With your home being the single most expensive thing any of us will probably ever purchase, making changes, improvements or renovations to it can be a scary proposal. What if it goes wrong? What if we make the wrong choices? This article will help you wade through the rights and wrongs with some great tips and ideas for your home improvement projects.
Add shutters to the outside windows on your home for a dramatic change in architecture. If your exterior looks a bit drab or flat, you can use this simple tip to give it much more depth and interest. Paint them a coordinating color to your house, often the color of the front door.
Home improvement is often a daunting task. This is because of the time and the amounts of money required. However, it doesn't have to be so bad. If you have several projects in your house, divide them up into several smaller DIY projects. For example you may want to redo the entire living room. Start simple, by just replacing the carpet, and before you know it, your living room will be like new.
If you have watercolor paintings hanging in your home, try to place them where they do not receive direct sunlight. The sun, or any bright light, will cause the colors to fade over time. Your treasured paintings may lose their vibrancy--and value. Keeping them out of the sunlight will help preserve their colors.
Maybe the house or apartment you're living in is great, but the view to the outside is not. If you have any offending sights that you wish to conceal, consider putting some plants or flowers on your window sill or in a window box. If you would like to take drastic measures in concealing your offending view, plant some shrubs or large trees in front of your window. This can ensure that you have a nicer view.
Use sandpaper when planning to stain or paint any wood surface, and then wipe using a damp rag. Using sandpaper with a fine grit helps to give it a nice smooth finish. The damp rag removes the dust and will also help create your desired smooth finish.
If you are doing a home improvement project that involves demolition, slow down and take your time. It may be exciting to smash that wall open, but you could damage structural supports, plumbing, or electrical connections. The same is true of pulling down cabinets and other fixtures. Once you've demolished it, it can't be put back, so pay attention to what you're doing.
Clean the gutters to make sure rain water drains correctly. You can easily avoid basement leaks by keeping your gutters clean. Always clean your gutters of leaves and debris to prevent this.
If you plan to renovate your whole house, start small by transforming one room or area of your home and see how it turns out. If it isn't what you were hoping for, you still have time to hire help or learn how to better plan your entire renovation.
Never underestimate your home-improvement project. Prior to starting, make a list of the necessary steps that must be followed, and have it reviewed by someone who is more knowledgeable than you to make sure there are no missing steps. Overestimate the time needed to complete the project in case there are any unforeseen complications.
Homes that have recently been updated will usually sell quicker and for a higher price than homes that haven't. Updating your kitchen can really help improve your home's value. It is also a good investment.
Need to improve the walls in your home? Apply joint compound in relatively thin coats, and sand each spot so that it's level with the wall after dries. This works for patching nail holes as well as fixing cracks in your walls. If you are not priming the walls before painting them, apply some of the new paint over the patched spots before rolling the color onto the walls. The patched areas may absorb more paint, so giving them an extra layer at the beginning will help to ensure an even look.
Give your kitchen a new look by installing a backsplash. Ceramic or glass tiles, metal sheeting, or even broken plates, applied in a mosaic pattern, can make great backsplashes. Placing backsplashes on the walls behind the sink and stove, provide great protection from splashes and stains. You can continue the pattern around the entire room if you desire.
An excellent alternative to siding on your home is to replace it with stucco. Stucco comes in a large array of colors and styles and can be versatile and fit your personal tastes perfectly. Stucco is also fire resistant which can be a great selling point down the road if you are trying to move.
When you are getting ready to deep clean your deck, make sure you have all of your materials ready before hand. Some of the things you will need to get together are a pressure washer, a nice sturdy scrub brush, commercial deck cleaner, a hose, and a hefty broom you can use outdoors.
Roofing Tips
Roll roof your floor for a practically indestructible finish! Buy roll roofing without the adhesive strip. Glue it in place either in long strips as it comes off the roll or cut up into irregular geometric shapes. Coat thickly with paint and use a brush to work the paint evenly into the surface.
Make sure to have your home inspected before starting any major renovations. Checking for roofing issues, termites, electrical issues and plumbing beforehand can save you a lot of trouble down the road. Finding issues like these when you are halfway through a renovation process can be a nightmare on your budget.
One of the most expensive things a homeowner can do is to replace the roof. Be sure to speak with a minimum of three roofing businesses and ask for their references. There are a lot of choices available for roofing, from metal to lightweight tile, although there are still the traditional choices like composite shingles and wood shake. Turn to a professional roofing contractor for help with this decision.
One type of roof vent you can use with metal roofing would be one made of ABS plastic. They normally come in the same color of the metal you will be using. They are easy to install with metal screws and stand up well when you are considering the elements.
Metal roofing can be made of many different types of metals. Some of the choices you have when deciding are steel, zinc, copper, stainless steel, and alumninum. All of these have their pros and cons and you should look into each one of them to make an informed decision.
You can install your metal roofing right over top of old asphalt tiles. This will save you time and money because you will not have costs involved in the removal. But if there are more than two layers they will have to be removed first.
Locating a trustworthy roofer is crucial when doing repairs on your roof. Doing the proper research before you commit to any one company can save you from a lot of potential trouble. A good place to start is the B.B.B or Better Business Bureau. Online reviews can be helpful as well, as they can tell you if any roofer is a good decision.
Suppose you are planning to replace your roof and are considering using either shingles or metal roofing. Which is best? You need to take into account the pitch of the roof. Either material will work on a steep pitch, but for a low pitch roof you should use metal roofing. Shingles will always leak.
Hopefully the information that you have just read will help you realize that home improvement isn't as scary as it can seem. There are wrong choices that can be made, but if you stick to these tips, you will have the information you need to make good choices and have a great and valuable home.
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