My top ten list of home improvements - most bang for the buck!

Everyone loves top ten lists so here's my top ten list of home improvement in terms of most bang for the buck!

1. Vent-free Gas Log Heater

Total cost = $251 (installation and unit). This is actually my most recent project. I had a vent-free gas log unit installed in my fireplace in the basement rec room. The basement is by far the coldest room in my house, and I use the rec room as a place to hang out and watch tv. My use of the room significantly diminished as it became colder and colder. During the winter, the room is usually right around 57 degrees. What was nice was that I already had a gas line running to the gas starter on the fireplace. You will see an increase in cost if you have to run a gas line to your fireplace. If you don't have a fireplace, don't stop reading! Because you don't need one to install a vent-free gas log unit. Afterall, it is vent-free!

How does it work? Fantastic! I can easily keep my basement rec room over 70 degrees and that's on the second lowest setting. Heat migrates up into the kitchen and first floor. My furnace rarely runs now. I could better distribute the heat throughout the entire house but my furnace comes with a variable speed fan so the fan only turns on hi when the furnace is distributing its own heat. My basement fireplace is near an air intake unit for the furnace so I was thinking that the furnace would suck in the hot air from the basement rec room and distribute it throughout the house. It does do this but since the fan only runs on low speed if the furnace is not heating, it doesn't do it as well as planned.

I haven't received a gas bill yet but the vent-free gas log unit is 99.9% efficient.

Don't have a fireplace? No problem. They actually make units that come as a complete fake fireplace. They even make them look like coffee tables.

I enjoyed this improvement so much that I added another vent-free gas log unit on the first floor.

After some research, I have found sites that strongly warn against these units. I imagine they become less efficient over time and emit more pollutants over time as well. My home is not, by any means, airtight and I use my units as supplemental heat and not as the sole source of heating. I don't leave them on at night when we are sleeping. I recommend carbon monoxide detectors and having the units serviced every year or so. You may even want to replace them on a periodic basis. Even with just using the units as supplemental heating, my gas bill is ridiculously small. The gas company even came out to check that my interior meter was functioning properly.

2. Painting/adding shutters on exterior of house

I paid around $350 to have two sets of shutters painted and to have 3 more sets installed and painted. What's the big deal? I don't think there is any easier way to give your house a new look (short of repainting the entire house) than painting the shutters. I have a grey house with (formerly) white shutters. The white shutters had become dingy with the years of weather and grime accumulation. I powerwashed the shutters which helped out a lot but they still needed some work. Then I got the brilliant idea to have the shutters painted to match the exterior front door. In about two days, I had a completely new look to the house for a meager $350 dollars. Talk about adding almost instant curb appeal!

3. Adding new mulch

Cost varies depending on yard and areas to be mulched. I paid about $450 for all the mulch I needed. I purchased the dyed black mulch and spreading that around really got things looking a lot better. You will also cut your weeding way down if you spread it thick enough. I mentioned adding curb appeal with the shutter project. The mulch helped that as well and at a relatively small price. Of course, the question becomes whether to buy bags or buy it in bulk. I did both and incurred a couple extra $40 delivery charges and ended up preferring the bulk delivery. The only drawback was it's hard to measure if you actually did receive 5 yards of mulch or not when it is just dumped on your driveway. You can always count the bags with bagged mulch. Bulk mulch was just easier to move especially with a pitchfork and a wheelbarrow.

4. New Exterior Doors

Cost - ranging between $250 and $450 per door including installation but not including hardware and painting. My old doors were hard to close; one of them was almost impossible to lock unless you were King Kong; and they didn't even fit squarely into their frames. You can imagine how drafty they were. If you have a door that sounds like these and faces the west, it may be time to replace it. My new doors seal shut, keep out the draft, and open, close and lock with little effort. Heck, my new storm door alone keeps out the draft better than my old front door.

Speaking of storm doors, these are a nice addition and provide an extra layer of protection against the cold and summertime heat. Storm doors have come a long ways since the rickety old screen door your grandma may have.

5. Glass Block Windows

Cost - $60-90 a window including installation. This was one of my first projects. I replaced all the windows in my basement. The previous owner had sealed all the old basement windows shut - probably to prevent leaks. Anyhow, I couldn't open any of my basement windows. I went with glass block replacement and had a vent put in each of the windows (which upped the cost a bit but increased the usefulness). Glass block windows are close to three inches thick. Compare that with the 1/4" thickness on the old windows and you can start to imagine the difference. Glass block is cheap and attractive and adds a nice bit of privacy. This is a great home improvement project in terms of bang for the buck!

6. Pressure Washer

Cost - $400. This isn't a home improvement project but it's a great home improvement project tool! I've used mine to pressure wash my vinyl siding, the driveway, the sidewalk, the garage, the shed, and more. You can really make an old turd shine with one of these. Next up is the patio.

7. Attic Insulation

Cost varies but I paid about $1100. I later helped a friend insulate his attic and we did it for about $200. Depending on how your house is configured this can be a piece of cake or a challenge. My house is a cape cod which made it a bit more difficult to do it myself so I hired professionals. My buddy's attic was easy to access and we rented a machine, bought the insulation, and made it snow cellulose insulation for an afternoon. He reports that his house was much more comfortable year round. And for the price, you can't beat it.

8. Sealing basement with dry-lok paint

Cost - $500-800 for me but varies depending on size of basement. If you have mild moisture problems in the basement, dry lok sealer will help. I noticed a huge difference in the humidity levels of the basement and was rid of the damp, musty smell. My moisture problems proved a bit too tough for just dry lok but it definitely helped out immensely.

9. New exterior windows

Cost for me $3600 but your mileage will vary. Obviously this is one of the more expensive home improvements so it would fall closer to the bottom of the list in terms of bang for your buck. However, my house (built circa 1950) was a prime candidate for new windows. I wish I had had them replaced when I moved in and therein lies the key to this home improvement. The longer you wait, the less time you will have to enjoy your new windows.

I believe there is a tax credit for such improvements for 2009 so now may be the time to act if you've been sitting on the fence about replacing those old windows. I had several windows that you could barely open, replacing the storms was a pain in the arse, and, for some, even dealing with the screens was a huge headache. The biggest problem was just the draftiness in the winter. I had windows that were so drafty, I would cover them with super thick plastic. After doing so, the plastic would bulge out into the room about 6-8 inches from the force of the draft coming through the windows.

It was so nice when the new windows were installed. You can't imagine how wonderful it was to open and close windows with very little effort and to be rid of the drafts. Now my air conditioner actually cools my house in the summertime. Imagine that! Another bonus was the significant outside noise reduction after installing new windows. New windows made a huge difference in terms of having a little peace and quite inside the house.

10. Water-saving toilets, faucets and showerheads

These fixtures will quickly pay for themselves and start earning you savings in the future on water bills especially if you have several people in your home. Installing 1.6 gpf toilets, cut my water bill by 1/3 instantly. You can flush them three times and still save 0.2 gallons over one flush of an old 5 gpf toilet. Contrary to popular opinion, 1.6 gpf toilets actually flush better than the old 5 gallon ones because you don't have to force 5 gallons of water down with each flush. Less water means more room for crap.

Almost anyone can handle a toilet replacement or, for that matter, faucet or showerhead replacement. Plus with a lo-flo showerhead, your hot water will last longer because you are using less water per minute. You could experience slightly reduced gas/electric bills as a result depending on your water heater. Or you could just take longer showers and forget about the savings.