Home Renovation at a Low, Low Cost
Home Renovation at a Low, Low Cost
Renovation can be a cleansing and beautifying experience for your self and space. Renovation can also be stressful, overwhelming and confusing. What should I fix, keep or exchange are the common questions when wanting to change up your home. For instance, if you have a beautiful glass window or table and it has some scratches on it, one might believe they would have to replace that window, but there are always solutions for damaged glass, wood, doors, ceilings, floors etc…. One window scratch remedy can be found on ezine article under glass-scratch removal. There are many remedies that you can find for almost any damaged part of your home on the internet. Before you start spending big dollars to replace everything that has a little scratch or dent see if it can be repaired to your satisfaction.
If you decide to actually get a new kitchen, bathroom, floor, windows, doors etc… finding the best quality for the best price is the next step. Relying on services such as Angie’s list or Service Magic, and or great references from family or friends would be the way to go. Set aside two Saturdays or a weekend to interview contractors, in depth. In depth means face to face interview asking at least 20-30 questions which you have thought of beforehand, calling their current and past references, searching on-line for any complaints against their license, making sure they have a license and a good score with the better business bureau, and visiting some of their client’s homes that they completed. You want to take as much time finding someone to work on your home, as you do if someone were to do surgery on a loved one.
Renovation also does not have to involve a great deal of cost or effort. Sometimes it can be replacing the doors to your kitchen cabinets, new flooring, paint and some posh. There is a product called Reclaim for changing the stain of your kitchen, bathroom cabinets or wood furniture within a few days. Adding some new furniture pieces and buying some new curtains, pillows and rugs can also be considered a renovation.
Talk to your CPA, CFA or accountant about a budget that will not put you in jeopardy financially. Also talk to your realtor or a realtor in the area who knows if values are going up or down, in your neighborhood, to help you decide how much money, realistically, should be put into your home.
Anyway you go about a home remodeling or renovation get your self and your home organized first. Next make your home beautified and comfy, so you can enjoy your time there, more and more!
Remember the outer is a reflection of the inner you, and home is where the heart, mind, body and soul rest regularly.…
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.…
Gardening Tools You Must Have
Maybe just interested in learning about the world of farming? If so, it turns out that making a garden at home is quite easy, you know. You only need to prepare some gardening tools.
Moreover, gardening can not only make the house look fresher and more beautiful, but also can maintain physical and mental health. In addition, gardening can be a means of exercise so that the body is actively moving.
Then, what gardening tools should we have at home?
So, to make it easier for you when caring for plants at home, you need to have the following gardening tools.
1. Gloves Gardening Tools
So that your hands are not pricked by thorns from the ground, plant roots, or other sharp objects, make sure you use gloves when gardening.
Choose the right size of gloves to make it more comfortable when used. You can choose gloves that have room to get in and out of the air so your hands don’t sweat easily.
In addition, make sure the gloves are waterproof and long enough so that the wrist is not easily injured and the soil does not get inside. Well, here are recommendations for gloves for gardening that you can use at home.
2. Scissors Gardening Tools
In order for the green plants at home to look beautiful, you need to regularly trim the branches. Well, make sure you use branch shears, which are larger and have a bent shape.
These scissors were created to make it easier for you when trimming plant branches. In order to keep the cut branches neat, make sure you use sharp scissors, as below.
3. Garden Fork
The next gardening tool that you must have is a garden fork. Just as the name suggests, garden forks are similar in shape to dinner forks, but are larger in shape.
Garden forks are used to dig up compacted soil, mix soil, and much more. Here are recommendations for garden forks that you can use at home.
4. Hand Shovel
The shovel is used to make it easier for you when moving plants, picking up, or digging soil. However, make sure the size of the shovel fits in your hand. You can use a shovel made of stainless steel to make it more durable.
Here are recommendations for a square shovel that you can use at home.
5. Plant Spray Tool
One way to care for plants is to water them regularly. Well, you can use a plant sprayer made of plastic.
Besides being lighter, plastic plant sprayers are also cheaper. Tips, choose a plant sprayer with a size that suits your needs. Well, here are recommendations for plant sprays that you can use at home.
6. Adjustable Garden Hose
In addition to using plant spray, you can also use a garden hose. Usually, garden hoses have nozzles to adjust the water pressure and the spray radius.
