Improving the quality of your home with Eastern Atlantic Carpentry is something that everyone dreams of doing. Some projects are small and more like the “do it yourself” kind, while others are large and may require the assistance of a contractor. Whatever type of project you choose, though, the time and money you spend can be well worth the effort. The trick is to pick the right projects and do them well. Here are a few tips that can help when you’re making your home improvement decisions.
When working with a contractor to do a home renovation, decide on the whole project at the beginning and stick to that plan. Constantly changing the plan can slow down the renovation process and scare off your contractor from doing anything independently. Also, constantly changing renovations often end up looking piecemeal, since they weren’t created with a clear vision in mind.
A great way to make your home look new again is to slap on a new coat of paint on the outside of your home. If you choose a brighter color, your house will glow like a new pearl and will be the envy of everyone on your neighborhood block.
When improving your house, there are some projects that you can do yourself and others that you cannot. If you feel like you can complete a simple task like repainting the kitchen, then by all means do it, in order to save yourself some extra money. Just be sure that you know what you’re getting yourself into before you start a project. You don’t want to try and remodel your bathroom and find out half way through that you’re not sure if you can complete the task without hitting a pipeline.
When it comes to home improvement, go with your gut feeling about the contractor as long as everything else matches up. Do not even consider someone that you do not fully trust, as you probably have that feeling for a reason. If you have a hint of mistrust toward the contractor that you meet with, it may only lead to anger and mistrust on an exponential level if things do not go according to plan.
Make your child a room-sized blackboard! It will provide hours of entertainment and offer interest to practically any room. All you have to do is paint a section of a wall with paint that’s made especially for blackboards. If you want, you can even frame it in with molding to give it that professional look.
When it comes to home improvement, be sure to have fun with it. This is important because it should be a rewarding experience for you. You will never fully enjoy your home improvement project if it was a burden and brings back bad memories. Consider hiring help if it is expected that you will run into issues completing the project on your own.
Don’t forget about safety. Every project has risks, so read the instructions for power tools and make sure to ask store associates for assistance if it’s necessary. There are lots of tutorials online that can help you, too.
Making sure that your basement is weatherproof is the first step to creating a living space in there. If your basement is dry and never leaks or floods, it is a great way to save money on your renovation. However, if your basement is perennially flooded or damp, it not only makes way for mold, but also makes the space uninhabitable. Make sure to weatherproof your basement before beginning your remodeling project.
Add art to your walls. Put a little extra effort into your wall decorations. It can be a painting, a relief, dried flowers, or anything that can be affixed to the wall. Adding art will improve the general look, feel, and mood of your home as well as adding a sense of style and class.
Install solar panels on your roof to use less paid electricity. Not only will your electricity bill be less, but you will have a smaller carbon footprint and be more environmentally friendly. The government is providing tax breaks for people who install solar energy equipment in their homes, so take advantage of it.
Match your fire extinguisher to the room where it is being used. The color will be the same old red but fire extinguishers are classed according to function. Class B’s are most appropriate for the kitchen but Class A’s would probably work well in the rest of the house.
While many older houses have a lot of carpeting, many are left outdated and stained because of years of wear. Wooden floors generally last longer and look more classic.
To save yourself time and trouble on future maintenance when you do any home improvement, remove water heaters from your attic. While attic water heaters save space, they are difficult to maintain and offer the significant danger of ruining your ceilings (at the very least), if they ever leak. Relocating your water heater into a close,t costs very little space and adds, peace of mind.
When you paint interior rooms during a home improvement project, allow extra drying time if your house is new. Newer homes are usually built with extremely effective (nearly air-tight) separation between the interior and exterior. While this is an advantage for you as a homeowner in most situations, when you paint inside, your paint will take longer to dry than the paint manufacturer might claim.
If your bedroom set is tired and worn, you might want to consider building a new set yourself. It may be a project that will take some time and effort, but your new bed set will be just what you want.
Are the fans in your home looking a bit overworked? Why not buy new fan blades and replace the old ones, so that your home looks clean. Dirty fan blades can make your home look dirty. If you are looking for an easy way to keep your home clean, try putting in new fan blades.
The tips and tricks of the pros can help you create your own home improvement check list. Whether you decide on smaller projects to complete on your own, or whether you decide to bring in a contractor, you’re home will surely benefit from taking on a few home improvement projects.