Home improvement is not just for dedicated enthusiasts. Any homeowner can increase the value and appeal of his or her home with some simple projects. Home improvement projects are easy to complete when you research them ahead of time and prepare yourself well. Here are some great ideas for doing home improvement work without the hassle:
Want to save a coat or two of paint? When you paint wood or drywall that needs to be primed first tint the primer to match your final paint color. By tinting the primer you will reduce the amount of coats you need to paint the surface by a coat or two.
Stay true to the property and the neighborhood when you take on major renovations. If you live on a street of suburb ranch style homes, then putting in a colonial mansion is not going to get you the desired result you’re after. It will be out of place and not something anyone else will be willing to pay for later.
In order to save money on air conditioning costs during the summer, try installing ceiling fans. Ceiling fans recirculate air within a room, cooling it down without the need for turning on a central air system. They are relatively easy to install and can be installed in place of your lighting fixture.
An over-the-range microwave is a great way to save space in an already cramped kitchen. These units take the place of a range hood and are available at a variety of price points. Some even have features such as built-in convection cooking. As most units just have recirculating filters, it’s a good idea if strong venting isn’t required.
When it comes to home improvement, be sure to weigh the cost of purchasing CFL bulbs for your home. While they do save energy because of lower wattage usage, the upfront cost is higher than regular bulbs. Also, they may pose a health hazard to you if ever broken due to the amount of mercury used inside the bulb.
If you have water leaking from the top of the tap of your faucet, there are two ways you can solve this problem. First try tightening the gland nut. The gland nut keeps the spindle of the tap in place. If this doesn’t work, try replace the rubber seal on the spindle, also known as the O-ring.
Keep your home smelling scented and fresh by making your own potpourri sachets. Buy some little jewelry organza bags and fill them with store bought potpourri. To boost the scent, pour some aromatherapy oils on top. Display them in different areas of your home to create a nice and scented environment.
Wallpaper borders are no longer as popular as they once were. However, you can add nice designs to your wall without them. Buy some stencils at your local craft store in a theme that matches your home decor and paint them in a line on your wall where normally the wallpaper border would go. This creates a nice visual effect for your eyes to follow in the room.
The land surrounding a house should slope away from it to encourage water not to accumulate at the bases of walls. Water flowing towards a house’s walls is easily the most serious possible drainage problem. Such water build-up can cause rapid and severe damage to walls and foundations. This can turn a minor drainage defect into a serious structural threat.
Hopefully this info will make your next project a breeze. Not only is it easy to complete home improvement projects when you do them right, it can be addictive, too. Doing good work will lead you to taking on new, more ambitious projects. As long as you remember to educate yourself thoroughly beforehand, the sky’s the limit.