Remodeling your home is a great way to release some creative energy and improve your lifestyle. A house that is clean can give you the ambiance to relax during a work free day. However, before planning to remodel your home, you must always look before leaping. Here are five ideas that you can consider before starting your next home improvement project.

Repair everything that needs to be repaired

This is the first thing you should do. Since you are remodeling your home in some way, it is best that you check your plumbing and electrical systems for damages and repair all of them. Check if your roof is still in good shape and check your walls and ceilings too. Don’t settle for mediocre repairs because these areas are the main ‘columns’ of your home. If you want to remodel your home, make sure that it is still worth the money.

Reduce your utility cost

Make sure that when you remodel your home you think about your windows, lighting and insulation as well as it’s energy-efficiency. Ask your local contractor or look for some quotes on how to do this. Also, think about renewable energy that you can use like solar panels, wind turbines or wood burning stoves. Home improvements can help you save money in the future, too.

Planting trees in certain areas of your yard can give you much shade during the hotter times of the year which will help to reduce your air conditioning usage. Rather than having your yard covered in lawn, you may want to look at landscaping your yard with plants native to your area which will require less water and less maintenance.

Design it to increase its value

You also might want to consider making your home more profitable. There are several things that you can do to ensure this. Adding a fireplace or a patio often gives your home a feel of coziness and comfort. Remodelling your kitchen and bathroom areas, which are two of the most frequented places in your home, are great projects to undertake. People love when these areas are superbly designed and maintained.

Make sure that your design also fits with the neighborhood and the environment that you are in. This gives a feeling that your house was perfectly built for the area. Before starting any projects to increase the value of your home, check around to see what will give you your best return on investment. We’ll cover this in a future article.

Never sacrifice over-all design

Sometimes people overdo home improvement projects. They add rooms, extra floors or put in backyard swimming pools. These things are not bad, but some homes are not really a good fit for these kinds of major overhauls. Before making these decisions, be sure that your home will look better than before if you add these features. A bigger house is not always a better house.

When you start your next home or yard improvement project, the above points will surely help to make it a good venture. When planned properly and carried out properly, home and yard improvements are some of the best things that you can do for your family and it can also be a good investment in the future.

And, when all is said and done, your home should be comfortable for all members of your family.

Related posts

• No related posts.

This is a great year to tackle that major renovation project that you’ve been putting off for the past couple of years.  Yesterday’s Federal Budget has made it easier and more affordable than ever to get on with getting that project done.

Starting yesterday ,Jan. 27, 2009, and going to
Feb. 1, 2010 is the time line to take advantage of this great program.

It looks like the tax credit can be used for many different types of projects around your home and yard. The Budget is giving a tax credit of 15% on projects over $1000 and up to $10,000.  The maximum amount that any individual/couple can claim is $1350.

That is a pretty good motivation to get to work and tackle that list of yours starting this week.

What are some of projects that you can do that will qualify?  Well, here are a few: renovating your bathroom, basement or kitchen; putting new flooring down; painting – inside or out; building the deck you always wanted; putting in a new driveway; landscaping your yard with new sod; or putting on that new addition.

Now, as we all know, it is pretty easy to spend $10,000 on a renovation.
This program won’t cover all the expenses for all of the projects that
you may want to do on your house but it will certainly help with one or two
of them.

Related posts

• Do It Yourself Home Improvements – Easy To Do By Yourself Kitchen Remodel Projects (0)
• Home Improvement Imformation To Make Your Projects Go Easier (0)
• Easy Drywall Repair (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 2 (0)
• All About Kitchen Remodeling (0)

For most homeowners, tackling a home improvement project can be a very expensive time in one’s life.   Depending on what you want to do to your home, time and money will be big determining factors.

In many cases, people usually use loans from their banks or credit cards to pay for these upgrades.  If you can pay the amount back quickly then this is a fine route to go.  Unfortunately, too many people max out their credit lines and end up taking years to pay off these loans or credit cards.

