Simple Tips For Being Your Own Handyman (or Handywoman)
A lot of times people will assume that home improvement is too difficult for them to tackle. Staying focused and planning appropriately makes home improvements much easier. In this article, we will provide some valuable advice that can give you the assistance you need for any home improvement project.
When purchasing a home, hire a professional home inspector. This way, you don’t have to rely on your own eyes and the seller to tell you what may need to be fixed or replaced should you buy the home. An extra set of eyes could spot things you may not have thought of.
Increase your home’s energy efficiency by adding weather stripping to your doors and windows. With the materials available at most hardware stores, this is a very easy and inexpensive change you can make to your home that will have a lasting impact on both your cooling and heating bills. You won’t experience drafts on cool, breezy nights, either.
Decide in advance what changes you want to make before starting any actual renovation. Having a plan is important for any project to be finished in time and within the expected budget. However, remember should you change any part of your plan, it will increase the cost of your project as well as the completion time of the project. If you’re working with contractors or other professionals, you’ll also find that they are much more comfortable with well-defined goals to work towards.
Drywall Mud
Vinyl is a cheap way of improving the look of your floor. Vinyl is a strong substance that can stand up to water and can be easily installed thanks to adhesive backing. As an added convenience, vinyl tiling is available in sheets or sets, depending on the size of the area you need to cover.
Adding texture to your walls with drywall mud can create some visual variety to your walls and even hide some of those common wall blemishes. It is simple to do texturing. Once the drywall mud is troweled, you simply grab a brush with bristles, a sponge or an empty plastic bag, and then use whatever you grab to create texture on the drywall mud by dabbing.
Before painting, cover outlet covers with some aluminum foil. Aluminum foil has several advantages over tape; it is easier to use and will still protect your outlets from paint splatters. Your cleanup will be simple! Just make sure the paint is dry before removing the foil.
Drive nail holes in the rim of your paint can! The channel into which the lid fits typically fills with paint, and when you make an attempt to replace that lid, paint spills onto the can sides. Driving several holes in the circumference of the lid should do the trick.
Bleach is a great tool for cleaning toilets. Although the smell is not desirable, it is quite effective. Scented bleaches can help limit the smell.
While painting, you should always remember to protect your floors. This will keep any excess paint from damaging your carpet or floor. Old newspapers placed in layers can work well and are cheap. There are also paint clothes made especially for this.
You shouldn’t trash bedroom doors simply because of some dirt. Take the door off of its hinges, sand it down and reveal the wood underneath. Then paint them with oil-based paint on a roller. If you want things to feel fresh and new, try replacing your old doorknobs with something more fancy.
Ceramic tiles can really lose luster over time. They can even look grungy. A mixture of vinegar and water will safely clean most floors. Fill a bucket with the solution and easily mop your floors. Dirt will be eliminated and your floors will once again shine.
It is important to develop a plan before beginning any home improvement project. If you wait until you start, you can run into a disaster because you did not plan. Planning will help your project reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Fun is essential to home improvement. Safety and quality should always be at the forefront; however, you should try to have fun with the project. If you are not enjoying yourself, you will make some mistakes. If your current home improvement project gives you nothing but frustration, you should think about turning it over to professionals.
Furniture cushions will, unfortunately, flatten out with repeated use. Rotate them and flip them to keep them from getting excessive wear and put them out in the sun on a pretty day. The heat will dry the moisture out and the bounce should be back in your cushions. The sun can fade fabrics, so be sure to turn the cushions and do not leave them in the sun for too long.
If you are working in the kitchen, around fireplaces or anything else that has a gas line, make sure that you locate the gas shutoff before you begin your home improvement project. It is critical that you take extreme caution in these types of repairs. Your vigilance can prevent a fire from starting or someone from getting injured while the home improvement work is being done.
Sort out just how much paint will be needed before beginning any sort of painting job. You might spend more than you wanted to if you do not know what you are doing. Take your time and simply measure what you are painting.
Most homes do not have natural lighting in the basement. To turn your basement into a more livable space, come up with a plan to include artificial lighting to brighten it up. If you’re lucky, your basement may have higher walls that protrude from the ground level. You can pierce these walls and install some windows to improve the lighting of your basement.
