A New Kitchen, Can It Increase the Value of Your Home?

The two most important rooms in a house are the bathroom and the kitchen. When a person is deciding what they need to do to improve their home, they need to decide how they can get the best return on their investment. Some home renovation projects are not good for the overall value of the home. One example is building a pool. When you put in a pool, you limit the number of people who would look at your house and do not help the value despite spending a large amount of money. For the amount someone will spend on an in ground pool, they can renovate their kitchen. Doing this will almost always improve the value of the home, and many people see almost a total return on their investment if not more.
The key to making money through your kitchen renovation is to do it right. What is right depends on the home you live in. A person who owns a modest home should not overdo their kitchen renovation. People looking at other homes in the area might not be concerned if they have the top of the line appliances or what kind of stone is used in their counter-tops and will not want to pay extra for a home that has them. Pick a renovation that is reasonable for the homes in your neighborhood and do not go over the top.
Kitchen renovation projects can cost as little as a person wants or as much as they can spend. For a few hundred dollars a person can paint their cabinets, change out their hardware and their kitchen will have a brand new look. For people with a more extensive budget, a complete kitchen redo can cost over $100,000. For most people the number will come somewhere in between.
When choosing a new kitchen a person will look at four basic areas. Cabinets, counter-tops, floors and appliances are the four basic categories. Some people will be able to refinish their existing cabinets and just replace their counter-top. When looking at counter-tops there are man-made materials and different stones. The natural stones are more expensive. The newer man made materials sometimes look like a natural stone at the fraction of the cost. For flooring a person can choose many different products including tile, wood flooring, laminate and linoleum. Appliances are now more energy efficient than ever. The cost of these appliances is slightly more, but the money that is saved over the long term is worth the extra cost.
When choosing a kitchen a person has plenty of options. In order to get started the first thing that must be decided is the budget. Everything else will work off of that. visit https://sanka7a.com/.…

Ceramic Tile Removal in a Bathroom Remodel

On this step of removing the ceramic tile it’s going to get dusty so what I did first was remove everything that I could so I wouldn’t have to clean it when I was done. Even though I was not going to reuse the tile, I wanted to be careful because I wanted to put the tile on Freecycle or Craigslist so someone else might be able to use them. The only tools I used were an old flat tip screw driver, hammer and a box cutter.
I should say that the tiles that are offset from the wall about 1/2″ with a mortar mix. The way that the mortar stays on the wall is a wire mesh that is attached to the wall with staples and nails. I started by cutting the bead of caulk around the top edge of the tile being careful not to cut to deep and into the drywall. Now the first tile off is the most critical so you have to be real careful. I just started the screwdriver back behind the tile and pried a little bit at a time at tile I could remove without damaging the wall or the tiles next to it. From that point it gets easier. I worked a line straight down to the floor and then made my way around the room.
Being how we are still using the bathroom I had to work around a few things. The first was the toilet. The tank of the toilet was real close to the tile so it made it difficult to get the tiles off around it. The next thing was the vanity. I should tell you that when they built this house they custom built the vanity and everything before they put up the tile so there is allot of things to cut around. I would have to say that when I got to the mirror I had to be real careful because the mirror was resting on top of the tile. Now I am the kind of guy that if something can go wrong it probable will. I got lucky on this part and didn’t break the mirror.
Another nice thing about doing all the work myself, I get to see how thing’s are built. I am a project engineer for a manufacturing company and I am always looking at how things are built. Okay I better get back to the tile work. Now I mentioned that the tile was about 1/2″ off the wall with a mortar mix. When I got to the door way there was the mortar mix on one side and on the other they built it up with a piece of plywood and used liquid nails to hold the tiles up. Needless to say, I couldn’t save any of the tiles that were glued to the wood. Then I found an area that the tile was glued straight to the drywall. I have to replace some drywall now. Luckily that was the end of removing the tile.
I stacked all of the good tile in a box and threw out all bad ones. Swept up all the debris and put everything back in its place. As I mentioned at the beginning I am going to list the tiles on Freecycle since they are in good condition and hopefully someone else can use them instead of them going into the land fill. As I remodel I’m always looking for ways that I can recycle materials instead of throwing them into a land fill that is already overloaded.
In the next article I’ll be removing the mortar mix and the wire that was attached to the wall.…