It might be nice to dream about transforming your house into a dream home with a designer kitchen, home theater room and a spa-like master bathroom.  You know what I mean…the kind that everyone in the neighbourhood talks about.  If you have the money and the time to do this kind of a major project then go for it.  It is great to see homes updated and made more elegant and comfortable for their owners. There are lots of options available.

However, with the cost and time involved to tackle a big project, you may find that you could do some easy and cheap home improvement projects that will transform your home into a great place and it won’t break the bank.  A home that you can be proud of.

Here are a few ideas for you to do some cheap home improvement projects:

1. Decide what you would like.

Check out many different home improvement magazines, books, TV shows and stores to get ideas.  There are many options and even more ways to achieve a similar look and feel for what you would like.  Even go to some real estate open houses to get some ideas from other people’s places. Put your ideas down on paper in drawings, in short descriptions and create a swipe file of pictures from magazines and catalogs for you to look at and refer back to.

2. Practicality.

There are numerous projects that you can undertake to improve your home. Take the time to think about the practicality of each one that you want to do before starting them though.  You might want that new bathroom but do you really want to deal with the noise, mess and disruption by having contractors tear out the old sink, toilet, bathtub and walls and then rebuild it all to look new again?

3. Changing the layout of rooms.

Changing the layout of the furniture in your home can be one of those very good and cheap home improvement projects. Just by putting your furniture in different positions often changes the overall ambience and feel of your home.

4. Painting the walls and moulding.

Colors play a big part in terms of a home’s ambience. One of the quickest and cheapest ways to change the look and ambiance of your home is to wash your walls with T.S.P. (tri sodium phosphate) and then grab a brush, roller and new paint and get to work repainting each of your rooms.

You can do most of the repainting jobs yourself along with other members of your family which will, hopefully, make the job easier and more fun.

You may find that with with a new coat of paint on the walls and trim, along with some new accents, that you can make it look great with out spending a bundle.

5. Try a little greenery.

Plants and flowers give rooms an inviting and warm feeling. The life that they add to your home is wonderful and dramatic.  The difference between a room with plants and one without can be absolutely amazing.  With thousands of types, sizes and colors of plants to choose from you are sure to find some great greenery to change the look of your home.

The above tips and ideas are just a few of the ways that you can do some cheap home improvement projects to upgrade and improve your home without breaking the bank. It is often the little and inexpensive touches and projects that you do to your home that can give you the most pleasure. As well, your return on your investment of time and money can sometimes be better than by doing a big project.

The most important thing to remember is that your home is your castle and that you need to enjoy it and feel comfortable with it even if it isn’t the biggest house on the block.

Related posts

• All About Kitchen Remodeling (0)
• Home Improvement Imformation To Make Your Projects Go Easier (0)
• Do It Yourself Home Improvements – Easy To Do By Yourself Kitchen Remodel Projects (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 2 (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 1 (0)
• Keeping Bugs Off Your Gladiolas (0)
• Overseeding Your Lawn (0)

Is the flooring in your kitchen stained and cracked? Are the countertops marred with burns and nicks? Is the floor plan of your kitchen awkward and ill-designed? If so, it is time to consider kitchen remodeling. Updating your kitchen can enhance the value of your entire house, and kitchen remodeling can be an exciting process that calls upon your creativity.

You may need a little bit of patience as you live through the kitchen remodeling process, but the end result will be a kitchen you love and are proud to share with family and friends.

Kitchen remodeling runs the gamut from small upgrades, to a full-scale luxury remodeling venture. Small upgrades could include changing the hardware on your cabinets, refacing the cabinets, or replacing them. Or perhaps you might want to replace that scuffed floor, or resurface your countertops. Such simple changes can make an enormous difference in your space. However, a full-scale kitchen remodel is going to result in the most satisfying changes for your home.

Start your kitchen remodeling by making extensive notes about what you want. Think about what works and doesn’t work in your current kitchen. Look through magazines or scan the internet for kitchen remodeling ideas. You might want to make a file of designs and products you like. Don’t hold back at this point-make a note of everything you might want to include in your kitchen remodeling. Next, draw up a budget. This is when you match your beautiful ideas to what you can afford. You might be surprised how much you can get for your money, or the compromises you can make that will still afford you an elegant, functional design. At this point, you may also want to contract the services of a designer or space planner. They can be enormously helpful with your kitchen remodel, and point out products and design ideas that might not have occurred to you.

One of the most important decisions you will make is hiring a contractor, so take your time and do some research.

Visit home improvement stores or local remodelers to get a feel for what kind of kitchen remodeling projects they specialize in. Share your vision with the professionals you are considering. Take the time to check references. Pay attention to whether or not you feel comfortable with the contractor. Does he or she listen to your ideas and respect what you are creating? A contractor-client relationship for a kitchen remodeling is like a short-term marriage, so make certain yours will be a happy one!

Finally, prepare yourself and your family for the disruption that occurs with a kitchen remodeling project. With advance planning, this can be minimized, but some is inevitable. Discuss the time frame with your contractor and share this information with your family, so everyone is aware of how long the construction will take and what to expect. In a very short time, all memories of any uproar with the kitchen remodeling will be forgotten and you’ll be enjoying your new kitchen.

Related posts

• Cheap Home Improvement Projects That Won't Break The Bank (0)
• Do It Yourself Home Improvements – Easy To Do By Yourself Kitchen Remodel Projects (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 1 (0)
• Home Improvement Imformation To Make Your Projects Go Easier (0)
• Easy Drywall Repair (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 2 (0)
• Time To Renovate – According To Canadian Federal Budget (0)

You may have found that many home improvement projects can be hard on the pocketbook. As much as you may want to call in the professional contractors to deliver excellent results, often it’s more practical to have a little belief in yourself and tackle these projects yourself.

People usually dig into their savings accounts or resort to credit cards or line of interests just to finance various projects such as new cabinets or flooring.  This often causes people to hold back on what they would really like to do because now they have to have money for materials and labor which can add up very quickly.

You will often find that once you’ve decided on what you want to do that you can make your kitchen look great by just doing a few easy to do by yourself kitchen remodel projects.  Grab a few books and magazines, go to your hardware or building store and ask some questions if you are unsure of how to do something.  It is amazing what you can find out in a magazine and talking to people.  This ain’t rocket science but, it does require a little common sense.

One of the things that you can do to dramatically change the look and feel of your kitchen is to paint it a different color.  Painting is relatively easy.  It can be a lot of work to make the room look great but it isn’t really too hard.  It is time consuming and fussy though to get a professional look.  Slow down and take your time, it will be worth it.  A gallon of paint can make all the difference in the world.  For under $50 and a weekend of your time you can have a new room.

Giving a kitchen a new color will definitely give it a new and fresher ambience. If you are tired and bored with the current color of your kitchen, you can do the painting yourself. Painting with family members is a great way to bond and have fun while improving your place at the same time.

Many people who attempt to paint their homes have problems which are related to not choosing the right paint. You must remember that cheap paint is not the way to go when painting any room in your home. If you resort to using cheap paint, you will regret it some time in the near future. Buy some good quality paint.  It is worth it.

Another way to improve your kitchen is by installing ceramic tiles on the countertop or the floor.  

The most important thing that you have to consider is the kind of look that you want with your kitchen. The selection of the colors and the sizes of the tiles is very important as there are many different types to choose from.  Installing tiles is actually quite easy with a little practice.  If you are not sure at first, try tiling a small piece of plywood to get the hang of it.

Well, there you have it, a couple of different ways to go about improving your kitchen without hiring contractors. It can take a lot of practice, time and dedication to turn your home into the castle that you desire, but if done properly, the process and the results will give you many years of great pleasure.

