Search This Blog

26 May 2012

Stay Away From These Home Improvement Pitfalls

By Mary Ian


You've done it. You are ready to start making home improvements in your own home. What perfect timing! You probably have lots of questions on how to start and what to do, but fear not, this article can help you. Listed below are some tips that will help you get started with your home improvement aspirations.

When you are looking to take care of the cluttered attic or garage in your home, take full advantage of the first few weeks of the fall or the early springtime so that you can empty the contents of the spaces, organize effectively and be comfortable while you do so.

An inside home improvement project may seem bothersome to those that dwell in the home. The best way to go about this would be to work on your project at designated times or when no one's around. You don't want to put all that added stress on yourself when you're already working hard enough!

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.

If you have a cabinet door that just won't stay closed, try replacing the cabinet lock. You might want to try using a magnetic cabinet lock, as they generally last longer than wheel based cabinet lock systems. Simply remove the old lock and attach the new lock in the same location. Use wood screws if needed to create new holes.

Before investing in new hardwood floors, check with a professional about looking at the current floors in your home. Sometimes you may have beautiful, natural hardwood hiding underneath layers of carpet or linoleum that is just waiting to be refinished. You will wind up with a nicer looking, higher quality floor for less money.

Always keep an eye on your water usage by checking for leaky faucets. Leaky faucets should be repaired or replaced quickly to avoid excess water usage that is both wasteful and expensive. When replacing faucets or shower heads, make sure to consider using low-flow models as this also cuts down on your water usage and translates into lower water bills.

If your bed doesn't come with a headboard, or you didn't purchase it with one, you can easily solve your problem. Use an old weathered wooden gate or a lovely iron gate to make a one of a kind headboard. That's something you won't see anywhere else and will not be sold in stores.

One easy way to add a fresh touch to your living environment is to replace your old outlet covers with new outlet covers. As time goes on, your outlet covers will grow old and begin to look discolored. By putting new outlet covers on in your home, you add a fresh touch to your home.

When looking for someone to help you with home improvements, do your research. This is important because you do not want an inexperienced or unskilled person working on your home. Ask around for a good worker from family and friends or go online and look for reviews on home contractors in your area.

Take a sponge to your drywall! Don't sand your drywall seams, sponge them. With practice, a wet sponge is just as effective in smoothing out the seams of a drywall job as is careful sanding. The advantage is that sponging doesn't kick up all of the dust that sanding does.

If a contractor appears at your door and offers his services to you, be wary. Some companies like roofers or fence builders are known to use this tactic, but you should still do your research before you decide to hire them. Check the BBB, online reviews, and all supplied references.

Storage projects are an excellent way to get your feet wet in the home improvement process. If you have a broom closet in your home, consider making it into a small pantry. It is easy to attach small racks to the inside of the door and create a place for canned goods and spices. If you are able to add a deeper shelf, you can also store boxes or kitchen appliances that don't see much use.

If you want to make your house shine then look to the curb appeal. First impressions are important with people, and they are just as important to your home. Consider repainting if your color is fading or is dated, and choose colors and other details that fit into the era of your house.

If part of your home improvement entails repainting a door, there are two methods you may utilize to do this. Sometimes, the easiest way to paint a door is to remove it from its hinges and paint it on sawhorses which have been placed on a drop cloth. You can also choose not to remove the door and just paint it in place over a drop cloth. Use a high-quality paint brush and brush in line with the wood's grain.

Not only does full-scale remodeling cost a lot of money, it is often not necessary. With the information provided in this article, we hope you feel confident that you have the skills necessary to make a dramatic change in the look of your home with only a few basic modifications. Have fun planning your next project!




About the Author:



No comments: