Tag / add texture

by Ted

What You Should Know About Home Renovations

Making a few little repairs can majorly impact the value of your house. Some updates can even get you thousands of dollars back when you’re looking to sell. Here are several home improvement tips that will help you to get started.

You can cover up blemishes in the wall while adding visual interest just by using drywall mud to add texture. It is not hard to do. Use a sponge or a brush to add texture to the drywall once it is where it needs to be.

Clean the filter of your air conditioning as clean as possible. When a filter is clogged, the air conditioner necessarily has to work much harder, requiring more energy. The unit will also run for a longer period of time. To prevent dirt and grime from building up on your filters, change them out every month.

TIP! It may be necessary for you to give a porch a fresh coat of paint. Make sure you apply a high quality exterior paint product.

Prior to installing paneling, paint stripes on the old wall. No matter how carefully you install paneling, it seems the old wall sometimes peeks through. Take the time to measure and mark where panels will meet. Use paint that matches the paneling.

Having fun is very important and it an big part of any type of home improvement project. If you are willing to do careful work and spend your valuable time, you should also be doing something that you fell good about. Mistakes are more probable if you are not enjoying your work. If this is what your experience turns into, ask a professional for help.

Think about inserting solar panels on your home. Although it may be expensive to install the panels, your electricity savings will make your investment more than worthwhile. This helps save money on your power bill because a majority of the energy comes from what you have stored. Solar panels are an excellent, natural solution for providing energy to your home.

TIP! It’s not always a good idea to fix leaks on your own. Simply place a large container under the leak, and contact a plumber.

Bathrooms should always have a ventilation fan or a window. Hot water and humidity can cause dangerous mold to grow. Painting your walls repeatedly will not get rid of mold. Stop the mold before it starts. Vents and windows can effectively dehumidify the space.

Switch to a floor lamp to free up space on your nightstand or end table. Floor lamps are easier to move around and table lamps use space on stands. Make sure the lamp you choose fits your decor and tastes.

Ceramic tile tends to dull after a while. A mixture of vinegar and water will safely clean most floors. Fill a bucket with this solution and start mopping your floors. This will remove dirt and grime and make your flooring look beautiful again.

TIP! Get the advice of a professional before attempting any serious repairs yourself. Advice from a professional can ultimately save you thousands of dollars and hours of frustration.

Soundproofing is something than many people overlook but can be a very wise investment. You might want to soundproof the entire home, but it might not be possible because of the way it is built, or because it is expensive. The most important rooms to soundproof are bathrooms, bedrooms and equipment rooms. The kitchen is a good candidate for soundproofing as long as it doesn’t open into many spaces.

A good way to spice up your outside is to add some accent lights. If you can situate some of these lights within your trees, it can often look as if it were moonlight. Additionally, you can use lighting to showcase your favorite garden statues.

Prudent advance planning is the key to successful home improvement work. Leaving important decisions unmade until the day the work gets done is a recipe for disaster. You could make the wrong choices, or delay your project by not making any decisions at all. Planning ahead will help the work go faster and will keep last minute costs to a minimum.

TIP! You may be thinking of adding a traditional wood fireplace to your home. You may want to rethink that.

Many times contractors lower construction costs by using solid wood cabinets with no hardware. Thankfully, it’s possible to buy handles, drawer pulls, and cabinet knobs at a home improvement store or online. Knobs and pulls are easily found in a variety of styles suitable to any decor, and installation is quick.

Get an electrician to put an outlet in a cabinet above where your microwave will be. This will make it easy to plug your microwave in without the cord being visible. This simple project will help you avoid having any cords dangling around in the kitchen.

Try a straight wall-mounted coat rack for a bracelet and necklace display. You should only display costume jewelry, not anything valuable. Using creative displays to hang your jewelry can become a nice, decorative element and also protect your jewelry from tangles or breakage. Keep your most commonly worn jewelry easy to get to.

TIP! Use your old luggage rack as a table in another area of the house. Recycle the glass from an old picture and attach it to your luggage rack with some adhesive.