Tips for buying a garden hose that you need to pay attention to is knowing the size of the garden area so you can find the right hose length. Avoid buying a hose that is too short because it cannot reach all parts of the garden.
Well, here are recommendations for garden hoses that you can use at home.…
Creating a Minimalist Home Garden with a Narrow Land
Having a beautiful home garden is everyone’s dream. Even though it only has a little space, the garden element in the house is a very important aspect.
This may be an obstacle, but if you can work around it properly, this condition is not a big problem.
You can still create a minimalist garden in a narrow area with some special tricks.
Want to know how?
Here is summarized some tips that can be done when creating a minimalist home garden in a narrow area.
Adjusting the design to the taste of the homeowner
When building a house, of course, you must first determine the architectural style of the desired house.
If the architectural style of your home is minimalist, then the garden design also needs to match your simple minimalist home.
A good garden is a garden that provides continuity between the inner space and the outer space.
Therefore, before you want to create a garden, first determine the garden design that suits your tastes and the funds you have.
Determine the type of suitable plant
In addition to determining the appropriate garden design, you also need to choose the type of house plants and types of flowers for the garden that will be used.
Please note that not all plants can grow well in different climatic conditions. The type of plant selected also needs to adapt to the climate where you live, as well as soil conditions in the home garden.
As tips for choosing plants, don’t just choose one type of appearance. But combine it with various other plants, ranging from harmonization of colors, plant shapes and so on. That way the view of your home garden will become more attractive.
Using the horizontal-vertical pattern
Because the available garden land is very limited, you need to be careful in dealing with this. One way that can be done is to use a combination of patterns with a vertical system or a horizontal system.
The vertical system is usually where the plants will be arranged soaring upwards, while the horizontal is the other way around.
If you use a horizontal system, you can also use the available land to grow vegetables such as eggplant, leaf spices and so on.
For that, you can use other supporting tools such as aluminum shelves, concrete flower pots and so on.
Customize decorations Home Garden
Not only choosing the types of plants that will be used, but making a minimalist garden in a narrow area must also consider the decorations that will be used.
These decorations can be small aquariums, figurines, flower vases, garden lights and so on. But choose a decoration that fits the theme and the size is not too big.
Given the area of land available is not so much.
Minimize maintenance costs for Home Garden
Certain types of plants will require high maintenance costs. Therefore, so that expenses do not swell, choose the type of plant that does not incur too much maintenance costs.
An example is orchids, which can help enhance the aesthetics of your garden.
Adding grass
The home garden will certainly not be complete if it is not covered with garden grass. There are many types of garden grass that you can use.
There are two popular types of grass that are often used in residential homes. The first is Japanese grass, which is very aesthetically pleasing.
How to grow Japanese grass and how to care for Japanese grass is also not difficult, you know!
For the second type of grass, it is mini elephant grass whose beauty is beyond doubt. How to care for mini elephant grass is also easy to do.
These two types of grass are very popular.
Blending Home Garden with natural stone
In addition to creating the characteristics of a healthy home, the garden in the yard is also intended to present the natural and natural side of the dwelling.
Therefore, you can try to combine it with natural stone materials. As is well known, natural stone has a variety of motifs and is very beautiful.
This element can be a complementary element that is very suitable for the garden in your home.
Those are some tips and tricks as a way to make a minimalist home garden on a narrow land that is good and right and you must know and learn.
Hopefully useful and good luck!…
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.…
Types of Organic Vegetable Garden Fertilizer
Types of Organic Vegetable Garden Fertilizer
These days, due to the detrimental effects of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, there has been a strong trend towards organic vegetable gardening. Actually organic gardening is merely the old-fashioned way of gardening and going back to basics. The main difference between organic and conventional vegetable gardening is how fertilization and pest control is done. In organic vegetable gardening, fertilization and pest control are done without synthetic fertilizers or manufactured pesticides. In this article, I wish to focus on how to fertilize your vegetables in organic vegetable gardening.
Before adding any form of fertilizer, remove all weeds, rocks, stones, debris and any other unwanted materials in your soil. Generally, organic vegetable gardening involves applying organic matter to the soil in place of manufactured substances. When it comes to fertilizing the soil, the organic matter pertaining to this is green manure, compost and animal manure. Be sure to add this organic matter to your soil at least four weeks before planting your seeds to give enough time for the nutrients to be absorbed into the soil.
Green manure is primarily a type of cover crop grown to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil. These crops are grown primarily in the non-planting seasons of winter and fall and only for a certain period (until flowering or while green) before being plowed under and incorporated into the soil. They also serve to prevent the soil from eroding and compacting over the winter season. Green manure crops include mustard, clover, hairy vetch, buckwheat, alfalfa, lupine, rye etc.
Compost is another category of fertilizer for organic vegetable farming. Compost can either be bought from garden centers or be made yourself. To make compost, use garden or kitchen waste such as leaf and grass cuttings, stems, twigs, wood chips, plant parts etc. But do not include meat, bones, fish, animal waste, dairy products, weeds that have gone to seed, diseased plants or pesticide-laced plants.
Mix them in a compost bin or heap them up at a certain secluded section of your yard. Be sure not to get your compost wet through the rain or exposed to direct sunlight. Add some soil, a bit of water and ground limestone. Turn the mixture over once a week to aerate it. Leave this compost mixture to decompose over a few months. In about 4 to 6 months, your compost would have been decomposed into humus, which is natural fertilizer for your soil. Spread the humus out evenly over your soil before planting.
Among the most common animal manures are farmyard manure (farm animal feces) and farmyard slurry (liquid manure, usually farm animal urine). Animal manures are normally mixed with straw which has been used for animal bedding and has absorbed the feces and urine. Generally, animal manure can be used for at least 30 days. Animal manure may also include other animal products such as recycled wool, hair, feathers and blood. When applying, scatter each side of the rows of vegetables with the manure. However, manure isn’t a complete well-balanced fertilizer so it is advisable to add a rock phosphate and potash.
Using these natural fertilizers, organic vegetable gardening can produce vegetables that are not only delicious but nutritious and safe for consumption.…
Home Remodeling: How to Hire a Contractor to Remodel Your Home
Home Remodeling: How to Hire a Contractor to Remodel Your Home
Do you have a basement that you believe would work great as a home office? Do you have a room in your home you would like to redesign to better suit your needs, but have no idea where to begin? If so, then you need to hire a home remodeling contractor and let them share their expertise so you can have the space you want. Unfortunately, finding a home remodeling contractor can be intimidating, especially if you know very little about the construction process. So, to help you out, here are some questions and concerns to keep in mind as you begin to interview potential remodeling contractors.
• Punctuality: Is the contractor on time for appointments?
• Options: Regardless of your financial situation, you probably want multiple pricing options. After all, sometimes it may not matter the brand or product used, but other times, the price indicates quality or guarantee. If the contractor is not willing to give you price options, then you may want to take it upon yourself to find another contractor.
• What type of communication is there? Will there be daily progress reports of the work done and, if applicable, any issues that have arisen?
• How long have they been in business? You should look for a contractor who has been in business for a significant amount of time.
• What about their credentials and disciplinary history? Every state has different guidelines, so take some time to familiarize yourself with what your state requires. Once again, check with the BBB to see if there are any negative reports.
• Who is responsible for the insurance? If you are responsible for the insurance, then move on to another contractor. The contractor should carry their own liability and workers compensation.
• Remember, you don’t have to hire the first contractor you interview. In fact, you should get at least 3 bids (ideally 5) for the job. Many will typically opt for the median price. The contractor who is the lowest is most likely using inferior products, cutting corners or will tell you later into the job that it’s more difficult than anticipated or a product is more expensive than listed originally, and will ultimately cost you more than even the highest bid you received.
• There is more to hiring a contractor than just the price. You will be spending a fair amount of time with them and their crew. Think about whether you feel comfortable with their personality, background, methods and communication skills. Make sure everyone is clear on the job to be done and what it will entail.
• Signing on the dotted line: Before you sign the contract, be sure you understand what every element of the contract means and that it contains the following information: a work timetable, a description of the work, the materials that will be used, payment schedule and any other information related to the job.
• Payment: You should never pay more than 30% up front. Expect periodic payments throughout, with around 10% to be paid at completion.…