How to rescue a time-warp home

Out-of-date bathroom tile

You may have fallen in love with the pink tiles around the tub and shower. But if they're falling off the walls and loose on the floor of your bathroom?

"You gut it," says Jim Hunt, owner of Hunt Home Remodeling in Bennington, Neb. Loose tiles may indicate that water has rotted the wood frame behind a structure or damaged the insulation. Both may need replacing.

Hunt also advises customers to replace outdated tub and shower valves. Otherwise, these fixtures may need to be replaced later, which may mean your new tile would also be ripped out.

Hunt says the typical cost for a bathtub-shower unit and valve replacement runs about $1,000 to $1,800, depending on the cost of installation and any added repairs.

Whom to call: Remodeling contractor, tile setter

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Aluminum siding

Although metal was a cheap construction material in the 1960s, it's no longer fashionable — and metal prices have skyrocketed. Replacing siding requires stripping it off and installing something such as fiber-cement siding, a composite material. This comes pre-painted.

The job also may require adding trim made from wood or a composite around the windows, doors and corners of the house. Dry rot behind the siding also may need repairs.

Hunt says the cost of siding removal, replacement and installation for an average three-bedroom house, 1,100 square feet to 1,800 square feet, is $6,500 to $8,000.

Whom to call: Siding company, remodeling contractor

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Cruddy carpeting

Shag carpeting evokes the 1970s, though it's making a comeback as a high-end fashion statement. But which would you rather have: 40-year-old carpet or hardwood floors?

First step to shag removal: Take up the old carpeting, along with the tack board, padding and staples. Choose your type of wood and hire a professional to install the floor and trim. If the floor is unfinished, you'll need to have the wood sanded and finished.

The flooring and the installation cost for two bedrooms, each 100 square feet, would run about $1,500 to $1,600 for unfinished wood and $1,300 to $1,400 for pre-finished wood, Hunt says.

Whom to call: You can take up the old carpeting to avoid paying for professional removal. Contact a wood-flooring installer and a remodeling contractor for the floor work.

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Ancient appliances

Updating your stove or refrigerator not only improves your look but also your energy bill. Advances in energy-saving technology have emerged in the past 40 years. Look for appliances with the "Energy Star" label. These products must achieve energy efficiency that exceeds federal minimum standards. Hunt says you will see 10% to 25% energy savings with these products.

He also advises customers to shop around. Get retailers to bid against one another for the best price on a model. "Ask for special deals and closeouts," he says.

Hunt says he charges customers $100 per appliance for installation. An appliance installer can deal with wiring or plumbing issues.

Whom to call: Appliance retailer, appliance installer, remodeling contractor

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Inadequate electrical system

Knob-and-tube wiring was standard in homes before the 1940s. It uses ceramic knobs or tubes attached to wire that snakes through joists or studs. Typically, it can't handle the power needs of a modern home loaded with electrical gadgetry, and it can be troublesome.

"Knob-and-tube is a potential fire hazard," says Shane Johnson, owner of LSJ Electrical Contractors in Goffstown, N.H. Johnson suggests that homeowners take the walls down to the studs when replacing such an electrical system. This makes it easier to run wires and may be cheaper than patching holes in plaster.

If the home has plaster walls, you can install energy-efficient insulation and put up drywall, which is easier to maintain than plaster. Johnson advises customers to replace the fuse box with a breaker box. He says the cost of rewiring and upgrading a 1,700-square-foot ranch house runs about $5,000, while a two-story home can cost about $7,000.

Whom to call: Licensed electrician

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Paneled and mirrored walls

Wood paneling and veined-mirror walls in the dining room and basement were in vogue in the 1960s and '70s. No longer.

To replace the walls, you may have to replace damaged framing, old wiring and faulty electrical sockets, Hunt says.

For plaster walls, Hunt suggests adding more energy-efficient insulation and installing drywall, which is cheaper than plaster and easier to fix. He puts the cost of redoing an 800- to 900-square-foot basement at $2,000 to $5,000, depending on framing or electrical issues.

Whom to call: Remodeling contractor

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Brass fixtures

Until the 1990s, brass faucets, light fixtures and doorknobs had been in style "as far back as you can remember," Hunt says. Today, though, homeowners are opting for brushed nickel, chrome and aged bronze.

Hunt says buying and installing 15 doorknobs can cost $500 to $600. Replacing light fixtures can be pricier if new wiring is needed. Johnson says he'll charge $75 per hour to replace lights, three to four of which can be installed per hour.

Whom to call: Licensed electrician for light fixtures, handyman for doorknobs

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How to install a faucet

Dated plumbing

Galvanized pipes — steel pipes covered with a protective layer of zinc — were installed in many pre-1960 homes. The idea: A galvanized pipe would not rust.

That proved incorrect. "It rots from the inside out," says Steve Labbe, owner of Paradigm Plumbing & Heating in Hooksett, N.H.

To replace galvanized or corroded pipes requires disconnecting the old pipes from the main drain lines or removing the pipes altogether. Removal can require cutting holes in your walls. Plumbers install plastic PVC piping and a venting system through the roof to dispose of sewer gases.

Labbe says the cost of running new pipes in a typical three-bedroom home is $2,500 to $3,500, depending on the need for vent revisions.

Whom to call: Licensed plumber, remodeling contractor

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Plywood cabinets

Plywood hit the market in the first half of the 20^th century. It was durable and cheap, which was good — then. Now, you have crumbling plywood cabinets that can't be refinished. You want to replace them. But first, the old cabinetry must be removed.

"You have to bust them apart," Hunt says.

The job typically requires a hammer and pry bar. Hunt says that for a 12-by-15-foot kitchen, a new set of cabinets runs $5,000 to $8,000. Installation is an added $2,000 to $3,000. The price will depend on the quality of the new cabinets and accessories such as under-cabinet lighting.

Whom to call: Cabinet company, remodeling contractor

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Formica counters and linoleum floors

Formica countertops were durable in their heyday, which lasted through the 1980s. Granite is popular today.

Removing and disposing of 35 square feet of countertop costs about $400, says Michael Hauptly-Pierce, sales manager for RE Marble and Granite in Temple, N.H. A typical new granite countertop, including installation, can cost $1,750 to $2,800.

You might also replace a linoleum floor if it's cracked or you're tired of it.

"(Linoleum has) waned in popularity," says Carl Dubberly, owner of Artistic Tile in Nashua, N.H. In most cases, you can install the new floor atop the old. Placing a porcelain-tile floor in a 150-square-foot kitchen costs about $2,200, Dubberly says.

Whom to call: Countertop fabricator, interior designer, tile company, flooring company

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