Address Newsletter
Our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design, with expert advice and insider neighborhood knowledge.
Ask the Remodeler: Worried about tariffs? Don’t let it stop your renovation.
Plus, a reader adds a response to the wet basement problem.
An issue that is coming up again and again with current and potential clients: Tariffs.
We are asked quite often, If prices are going up, should we order this or that now? Will we regret not getting these things in the pipeline now vs. later?
Well, there is good news and bad news when it comes to pricing and lead times.
The good news is across the board, our various suppliers and subcontractors are not hearing of any drastic price increases in the near future. Most of the increases they are seeing are annual or seasonal fluctuations. Some increases such as HVAC equipment are due to new energy efficiency codes and new refrigerants that are being required. So far, steel and aluminum products have seen the largest increase in cost, but not enough to warrant any changes to buyer behavior.
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During the pandemic, suppliers only would hold prices for seven to 10 days. They are now back to the 30-day standard and almost all of them hold prices for longer than that.
The bad news is, we don’t know how long this will last. For now, it would appear that things have calmed down and the supply chains are acting and reacting according to market demands, not arbitrary and disruptive external interventions. There is still a very high level of uncertainty in the marketplace, but no one is pressing the panic button just yet.
All to say that we are advising clients to proceed thoughtfully and avoid making rash decisions. If you are currently planning a remodel or a build-out, the best return on your investment is always a well-crafted plan developed in thoughtful collaboration with your builder.
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A READER RESPONDS ON KEEPING BASEMENTS DRY
A reader wrote: “Good morning, one more thought on drying out basements. We had a very damp basement and installed a heat pump water heater last year (with no thought about the dehumidifying effect.) While the installer said it would help with the moisture, the results were amazing! No more mold, no dampness, the entire house is drier in a typically cool, damp Vermont spring.”
As always, we love reader feedback! Above is one response to my recent article about basement flooding or just plain damp basements. (“Ask the Remodeler: Ways to keep your basement dry this spring”). I thought this was interesting since it ties into a lot of the energy efficiency questions we get here.
Heat pump water heaters should not be confused with standard electric water heaters, which use electrical resistance to heat and maintain a storage tank full of hot water. Very inefficient. The physics of how a heat pump water heater works are a little too wonky to get into here, but in general, they work like a refrigerator in reverse, using compressors and coils to treat the ambient air and heating it instead of cooling it.
What would be happening in this reader’s basement is that the excess warm air created in this process is being discharged into the surrounding area. The warm, dry air is helping to dry out the basement.
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I would never advocate installing this type of water heater just to dry out your basement. However, if you have a damp basement and a water heater that is on its way out, a heat pump water heater should be considered.
One caveat is that they are 240v and it will need a 30-amp circuit breaker. We see a lot of circuit panels maxed out these days as residential electrical demands have increased substantially. There are workarounds, so always consult with a licensed professional.
Mark Philben is the project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Send your questions to [email protected]. Questions are subject to editing.
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