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.
When renovating a kitchen or bathroom, avoid using linoleum. The foremost reason for this is that linoleum has dropped out of vogue and can make your new renovation seem dated. Tile has a much better appearance, can be used in any situation where you might choose linoleum, and can even have radiant heat grids installed underneath for the extra touch of heated floors.
Prior to adding paint to your walls, cover up each electrical outlet cover with a small sheet of aluminum foil. It’s easier to apply than tape and will protect outlet covers from spills and splatters. It is so easy to clean up! Make certain that the paint is completely dry prior to removing the foil.
If you are interested in changing the look of your bathroom, this space could be the perfect choice for your next home improvement project. Give your bathroom an extra special touch by installing radiant floor heat and a light-tube, which gives the space the appearance of having natural light. Both features come with instructions that are easy to follow.
Paint your walls a new color. This can be a quick way to make a huge difference in your home’s appearance. Different colors can change the mood of the room and give the room a different personality. Many times a coat of paint can eliminate the need to change much else.
Check your pipes and plumbing regularly. Clogs in sinks, tubs, and toilets can lead to water back-ups. Flooding from back-ups can create an awful mess and cause massive amounts of expensive damage. Slow moving drains can cause rings of dirt to appear in your tubs and sinks, creating a embarrassing issue. It is best to keep on top of and remove clogs regularly.
If you are working on your own home improvement project involving laying brick, make sure you use brick ties in sufficient quantity. Brick ties are metal clips used to anchor bricks to the wall structure (wood studs or what have you) behind them. Many do-it-yourself types are seduced by the apparent sturdiness of bricks and fail to realize that they must be secured to the wall via brick ties.
For a unique and highly on-trend look, consider hanging flocked wallpaper on a large focal wall or in the main living area of your home or apartment. This type of wall covering adds texture, color, and style to any room, but is especially ideal for homes without children or in master bedrooms.
Never let extra space in your home go to waste. Reconsider your unused laundry room, hall closet, or walk-in pantry as a home office or mud room. These hidden areas generally already have built-in shelves, so you don’t have to invest in wall units or bookshelves. Keep the area from feeling too enclosed by turning a full-sized door into a pocket door.
If you have low water pressure, it can be a simple fix. Ask neighbors if they have low water pressure too. If not, the problem is in your house. Check each faucet’s water pressure to find out if the problem affects the entire house. You may need a simple aerator adjustment; if not, you need to call a pro.
If you spot water leaking through your ceiling, start preparing yourself for some major roof work in the near future. Procrastinating on this issue can be dangerous. Get a reputable roofing company to make an inspection. Be sure they are experienced professionals.
The canny homeowner pays for quality, not name recognition when buying home improvement materials. Many expensive fixtures and fittings cost so much because they have recognizable brand names and fancy styling. Other fixtures are expensive because they are exceptionally durable and well-made. Learning to spot the difference and spending money on the latter is the way to get the most out of a home improvement budget.
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.