There can be a lot of ways to improve your kitchen, which can be argued as one of the most important places in your home. The video below will give you a few quick lessons on tiling.  Enjoy.

Related posts

• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 2 (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 1 (0)
• All About Kitchen Remodeling (0)
• Home Improvement Imformation To Make Your Projects Go Easier (0)
• Cheap Home Improvement Projects That Won't Break The Bank (0)
• Time To Renovate – According To Canadian Federal Budget (0)
• Easy Drywall Repair (0)

Home Improvement Imformation To Make Your Projects Go Easier

Are you looking for home improvement imformation to help make your next project much easier?  There are many books available on a variety of topics that can help you if you have no idea what to do .
It may not be that you don’t know what you want done.  However, you simply might just need a little push to get things started. Most projects are like that since most people aren’t architects, interior designers or contractors that know how to make a home look its best.

Should you take any courses? Usually, no. You have eyes that are able to make up an assessment of what looks beautiful and fashionable for your home. This is the same thing that you do when going out to the mall to do some shopping.

Some good sources to help you out in doing your projects are magazines. The homes of celebrities are often featured. The ideas in the various magazines that were used can also be applied in certain rooms of your home.  A few of my favorite magazines are This Old House, Southern Living and BC Home.

Another great source of imformation is on tv. There are many shows that feature different home improvement projects.  These shows can often teach you how to renovate or do some repairs in your home. Such helpful tips and guides can save you money that would otherwise be used to hire a contractor to do simple jobs that can be done by you in a lot of cases.

One thing to keep in mind though about the tv shows – what is accomplished in a 30 minute show often takes days or weeks to accomplish in real life.  They only show what is necessary for the show.  Be prepared to put in some time to get the job done right.

You’ll find the internet also has many websites that feature various products and installation, such as this one. The tools and equipment used can also be purchased online and delivered to the home. Some of these can be cheaper than those found in the local hardware store.

When you visit the home of your friends check out the improvements that they’ve done.  These can also provide some imformation. Your neighbor or friend may have had a similar project or problem that you are facing now and they can give you some good advice.

Big box stores sometimes offer seminars. You can check when there is one scheduled that you are interested in and then sign up for one of these classes.

The shop and crafting classes that you may have taken back in high school are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to home improvement. The lessons offered by professionals, the internet, magazines and books combined can help sharpen those skills.

This doesn’t mean though that a professional should never be called on a big project that you are considering. This merely prepares you to assess what improvements will be done and how much you want to tackle yourself. This home improvement imformation also helps you to understand the process and progress of the work during the project at your home.

The video below will show you how to quickly unclog a sink drain.   One of those things that needs to be done once in a while.

Related posts

• Do It Yourself Home Improvements – Easy To Do By Yourself Kitchen Remodel Projects (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 2 (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 1 (0)
• Cheap Home Improvement Projects That Won't Break The Bank (0)
• All About Kitchen Remodeling (0)
• Easy Drywall Repair (0)
• Time To Renovate – According To Canadian Federal Budget (0)

My sweetie, Karen, and I are starting a large renovation in our home right now and are now one of the couples doing home improvements.  We are going through all the figuring, planning and comparing what we both want with what can be done and with the amount of money we want to put in
to all of this.  It is very interesting to be on this side of the table this time.  Usually, my clients just tell me what they want to do and then I get the job done.  Or, I have to help them make the decisions which at times can feel more like being a counseler rather than a contractor because they both have different ideas of what they want.

One of the things that we are working on is deciding on kitchen appliances.  As the one who is going to be doing most of the building of the kitchen I have my idea of what appliances to get and what will work with the space that we have.  As a professional chef and the one who does all the cooking, Karen, has her ideas of what she wants for the kitchen.

We were in an appliance store the other day finalizing the ones that we will most likely get.  A little sign was posted in an inconspicuous spot that put this all into perspective.  It said:  Husbands Must Have A Note From Their Wives When Choosing Appliances.  We all had a good laugh.

