Category: Home Maintenance

Home Maintenance

Renovating the Kitchen on a Limited Budget

If you are looking to make changes in your kitchen but have a limited budget then this article is for you. Redecorating your kitchen need not be expensive if you take the right steps. There are many things that you can do to make your kitchen look new without having to spend a fortune.
When making changes in your kitchen you could make changes in a few major things and make little or no changes in the rest. For instance you can give your kitchen a new look by changing the color combination. This will help in giving your kitchen a new look especially if the walls of the kitchen have started to fade.
If you a decent budget you could also change the color of the wooden cabinets that you use in your kitchen. People who have used high quality wood in their kitchen need not repaint their cabinets. Instead they can just add a new coat of varnish to give it a fresh appearance.
If your kitchen worktop is damage, you may have to replace it. Replacing the kitchen worktop can be expensive, so make sure you check a few places before you buy a new worktop. The price of the worktop varies depending on the design and the material used to make the worktop. When buying a worktop it is a good idea to check a few local and online stores. This will give you an idea of the latest designs and their price.
Avoid buying blinds or curtains for your kitchen as they are expensive and get damaged easily. Instead choose a covering for your windows that is inexpensive and stylish.…

by Suzana Mikolova
2 Minute
Home Maintenance

Bathroom Makeover Tips Before You Sell Your House

When you’re preparing to sell your home, it’s important to remember that the first impressions you give to prospective buyers are often the ones that last. So it makes sense to undertake simple improvements that can be completed relatively quickly and cheaply in key areas. A bathroom makeover is a great way to improve the look of this part of the house — particularly if you feel that it’s an area that lets the rest of your home down and might put off potential purchasers.
Some homeowners decide to go in for a major rehab project before they put their house on the market. But unless you’re sure that you can recoup the expense that you’d be investing with a full bathroom remodel, it may be better to make cosmetic changes and improve the look of the fixtures and fittings that you already have with some simple cleaning and decorating tactics.
So how do you start fixing up your bathroom to maximize its appeal without having to spend a lot of time and money on a major remodeling project? Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Cleaning: it goes without saying that when you’re getting ready to sell your house, everything needs to be sparkling clean — and this is especially important in a bathroom. As well as the bath tub and sink, make sure the floor mats, walls and countertops are clean. Get rid of lime scale around faucets and plug holes, clean grout (you can find a special grout cleaning pen for the purpose) and polish glass shelves and steel or chrome fixtures.
Check Seals and Fixtures: even if major fittings such as the bath, basin or toilet are in good repair, the seals around them may be damaged or cracked, grungy or leaky. You can remove damaged or badly stained sealant and replace it at little cost, often greatly enhancing the overall appearance. If your bath is worn or chipped, consider having it resurfaced if you don’t want to go to the expense of replacing it entirely. If your faucets are old-fashioned or showing signs of wear and tear, it may be a good idea to invest in new ones.
Resolve Bathroom Moisture Problems: water is a key element in the bathroom, of course. But over time, poor ventilation or leaks can cause water stains, peeling paint or even mold growth. A serious mold problem can require professional inspection and treatment, so it’s important to control humidity levels through good ventilation and use specialist cleaning products to prevent mold growth. Blistering paint or other surface damage may also require treatment.
De-clutter: clear away personal items and toiletries from your countertops. Having clear surfaces may make these areas seem larger and will de-personalize the space, allowing house viewers to imagine their own belongings in the room. For the same reason, it may help to replace your favorite patterned towels or shower curtain with plain white or cream alternatives.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Home Maintenance

