Thursday, March 15, 2012

Home Improvement Projects Made Simple

By Steve Brian


Home improvement projects can be so much work. Moreover, if you are a newbie, there is a lot that you should be considering and keeping in mind as you get started. From gathering your supplies to knowing when it is time to give in and get a professional, you need these home improvement tips to guide you through the various stages of any project you could take on.

When a home improvement project includes landscaping working, attention should be given to drainage in order to avoid standing water anywhere on the property. Standing water looks bad, hurts grass and can even pose a health hazard if it attracts insects. Every point on a property should either be sloped for good drainage or equipped with alternative drains.

If you use a variety of appliances or computers and peripheral devices, use power strips. Using power strips prevents wasteful energy use because the strips ensure your devices are only drawing power when they are in use. Appliances, cell phones and computers draw power even when they are not in use when you plug them directly into an outlet.

To help improve your home, try installing a new kitchen. Some quick fixes include replacing or repainting your cupboard doors, units, or work surfaces. Also try installing new worktops for a new looking kitchen. All the furniture can be painted, glossed, or upholstered to help it look new or different.

Xeriscaping is an landscaping option that homeowners in extremely dry climates should take advantage of. Xeriscaping replaces more typical lawns and shrubs with rock beds and plants from arid climates. These alternates require far less irrigation than traditional landscaping, and the exotic plants available for xeriscaping can be more beautiful and striking than common landscape standbys.

If water still continues to run from the toilet tank, then you should check the float ball. A float ball that is positioned too high will constantly cause water to enter the toilet's overflow pipe. A float ball that is positioned too low won't allow for proper operation. Don't let the ball touch the tank sides, and replace the ball if it is damaged.

When doing a DIY home improvement project, put safety first. Make sure you wear protective equipment such as a hard hat and goggles when needed. Use power tools (especially ones you are not familiar with) with extreme caution. Read the directions and ask for help when needed. Home improvement stores are a great resource of information.

If the snow on your roof melts very quickly, double check the insulation in your attic. Snow shouldn't melt at all on a roof as long as the attic is keeping the heat in your house and the cold outside. Replacing the insulation will also decrease your heating bills as your heat is no longer being used to warm up the attic as well.

There are a few ways to deal with screws that are too tight or too loose in your home. Use clear nail polish to tighten screws that are too loose. To loosen screws that are too tight, try adding peroxide or ammonia, letting them soak for just a few minutes before attempting to unscrew.

Always keep the big picture in mind when embarking on a long term home improvement project. Your budget may dictate that you break up a project into several smaller, more manageable pieces, but take care that the finished product doesn't look like a hodgepodge of unrelated, poorly thought out elements.

Make sure that you keep an eye out for all types of contractors. You want to make sure that you get a contractor with a good reputation, as well as, an affordable price before you have them improve your home. You don't want to be stuck with paying a bill that you can't afford or a project that's half finished because the contractor decided to stop coming, half-way through the project.

A great tip for home improvement is to avoid putting your own personal stamp on improvements. This will make it less likely that you will earn a return on the investment because what looks good to you may not look good to someone else. If you use renovations simply to express yourself, do not consider the renovations as an investment in the resale value of your home.

If you have furniture that is dull, faded, or even peeling its original paint or finish, don't dump it. Stripping off whatever finish was on the furniture will give you a clean slate to refinish it however you would like.

An extremely simple way to improve your home is to change out your air filters. Not only do allergens and dust creep into your air ducts when the filter is too clogged, but the efficiency of your system can be brought down by neglecting to change the filters. This is very important to do often if you have pets in the house.

With the previous tips floating through your thoughts, you ought to be ready to get started on your own home improvement projects! It does take some hard work and some attention to details, but if you keep at it, it is indeed achievable. So, go out there, enjoy yourself and start improving your home!




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