Water usage should be a consideration when planning a home improvement project. You can simply add water heaters, shower heads and low flow toilets. These fixtures add value to your home and save you money on your monthly water bill.

Examine your lot to look for areas where the soil is low. These areas should be filled with compacted soil to prevent water from pooling and eroding parts of your yard. Water surrounding the foundation of your home can cause wood to rot, as well as seep into parts of yor home.

For safety, install peepholes in any exterior doors. See who is on the other side before opening the door. The great thing is that almost anyone can install a peephole in very little time. You just need a little time and a good drill. Now when someone knocks on your door, you will always know who it is.

TIP! Before you begin a landscaping project around your home, discuss any drainage issues with your neighbors. Your landscape plan should drain all excess water away from your property.

Taking on a remodeling job doesn’t have to be intimidating and difficult. If you take time to carefully plan out your projects, things should go smoother. Take these ideas to heart and begin working on your house.

by Ted

Work Faster And Smarter With These Home Improvment Tips

Home improvement is the most cost-effective way to get a new home in this economy. Nowadays, finding a person to purchase a home at the valued price is difficult without renovations. Rather than struggle with attempting to sell in a buyer’s market, it is often wiser to simply improve your existing home. Read on for some easy tips on how to get the job done.

Drywall Mud

Making your ceiling appear higher than it is can be accomplished using two very simple tips. Your walls could be painted with stripes, or maybe you can add a tall lamp. Adding this to your rooms will create an optical illusion for your eye to follow. The eyes will naturally focus on following all lines upward towards the ceiling, which will seem higher as a result.

TIP! You should avoid furniture with a busy upholstery. Purchasing items that have distinct patterns such as floral or geometric shapes prevents you from being creative with your other decor.

You can use drywall mud to add texture and visual interest to your walls. This will also cover up any nicks or blemishes. Adding texture is simple. Just trowel the drywall mud in place and use something like a stiff bristled brush, a sponge, or even a wadded up plastic bag to dab at the drywall mud and add texture.

If you are doing home improvement work on water pipes in your kitchen or bathroom turn off the shutoff valves. Make sure you know where the shut off valve is before working near the plumbing system. This can help you avoid a flood.

Always turn off the main water supply before you mess with plumbing. This is true of any project that will impact your pipes or your water supply; always find the shutoff valve. Doing this will ensure that you don’t accidentally flood your house.

TIP! One way to get bugs not to come into your home is by sealing any openings or cracks in your house. Add caulk to your floor boards, on windows or doors.

Before attempting a serious repair job, seek the aid of a professional. Often times their expertise and experience can avoid unnecessary expense and effort. You may make costly mistakes if you don’t first consult with a trusted professional.

Keep your young children safe by padding the corners of your furniture. Corner protectors can be purchased from a store, or foam tape could be used to pad these sharp edges on the furniture. Tape down wiring to prevent accidents such as tripping over them or even more serious issues.

If you desire to replace your window screen but you could not find a window that fits, it is easy to make one. You can use frame kits cut to a specific window size, then attach the screen using an inexpensive tool and cording. Certain widows require particular kinds of screens, but, if you desire, you can add on an additional external screen with the use of easy to install adapters.

TIP! Write a list of things you might need before going to the store. This will make it less likely that you’ll have to return to the store for something you forgot to get.

Tie or cut dangling blind cords. Children and pets have both been known to become tangled in these dangling cords, sometimes leading to strangulation. Do not cut them too short, you will need enough length to still use the blinds. You should tie it up or snip it off before it becomes an accident.

Almost any material you purchase to make home improvements might tempt a thief. You should keep those supplies secure and locked up when you are not working. If you have a secure indoor place to put them, do it. An on-site storage container with a lock should be used when the house cannot provide adequate security.

Don’t forget about landscaping when planning your home improvement projects. The front of your home, including the yard, is the first thing that others see of your residence. Sometimes it is the only thing people see. Keep the grass tidy and neat, and consider putting in shrubs and flowering plants to beautify your property.

