Home Improvement Advice For The DIY Set
It’s no secret that owning and maintaining a home calls for a significant investment of both time and money. On an average, homeowners usually spend up to 3 per cent of their home’s value on improvements each year. However, you can always cut costs; let’s look at some smart ways you can save money while you maintain and improve your dream home.
Get new metal fixtures for your bathroom. You can find a wide variety of shapes, colors and finishes in accessory fixtures like towel racks, cabinet pulls and shower rods. It is common for home improvement outlets to carry such items in groups in order to facilitate simple installation.
Even one with little do it yourself knowledge can repair a leaking faucet. If you can repair and fix these quickly, you can conserve water and not waste money. Your water bill will be significantly lower each month.
If you’re doing any work in the bathroom or kitchen, turn the water off. As a rule of thumb, if your project involves the water lines, be sure to locate the water shutoff valve to turn the water off before you begin your work. This tip will help stop flooding.
Always consider landscaping with regards to home improvement. The first thing a person sees upon approaching your home is the lawn, and it can make an impression on potential visitors and neighbors. Maintain the lawn, plant flowers or shrubs to beautify your home.
Wall Board
Whilst undertaking home renovations in your kitchen or bathroom, it is a good idea to install new water-resistant wall board in place of the existing ordinary wall board. Water resistant dry wall is also known as “green board”. It handles moisture better and some brands are even treated to prevent mold growth.
If you are undertaking an extensive outdoor improvement project, make sure to check in with your neighbors regarding any drainage concerns. Landscaping plans that are ideal must drain water from the property. However, if it just runs onto your neighbor’s lawn, he or she is not going to appreciate that. You can possibly plan a mutually beneficial drainage plan, but clear communication is a requirement.
Before painting any surface, always wipe down the surface to remove stains, dirt or grease. This will help the paint stick to the wall, sparing you the time in applying an extra coating of paint.
If you want to redo the dining room in your home, sand and refinish the old table. Though the job is time-consuming the results are worth it. Take plenty of time doing this so it comes out really good.
Outlet Covers
You can add a new look to your living space by simply replacing outlet covers. Over time, outlet covers fade, change colors, and get damaged; they reflect poorly on your walls. Replacing your outlet covers helps refresh your home’s appearance.
Add fruit and flowers to the kitchen for a bit of brightness and color. A wonderful flower arrangement or a bowl of fruit can perk up your kitchen. It is an inexpensive way to spice up your kitchen. Seeing a vase full of new flowers can make even dull days seem better in your kitchen while improving your mood.
You should not fill a room with too much furniture. Too much furniture will make a room look cramped. You might need a lot of furniture because of your lifestyle but keep in mind that a potential buyer will get the impression of a small room. Fewer pieces of furniture will make the room seem bigger.
You should drain all of the water out of the hot water heater once every six months. This will help your water heater last much longer. This process couldn’t be simpler. Your water heater has a drain valve that operates just like a garden spigot; all you need to do is locate it and attach a hose.
You can increase your home’s value and add additional curb appeal by adding high-gloss paint on the shutters and front door. If your home is light-colored, use bright blue or red. A darker home will look great with some deeper colors such as jade green or possibly a rich eggplant.
What’s the weather going to be like? If it rains a lot in your area, installing a patio outdoors may not be the best investment. Adding a covering to your patio may help, but the investment may not be worth it.
Install windows that have secondary glazing. These windows are a tad more expensive, but they cut energy costs in half and reduce outside noise. Think about using this on your next home improvement project to help save some money in the future. They also make it easy to cool and heat your home.
To save yourself from extra work dealing with clogged gutters, install screens that are designed to keep leaves and other debris out. With these screens in place, leaves will rarely cause problems and water drainage should not be impeded. You may occasionally need to remove leaves from the exterior of the barriers, but you should not have to scoop pounds of nasty debris from the gutters themselves.
Getting new appliances is very helpful in adding quality and value to your home. Any appliance that you upgrade will help you add value and give you a great start towards your home improvement goals.
Gas Lines
Be safe when you are doing renovations. Turn off the gas when you work around fixtures that are attached to gas lines. It can be dangerous if you are doing any renovations where there is a gas line. Always locate and mark the shutoff valve. Gas lines must be located prior to commencing so that they are not inadvertently ruptured.
Once you have reviewed the advice on home improvement idea from this article, you will feel more confident that the money you invest in improvements will be money well spent. By saving some money while still improving your home, you can get the best of both worlds.