Solid Tips To Take The Trouble Out Of Home Improvement
If you’ve ever heard the old adage “measure twice and cut once,” then you’re well on your way to learning the correct way of making home improvements. That isn’t all there is to know, however. So find out what you don’t know in the article below.
Before beginning home improvements apply for the appropriate building permits. Any home improvement that involves plumbing, electricity, or structural changes can require a permit. Check your local laws. If you proceed without a permit then you can be fined or it could make the house harder to sell in the future.
Design a renovation with an eye to creating built-in storage. For example, a broom closet can be reborn into a small pantry, or you can add floor-level shelving to a coat closest for shoes and bags. If you are renovating to sell a home, the benefit of the added storage can be the deciding factor in a buyer’s decision.
Just like when you move a heavy piece of furniture with drawers in it, you will want to remove these from your cabinets and counter bases before you install them. They will be much lighter and easier to deal with if these have been taken out ahead of time. They are very simple and easy to put in when you are finished.
Cover your door knobs, hinges and other hardware with petroleum jelly before painting. It is an easy way to insure they don’t get covered in paint. All you have to do when you are finished painting is use a soft cotton cloth to wipe the petroleum jelly from the surfaces of the hardware.
When it comes to home improvement, small additions such as power strips and surge protectors can be extremely beneficial. Power strips allow for you to easily turn off groups of electronics, saving money on energy. Most surge protectors will protect your electronics from lightning strikes and power surges.
A well known rule for doing any kind of construction, repair, or renovation work is to measure twice and cut once. This age old saying still holds up today in every circumstance. Following this rule will allow you to avoid costly and time consuming mistakes associated with projects by using less materials and saving time and effort on labor.
You can stop heat loss from your hot water heater easily by covering it in a jacket. The jacket, which can be found at any hardware store, stops heat loss by 70%, making your home more energy efficient.This saves you money in the long run, as you can quickly regain the cost of the jacket in as little as 6 months.
Treat your wall to a dolly! No, not to a child’s toy but to a specially made anchor and toggle bolt! The shank of a dolly expands when you screw it tight. It can be used to hold a picture or other light object in place on the surface of a hollow wall where there is no underlying stud to nail to.
If you have a large, open kitchen, consider building or buying a movable kitchen island. An island can be covered with tile, granite, or marble tops, making it the perfect extra surface for preparing meals, serving food, finishing up homework, or as a makeshift mini-bar that goes wherever you need it to. Many models include storage features like drawers, hooks, and built-in cutting blocks.
Do-it-yourself hardwood floor installation is especially tempting for homeowners who want to save money by tackling the project on their own. This is fine for most faux-wood kits but if you are using actual wood that must be sanded first, it may be best to hire a professional to handle the sanding. Real wood is quite expensive, and even the smallest sanding goof can ruin the flooring.
Make sure that you check your local building codes and get proper permits before you embark on any major remodeling project. Building codes and permits are meant to ensure that a specific building project adheres to safety standards. If a project does not follow building codes, there is a risk that the project may be unsafe.
Think you need to re-tile your bathroom? Try cleaning the tile and re-grouting first. Using this method can save you time and money over a complete re-tile project. It’s also easier to achieve by yourself. A toothbrush is a wonderful tool to use when cleaning grout. A quality steam mop can make a huge difference as well.
If you do not like the looks of your hardwood, tile, or even laminate flooring, you may want to install carpeting. It gives a home a comfortable, lived in feeling and is much better for your joints. Just remember to pull it up if you ever move, since no one wants a home with used carpeting.
Utilize the many magazines that cover the home improvement topic. There are many useful tips to keep the project within budget as well as many ideas on style, colors and effective ways to increase your property value. There is never too much preparation when taking on such an important endeavor.
Any time you must remove your toilet, have a new wax ring on hand for replacing the old one. These rings are very inexpensive, and it’s worth the peace of mind to maintain a good seal between your toilet and the drain pipe underneath it. Old wax rings or those that have been removed and reused can disintegrate, causing nasty leaks and damage to your flooring.
One of the most profitable home improvements that can be made are updates to your old bathrooms. Usually the cost is the lowest for any room remodel, but the value achieved from it is significantly greater than the cost. If you do some of the work yourself, you can save even more.
Millions of homeowners decide every day to make some type of improvement to their homes, and many of them end up with poor results. Pay attention to the tips provided to you in this article so that you’re always making the best possible home improvement decisions when it’s time to spruce up your house.