TIP! You can mount a rack to the wall to put your jewelry on. Use it just for costume jewelry, not expensive pieces.

If your home improvement projects are within your bathroom or kitchen, turn the water off before starting any improvements that involve any pipes or fixtures. While this seems like an obvious step, many people do forget, causing big floods that can lead to water damage.

Install a shower if you don’t already have one on the premises. Showers are more accessible than tubs. They also use less water. A five minute shower will use a quarter of the water that a bath will.

Put a peephole in outside doors! See who is on the other side before opening the door. Although some people will hire a professional to do this, adding a peep hole is actually one of the easiest improvements out there. All it takes is a drill and a little bit of your time. Having a peephole will take away the anxious feeling whenever there is a knock on your door, because you will have the luxury of seeing who is on the other side.

TIP! Chandeliers are a great addition to the entryway in your home. Even some very fancy and very attractive chandeliers can be purchased for well under $500, and they can add over a thousand dollars worth of value to the home.

Keep your rooms minimally furnished. This will only make the room appear smaller. This is especially important if you are trying to sell, as you want your rooms to look large and enjoyable to be in to any prospective buyers. Less furniture will give the impression of a bigger room.

Put up some new trim and art to update your bathroom. Wallpaper trim is an inexpensive way to complement any decor with the numerous styles available to choose from. It’s also not hard to put up. By putting in simple, cheap artwork, you can completely transform the look of your bathroom.

If you need home improvement done quickly, expect to pay a considerable amount for it. Communicating with your contractor will make them more likely to work harder on your home. As long as you are willing to pay more, they will be willing to do the work. You would expect the same thing in return.

TIP! While you want to personalize your home, make sure that your improvement ideas don’t make your property too different from those in the area. For example, it is undesirable to have odd additions such as a widow’s walk on your home unless this is typical of your neighborhood.

Window Treatments

Changing window treatments in a room greatly adds to the new look. It is inexpensive to change out window treatments, and a new color or fabric can make a huge difference in your room. You’ll even find it affordable to change your room’s look to suit the changing of the seasons: try light colors in the spring and summer, and switch to darker, more intense shades during the cooler parts of the year.

Does your lawn have bare spots? Pick up some grass seed and sow it to make your lawn look beautiful again. If your lawn looks bad, so does your home. A lush lawn gives your home curb appeal.

TIP! Be sure to get an estimate from each contractor you contact. Also be sure that the estimates are apples-to-apples comparisons.

This causes the bristles to bend and makes them wear out more quickly. It should always be hung up so bristles will work great by staying straight. You should also hang your mops so that they can dry well, thus avoiding mildew.

Turn the gas off before doing any work near those pipes. Don’t think that a non-smoking home is always free of sparks. Also, just because you have disconnected part of the gas system in your house that doesn’t mean some still isn’t in the line.

It is amazing what a difference crown molding can make on your walls! Crown moldings can add interest to plain, flat, boring walls. Crown molding really is not that costly and it is simple to install.

TIP! It might be too much to update the inside of your house. It’s best if you can work on your projects when everyone else is out of the house.

A great way to set alcoves or niches apart from surrounding walls is to add wallpaper, or even better, to paint those alcoves and niches with an eye-popping accent color. If it’s an especially small niche, you can just use a sample container of paint, so there’s no need to buy a whole gallon.

It is truly astonishing how people are content to settle with what paint colors they already have in the house. They often make the wrong choices when choosing a color scheme. Choose some brilliant paint schemes today, and see just how far painting a room can go with helping the value and feel of your home.

One of the best ways to improve the value and overall quality of your home is to upgrade the appliances. Whatever the case may be, updating your appliances will help you in your home improvement efforts.

TIP! When installing tiles in places that have moisture, be sure to use cement backer boards. The backer board will prevent moisture from meeting the drywall.

If you decide to replace your roof entirely, white or lightly-colored tiles are your best bet. The darker your shingles are on the roof, the more heat they will absorb from the sun. This means your house is going to heat up and you’ll have to spend more money in the summer to cool it. Less air conditioning, of course, translates into lower utility bills during the summer.

The above tips can assist you in making your home improvement ideas a reality. Home improvement is not as daunting and complicated as you may believe, and it is less costly if you do a lot of the work yourself.

Environmental Protection Agency certification is an important consideration in selecting a wood burning stove. Any stove made within the past few years will be certified, but older stoves will require emissions testing to make sure they aren’t polluting the environment. Always check for leaks, as carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious concern any time wood is burned indoors.

TIP! Trust your contractor’s advice, after all, you are paying him for it! Once you have gone through the process of finding a talented contractor, place your confidence in the advice he shares. Trust his judgement if he warns you against certain renovations.

by Ted

Tips, Tricks, And Advice About Home Improvement

Many home improvement jobs can be simple for a homeowner to do on their own, for less than the price of professional work. These projects can not only increase the value of a home, but also make it a more pleasant place to live. The following article offers tips and techniques on home improvement.

It’s crucial that you regularly replace air filters. Not only is it healthier for the air that you breathe inside your home, but it is better for your heating and air conditioning unit. Blocked filters are a common cause of calls to repair people.

Getting your ceilings to seem taller then they are is possible by employing two easy methods. Paint stripes in the room or add a floor lamp that is tall. This will give something for the eye to marvel at. As your eyes focus on the length of the lines, the ceiling will appear to be much higher than it actually is.

TIP! Paint is a simple way to renovate a room. Adding new paint to your home can make it seem new again.

Weather Stripping

Make your home more energy efficient by putting weather stripping around your windows and doors. This fix costs next to nothing, and it makes your home much more comfortable. Not to mention, it saves you money. Weather stripping will also prevent you from catching a chill from drafty windows.

Putting in another bathroom will add a great deal of value to your home. All things considered, two bathrooms come in very handy for occupants, particularly if there is one upstairs and one downstairs. More than likely, there will be more then one person at a time who needs to use the bathroom.

TIP! If you want to change a lock, you should replace the whole thing, or if not just change the cylinder. The cylinder will keep the lock in place at all times.

When choosing between stained and painted baseboards, many feel that stained woods are more universally appealing. It is a classically warm look of the wood looks great in any room of the house. They also are better at hiding minor scuffs and dents than painted, and are easier to touch up should damage occur. There are a wide variety of stain colors that you can explore until you find one that is a right fit for you.

You can cover up blemishes in the wall while adding visual interest just by using drywall mud to add texture. Adding texture is simple. Just trowel the drywall mud in place and use something like a stiff bristled brush, a sponge, or even a wadded up plastic bag to dab at the drywall mud and add texture.

Prior to going to the home improvement store, create a list of what you are going to need. List the things you will need so you will not have to go to the store too many times.

TIP! Be sure to keep your own records when you work with a contractor on a home improvement project. Don’t just assume the contractor will do this for you.

Fixing a leaky faucet is simple enough and makes for an excellent beginner home improvement project. If you can repair and fix these quickly, you can conserve water and not waste money. This can keep you within even a tight budget.

Add insulation as part of the next home improvement job. Look for ways to weatherproof your home such as weather stripping and gap sealing. Since you will stop a lot of air from coming in, your cooling and heating systems will work better. Then you can save a lot of money on power bills.

Buy yourself a tool called a drain snake for do-it-yourself clearing of plumbing pipes. You will not have the need to purchase drain cleaners a lot. Because drain snakes can be complicated to use, it is a good idea to ask an experienced plumber to demonstrate the correct procedure. Be certain to purchase a drain snake that is appropriate for your own drain, or you may damage pipes.

TIP! If there are repairs that must be finished before moving in, focus on the heaviest repairs first. Simple fixes are quick to complete once the big stuff is over with.

