As 2014 comes to a close, it’s a good time to take a minute and reflect on your home improvement work for the year. Whether you painted the house, put in sprinklers, or even hired a plumber for trenchless sewer repair, take stock of the ways in which you augmented your home’s value…

…and then focus on what’s next. 2015 is right around the corner, which means you’ll need to start thinking about the projects in your queue. It seems that a Santa Monica homeowner’s job is never done, so if you haven’t already made a list for upcoming repairs, it’s time to get started. If you’re wondering what to focus on, here are a few common ideas among residents in our area of Los Angeles:

Repiping

Unless your home was built within the past 10 years, your pipes are most likely made of copper. While copper is still used today for its durability, more and more contractors are instead using PEX or even PVC for new homes. These modern pipes are lighter, easier to install, and according to some plumbers, preserve the integrity of the water. It’s said that copper can rust and corrode, leaving sediment or creating off colors in your tap water as a result.

No one wants to drink reddish-brown water, so if you have old, copper pipes, consider replacing them in 2015. If you’re handy, you may even be able to do it yourself. However, if you’re not comfortable removing and replacing pipes, don’t hesitate to call the best plumber in Santa Monica. Torrance Plumbing can efficiently and quickly repair your lines, and add necessary value to your home.

New fixtures

As plumbing becomes more and more environmentally efficient and popular, it’s now easier than ever to replace your plumbing fixtures. For example, a water-saving showerhead is a great way to maintain or improve your water pressure, while preserving California’s dwindling supply of H2O (plus, who doesn’t want a better shower experience?). Additionally, adding a new, efficient toilet is a fairly easy project. Whether you do your own work or hire a pro, a new, efficient toilet is a good way to update your home. It’s predicted that the government will mandate the use of high-efficient fixtures in the near future anyway. Why not get ahead of the trend?

Bathroom remodel

Perhaps the most popular home improvement project that we see these days is a bathroom remodel. Homeowners used to focus on the kitchen as the home’s marquee attraction. While fixing up kitchens will never go out of style, bathrooms have temporarily surpassed it as many homeowners’ number-one choice for a remodel.

Is your bathroom right for a remodel? Do you want to update the toilet, faucet and sink, or completely renovate and add a walk-in shower? Whether you’re on a budget or want to invest in luxury, bathrooms can be a relatively easy way to spruce up the home.