A Look at the Home Water Dispenser

A Look at the Home Water Dispenser

Do you trust your city water (H2O)? Not if you are smart. There have been over two thousand pollutants found in our drinking supply, and that is not the worst of the situation. While treatment plants are doing their best to purify it, they have limited funding and old systems. And they are using cheap chemicals to clean and purify it. While this method is working to kill most of the bacteria and other harmful substances, it is still filling our supply with chemicals that are also harmful contaminants to the human body. For this reason, all of us should take our health seriously and invest in a home water dispenser.

In 2008, a study showed that 53% of Americans were worried about what might be in their drinking H2O. And since that time, this number has greatly increased. Many drink it in bottled form. And while this might offer a good temporary solution, it can get quite expensive if you have to purchase all of drinking supply this way.

And not only this, but you will be adding to the waste of our land. A much more cost effective and earth friendly solution would be to obtain a filtered dispenser that you could use at your own convenience.

Have you ever heard of a home water dispenser? This is a cooler in a free standing system that will keep your H2O cool and ready to dispense whenever you need it. It is quite a handy device to have and will keep you from purchasing bottled H2O again and again. Instead, you can use the same reusable cup to get a drink and quench your thirst whenever you feel the need.

The H2O that you supply to this cooler should be purified before it is placed in the cooler unit. You can use reusable tanks that are refilled at a filtered source for this. Some coolers even come with the flexible option of being able to heat and cool H2O. You can choose the hot variety whenever you need something warm, and the cooler when you want to quench your thirst.

There are both tabletop water dispensers as well as free standing ones. These will also come in a variety of different sizes and prices. You will need to determine how much your budget can afford and what options would be most practical for your use. Most hold anywhere from three to five gallons of water.…

A Simple Do-It-Yourself Bathroom Remodel in 5 Easy Steps

Even for a Do-It-Yourself novice, these 5 easy steps to remodel your bathroom is easy for anyone to do without spending much more than a few hundred dollars and a Saturday afternoon. Remodeling your bathroom does not have to mean breaking things up, replacing all the big ticket items in your bathroom, or hiring a contractor do perform the work for you.

Plan a weekend and focus on these 5 easy steps to remodel your own bathroom and save money:

Lighting

Faucets

Cabinet Hardware

Mirror

Towel Bar and Toilet Paper Holder

Lighting:

Change your bathroom lighting – simply changing your bathroom lighting can give your bathroom a new look. Especially if your lighting isn’t bright enough to light up your bathroom, or your lighting looks outdated. Some really great looking lights can be purchased and quickly mounted in about an hours time. Remember to turn the electrical power off during any electrical work and follow the directions that come in the light packaging. I usually gauge how big a light I will need by looking at the total area needing the light. The larger the area, the more important it becomes to use a larger light.

Faucets:

Replace your bathroom faucet – with just a few tools such as a wrench, pliers, screwdriver, and plumbers putty, you can change your faucet in about an hour as well. Many times faucets begin to show signs of hardened water deposits or other discoloration. A new faucet can go a long way to making your bathroom sink look new. In some cases you may need to replace any water supply cut-off valves and drain lines that may have become worn or somewhat deteriorated.

Cabinet Hardware:

Your cabinet hardware is another easy way to upgrade the looks of your bathroom. This is certainly true if you purchased an existing home. Changing the cabinet hardware can easily give your cabinetry a facelift. Just be sure to find hardware with the same screw patterns as the old hardware to make the exchange very simple. You often can find new hardware for just a few dollars a piece, and when most bathrooms only use less than a dozen pieces of hardware, the cost is minimal and the improved looks can be substantial.