Dressing up pillows for a young adult’s room can be very simple. Sew some old band shirts, old jeans, and shirts with neat logos around your decorative pillows. Let them decide which materials to use to give the room some of their own personality.

The number one tip is to have a plan in place before hand. It is impossible to be cost and time efficient on home improvement projects without adequate planning, and disaster will probably be the result. If you plan out what you are going to do, you will not run into as many issues.

Add a fresh look to your kitchen with some flowers or fruit. An arrangement of beautiful flowers, or a brightly color fruit bowl can give your kitchen a new look. Your kitchen will seem brighter and more inviting immediately. Flowers can do wonders for a room.

TIP! Home improvement has much more to do with saving money than it does with spending money. Buying new appliances can actually save you money.

Make sure that you install a window or proper ventilation in your bathroom. Mold takes over when a bathroom retains its moisture. Simply repainting over the walls doesn’t destroy the mold. You need to prevent the mold from getting there in the first place. Consider installing windows or ventilation solutions in order to keep your area dehumidified.

Don’t throw out your small baby food jars; instead, use them to organize your workspace. Just screw the jar lids onto the bottom of a shelf above your work bench. Have small items put into these jars, including jewelry parts, nails, screws, and beads. Then, simply twist your jars into their new home. This is great to reuse and store items.

When taping sheetrock, use a well-made stainless steel taping knife. This knife is easy to clean and will last so you can use it in the future. When properly cared for, a taping knife will last a lifetime.

TIP! The use of ceramic tile in a kitchen or bathroom is a relatively simple project. Choose between a solid color or cool designs to improve the look of the room.

Whenever your home improvement work requires the use of the street, inform your neighbors as far in advance as you can. You might have to block the road or keep a dumpster in the yard or on the street. Your neighbors aren’t going to be too happy about this if it catches them by surprise.

A good way to make your home look good is to replace the door handles. It doesn’t take very long to do. All you need is a screwdriver. Hardware stores sell knobs for installation.

An easy, inexpensive way to keep your house (and your feet) toasty warm is to add a heat source beneath your tiled floors. If you are going to replace your floor, think about getting tile and inquire about radiant heat. The sales person will be able to guide you on which type of flooring should be used as well as the options available for radiant heating. It is also a feature that will highly appeal to potential buyers if you decide to sell your home in the future.

TIP! Painting your walls will give your house a refreshing atmosphere without spending a lot of money. You can browse through the different color options by checking out paint chips at the hardware store.

You can add on another room to your home to make it more functional. Think about the children’s room, the living room, or a den. Not only does this add value, but also makes your home comfortable. Save this for when you have extra money and no other major home improvement projects to tackle.

Quality Paint

How will you clean up? The debris will get in your way unless you make plans ahead of time. To help keep debris cleared during your project, considering renting a dumpster or hauling debris away with a large truck.

TIP! Hurricane socks are a worthwhile investment if you live in hurricane or flood-prone areas. This product is specifically designed to absorb a good bit of water.

When painting the exterior of your home, it is very important to buy high-quality paint. Find a high-quality paint that will handle the weather and withstand the brushes of a professional contractor or amateur family-man alike. Even though you will pay more to use this paint, it’s worth it when you see how quickly you can pay your home with it. It’s better to spend the extra money on higher quality paint so you don’t have to go back over it every few years if you get a lower quality one.

Hopefully, this article has shed some light on the genre. You should come away with the confidence that making the necessary improvements to your home doesn’t have to be difficult. Making upgrades and restorations may seem confusing at first, but they will be gratifying when the changes are completed. With any luck, the following article will have given you some great tips to help you with your next home improvement project.

Learn about the different kinds of screws that are needed for different materials. You need to know what hardware you need to buy to do your project the right way. Wood screws are best for projects using wood because they are easy to screw into the wood. Sheet metal screws work best on sheet metal.

TIP! One home improvement project that does not cost money, but can make a huge difference is cleaning your gutters. Clogged gutters can leave standing water allowing it to invade the holes in your fascia board.