Easy & Creative Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

When given the chance to remodel an area of one’s house, the kitchen is usually the first one that is chosen because it is where a lot of the family spends quite a few hours of their day. All of their meals are here, homework is done at the kitchen table, the preparations for meals are done here, and meetings are held here with various people from kids to traveling in-laws.
Aside from the living or dining room, this place is the most used room in the house. So, to have it remodeled is a great idea, especially if the house is more than 10 years old, the kitchen will definitely need updating, because of all the new energy saving ovens, stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwaves that are now available. If one is planning to sell their home soon, remodeling the kitchen would add value to the house and add to the functionality of the kitchen.
Most people like to update their kitchen cabinetry at least once a decade. This gives them the chance to keep their kitchen in style because styles do not change that rapidly in home decor and it can be expensive. The first thing to consider when updating the cabinetry is the quality of the cabinets. It would not do to have cabinets that got wet one time and the facing began to peel off of it.
So, ask for the cabinets that can endure a lot of water and liquids, because there will be spills and they will not just be the typical glass of water. There will be soda pop, juice, milk, and a variety of other liquids spilt on the cabinets that could possibly strip away its beauty. A good question to ask the sales associate in the store before buying any cabinets is: Will these cabinets be stripped if lemon juice, vinegar or soup is split on it? If the answer is yes, try to pick something else.
Another quality consideration is the temperature of your kitchen. How hot does it usually get when cooking? Does the oven turn into a melting point that causes everything, including you to sweat? If so, consider the damage that could do to your new cabinets. Would you really want to have to replace them in a year or so because they are so warped from the heat that you cannot open them? Ask the sales associate what temperature heat the cabinets can withstand before they warp or are damaged.
When remodeling, one needs to consider the option of having custom cabinets made versus buying cabinets off of the showroom floor. Sure, the custom cabinets will look amazing in the kitchen and should be made of materials that are strong enough to handle the abuse of your kitchen, but will the debt of those custom cabinets be paid off before you are ready to renovate the kitchen again? With standard cabinets, you can afford to buy them and install them without breaking the bank. So, keep your budget in mind when shopping around for new cabinets.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Home Maintenance

How to Choose a Bathroom Remodeler

Your bathroom is perhaps the most important room of your house. But most of the time it is neglected. While you decorate your bedroom and dining space, it’s sometimes essential to remodel the bathroom too. This not only adds beauty and enjoyment to your home, but also increases the value of your home if you wish to sell it in future.
However, remodeling your bathroom is not an easy task and can be costly too. You need to consider the flooring, paint, and other essentials like the sink, mirrors, showers, bath tubs and other accessories. If you’re not careful, you could easily end up with a bathroom that’s anything but what you had wanted it to be. So, it is of extreme importance to have a good plan in place before you begin.
Hiring a reputed bathroom remodeler makes a lot of sense in this regard. Not only do you ensure a cleaner and better installation that way, but also good quality accessories and a higher level of satisfaction. Here are the facilities a good company will provide you for bathroom remodeling:
* Easy and quick installation of the Sinks and Mirrors: Perhaps you have already purchased sinks and mirrors by your own. Many companies in the market will refuse to take your project because you haven’t bought the materials from their catalogs. However that should never be a problem with reputed and honest remodeling companies. No matter where you buy the products from, they will make sure that they are installed quickly and easily in the right way.
* Constructing the floors and walls: Regular use will change the surfaces of the tiles and ceramic over time, necessitating their replacement. An experienced service provider will give you an accurate estimate on the time required to finish your project. A bathroom is an absolute necessity in the house and a competent remodeling company will make sure that you are ready to use it again as soon as possible.
* Installing the perfect showers and bath tub: In some cases, the existing bath tub is measured and a new one is fitted over it, for a very quick remodeling. In other cases, the old bath tub is professionally cleaned to make it look like new again. Make sure that your appointed remodeler is taking care of all the scratches, chips, and water stains on the bath tub and the shower area. They will also use non-harmful and non-staining chemicals that both clean and disinfect.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Home Maintenance

Working With Kitchen Contractors

If you are going to remodel your kitchen and you are not a do-it-yourself type of person, you will probably want to hire professional kitchen contractors who will be able to take care of all of the work for you. Before you hire a contractor though, you will need to do some preliminary work.
The first thing that you will want to do is decide on the style of kitchen that you want. If you are doing a full remodel and have no idea where you should begin, you can always hire a kitchen designer who will be able to help. Write down all of the things that you want to change in your kitchen and come up with an overall idea of how you want the kitchen to look. Take your ideas, listen to what the designer has to say, and then come up with a solid plan for the kitchen. If you have no ideas of your own, see what the designer has to offer.
Once you have your plan for the kitchen, you will be able to hire the kitchen contractors you need to finish the job. You can interview different contractors and get estimates from them. Ask them any questions that you might have, such as how long the remodel should take, if they have experience with the types of flooring, counters, cabinets, and fixtures that you want, and anything else that comes to mind. Choose the contractor with whom you feel the most comfortable and offers the most experience. You want to have a good working relationship with the contractor.
Before the kitchen contractors come to start work, you will want to prepare your home. It is a good idea to lay down a pathway on which they can walk without getting the rest of the house dirty. You can use plastic, although cheap strips of carpet are a better idea because there is less of a chance that someone could slip and fall. This protects the flooring underneath as well.
Because remodeling can cause dust, you might want to have covers for any furniture that might be nearby. Move any breakables out of their path. In general, you want to make it as easy as possible for the workers to be able to do their job without worrying about damaging your home.
Remodeling a kitchen can take some time as well as effort, but if you plan early and choose a great contractor, it isn’t that hard!…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Home Maintenance