The owner of the store said earlier that week one the couples doing home improvements were standing at his door when he opened his doors in the morning because the husband had been in the day before and ordered all new appliances for their home.  This guy said his wife would be fine with whatever he chose.  He found out that he was wrong, of course.

So, before you start on your next project take some time to discuss what you both want.  You may have to do some compromising to keep your partner happy.  But, as one of the couples doing home improvements, remember that your relationship is more important than the color of the walls or the style of faucets to install.  It may not be exactly what you wanted but it is not worth stressing over very much.

Check out the video below to get a few tips on what to do if the discussion turns a little heated.

Meaningful Discussions

Meaningful Discussions with Your Spouse

Related posts

• Do It Yourself Home Improvements – Easy To Do By Yourself Kitchen Remodel Projects (0)
• Home Improvement Imformation To Make Your Projects Go Easier (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 1 (0)
• Cheap Home Improvement Projects That Won't Break The Bank (0)
• All About Kitchen Remodeling (0)
• Time To Renovate – According To Canadian Federal Budget (0)
• Overseeding Your Lawn (0)

Home improvement projects can be pretty expensive and stressful events. As much as we would like to snap our fingers and have the project completed almost instantaneously, it just doesn’t happen that way.  In addition to what you want to do as far as the project goes may not be what your spouse or partner may have had in mind.  Couples doing home improvements can really put the relationship to the test during these times.

In the beginning you really need to sit down with your partner to discuss and decide what you both want.  Put it down on paper as rough sketches and lists to begin with.  Make more detailed drawings or plans as you get a better idea of what you want.  Make a file of pictures from magazines that are similar to what you both have in mind.

Depending on the project, you may find that some of what you want to do in the project is vastly different than what your partner had or has in mind.  It can be something as simple as the color of the paint that can take a whole afternoon to decide on.  Hopefully not, but I have seen couples take that long and have arguments over it.  There is a lot of emotions for many people over the simplest things.

And, that is fine.  It is better to figure out what you both want, or can live with, before the first nail is driven or the room gets painted because some stuff is harder to change than others. A room can be repainted fairly easily (okay, relatively easily).  But, the reconfiguration of the kitchen can cost thousands of dollars to do it all over again.

You think I’m joking.  I’m not, really.  Some people will have the whole project redone because it doesn’t turn out the way they wanted it to.

Here’s a story to illustrate what I mean. One of my tiling contractor buddies told me of one of his clients (whom I know and can totally visualize the whole episode going down moment by moment) telling him to rip up the beautiful imported tiles (which she had quite happily chosen).  My buddy had just finished installing them throughout their home.  Because the color was not quite what she wanted he had to do it all over again.  The couple ended up paying for two tiling jobs in the end instead of one because they didn’t figure out what exactly they wanted in the beginning.

This is an extreme example but it happens in varying degrees all the time.

Watch the video below to see one couple discuss something as simple as replacing a set of faucets.  Short but funny.

Scenes from a DIY Life 1

This commercial shows a couple discussing the funny things that happen when you embark upon a DIY faucet installation project.

Related posts

• Do It Yourself Home Improvements – Easy To Do By Yourself Kitchen Remodel Projects (0)
• Home Improvement Imformation To Make Your Projects Go Easier (0)
• Couples Doing Home Improvements – Part 2 (0)
• Cheap Home Improvement Projects That Won't Break The Bank (0)
• All About Kitchen Remodeling (0)
• Gutter Cleaning Season Begins (0)
• Easy Flow Gutters (0)

In my last post I talked about gutters on one of my client’s homes being clogged constantly by the needles that are falling from a fir tree that is right next to her home.

Trees are beautiful and offer a lot of value to a home but they can cause damage to a home in many ways, too, including dropping their debris on the roof constantly, their roots can damage foundations, basements, side walks, driveways, water and sewer lines.

And, worst of all, they can crush a home by falling on it in a high wind.

If you can spot a crack or other damage in a tree before it falls then it is often time to take it out before it causes damage to your home or property.

