FAQ’s

What is the best lumber to use for decking?

A. That is a very good question and a very personal one. Here are a few options.

#1. The least expensive (and most common) decking is made of pressure-treated lumber of yellow-pine (PTL). This lumber is treated to prevent insect infestation and is easy to maintain but may not last as long as some other options.

#2. Cedar (smooth and rough-hewn). Cedar is considerably (2-3x) more expensive than PTL. However, cedar is naturally not attractive to most pests. It also withstands harsh weather environments better and has a more appealing ‘wood’ look to it.

#3. Trex or other non-wood decking is usually a little more expensive than cedar (sometimes up to 3x more). However, maintenance is virtually zero and there are some options that do not get as hot as traditional wood decks in warmer climates.

At All Tex Home Menders we often get asked to help refurbish/re-stain an existing deck. Most decks built more than 5 years ago are built with a standard 2”x2” vertical wood baluster. Many customers ask us ‘I have seen some newer decks with wire mesh where the balusters were. Why is this getting so popular?

A: What you are seeing is commonly referred to as ‘hog wire’ or ‘livestock wire’. Originally used solely to contain livestock, this sturdy, heavy gauge 4”x4” opening on 16’x4’ panels allows you to remove the balusters and install hogwire instead.

Q: Why install hogwire instead of just staining my balusters.

A: The answer is 3 parts. The first reason is that the cost of removing the existing balusters and replacing them with hogwire is cheaper than having to stain 4 sides of a 2”x2” baluster which can number into the hundreds on some larger decks. The second reason is you increasing your view from your deck by about 60%. And the last reason is money. Since you won’t have to stain those old balusters again, your maintenance (re-staining) costs just went down about 25%.

Oh, and BONUS! Since replacing the balusters with hogwire you do NOT pay anymore money because of the reduced labor so in essence you get the hogwire for free (may favorite price!).

Maintaining your deck (investment) is a wise choice.

Q: We often get asked ‘how often should I stain my deck’?

A: The answer is every 2-3 years. Most manufacturers of stain will state 5-7 years on their products but that is a national average so if you are in hot climates like the South then you need to plan on re-applying stain every 2-3 years to prevent cracking, warping, cupping, etc.

Remodels and additions are some of the larger projects homeowners will ever face. At All Tex Home Menders, we recommend talking to several contactors before making your final decision.

The most common question we get is deciding what type of material to use for the countertops?

Q: Should we select granite, quartz, travertine, quartzite, porcelain, marble, terrazo, other?

A: It is a dizzying choice without a doubt. At All Tex Home Menders we provide our clients with 4”x4” samples of many different types of stone. However, we always recommend that they go and see the ‘slabs’ in person. Like floor/shower tile samples can vary greatly from the full size picture. Especially in natural stones nature does not repeat the same pattern over and over but instead subtly changes. We also often hear that our clients truly enjoyed the experience in selecting the slab for their new kitchen.

A: The second answer is ‘personal’ and ‘based on budget’. What you like is extremely important. Remember, you get to live with it every day. Marble is expensive and beautiful but a little more delicate than granite. Granite is stronger and less expensive but may not have the look you are after. Bottom line is ‘go look’ if you can. The customer service folks at our slab wholesalers are happy to show you how to determine costs while you walks amongst the seemingly never ending rows of choices. Make an afternoon of it and you’ll be glad you did!

Bath remodels are one of our favorite projects because it usually results in a complete transformation of space.

Here is the question we get most often.

Q: We only have one tub in our house. Should we keep the tub and just redo all the tile, flooring, fixtures or get rid of the tub and create a walk-in shower.

A: This is a great question and one we get a lot. It is difficult to give the perfect answer here so at All Tex Home Menders we give you the information we have and ask you to make the decision. Here are the things to consider.

1. How long will you be in the home.

   1a. If you plan on being there say 20 or more years and you don’t need a tub, get rid of it. Walk-in showers are much safer and frankly look much better.

   1b. If you only plan to be in the home another 2-5 years ask yourself about your neighborhood. Are more or less families with small children moving in. If more, keep the tub because it’s just much easier to get a kid in the tub than a shower and mom’s know this and will not buy a house without at least one tub.

2. Can I compromise/upgrade? In many cases we can move a wall and create enough space for both. We can discuss this with you during our first meeting and discuss all the pros and cons.

Many of our customers have come to us with questions about which paint is better to use on their home.

Q: Should I just buy the cheapest paint? It’s all the same anyway, right?

A: No/Wrong. The answer is ‘the best you can buy’. At AllTex we prefer Sherwin-Williams but almost all manufacturers make a cheap, not-as-cheap, more expensive and most expensive paint with warranties that last longer as the price goes up.

Ask yourself this. If I have to pay $500 more to use the best paint on my house, but it last 5-7 years longer is it worth it. Yes, paint jobs can run into the thousands and the less you have to do it, the more money you save. And, top quality paint covers quicker so we can charge less in labor for a better job. Win, Win!!

LVT or Luxury Vinyl Tile has come a long way from just 5-10 years ago. This flooring option now comes in hundreds of different options which causes our clients lots of confusion on which one to select.

Q: What thickness of vinyl flooring should I buy or have installed?

A: At AllTex we recommend a minimum 6mm thickness. This allows a comfortable feel when walking on it in addition to a longer life span. If you are planning a commercial or more heavy traffic use increase the thickness.

Like vinyl flooring, tile choices seem to grow every year. Beyond just flooring, ceramic tiles make great options for backsplashes, showers and even behind your kitchen stove.

Q: The question we most often get is ‘What is the difference in labor price from one type of tile to the other’

A: There is no set answer here. Suffice it to say that if you select very small pieces, that will increase labor time due to the number of cuts and grout work. Much larger pieces like 48”x48” go faster on the install but you have to be extra careful in handling the large pieces. Bottom line, ask for an estimate on a range of tiles you like to help make your decision. Also, be sure to get a full size sample to understand what you are getting. Smaller samples sometimes leave out veining or other characteristics only observed in larger pieces.

Ok, you’ve thought about it, discussed it, budgeted for it and now you want to begin the journey of getting a large project completed (kitchen/bath remodel, new deck, room addition, etc). At All Tex Home Menders we have lots of experience guiding clients through this journey but all of them have this question.

Q: How do I choose the right contractor?

A: Excellent question! And there are many answers so let’s get started.

1. You need to feel comfortable working with the lead individual or ‘general’ contractor. This is the person directing the other contractors (plumbers, electricians, countertop installers, painters, etc). You will be having lots of conversations with them and if you are not comfortable in the beginning, it will only get worse (even if they have the best price, often because they have the best price meaning they may have to cut corners to make a profit)

2. Due your diligence and check them out on social media and google.

3. Review their website and see if the examples of their work closely matches your project plans.

4. Ask for a current/valid COI (Certificate of Insurance)

5. Before handing off a check, request a copy of their photo id and also get a picture of their work vehicle and license plate (this may seem excessive but oh, the stories I could tell you!!).

6. Only pay a reasonable amount for a down payment. 10-20%. At All Tex Home Menders we usually ask for 20% on wood decking because the cost is mostly materials.

7. Do not make a final payment until you are satisfied completely with the work

8. Make sure your agreement/contract is very specific about the work being done

9. Upon final payment you should ask for an Affidavit of Bills Paid from the General Contractor or whoever signed the contract. This simple instrument states ‘ I hereby swear and attest to the fact that all parties involved in this project have been paid in full by me’. If you get an unscrupulous type and they do NOT pay their contractors, those contractors often have legal recourse to collect from you or file a lien on your property.