Install a shower if you don’t already have one on the premises. Not only are showers more accessible than bathtubs, you can also save much more water by using them, especially if your family is large. The numbers don’t lie. A quick shower consumes only 25% of the water that a full bathtub does.
Work on outdoor areas, as well. Extend your living space to include part of the backyard. A backyard patio is the perfect space for relaxing, barbecuing and entertaining.
Prior to digging in to any big job with home improvement, it’s always nice to let the neighborhood know what you are up to. Having a neighbor doing construction can be quite irritating. Your neighbors will be significantly less annoyed if they know what to expect and for how long.
Never forget the value in owning high quality doors. This is the very first thing and then the very last thing that people will notice at your house. As well, a poor fitting door can lead to a large amount of heat loss. If your door and frame are not made well you will lose your sense of safety.
Getting a fence installed around a backyard, or a part of a yard is a great way to improve a home. It keeps everyone from pets to children safe from outside wildlife. It can also serve to keep in one’s dog. You can design your fence the way you want it to look.
Wall Board
When it comes to remodeling your bathroom, think small. Just a little money is necessary for making a dramatic difference in your bathroom. New fixtures, towel bars and artwork can make a huge difference. Repaint the room. You’ll have a new, modern bathroom without spending much cash.
When performing home improvements in areas with heavy plumbing, (e.g. kitchens and bathrooms) replace ordinary wall board with water-resistant wall board. Professionals often refer to this product by the name “green board”, and it is better suited to water than typical drywall products. As an added extra it has normally been treated to resist mold growth.
Take inventory of your water usage before deciding on your home improvement project. Some of these projects include installing water-conserving shower heads, water heaters and low-flow toilets. These new fixtures can add value to your property through modernity and environmentalism, along with saving a bunch on your monthly water bill.
When you’re making major renovations in your bathroom, plan ahead and make the room handicap-accessible. It is not necessary to talk about it extensively, but you should get ready because it may save you a lot of time and effort. If you want to move and sell your house, these tips will help you do some things around the home that will get you some more money.
Maintaining your flexibility is quite important when you’re doing home improvement work. You may want a new renovation done in a certain time frame, but sometimes it may take longer. You may only have a little bit of money for something, but it could cost you more than you think. There are some factors in your project you just can’t control.
Clear glass windows can cause heat to escape. Therefore, you can add another glaze to your windows for energy efficiency in your home.
Trees make a lovely addition to any property. It’s also possible to increase your property values by planting a tree. Some people believe that each fully grown tree can add upwards of $1,000 to your property.
When you want to replace your flooring, remember that it’s very expensive to replace the entire floor throughout the home. One alternative to save some money would be staining the bare concrete. This type of look isn’t for everyone, but in terms of a money-saving way to make home improvements, you can’t beat it.
You must not rush through demolition before you start your renovation. You may be tempted to quickly rip out old walls and cabinets so you can quickly get to the new construction. You definitely don’t want to rip any wires from a wall without realizing the electrical component is attached.
Move the furniture in your room away from the walls to give the appearance of a bigger room. This makes the room feel larger while giving it a more contemporary appearance.
Try to group your tools by project in different toolboxes for better organization. For example, keep plumbing tools together, such as pipe fittings, a wrench and PVC glue. Keep a separate box with the supplies you’ll need to do electrical work. This will allow you to be able to easily find any of the tools you need immediately.
If your property is pretty much to your liking, think about putting in an additional room. What sort of room can you add for increased function? This helps make it easier for you to live in your home pleasantly while improving the value as well. Try to save the money to complete any home improvements instead of financing them.
Do you feel the drafts in your home? Lots of new products exist that utilize air as a means of insulation. That’s right–air! It works much like bubble wrap. Instead of padding, however, it provides insulation. These cushions are put into your wall and attic after air is added to them. This is an inexpensive way to re-insulate your drafty house.
There are plenty of ways to keep yourself sane and still make all those home improvements. You need to have an open mind during repairs. Hopefully the article above has given you some great ideas for improving your home. By following these guidelines, you will be able to update your home in no time!
If you want to make home improvements and you aren’t sure where to start, you might want to hire a home designer. Their trained eye can help you design a look that is perfect for you and gets you the most for your money. You do not have to go into a home renovation alone; hire a professional.