Now, when the tree is only 10 – 15 feet tall it is fairly easy and straightforward as to how to cut it down and turn it into firewood.

But, when the tree is a 100 – 150 feet tall fir or cedar how can you cut it down and not have it end up crushing your home?

Well, watch this video below and you’ll see how some professional foresters remove three hazard trees which were ready to fall.  The trees were very close to buildings in a kids camp.  It is absolutely amazing to see how precise and careful they are.

Warning: Don’t try this at home on your own!  Call in the professionals.

Related posts

• How is mowing a lawn a good thing? (7)
• Does cutting a lawn treated with pesticides and fertilizes release chemicals into the air? (0)

A gutter guard that really works! Micro-mesh gutter guard is installed on a home surrounded by leaves and pine trees. Check out its performance and how it compares to other common gutter guards that claim they keep gutters clog free. Shows why this micro-mesh gutter guard offers the only 100% money back warranty in the industry!

- – - – - – - – -

Yesterday was the first time this summer that I had to get up on a clients roof and try to clean out the gutters.  The early rains and winds had been a worry to her and she was right to be worried.  With a huge fir tree right beside the house, needles constantly drift down onto the roof and the rains wash them all towards the down spouts.  In no time at all these gutters can and do clog up.

I’m sure I could be up on that roof almost everyday trying to clear out the gutters and they would still clog up shortly after I got back down on the ground.  There seems to be no end to it.  The tree is a beautiful shade giving feature in the backyard but it is an enemy of the roof and gutter system.

I love trees.  Unfortunately, they can cause lots work for homeowners or expenses for homeowners to keep their home in good condition.  I get lots of calls in the fall to clean out gutters.  Some are packed full of leaves, evergreen needles, dirt, granules from the shingles, twigs and even bones and shells that were dropped in there by birds.  It is amazing what can be found in them.

Gutter cleaning is something that you have to have done at least once a year and more likely 2 – 4 times a year depending on what you have around your home ie. trees.

It is not a fun job but those gutters have to be kept clear to keep the water flowing through them and then down the downspouts to the perimeter drains and away from your home.  It’s gotta be done one way or another.

Over the course of the past few years I have come across different types of screens or covers that some homeowners have put in the gutters or had installed over them to keep them clear.

Well, they only seem to sort of work some of the times.  The screens are large enough to let a small twig the size of a pen get through them along with all the pollution that comes down in the rain and the granules from the shingles.  The metal cover types usually have holes that are large enough to let evergreen needles to pass through them and they get clogged easily.

Whether there have been covers or screens on, you still need to get those gutters cleaned out because stuff still gets through them and clogs the downspouts.  And now it takes  2 – 3 times long to clean out the gutters because you have to fight with those covers by taking them out or off and putting back in place.  Oh what fun it is!  Yeah, right.

So, up until now there hasn’t been anything that has jumped out at me as being worth the money to go through the hassle of having covers installed only to have them partially work.  If you’re gonna put covers on then they should keep everything out except the water from the rain.

In the video below you’ll see a gutter cover which looks like it was well designed and a lot of thought went into it.  It really seems to work. It looks like they figured out a way to keep all the debris out and just let the rain water in.  Amazing!

If you’re tired of cleaning your gutters or having someone else clean them for you, then this might me a solution that you might want to seriously take a look at.

As for me, I’m off to clean out some clogged gutters.  These torrential rains that we’ve been getting this week are overflowing one of my clients gutters and causing quite a mess on the outside of his home.

Related posts

• Gutter Cleaning By Hand (0)
• Easy Flow Gutters (0)
• Water your lawn in the middle of the day? (7)
• How can I get my lawn to grow? (5)
• How can I elimate brown spots on my lawn? (7)
• Home Improvement Imformation To Make Your Projects Go Easier (0)
• Do It Yourself Home Improvements – Easy To Do By Yourself Kitchen Remodel Projects (0)