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As we end the first month of the new year, what trends are we going to see in 2026? Here are some predictions that I think will happen this year!
1.) Color Drenching: Take 1 single paint color and use it to cover all the walls, trim, and ceiling in the room. I highly believe that earthy yellows and deep browns will be popular this year, and will bring in the warm, cozy vibe. People seem to be stepping away from the cool colors that have been the staple in the last few years. 2.) Spa Bathrooms: I feel that more wellness features in your bathroom will gain popularity, and give you a boost of self-care and personal wellness. More and more people will start to renovate their plain bathroom into a get-away oasis that could include a sauna, hot tub or a sunroom. 3.) Creative Ways of Stone Slabs: I believe you will see more stone slabs used not just for countertops but for backsplashes and even walls. The seamless look of a natural stone wall creates a more elegant look; something different than the typical tile approach. 4.) Checkerboard Patterns: Another old trend I hope to see more is checkerboard patterns. It started to make its way back slowly in 2024.This is not just for the kitchen or bathroom anymore. This is being implemented onto the floors of mudrooms and patios too. 5.) Reading Nooks: There’s been a steadying demand for cozy reading nooks in people’s homes that they can come home and relax at. This can be just a simple bench by a nice window surrounded by bookshelves, to a more detailed attic space that is converted into an intimate space where you can unwind and relax after a hard day's work. 6.) Faucet Placement: I think that people are starting to get creative in where their faucet should be placed. I have seen more wall-mounted faucets in people’s houses lately. By mounting them on the wall, it frees more counter space up while maintaining a sleek new design. Do you agree with these 2026 predictions? What are some of yours that you hope to see more of this coming year? We would love to hear them and better off help you turn them into a reality! Please give us a call and we can talk to you more about your remodeling requests!
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You’ve probably been hearing the term “casita” lately but what does it mean? In simple terms, a casita is a small, detached structure that functions as a separate living space on a property. They are usually smaller than the main house (on average between 200-600 square feet), but still come with basic amenities such as a bedroom, bathroom and a small kitchenette. Casitas are emerging as a top choice among homeowners for it offers both flexibility and value to the overall property. Just by adding a separate casita can increase the property value up to 30%.
They can offer many different opportunities such as a private guest suite, a personal retreat, office space, or an investment property:
Before you go and decide to build a casita, there are some things you want to consider first. You will need to have knowledge on your local zoning laws. Certain areas you cannot add additional buildings onto your property. You will want to have a design and purpose of what you will use the casita for so you can plan accordingly. This includes the extra utility connections and costs per month. Always keep a budget in mind when building these. Though they are small, they can still become costly if not managed carefully. Feel free to give us a call and we can discuss and plan the perfect casita addition to your property! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Lately, I've been noticing how cold it’s been getting at night. If it gets too cold, your pipes may end up freezing. This can lead to a series of problems. Here are some things that you can do to help prevent freezing pipes!
So, what if your pipes end up freezing? This can lead to several issues. Firstly, you will likely notice no water comes out of the affected faucets. Also, as water freezes, it expands and creates immense pressure inside the pipe. This may lead to bulging, cracking, or even bursting. If the pipes burst, you may not notice until the pipes start to thaw and water begins to flood your home. Once flooding occurs, it can lead to damaged floors, walls and personal belongings. This can turn into structural damage to your home and mold growth due to excess moisture. The average insurance claim for a burst water pipe can reach up to $18,000. If you notice that a water pipe did freeze, you will want to shut off the main water supply to prevent flooding. Open all the faucets that are connected to that frozen pipe to relieve any pressure that has built up as the ice melts. Please do not use an open flame to thaw the pipes as this can cause a fire. Lastly, make sure you call us immediately so we can come out. We do have an after-hour emergency line for instances like this. Please do not hesitate to call us. We can also come out and do an evaluation of your home and make sure your exposed pipes are insulated so your pipes do not freeze. From our family to yours, we wish everyone a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving! Hopefully, everyone has everything prepped and ready for today. What is everyone's favorite thing to eat today?  I'm sure you have all noticed around town that the Snow Birds have migrated back for the winter. As this might get stressful for everyone else, let’s take a step back, breathe, and focus on preventative measures for your home.
