How To Plan A Phenomenal Home Improvement Project


Perhaps you want more home improvement tips and have even surfed the Internet for them. The material in this piece can help you bolster existing skills or get you off to a great start as a beginner.

Hardwood, tile and other smooth surfaces may seem like a good idea in high traffic areas like stairs and hallways, but those same areas can then echo and reverberate throughout the entire house. You wouldn't want to hear every footstep going down the hallway if you were in a bedroom sleeping.

In northern climates where heavy snow covers the ground all winter, you may lose track of where the borders of pathways are. To avoid this it is a good idea to put a 4' X 4' lumber bordering the paths. Then, when you are shoveling snow, you will know exactly where the edge of the path should be.

You can do an inexpensive remodel in your kitchen just by refinishing your cabinets instead of buying new ones. You can create a new and attractive look just by painting the bases and installing new hardware and doors. This will modernize your kitchen without you having to spend a small fortune.

Dress up a few pillows for the master bedroom. Go get some old clothes like a pair of jeans, some old concert t-shirts or anything with a cool design and fasten them around the pillows, then sew them on. Doing this can add an excellent personal touch and provide some personality to a teenager's room.

If your home needs many repairs, make larger renovations prior to moving in. Small projects like painting and refinishing can be done gradually after you've moved into the home.

When remodeling your kitchen, budget appropriately for your new appliances. It may be tempting to spend less on items like a refrigerator or dishwasher, but if they're noisy, the bargain isn't so attractive. This is an especially important consideration in open-floor plan settings, where kitchen noise can drift into other living areas.

If you have the space and it is allowed under city ordinances, consider adding an extension to your home. The extra space can be used as an office, den or family room. Consider putting a skylight in your addition. These add ons will increase the value of your home considerably.

To update the appearance of your basement, opt for easily installed modular flooring - the durable carpeting is suitable for even the heaviest traffic, and will make the area more inviting by ensuring the floors are not ice-cold. Many companies offer affordable traction-backed carpeting squares in a range of colors and patterns. These can be laid directly over concrete with no advance preparation.

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.

Before you order you new kitchen cabinets, draw a plan of your kitchen that shows the location of all plumbing, outlets, appliances, windows, and all other obstacles. This will ensure your new cabinets are a perfect fit. Many retailers will develop a design plan for you free of charge if you purchase your cabinets from them.

While most people know that taking a shower instead of soaking in a tub helps to conserve water, not everyone knows that you can actually save more money on your water usage by replacing your original shower head with a specially designed low-flow shower head. This is a quick and easy improvement that can be done in one day and with only a minor cost.

If the outside of your home is looking a bit drab and old, why not put new outside light fixtures up. There are a lot of outside light fixtures available on the market and they all have something special. Putting a new light on your home adds a touch of class, elegance and style.

If you are looking to improve your home with new furniture, consider re-upholstering. Having new furniture delivered and removing old furniture can be a stressful and expensive hassle. Simply putting new cushions and upholstery on an existing couch, however, will make it look like new for much less money than a new couch.

Still running those window unit air conditioners? Central AC is a costly upgrade but a rewarding one. It new window installation will save you money on your electric bill, so you will slowly make the upgrade cost back. Plus, it significantly increases the value of a home. Look into upgrading to Central AC in your home.

If the stain on your deck has been damaged through years of wear and tear and is beginning to fade it can turn into a ugly gray color. It is within your reach to re-stain your deck and give it a make over. You will first need to strip the old stain off! Remember this when you have made your final decision.

An excellent home improvement and way to save money is to install a whole-house fan. These are excellent sources of energy savings because they typically use one-tenth the electricity of an air conditioner. If you live in an area where air conditioning is not necessary year round, this is a great alternative to central air.

Remember when doing a massive home renovation that the inside is not the only area that needs attention. Sure the inside of the home is a big factor in a major home improvement plan, but neglecting the outside will lead to expensive repairs down the road. Look at the roof, siding, paint, and gutters for any signs they need replacing.

When hiring a contractor for home improvement work, check their Better Business Bureau record. This is a great way to find out if there are any complaints on file for the company which would definitely be a major red flag. Go with a company which has a stellar rating with the BBB.

It's important to have the proper information before attempting to tackle a home improvement endeavor. If you mess up, it could seriously cost you. Now, however, you have lots of information on how to succeed at modifying your home to suit your needs. Soon enough, you will be able to feel proud of your newly-renovated house.