Mirrors:

Changing the mirror can also change the looks of your bathroom. If your bathroom has damaged mirrors, rusty frames, or just a bad mirror setup. Change the mirrors size or shape to give your bathroom a whole new look. Mirrors can be purchased in big box stores for a few dollars or you can have a glass installation company install a mirror for you. There are lots of choices such as plain flat glass, beveled glass, etched glass, colored glass, framed or unframed glass and much more to choose from.

Towel Bars and Toilet Paper Holders:

Finally, if you have towel bars or toilet paper holders that could use a facelift, consider changing them into something more modern or stylish. Each of these items have only a couple of set screws and a small handful of screws to remove. If you are placing a larger or smaller towel bar and need to cover the holes. I have taken a 51/2 inch wide board that is just about 3 inches longer than the towel bar to screw to the wall first, and then installed the towel bar over the board. Before installing this board I take the board to the cabinet shop to have the edges routered with a simple design. Looks great and provides a strong backing.

Just imagine a few dollars and a few hours and your bathroom looks better already. Without a doubt you can do these 5 easy to do steps to remodel your own bathroom all by yourself on a weekend and make a big difference.…

Renovation Tips to Ensure You Have a Safe Kitchen

Tip #1 – Provide Enough Lighting
In order to make your kitchen a safe place, make sure that you provide enough lighting in the kitchen. When you have enough lighting and some good task lighting throughout the kitchen, it can help you ensure that you don’t injure yourself while you are cooking. Make sure that the lights don’t cast shadows on counters and that there isn’t any glare.
Tip #2 – Go with Flooring that is Slip Resistant
You should go with flooring that is slip resistant in your kitchen to prevent bad accidents. Water and other liquids can end up on the floor and the last thing you need is flooring that is slippery. If you fell with a knife in your hand or while holding a hot dish of food, it could be a very bad accident. Choose flooring that is slip resistant, such as ceramic tile that is soft glazed, laminate flooring, or vinyl that is texture.
Tip #3 – Choose a Cooktop that is Safe
It is also important that you choose a cooktop that is safe when you remodel your kitchen. The last thing you want is to get scalded with the steam, so a cooktop that staggers that burners is a great idea. Avoid an option that has the controls in the back as well. Look for an option that has the controls in the front or along the side for safety’s sake.
Tip #4 – Beware of Where you Place Electrical Plugs, Switches, and More
You need to beware of where you place the electric plugs, switches, and other electrical options in the kitchen. It is important that you have the receptacles grounded and that there are circuit interrupters that will cut off the entire circuit in the room if there is any moisture or a power surge occurs. Water and electricity don’t mix, so be careful where you put electrical items.
Tip #5 – Safely Make Use of Kitchen Space
Safely make use of your kitchen space when you are remodeling as well. Consider how the traffic is going to be able to go through the kitchen and make sure there is plenty of space when you are cooking in the kitchen. Go with slide out trays to make it easy to get items in bottom cupboards, avoid any sharp corners, and place microwaves where you won’t have to reach to get out food that is very hot.…