One thing that comes to mind is making sure your home has a pressure reducing valve. A pressure reducing valve (PRV) regulates high incoming water pressure to a lower, constant downstream pressure. This will protect your plumbing, appliances and water fixtures from damages such as burst pipes, flooding, leaks, and pipe banging. The PRV will also maintain a stable and consistent water pressure to your home even if the county water’s pressure fluctuates. So how does a PRV work? It has an inlet where the high pressure water enters and an outlet where the lower pressure water exits. A spring and diaphragm are the core components. The spring provides a force, and the diaphragm responds to the downstream pressure. When the downstream pressure rises, it pushes against the diaphragm. This will partially close the valve to reduce the flow and lower the pressure. Then, when the downstream pressure drops, the spring pushes the diaphragm to open the valve. This allows more flow to maintain the set pressure. You can adjust the desired pressure on the PRV, usually using a screw on the top of the valve. How do I know if I need a PRV? It is always the safest to install a PRV on your home’s incoming water pipe, but especially, if the incoming water pressure exceeds 80 PSI. This high of pressure can damage the water fixtures, appliances and pipes. We can check the water pressure using a pressure gauge, and confirm if a valve is needed. Some counties may require a PRV to be installed on new or remodeled homes as well. PRVs are typically located on the main water supply line just after the water meter or where the water enters the house. It could be found on an interior wall, in the basement or crawlspace, and even underground. You can identify it as a bell-shaped component with an adjustment screw on the top. We highly recommend installing one if your home does not already have one. It will prolong the lifespan of your water pipes and appliances. By regulating the pressure, it can also save money on your water bill. High water pressure exerts more water per minute. Please give us a call and we will come out and assess your home, test the pressure and install one the same day! Wishing you all a safe and wonderful Halloween! If you are carving pumpkins, please throw the guts and seeds in the garbage and not down your sink or toilet. The amount may cause the pipes to clog and back up your home. That would definitely be scary!  I hope everyone is having a great fall so far. As we approach the holidays where we are cooking the entire day and using a bunch of electricity, it got me thinking...what kind of wiring was used for my house? Do I have enough power to safely run everything? What do I need to do? Here are a few tips to think about when it comes to the electrical side of your home.
Rewire the House - You may need to have your house rewired due to age, damage or wire type. If your home is over 50 years old, it might be a good idea to have it rewired to make sure the wiring is updated to handle the modern electrical components. Sometimes there might be damage due to an accident or from animals that will require the wire to be replaced. The type of wire could have an impact too. I used to live in an old house that had aluminum wiring, so we made the choice to have it rewired. We didn't want to run the risk of having it cause a fire. Increase Circuit Breakers to Panel - Your current electrical panel may only be able to handle so much power for your home. If you are adding new appliances or adding more electrical outlets, you may need to add more breakers to accommodate the extra power needed. This would help balance the electricity and not overload it and cause a fire or damage to your appliances. Upgrade Electrical Meter - Lastly, you may want to have your electrical meter changed. Today, there are many advanced meters that are "smart" meters. They can effectively read your meter correctly and in real time. Some even have an app you can access and see what is going on. I had my meter changed out a few years ago because my old meter was the original and was not accurately reading how much usage I was using. One month my electric bill was over $600 and it was just myself. I reached out to the electrical company and they came out and advised that my meter was not working correctly. They quickly changed it out but I still had to pay the super high bill. Now my meter is accurately keeping track and I can log in and see the numbers myself. I would advise to call us to check out your electrical wiring and components so you do not run the risk of electrocuting yourself or causing a fire. We can come out and do a thorough check of your electrical panel, outlets and meter for you. Just give us a call! Pumpkin spiced things have arrived which means Fall is here. This is a gentle reminder that if you are wanting to have a picture-perfect home for the holidays, now is the time to get started. Rip out that outdated carpet and install new luxury vinyl plank flooring, or remove all the old built-in cabinets with that laminate countertop and replace with fresh new cabinets with granite tops. We can make your dream home into a reality. Now, home projects can take 3-8 weeks depending on what you are wanting to have done. We might have to special order things which can prolong the time period as well. Doing it now gives us time to get it all done right before the festivities begin. Annette has a wonderful talent for finding the right fixture or slab to fit your vision in your price range. Make sure to call us today to get your vision started!
