Ah, home improvement! The never-ending tasks transform your residence into a comfortable and beautiful home. It also helps keep your home in great shape. Here are some words of wisdom on how to do those tasks successfully and as economically as possible. By reading these pointers prior to launching a project, you are sure to be glad.
Caulking gaps between drywall is a necessary step in home improvement. Even if you complete a beautiful paint job, if you don't first completely caulk the gaps between the panels of drywall the room will look unfinished. Unfinished gaps will even show up when you wall paper a room. Caulking is a must, anytime you drywall.
When working on a home improvement project, make sure to buy high quality materials. You can save money initially if you buy appliances or cabinets that have imperfections but using these materials could reduce the value of your residence. If you always purchase the best for your home, the results will be astonishing.
In addition to insulating your attic, there are other things in your home that you can insulate, one of which being your pipes. Insulating your pipes prevents heat loss as water travels through them from your water heater. This can quickly lead to less expensive energy bills as you will use less to heat your water.
Refurbishing an unfinished basement floor can bring the space together while increasing the functionality of the basement. Family members and friends will want to go down there more than they did before and one can create a new area to entertain guests. Putting down a wood, carpet, or synthetic floor will really improve ones basement.
When you are thinking about doing any remodeling, you should always consider the landscaping. Your lawn is seen first by people coming to your home. Keep your lawn manicured, and add shrubbery for beauty.
Replace counter tops in your bathroom and kitchen with new marble or granite tops. Over time, counters will wear down especially if they are made of laminate. Older homes can have outdated or vintage counters. By replacing the counters you will improve the eye appeal and home value without spending a great deal of cash.
When contemplating a landscape project, it is essential that you choose a design style that will complement your home. Choosing complimentary designs will give a professional and coordinated look to the addition of a new patio or garden.
Although there's a great selection of solar-powered outdoor lights available out there, they're really not appropriate for anything beyond providing decorative accents. If you instead want to light up your yard for safety and aesthetics, you need electric lighting. Although these lights are more costly, they will last longer and are more reliable than solar models.
If you are looking for home improvement projects that are guaranteed to raise the value of your home, you can't go wrong with a bathroom or kitchen remodel. Builders and real estate agents estimate that perfecting these rooms is likely to earn you more than 100 percent back on your investment when you put your home up for sale.
Paint worn kitchen floors. If you have a wood floor in your kitchen, it will suffer a lot of abuse over the years. If it gets to the point where sanding and re-staining won't do the job, try painting it. A coat of oil-based outdoor paint is strong enough for everyday wear, and it will give your kitchen a cottage feel, which is very fashionable nowadays.
Tell your contractor your real budget. Many people are afraid that if they tell how much they can actually spend, the contractor will make an effort to spend at least that much. Contractors are interested in giving you the best quality work, so you need to be honest with them about what they have to work with.
Have a clear picture in mind of the home improvements you want to accomplish. This will prevent disappointment if the project doesn't turn out as you planned. Utilize lists, drawings and magazine articles for ideas on how to create the finished product that will be everything you want!
Some speedy and simple home improvements can help you save on energy costs. Using Energy Star certified light bulbs decreases carbon emissions while using 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs. Insulate your water heater to save money on energy and water.
Guessing wrong about a sale item can put you in a very uncomfortable position since you probably won't be able to return it. Carry a tape measure and a list of the dimensions of your rooms with you all the time. In this way, if you see the perfect item of furnishing, appliance, or fixture on sale, you will be able to measure it to see if it will fit the space you have in mind.
Hunt down drafts in your house around your windows and doors, and seal them with insulation or weather-stripping to make your home more energy-efficient. On a breezy day, hold a lit candle or a stick of burning incense around the edges of your doors and windows -- with the drapes tied back away from the edges -- to easily spot drafty areas as the flame moves or the smoke wafts.
Windows
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.
Weather stripping can greatly increase your windows' efficiency. It's easy to add weather stripping. You just purchase it at your local hardware store and follow the package directions. Once you are finished, you will notice the improvement in the efficiency of your heat and A/C. You are certain to notice the decrease in drafts on cold evenings.
Replacing the windows in your home is one of the most important steps in perfecting your home. This is because the windows are one of the first thing a person notices in a home. Make sure to get windows that are durable. Vinyl windows are the best choice for durability and strength.
Be sure to play up your home's best features or selling points. Don't block any windows with excellent views. Take down your bedroom canopy if you want to show off your high ceiling. You have to enhance what's in your home. This will make your home seem more unique and desirable.
When repainting the exterior of your home, use plastic sheeting and masking tape to avoid getting paint on unwanted surfaces, such as your windows. Use drop cloths to protect your driveway, porch, and shrubs from dripping paint. You will also want to use 3-inch masking tape to protect the trim while you are painting the siding on your house.
You need to improve the outside appearance of your house. Improve your home's exterior with a mowed and trimmed lawn. Also, include plants and shrubs to enhance the appearance. Always make sure you sweep your sidewalk. Power wash your roof and exterior walls. Get your windows sparkling clean. All of these make for a great first impression as guests arrive at your home.
When painting the exterior of your home, use architectural details, doors and windows to add visual interest by painting them (or around them) with an accent color that coordinates with your main color. This keeps your color scheme from looking too monochromatic and helps interesting design features to stand out.
Re-caulking windows could be a great idea for home improvement because it saves you money since you can avoid future damages. It also reduces utility bills. Doing so prevents moisture and leaks which avoids any kind of mold growth. If the old caulking is cracked, remove it carefully with a chisel and hammer and replace with fresh caulk.
Give your house a much needed bath, so to speak, by pressure washing it. Pressure washers can be rented quite economically, and they do wonders in cleaning the grit off the outside of your home. Be careful around the roof line and windows. You will not want to get water into the wrong place or damage anything with the high pressure stream of water.
If you have high ceilings, do not dwarf your windows by hanging drapes immediately above them or on the window frame itself. Hanging curtains or drapes about a foot above the top of the window makes them look larger, and you will not have so much empty space above the windows.
The above tips may have you feeling overwhelmed right now. Just tackle each task on its own. With each step, you will be improving your home. Be proud you made those fixes. Your feelings of accomplishment will be huge.
