If you do home improvements, you might think about saving money by doing some of these things yourself. The answer to your question is a qualified yes; you need to be well-informed before deciding whether or not to handle your work by yourself. You’ll find in this article tips that can help you decipher whether a project is a “do it yourself” or one that needs a professional.
When it’s time to redo a roof, try getting tile that’s white or something that’s light colored. This deflects the sun and keeps heat outside in the summer. Simple tips like the color of your roof can add up to big savings over the lifetime of a roof.
Changing your air filters is very important. In addition to making your home’s air more healthy, it’s also helpful for air conditioning and heating units. Many service calls to repairmen are because of build up due to dirty filters.
When choosing between stained and painted baseboards, many feel that stained woods are more universally appealing. This gives your baseboards that look of real wood that blends very well with a modern or classic home. In addition, stained baseboards hide scuff marks and are easier to maintain than painted baseboards. With the large selection of stains to choose from, you can match your baseboard to any color decor.
Under no circumstances should you permit a contractor to start work on your house if there is no agreed upon and signed contract. You should consider having a friend or a lawyer look over your contract if possible. It needs to clearly show warranty information, the amount of work that needs to be performed, total costs, and beginning and completion dates.
Thoroughly dust your home at least one time every week. Allergens and dust bunnies seem to breed when dust accumulates. When you dust your accessories, you clear away dirt and check for fleas, spiders and ants.
Drywall Mud
Solar panels are beneficial additions to any home. Don’t be scared off by the initial cost. Over time, you will make back your initial investment, which can be a big plus considering rising electricity costs. This can save your money your electric bills. This is an excellent, green way to power your home.
Drywall mud can be used not only for repair of pocks and holes, but also to add some visual depth to your walls as a texture agent. The process of texturing is not difficult. Put drywall mud on the walls with a trowel and then use a sponge, a brush or any item you can think of to add some texture.
Use PVC cement and PVC primer to attach two PVC pipes. Don’t buy anything else, as it won’t work and could cause a leak. Also, make sure there is no moisture on the pipes.
You must have a drill if you are doing home improvements. You can make holes and even attach screws. A drill that is cordless and battery operated is easiest to use because you can take it anywhere. You might also want to invest in an assortment of drill bits also.
Check out the floors underneath any rugs or coverings before spending money on new flooring. You may actually have great hardwood floors under the carpet in your house. You are going to get nicer floors while spending much less.
Take the time to shop for the best deals in home improvement supplies. This can help you avoid over-spending on expensive items. Replacing the flooring in your home, for example, can be very expensive, so it pays to shop around. There are bargain places and discount supply stores that will help.
One of the best ways to cut down your winter heating costs is to take the time to give your attic proper insulation. It is a fact that heat rises and is lost easily in poorly insulated homes in the colder seasons. You can buy quality insulation at any home improvement center, and it’s quite simple to install.
Floor Joists
Be aware of the type of product you are using to clean out stubborn clogs. Cleaners differ, and some can be very harsh on your plumbing. Drain cleaners with active ingredients that are crystallized, for instance, may adhere to the interior of pipes, causing long-term damage. Your drain cleaner should be safe to use for your particular type of septic tank.
For storing materials, try placing them between floor joists or ceiling rafters. Even large supplies can be tucked away. All you have to do is put some furring strips on floor joists or your rafters.
A great home improvement to undertake is installing motion-sensitive lighting on the outside of your home. When you are only turning on the light when required, you are saving a lot of money on electricity. A secondary benefit to installing the motion detectors is that they may deter thieves. Should someone break into your home, the lights will automatically come on and alert neighbors to their presence.
Putting in insulation in your attic can reduce heating costs when it’s cold. Because heat rises, houses with bad insulation can lose a lot of heat during the colder months. Most hardware stores sell insulation, and installing it yourself is relatively simple.
If you require your improvements done quickly, you’ll need to pay up. If you talk to a contractor, many of them would be happy to work more on your projects. Know that they are satisfied because you are going to pay them. Fast jobs demand a higher compensation.
Whenever you work with electricity you should always kill the power at the circuit breaker. If you don’t disconnect the electricity, someone can get electrocuted and die.
Replacing your old windows with energy efficient windows is a very wise investment. They will quickly pay for themselves in the form of savings on your utility bills. This home improvement project can be quite rewarding for those who choose to do it.
It is inevitable that chair cushions will flatten with use. If you want to “fluff” up those cushions, and give them new life, use the sun. Sunlight dries up excess moisture and restores the springiness. Makes sure to turn the cushion over, but do not leave it in the sun too long because the fabric color can fade.
Freshen up your kitchen with flowers and fruit. Fresh fruit or a nice flower arrangement can perk any kitchen up. It is a very inexpensive fix to help brighten up your kitchen. Even on the worst of days, just viewing a vase of attractive blooms can quickly brighten your mood!
You will get what you paid for when you buy a good door. It will be the very first and very last thing guest will view. Also, if you have one that is old or damaged, heat may be escaping from it. If your door frame or locks are old or poorly made, you lose security and peace of mind.
Enlist the help of your friends when doing a home improvement project. As the saying goes, you should never put all of your eggs in one basket. This is a case where you have to consider this.
Repainting your walls can really make your dingy home look fresh and new. New paint can change the appearance of a room right away. Painting is a cheap way to increase your home’s value. Often, lighter colors will offer a nice complement to other areas of your home.
Look for low levels around your property, paying special attention to the areas around your home’s foundation. These areas should be filled with compacted soil to prevent water from pooling and eroding parts of your yard. You don’t want water to creep into your home’s foundation and cause damage to wood.
If you’re getting a contractor to take on some home improvement projects for you, it’s crucial that you ensure they’re properly insured. This insurance will cover any damages they may do. Make sure to always request an insurance certificate before your contractor begins any work.
If you want to get rid of a popcorn ceiling, have a professional test it for asbestos first. Asbestos can be very harmful and should be handled by professionals wearing proper protection and using proper disposal techniques. If there is asbestos in your ceiling, a specially trained crew will need to be hired.
Consider your location when you are thinking about home improvements. For instance, building a deck in a place that normally experiences high winds is probably not wise. You are likely to be disappointed in your finished project if you fail to take things like this into consideration.
If you hate cleaning gutters or your home is surrounded by trees, consider installing a protective screen or guard over your gutters. With these screens in place, leaves will rarely cause problems and water drainage should not be impeded. With gutter screens, however, you no longer have to scrape out the gutters. You can instead just wipe off the screen and get rid of surface debris.
There are many home improvement projects that are inexpensive, but yield high savings. Light bulbs that are Energy Star qualified can use 75% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs, and they can cut down on carbon emissions. Insulating your hot water heater will prevent your water heater from wasting energy and save you money.
If you want to do home improvements outside, remember to keep the appearance in the same vein as other houses on your street. Something that looks too personalized can be a neighborhood eyesore.
Always repair leaky faucets. When you’re wasting water through leaks, your utility bills will skyrocket. The water can leave lasting damage, too. Fixing or replacing your faucet is easy and cheap. If you have to replace items that a broken faucet ruined, that may be much more expensive.
Clean carpets will help your home look brighter and fresher. High traffic areas on your carpet especially need to be shampooed or deep cleaned regularly. Doing so will engender an atmosphere of freshness and cleanliness throughout your home.
Start a new project involving landscaping to boost the aesthetic appeal of your home. Your grounds can benefit from a whole host of attractive options, not just flowers and shrubs, but vines, mulches, and even beautiful stones, too. When you want to add value to your home a good landscaping job will go a long way.
You can produce a unique multi-textured look to your walls by using both glossy and flat paints that are the same shade. Put two flat paint coats on the wall, then stencil on glossy paint in unique designs. The glossy paint is going to reflect light, while giving a bit of visual interest.
Seek out different kinds of insulation when you’re thinking of redesigning the rooms in your house. There are a few different types you can choose from, including permeable house wrap, rigid foam insulation, and systems that fully protect a wall. Compare the costs to find the best fit for you.
It’s a good idea to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Mow your lawn and make sure that your hedges are trimmed. Plant a few nice shrubs. Tidy up the yard. Power wash the exterior of your home. Make sure the windows are gleaming. All of these changes will make a good impression on visitors to your home.
Before installing tile on walls in bathrooms or kitchens where moisture is going to be common, put up cement board first. The cement back board will keep moisture from reaching the drywall. When water meets the drywall, mildew and mold can form.
Don’t forget to check the condition of the caulk in your bathroom from time to time. Take the time to inspect the caulk around your tub, sink and/or toilet. Small holes could appear, and moisture could get inside the walls creating mold that could cause respiratory problems to some people. Water that seeps through any holes and cracks in the caulking can flow through to the floor, and that can cause it to rot. Make sure to get rid of all the old caulk and clean the surface before reapplying the new caulking. The new calking will only adhere to the new surface, if it is properly prepared, to form a watertight seal.
Improving your home is a way to impress your personality into your living space. Practically any homeowner can handle some home improvement projects on his or her own, and the cost need not be exorbitant. Learning more about home improvement prepares you to handle some of this work yourself – and to know when it’s time to call in the professionals!
When comparing different contractor’s quotes, don’t just focus on the dollar amount. You should consider numerous factors, such as time lines, warranties, and the frequency that they will be working. You should balance the project’s cost with how your life will be affected.
