For instance, the Portland Cement Association has developed a blue-ribbon warranty program for driveways-certainly one element of the home that undergoes more wear and tear than a lot of others. If a contractor has completed the training program and follows product specs to the letter, the driveway is guaranteed from defects for the first five years.
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Warranties aren’t based on average life expectancies, however, so if the April 1996 issue of Appliance Statistical Review says that your dishwasher should last ten years and it dies after nine, don’t expect to get a new one for free.
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So it is with the myriad pieces of all sizes that make up the giant jigsaw puzzle we call a house. According to the National Association of Home Builders, “A well-built home can last for centuries, but many of its parts must be replaced or refurbished on a regular basis.”
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A fter living with a woefully inadequate kitchen for ten years, we borrowed enough money from my 401(k) for a new one. With the help of an electrician, a plumber, and a designer provided by the cabinet supplier, I was able to transform an ugly, virtually useless room into something we weren’t embarrassed to own. Included was a dishwasher, which is something we had done without for more than a [...]
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