4 Crucial Tips For Remodeling Your Bathroom

Remodeling a bathroom can be a huge job, but there are some things that can make it easier for you. The bathroom is one of the most rooms in the home and many people end up remodeling their bathroom at some point in time. Maybe you are tired of the old décor or you need to make better use of the space in the bathroom. Whatever the reason you are thinking of remodeling, you definitely want to make sure you do the job right the first time or you will end up wasting thousands of dollars. Here are a few great tips for remodeling your bathroom that can help you make sure you get the most out of your bathroom remodel.
Tip #1 – Keep it Functional
First of all, when you are remodeling the bathroom in your home, make sure you keep it functional. Sure, you want the bathroom to look great, but you have to think about function. It can help to think about what you need out of your bathroom. Is this a bathroom for the kids, a bathroom for guests, or are you remodeling the one off the master bedroom. Think about who will be using the bathroom and it can help you make sure you keep it functional for the people who will be using it the most.
Tip #2 – Make it a Soothing Escape
While function is definitely important, when you remodel your bathroom, you also want to make it a soothing escape. The bathroom is more than just a necessary room. You want to create some atmosphere and give yourself a place that you can escape to for some relaxation at the end of the day. Decorate with colors and a theme that you find relaxing. If you enjoy taking baths, then make sure you incorporate a tub large enough for you to relax in. Keep it functional, but go beyond function to design a beautiful room where you can escape for some well deserved relaxation.
Tip #3 – Consider Doing the Work You Can Yourself
If you have the time and the know-how, consider doing all the work that you can on your own. Having your bathroom remodeled can get pretty expensive, especially if you are having a contractor take care of all the work for you. Just taking care of some of the work yourself can save you a whole lot of money. Sure, there may be some areas you are not experienced in, such as plumbing or electrical work, so it is worth it to pay to have someone else take care of that. However, you can do a lot of the other work yourself for big time savings that free up money to put on other parts of the project.
Tip #4 – Always Decide on a Budget Before Starting
Probably one of the most important tips for you to remember when you are going to do a bathroom remodel is to decide on a budget before starting the project. Many people have no idea how much a bathroom remodel is going to end up costing them. They don’t create a budget and end up spending far more money than they really can afford. It’s a better idea to come up with the amount you can spend first and then come up with a remodeling plan that sticks to that budget. This way you don’t create a lot of debt when remodeling, yet you still get a nice bathroom that you can afford.…

Protect Your Garden With Pressure Treated Fence Panels

Protect Your Garden With Pressure Treated Fence Panels

There are an abundance of uses for garden fencing but the one that is of highest concern currently is protecting your garden for the winter and using fencing as a shield. It is important to remember that fences have a variety of uses. Not only does garden fencing protect your garden from the harsh weather conditions but they offer an attractive surround which will allow you to obtain some eye catching summer and winter garden images. With blustery winds expected to set in very soon garden fencing is the perfect protection for your garden.

The panels you choose is very much your decision but treated panels in particular have a design that allows the wind to pass through the fencing rather than pressure the fence which reduces the chances of your garden fencing collapsing.

Treated panels differ as they are dipped in wood treatment which allows the wood to soak up a protective dip. This then means that your fencing is not just protected by a coat of paint on the exterior but protected throughout the entire wooden panels which adds to the strength and reliability that the fence panels offer.

Pressure treated fence panels are constructed by being screwed in rather than nailed which makes the fence sturdier. Certain treated panel designs such as hit and miss have one front and rear panels that are screwed into a middle framing. Being designed in this way it ensures that wind has the opportunity to pass through small gaps which reduces the strength of the winds not only adding to the stability and reliability of your fence but also protecting your garden.

Compare this type of construction to the non treated fencing and you will certainly see a difference as the non pressure treated panels are nailed to each other rather than screwed which does not make them unreliable but not as stable as the treated designs.

As you would expect pressure treated panels are more expensive so it will also depend on your budget on which fence you can afford to buy. The advice we would offer if you are looking to buy garden fencing to protect your garden this coming winter and would be to purchase pressure treated panels. There are extensive ranges of fencing types that are treated so you will be able to find a garden fencing style to suit your home.

For example if you are looking for an original design then the horizontal hit and miss fencing are ideal. Or would you rather have a more attractive and contemporary design like the Prague fence panels. Garden fencing can be styled simply by altering the top of the panel for example a curved or wavey design adds appeal simply and effectively.

Whether you are looking for front or rear garden fencing there are treated panels to suit all of your needs with 4ft heights; perfect for the front garden and 6ft for the back garden.…