Bidets have been around for many centuries starting in France and became popular throughout Europe, and then in the 1800s, Asia started using bidets. It wasn’t until the 1980s when Japan introduced its first electronic bidet.
Just recently Americans have started using bidet toilets in their homes; the most popular brand being Toto. Toto has 2 different bidet versions, Washlet and Washlet+. These styles do need to be plugged into an outlet close by in order to operate. There are non-electric brands out there with limited restrictions. You would not be able to change the water temperature, which I can assure you, no one likes to rinse off with cold water. With the Toto Washlet & Washlet+ you gain access to more features. The wand will automatically open and close for when you need it, there is a rear cleanse and front cleanse feature, and the wand is self-cleaning too! Other features include heated seat, warm air dryer, premist option, and a deodorizer. You can choose to have a remote or a panel on the side of the toilet that you can press. I prefer a remote so you don’t have to look to the side each time you need to change the settings, but if you’re the type to always lose remotes, then the side panel may be best for you. So what is the difference between Washlet & Washlet+? Washlet is just the bidet seat that can fit most American standard toilets. It comes in either round or elongated seat versions. You will still need an electrical outlet near the toilet so it can be plugged in. Washlet+ is the complete toilet and bidet seat. It comes in a variety of models ranging from 2-piece toilets to 1-piece, as well as an exposed base vs a skirted base. Options also include round or elongated seat, regular height or elevated, and remote or side panel to control the bidet features. Many people are starting to convert to the bidet to feel better and cleaner when using the restroom. If you are not quite sure which model or version is right for you, please call Qualtire Plumbing & Construction and we can consult with you and answer all your questions. We can come to your home and install an outlet near the toilet if you do not already have one as well. Hard water is usually what comes through your tap normally. Water will flow through different types of rock and soils, absorbing minerals such as calcium and magnesium. The higher the mineral content, the harder the water will be. Usually, it is safe to drink hard water, and can even be beneficial to your health.
BUT… It can harm your hair, dry your skin out, and even thin your nails. It can strip natural oils that coat your skin and hair. Your hair may become more dry and limp. Nails can have stunted growth or discoloration too. It will leave spots and residue when the water dries up. You may see after you take a shower there is a white coating that will dry on the glass or around the spout. This is limescale buildup, and if you do not clean it regularly, it will get worse and will be harder to remove. It can even damage pipes and appliances long term. Over time it can clog the pipes with mineral buildup. Eventually, you may need to repair/replace the pipes in your home. It can also shorten the lifespan of your dish washer, laundry washer, refrigerator, or any appliance that uses water. Soft water, on the other hand, removes the high mineral content. To achieve this, you need to have a water softening system in your home. The system will trap and remove the minerals from your tap water using tiny resin beads. This will help with… Preventing limescale buildup. Because it removes the minerals, you will no longer notice the white limescale buildup anymore on surfaces. It also will prolong the life of your pipes and appliances from mineral buildup. It also will help with your soap. The soap will become more effective and will make more suds. It won’t dry out your hair or skin as much either. When you are washing your body, you may feel that the water is silky or slippery. That is a definite sign that you have soft water. Having hard water or soft water in your home will depend on your preference. If you are wanting to convert to soft water I would recommend getting a smart water softener, which allows you to sync and use your smart device to control it. We’ve even installed water softening systems in houses to only certain pipes so not all the water is soft. Our technician, Craig, will come to you and recommend the right softener for your home and get it installed fairly quickly. |
AuthorAndrew is the son of the owners. He has worked for them throughout his life starting at the age of 14 as a laborer. He now manages the website and blog. Archives
February 2026
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