Drain your hot water heater every six months. A well maintained hot water heater will last longer and run more efficiently too. This project is as simple as locating the drain valve, attaching a hose, and turning the valve in the same way you would turn a spicket.
Remember to account for debris. When you are planning a large home improvement project ” especially one involving demolition ” it is easy to forget about the large amount of debris that is generated. All of that garbage and old material will have to go somewhere, and most people would rather not have it piled up around their home. Consider a large tarp in the backyard to protect the lawn, or rent a dumpster to have hauled away on a designated date.
Provide all the contractors placing a bid on your home improvement project with exactly the same information, if possible so they’re bidding on the same project. Include what types of product you want used (hardwood vs laminate, etc.), sketches, magazine photo cut-outs, plans, and written notes. Make sure to specify any items you’d like to be done custom like cabinets.
Remove a door from its frame without taking out the screws in the hinges. Need to take out a door so you can move a big piece of furniture? All you have to do is drive a nail through the bottom of the barrel of the hinge so the pin slides out of the top. Do that on both hinges and the door is free!
Recover your old couch! More than likely you are tired of it because the cover is no longer attractive. If you have even the most basic of sewing skills you can fix that all on your own. Carefully tear off the old cover piece by piece. Use the pieces as patterns to cut new pieces from newly purchased material. Sew it all together and you have a brand new look!
If you are in need of space in your bathroom, you know that the two things taking it up are usually the bathtub and the sink. Opt to install a pedestal sink in a small bathroom instead of one with cabinets on the bottom. It not only gives your bathroom an expensive appearance, but also frees up much needed space.
If you are in need of financing for your home improvement project, you want to find the best loan. However, you want to determine the amount you need that will secure the appropriate funds for any costs you incur to determine what is the best loan to choose. A mortgage or personal loan could be optimal for different budgets.
If you don’t want to refinish your old and weathered wooden floors, you can instead, give your home a cottage style boost. Buy some oil based paint and choose some affordable stencils. Use the stencils and paint to re-design your wooden floors. Add some cute designs in varying patterns, to give a full on-cottage look to your home.
Hiring a professional organizer for a home storage makeover, can do wonders for your home’s look. Most of us have catch all areas throughout the house, where items tend to go to die. We all have areas that we look at and say that we’ll straighten it out tomorrow. A professional organizer can suggest changes you can make to avoid these problem areas and make your home more efficient.
If you’re improving the look and feel of your kitchen by installing a granite countertop, consider individual tiles instead of a single piece slab. Granite slabs of countertop length can cost up to $5000, and sometimes even more. Instead, install foot-long granite tiles. For the same amount of space, installing granite tiles will only cost you a few hundred dollars.
We have a home which is over 100 years old and updating it has been an ongoing process over the past five years. We have a new dining room, two new bathrooms and half of a new kitchen. Recently, my husband installed four new windows and put new siding on half of the house. I can’t wait for the whole thing to be done!
Gale Gilson is an expert in Re Roof