An additional benefit of home improvement projects is increasing your home’s value. Updating and maintaining your house is also a good way to make it energy efficient and to save money. Not only does home improvement often make financial sense, it can be a great way to pass the time, too. The information below can help you to get started.
You can do an inexpensive remodel in your kitchen just by refinishing your cabinets instead of buying new ones. Paint all of the bases and replace the doors and hardware to get a new look. Plus, you can do this for a fraction of the cost it would take to replace them!
Boring, simple lampshades have no personality. With stencils, you can brighten them up. Use paint or an ink pad to add designs that be taken from a template, then add them to your boring lampshades. Doing this will add personality to your room and take away from your boring lampshades.
Determine the changes that you are going to make before you start the renovation. This is crucial to make sure you stay on budget and within a certain time frame. The cost of any job will increase if you make any changes that are outside of the original plan. By deciding what you want beforehand instead of having to pick things as you go, you will find that your contractors are also a lot happier.
Sign a contract before you allow any contractor to start working. You may even be better off if the contract is looked over by an attorney before the first hammer is raised. You should put in when the work will be finished, any guarantees on work, and what is going to be done.
If you cannot afford to hire a designer, start researching. Try some websites, books and magazines for some help. Magazines can be a great way to figure out what you’d like a room to look like. This sort of resource is a good place to turn for affordable DIY home improvement projects.
Aluminum Foil
Keep a drill handy at all times when you are improving your home. A drill can give you a lot of flexibility when installing screws. A good cordless power drill with the right drill bits for Phillips and flathead screws is ideal.
Use aluminum foil to cover your outlet covers and switch plates before you paint. It’s easier to use aluminum foil, and it protects the outlets. And it makes cleaning up a breeze. Let the paint completely dry, then take the foil off and place it into recycling.
After a while, ceramic tile loses its shine and looks grungy and worn. Try using a water/vinegar solution to clean it up. Pour your solution into a bucket and mop the floors with it. This helps get the dirt off your floor and allows it to look new again.
Do not feel you need to replace a door when it gets a little dirt on it. Sand the door to show the bare wood to use as a foundation. Then, wipe down your door and paint it with an oil-based paint. Change out your doorknobs to something fancier.
Replacement is not your only option for fixing up old, dirty interior doors. Sand the door to show the bare wood to use as a foundation. Then purchase an oil-based paint that you like and repaint your door using a roller. For a new feel, change doorknobs for fancier designs.
Using the proper tools can mean the difference between a successful home improvement project and a disaster. The correct tool will allow the project to be done correctly. Knowing how to correctly use the tool also makes a difference in getting the job done right.
Store any building materials in the portion between your floor joists or ceiling rafters. Molding and pieces of wood can be conveniently hidden out of eyesight. Just nail a few furring strip across those too exposed floor rafters or joists and slip your material inside to store it.
Use hot glue in order to stick small items such as screws, bolts, and nuts to their containers. It can be a hassle and cost you a lot of time if you cannot find a piece of hardware. Written labels all tend to merge together when you are searching container after container for parts.
Bugs can wreak havoc on your home, and cracks in the wall or gaps in the window can cause bills to skyrocket. Make sure you seal all those little cracks and gaps in the house to save money and to avoid infestation. Just caulk your baseboards, inside windows and around them, as well as any other place. Caulking these areas helps to keep cool air and heat from getting out.
Think about putting in insulation whenever you plan on renovating your home. Use weather stripping around windows and doors. When you can keep the outside air out, your utility bills will drop. These small measures will add up to big savings in the long run.
Adding attic insulation can help you save money on winter heating bills. The amount of heat that rises and is lost through the attic in the home will add up quickly over the years. Most hardware stores carry insulation, and its installation is very simple.
Thinking about installing a beautiful hardwood floor? Have a professional check out the existing floors in your home first. You may have some great, natural hardwood beneath your linoleum or carpet that just needs refinished. In many cases you can get a floor that looks even better than a new one while spending much less money.
Sitting on chair cushions flattens them over time. If you want to “fluff” up those cushions, and give them new life, use the sun. Doing this lets moisture evaporate from inside the fillings, and this reinstills some bounce. Flip the cushions over after a while, but be careful not to leave them outside too long, since the sun may fade the fabric.
Add some personality like a nice bold print if you think your room doesn’t have personality. Try adding leopard or zebra print to your living room in the form of an accessory such as a small area rug, chair cushion, wall art or decorative pillow.
If you need to remove any walls or drywall to reach plumbing when doing repairs to kitchens or bathrooms, put up a new wallboard that is water-resistant to avoid future problems. Green board resists the growth of mold and mildew, and is better suited to withstand dampness.
Add motion-detecting lights to your home’s front entrance. You will reduce your electric bill because your lights will only be on when they are needed. This idea can also keep your house safer from break-ins, since would-be thieves will trigger the motion sensor and turn on the lights for all to see.
If possible, you should tackle home repairs right when you realize there’s a problem. Most damage that often happens to your home you may just forget about. It’s important not to do this! Ignoring problems can make them worse. Before you know it, a little issue has turned into a major mess.
You can revive an outdated home simply by painting the walls. New paint can give a room an entirely different personality. Although painting a room could be cheap, it could drastically change your house’s value. It is best to use light colors that go with the decor of your home.
Always consider drainage issues before beginning a landscaping project. Your property needs all of its water drained if you want good landscaping. In many cases, it might seem convenient to just reroute the water to a neighbors yard, but this can lead to some heated arguments with the people next door! You must communicate with your neighbors to make sure your drainage plans will work to your advantage and theirs.
When thinking of replacing your cabinets, try using wood cabinets. They are strong and can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Cabinets are commonly made of maple, cherry and oak. To add a personal touch, you can stain any of these woods in one of dozens of gorgeous colors.
To get a better looking basement, try staining its floors. It can be cost effective to stain concrete floors instead of choosing to replace them. A stained floor is also more durable and easy to clean. Find a stain to boost the shine and lustre. This can add the appearance of being high-end floors without the price tag.
If you live in a rural area, think about installing a tall fence around your yard. A fence will keep wildlife away from your garden and help you protect your privacy.
Seal your tile grout. It is very porous. If you leave it unsealed, you may find that moisture seeps inside the grout, which can lead to mildew and mold. Grout can also become stained if it is not sealed. Sealing the grout makes the flooring easier to clean, and it decreases your potential for future costly repairs too.
When picking contractors, be sure you get several estimates that are each based on the same work requirements. Have a list of things you want replaced or repaired, and let each contractor give you an estimate for the same job. If you get multiple estimates, but they aren’t for the same work, you can’t directly compare the prices.
If a contractor tells you they will finish the job in time period that is not realistic, do not use him. Contractors often have good reasons to complete work as quickly as possible. Some contractors work as quickly as they can so they can start working on something else. If they’re wanting overtime this can be bad, especially if you don’t need it.
A good way to have a better looking yard is to put in some full grown flowers. The mature plants and flowers can add some immediate life and color to a potentially drab area. Young plants might not mke any real enhancement to your yard. Potential buyers can be powerfully influenced by a “finished” yard that will look great with minimal effort on their part.
It is very important that the contractor estimates you get are all based on the exact same work to be done. Be clear about what needs to be replaced or repaired and keep the list consistent between contractors. If you start making changes, it is hard to determine where the best deal is.
When you take care in the planning and execution of a home improvement project, it’s easy to make your home more valuable, more attractive and more livable. You just might be able to improve your home and save money with these tips.
Before starting a project, you need to get an estimate. It’s common to underestimate the final costs of your home improvement project. Shop around for estimates, then make allowances for the potential costs or delays of unplanned events.
