With a little guidance, tackling home improvement projects can be a simple, affordable, and effective way to increase the value of your property while making it a more pleasant and efficient place to live. Here you will find some useful tips and tricks for choosing and completing your next major project.
Consider replacing your roof with shingles that are lighter in color or even using white tiles. Having a lighter-colored roof will reduce the amount of heat absorbed by your attic and upper floors, making your house more comfortable and reducing the energy needed to cool it during those hot summer months.
If your roof has any small cracks, you can use some aluminum tape from a three inch wide roll to fix them. To use the tape, simply remove the paper backing from the tape and apply over the crack. Aluminum tape creates a waterproof seal.
Wall surfaces can be much more appealing (and imperfections in them are harder to spot) when they’re textured with drywall mud. It is easy to texture. Put drywall mud on the walls with a trowel and then use a sponge, a brush or any item you can think of to add some texture.
For an energy efficient upgrade, replace your hot water heater with a tank-less model. The new tank-less heaters only heat the water as it is needed as opposed to keeping 50 gallons or more heated at all times. This change will help your utility bills and the environment.
Update the lighting in your home to add brightness. Changes in lighting fixtures and adding additional wall lighting can bring a entirely new look to your home. Buy energy saving bulbs to reduce your overall energy costs and consider investing in a smart lighting system that will automatically turn off lights when not in use.
Place a nice centerpiece on your dining room table to create a sophisticated look. Your arrangement doesn’t have to be floral in nature. You can mix celery sticks or different vegetables with flowers, or use wildflowers growing outside to create an arrangement pleasing to the eye. You can place your centerpiece into a basket or a vase.
If you are hiring someone to perform your home improvement work, make sure to get multiple bids for the project. Although it can be a little time consuming, this process ensures that you are getting the best deal on your project, and it helps you become more familiar with the industry and what to expect from your contractor.
Write a list of things you might need before going to the store. Having a list helps you stay more organized and prevents you from having to run back to the store again and again.
Homeowners should avoid hiring contractors that are unlicensed. Every state requires you to possess some kind of certification if you’re a general contractor or a sub-contractor. This, of course, does not ensure that they will do a good job, but it does offer some protection from fraud. More importantly, a person who doesn’t have a proper license probably doesn’t have the right insurance, and they can be risky to do any work with.
Light is a premium often overlooked in home improvement projects. There are far, far more rooms in the world that are too dim than there are rooms that are too bright. Adding more light fixtures is almost always a wise home improvement job, and often a fairly simple one. In more extensive renovation work, installing more windows accomplishes similar results.
Even if you only want to complete a minor project, you will be more successful if you follow the advice in this article. This information is sure to help you as you map out your next project, whether it’s for the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, or even your front and back lawn.