Home improvement is something that is hard to think about, especially if you’ve never attempted it in the past. But, it is crucial if you own a home. If you are unsure how to get started with home improvement, the following advice can help.
When replacing your baseboards, try to use stained wood because it is a lot more appealing than painted baseboards. This type of baseboard oozes classic appeal, and you can never go wrong with wood’s warm ambiance. Stained baseboards also do a better job of hiding scuffs and scratches. There are many different tints available in stain form, making matching your decor easy.
Increase the energy efficiency of your home by installing weather stripping all around your home’s doors and windows. This very inexpensive fix from the hardware store, will seal out the hot or cold air and make your heating and cooling system much more effective. You won’t experience drafts on cool, breezy nights, either.
When you start any home improvement task, be certain not to underestimate the time and money requirements involved. Sit down and make a list of everything you have to do. You may also want to get an additional opinion to ensure you didn’t miss anything during your assessment. When you know exactly what needs to be accomplished, you’ll be more likely to make cost saving choices.
New furniture is oft times very expensive. Look around at garage sales and thrift stores for some interesting, new-to-you furniture. Sometimes you can find some great treasures in the used items in these stores. Some things require work, but by investing time, they can become an asset.
Do not forget your chimneys, downspouts and gutters. Keeping these parts of your home in good working order and making repairs as needed is crucial. Your chimney can catch fire if not cleaned on a regular basis and gutters and downspouts can become clogged with debris, which can lead to water damage if not addressed.
Try using a sponge on your drywall. You should use a sponge rather than sand. A wet sponge works just as well as sanding. One advantage to sponging is no dust is created as happens when you use sand paper.
Keep any small jars (like baby food jars) for use in organizing your space. The tops of these jars can be used under a wall shelf. You can put small items in the jars. Then, you can just twist the glass portion back up underneath the shelf. This will help maximize your space and efficiency.
Paint your old walls with coordinating stripes before installing paneling. It doesn’t matter how well you try to install the paneling, the old wall seems to want to peek through. Take the time to measure and mark where panels will meet. Apply paint in a hue that matches the paneling.
Get some extra space on night tables by selecting floor lamps over table lamps. Floor lamps are free standing and can be moved around, while table lamps take up quite a bit of table space. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes.
Use PVC cement and PVC primer to attach two PVC pipes. These exact items must be used, as other types of adhesives are likely to leak. Also you don’t want the surface of your pipes to be wet.
Many times older homes have carpet throughout, and it can be worn, stained and outdated after years of use. Hardwood floors have their own appeal, and are far more durable than even high-quality carpeting.
Water damage is readily apparent when looking at a home for sale. There can be items like roof defects, electrical problems, poor ventilation, structural damage, etc. that only experienced inspectors can spot. Spending money on repairing these things is a good investment in the home.
If your home has clear glass windows, you may be losing as much as twenty percent of the heat and cool air indoors. Therefore, you can add another glaze to your windows for energy efficiency in your home.
Installing a second bathroom in your residence will significantly enhance the value of the home. An additional bathroom is definitely desirable, especially if each bathroom is on a different floor. And, you will soon find that, in addition to increasing your home’s value, having a second bathroom comes in handy!
If you want add the illusion of more space to a bedroom or living area, do it the way experts in interior design do. Simply pull the furniture into the center of the room and make space along the walls. Not only does this create the illusion of extra square footage, it also lends a distinctively contemporary look and feel to even the most traditionally decorated rooms.
Replacing a roof is one of the most expensive projects a homeowner can do. Get at least three estimates from roofing companies, and carefully check all their references. When it comes to the material used on a roof, there are tons of choices, such as metal, wood shake, composite shingles, and lightweight tiles. Have your contractor help you make a decision.
Get a second opinion on contractor recommendations and cost estimates for major home renovations you have planned. Even contractors that have a good reputation may try to take advantage of an unsuspecting homeowner. Before you spend more money with the contractor, make sure the improvements are necessary.
Prior to working with wood, take sandpaper and smooth everything down. After that, take a slightly wet cloth and wipe it off. The smooth finish can be achieved by using a fine grit sandpaper. The damp rag removes the dust and will also help create your desired smooth finish.
A fence installed around your back yard, or even a section of your yard can serve several purposes. A fence will protect your family, pets and guests from any stray animals. It is also able to keep a dog from running away. It can be styled to fit the overall look of the yard.
Gutters can get clogged in the fall and winter, causing serious drainage issues in the summer. Leaky gutters on the sides of houses can cause water to seep into the basement, which will eventually cause a flood. You can prevent this from happening by regularly clearing debris from your gutters.
If you are not able to take good care of your yard, try changing it to a low maintenance version to make it less work. This usually consists of rock beds with hearty plants that need little water. A low maintenance yard will save you time, and low water requirements will save you money.
Soundproofing some of your interior walls can be a good investment. You might want to soundproof the entire home, but it might not be possible because of the way it is built, or because it is expensive. The most important areas for soundproofing are bedrooms, bathrooms and equipment rooms. You may also want to soundproof your kitchen since its not open to a lot of other areas.
Use only high quality paints to paint your home’s exterior. By getting a paint that has good quality, your paint will stay fresh a lot longer. Paint that is high in quality is usually high in price as well, but these dollars are well spent and the effects are durable, visible, and beautiful. It’s better to spend some cash now, than have to paint your house all over again in just a couple years.
Huge Problems
You should never rush through demolition to prepare for a project. You’ll be so eager to start on the new work that you’ll want to tear down the old stuff as quickly as possible. However, you don’t want to spend time ripping things out of your walls if you don’t even know whether or not they’re still attached to something.
Mold and rust should never be overlooked and ignored. These issues are common in older homes and can become huge problems. It’s quite easy to deal with these problems before they snowball out of control. If you wait until they’re huge problems, it can be time intensive and costly. Beach is effective at removing mold. In many cases, a minor rust issue can be fixed with sanding.
When performing outside home improvements, make sure you keep up with the surrounding properties character or theme. If your house is an eyesore, you’ll have a hard time selling it when the time comes.
Do you have a functional home? If so, consider additional living area. Consider a play room for the kids or a den for the entire family. This will increase the comfort of your home as well as the value of your home. However, don’t do this until you have enough money because this type of project can be rather costly.
One of the simplest and most rejuvenating updates you can make to an older home is to add a coat of fresh paint to the exterior. Nothing says fresh and new like a new coat of paint. Choose a new color for the exterior of your home for a dramatic effect.
If your home requires major repairs, it is best to consult a professional. Architects, designers, and contractors earned their titles. They are skilled in doing this kind of difficult work. While it may be tempting to do the home improvement yourself, by hiring a professional, you will get the job done with competence right from the start.
One method that can give your home a fresh, clean appearance is having your carpets cleaned regularly. It is crucial to have your carpets shampooed frequently, especially in areas of your carpet that are frequently stepped on. In this way you can extend the life of your carpet and give your whole house a squeaky-clean feeling.
After learning more about home improvement, there is no reason not to get started right away. Use what you’ve just learned, and you won’t be sorry. You can accomplish a lot if you start slowly and give yourself enough time to acquire more skills. When you know how to do what needs doing, it is easy.
A great tip for any do it yourself home improvement homeowner, is to take some classes at your local home improvement store. Large home improvement chains use classes on such topics as laying tile and painting walls to drum up business. Taking these classes is a good way to learn the basics about improving your home.
