Question #1: How Long Will I Stay in This House?

“If it’s for 10 years or more,” Mark Richardson, president of Case Design/Remodeling in Bethesda, Chantilly, Falls Church, and Annapolis says, “your solutions will be different than if you know you’re going to sell in one to two years.” Rule of thumb: Make a five-year plan.

Paul Harrington, owner of Dargan Home Service, Reston, Va., adds that planning can save money. “It generally doesn’t make sense to throw a lot of money into a temporary repair,” says Harrington.

Question #2: Does This House Work for Me?

Richardson of Case Design/Remodeling suggests that lifestyle should factor into the repair/ replace decision. Says Richardson, “If your house doesn’t work for your lifestyle, then adapt the house rather than your family.”

Question #3: How Will a Repair or Replacement Affect Resale Value?

According to Mike Winn, Certified Graduate Remodeler and president of Winn Design, LLC, Vienna, Va., remodeling can increase your home’s resale value. Says Winn, “Kitchens and baths often date a home. They’re also what sells it.” Winn’s tip: Look at replacements as your opportunity to improve your home. Says Winn, “New design ideas can give the house character simply and with surprisingly little extra cost. Even small changes can have big impact.”

Question #4: How Can I Best Preserve My Home’s Integrity?

David Kacar, architect/owner of Classic Design & Build, Waldorf, Md., cautions that when replacing, homeowners should take care to preserve the home’s integrity. “The trick,” he says, “is to blend the new with the old.” Kacar suggests that style guide homeowners’ decisions. “Some people think they should keep things forever. It’s okay to replace functioning items because you’re tired of them.”

Kacar adds that many Washingtonians are moving back into older neighborhoods. Repair and restoration preserve the architectural features that motivate people to buy older homes.

Traditional Elegance: Kohler’s Bancroft Suite embodies a nostalgic
aesthetic inspired by 1900s design reflected in the pedestal sink, two-piece
toilet and BubbleMassage™ whirlpool tub.

Question #5: What’s the Most Environmentally Friendly Choice?

Mike Kominsky, Executive Vice President of Vito Services, LLC, Rockville, says some plumbing should be replaced. Older toilets consume 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush. The standard today is 1.6 gallons. Fluctuations in your water bill could mean a flow problem. “You may be throwing a lot of water down the drain,” Kominsky says. His suggestion: Conduct a leak test.

William Canellas, Director of HVAC Services for Vito Services, says you’re better off replacing a heating unit that’s more than 10 years old. “Older systems don’t match the efficiency of newer ones,” says Canellas. Any unit with major problems should be replaced. “If you have a compressor failure or a coil leak, that’ll cost quite a few dollars to fix,” Canellas warns. His advice: Invest the repair expense in a new machine. Get some of that money back in energy efficiency.

Photos courtesy of Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Custom Showering: Recently emphasis has shifted
away from whirlpool tubs to showers because, while
owners might not have time for a bath, they’re
in the showerevery day. Customize your experience
with WaterTileTM hand showers and virtually
flush-to-the-wall body sprays by Kohler.

Question #6: What Can a Replacement Do that a Repair Can’t?

According to Rosi Kallivokas, owner of Clive Christian, Washington, D.C.,“There are a number of things you can achieve with replacement that you can’t with repair.” For example, Kallivokas, whose firm specializes in custom cabinetry, says that new cabinetry can hide small appliances and maximize storage space. Says Kallivokas, “Instead of adding a pantry, new cabinetry can make it possible to put a pantry in your cabinets.”

Kallivokas warns that one replacement often leads to others. The key when you choose replacement over repair, she says, is overall design consistency.

Question #7: Are Better Materials Available Today?

Elizabeth Alpert, head of Design/Sales for Kleppinger Design Group, Fairfax, Va., suggests that today’s kitchen materials are “leagues” beyond what was available even five years ago. Says Alpert, “Homeowners have so many more options today.” Alpert is particularly excited about using natural stone for countertops and fireplace surrounds and wood for kitchen floors. She adds that upgrading is more attractive to many homeowners than repair.

Question #8: Am I Satisfied with What I Have?

Derek Warren of Calcon Landscape Design Build Inc., Silver Spring, Md., suggests that homeowners shouldn’t repair unsatisfactory items. Warren, who designs and builds water features, says he sometimes tears out a client’s existing feature‹even one that’s working-and starts over. He explains: “Sometimes I discover an existing one made of undesirable materials or with a bad base.” In such cases, “It’s better to take out everything and start over,” Warren says. “It doesn’t make sense to repair something that’s inferior or that was never right in the first place.”

Photo courtesy of Kitchen Magic Refacers Inc.

Budget Beauty: Makeover your kitchen in four days or less at a third the
cost of replacements with cabinet refacing. Existing cabinet boxes are
refaced with fine hardwoods to match new door and drawer fronts.

Question #9: Should I Remodel Extensively or Rebuild?

Anna Young, Sales Manager for Classic Design & Build, Waldorf, says her firm tackles the repair/replace question regularly, but on a large scale. “Homeowners often ask whether they should add huge additions to their homes or whether it pays to start over.” Young’s advice: “If a renovation costs $500,000 or more, you’ve got to assess whether you’d be better off tearing down the house and building a new one.”

This is especially true when considering renovations of smaller homes that lack architectural features but are in desirable, close-in locations with high land values. Says Young, “Unless there’s something intrinsically charming or interesting about the house, it may pay to take it down and start over.”

Photo by Greg Hadley Photography, courtesy of Sun Design Remodeling Specialists Inc.

Have It Your Way: If you love your neighbors and location, why move?
Remodeling makes more sense because you can better enjoy your home
while increasing its resale value.

Question #10: How Can I Justify the Expense?

Overall, experts suggest that homeowners consider more than immediate costs. Lifestyle, the home’s age, resale value, energy efficiency, conservation, functionality, aesthetics, and future plans should all factor into the decision.

Mark Richardson of Case Design/Remodeling Inc. offers this advice: “Your house is not static. It’s never done. Think of it not as a snapshot, but as a movie. It’s always going to be needy, and just like a person, it will grow and age.”