5 Important Tips For Buying Your First Home

If you’ve lived in a rented home, or if you’ve lived with your parents until now, buying your first home can be an overwhelming or a great experience, depending on how you approach the entire project. There are some important issues that you need to keep in mind in order to make buying a first home a success.
The first thing you need to check is your available budget. While we’d like to have many beautiful homes, sadly we can’t afford them all. This is why going in a realistic way about it is most of the times the best ways to actually get the perfect home. For example if your budget is about $100,000, search for homes a bit below that budget to avoid overspending. Once you bought that home, there are many things that you will need to pay in addition, and unless you have some extra money set aside, you will have a tough time with your first home.
Next, you should choose your location wisely based on your family requirements. You might have kids that go to school, so finding a place near the school or at least near easy access to transportation is a must. On the other hand, you might be tired of living in the big city, so a suburban area might be more attractive to you. Usually the suburbs are cheaper than the middle of the city so you might be able to find some good deals there.
Then you need to consider what amenities you need your home to have. For example, your might want to invest in a bathtub, whereas for other people this is a secondary requirement. Or you might want to have that gorgeous fireplace that you want to use for sitting and relaxing in front of it during the nights. Or you might want to house with a basement which you can use as a laundry room.
When it comes to the space inside the house, you have to decide how many rooms you actually need. If you’ve lived in a condo or apartment, moving to a house might be what you actually need. However if you’ve lived with your parents and all you need now is to find a small place of your own where you can start your independent life, a small 2 bedroom apartment might be just the perfect way to get started.
And lastly, you might have to think about compromise. If your expectations are way too high, you might never find your dream house. So make sure that you have plenty of homes to choose from and even if the place you like most might need some repairs, if it’s cheap enough and it fulfills most of your criteria, go for it. You might just be able to turn it into the home where you will live for the rest of your life.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Home Maintenance

Be Your Own Contractor With These Tips About Your Home’s Roof

If you are thinking about the best options for roofing, it can seem a little overwhelming. Besides thoroughly inspecting your roof beforehand, you must consider whether you want to do it on your own or hire a contractor. Read this article for some tips on how to make the best decision.

Inspect your roof yearly. Roofs normally suffer from significant damage during the months in winter and spring. Because of this you should make extra time during these seasons to check on your roof.

In order to ensure that your roof stays in good condition, make sure that you trim the trees in the surrounding areas. This will prevent any branches from scuffing the surface of your roof which could eventually lead to more serious problems. This also helps prevent any fungus or mold grow on your roof.

When replacing your roof, always use a reputable contractor. Make sure to find someone with experience and a good reputation in your area. While you might find that a less experienced roofer is also less expensive, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Go for a professional, and your new roof will last!

Just like most projects, roofing requires you to have a clean surface to work on. The sheathing also has to be perfectly flat, so if you see any warping, replace it. Lastly, every last nail has to be removed to ensure it doesn’t affect the new roof once installed, causing problems.

Never try to repair your roof while the weather conditions are hazardous. Your roof can wait until the storm clears, and you should be more concerned about your safety than the state of your roof. The storm could cause additional damage anyhow, so there really is not much use in trying fix it until it all ends.

You should never hire the first roofing company to help you out that you see. You never know if there’s going to be a better deal out there unless you shop around. Even if you end up going with the first company you looked at, it’s always good to have an idea of what competitors are charging.

Home Repair

Safety should be your main priority. Roofing is exceedingly dangerous work. Don’t be in a rush. Never attempt roofing work in bad weather. It isn’t anything that is worth hurting yourself over. Always ensure you understand what you are doing and take the necessary safety precautions.

Remodeling

Invest in the highest quality roofing tiles your money can buy. This is especially important if you are living in the house you are remodeling. The best roofing materials for your home depend on the climate of your location, so be sure to research the best roofing tiles for your climate.

Besides thinking about your budget and the different materials you can purchase for your roof, there are other factors you must consider. How long you plan on staying in the home, the longevity of the material and how fire resistant it is matters, too. Remember the tips in this article so you can make the best decision.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute