Easy Renovations for Your Home
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Article by: Ailsa Forshaw Renovating should be a fun and exciting process (really!). The key is to plan , Architecture the project out in advance, hire the right people, allot the appropriate amount of time, and make provisions for delays. Try not to make the completion date coincide with your birthday or anniversary. Begin waaaay before that date, if you're planning a special party, and even then, have an alternate location , The Best Kept Secrets In Kitchen Designs in mind. Don't impose a time frame on yourself , Pre-drawn House plans the Benefits and Styles or your contractor , Marble Repair that will create stress. At the same time, get a clear understanding of how long the project will probably take, and when it will begin. If it's a three month job and the work won't begin until November, your house , Safety Tips When Purchasing Playground Equipment will not be ready for a New Year's Party, unless you're celebrating Chinese New Year"¦ This is a surprisingly common problem - how much time the home , Hampers: Aids In House Organization owner thinks a project will take and that actual work time required. There are no Contractor , Strongly Scented Candles: Use your mouth, nose and eyes to tell Fairies (and I refer here to the magical ones! Ha,ha,ha!) who can slip in the middle of the night and have the project done by the morning, although that would be good! (I'm guessing that there'd be some really loud dance music, anyway, which would just keep you awake"¦!) Have your Contractor , Built In Home Appliances include a probable time frame with the quote. Have a clear idea of what you want before your contractor , Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door comes over. You don't have to sketch out the changes, , Advice On Asbestos Disposal but you should be able to tell him or her what changes , Kit Homes: Popular for Over a Century you would like to see. Many good contractors , How to get a Quotation of Estimation From a or Supplier for Home Decorating will have done so many renos that they will immediately know what needs to be done, the approximate cost and time-frame. When a contractor , Discount Wood Flooring tells you that 'the little bathroom' will cost about $3,000.00, don't think that your job will secretly only cost about $20.00, maybe a little less"¦then be shocked and dismayed when your bill comes in at"¦$3,000.00. You'd be surprised how many people have notions like that. Try not to fall , Safety Tips When Purchasing Playground Equipment into this trap, or to think that any changes , Spring Clean Year Round: Home Cleaning and Organizing Tips you make once the job has started won't affect the price or the amount of time of a project. Always get written quotes for any work you are having done, that way you'll both be clear about the expectations for the job. If you're really stuck trying to figure out how to , Solar Energy Systems for Pools improve an area in your home, , Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs consider hiring a Designer. , Spring Clean Year Round: Home Cleaning and Organizing Tips Keep in mind that they can work within your budget, but if your budget is really tight, it's probably better to spend the consultation fee on new drapes or a toilet"¦ If decision making is a problem area for you, and you're able to relinquish control, then a designer , Pre-drawn House plans the Benefits and Styles might be the clear solution. Shop around the same way you would for a contractor , The Art of Choosing the Right Window Shades Including Roman and Roller Shades for Your Home until you find someone you're really comfortable with, someone who will listen to what you want. Remember, it's your house, , Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs so do what's right for you. If you say, "Absolutely no red" and the designer , Top-notch ways to learn more about loft and bunk beds plus more. says you need all red if you're going to be 'cutting edge', then choose another designer , Which Ladder Should You Choose? - one who is more interested in catering to your needs. Is there a quick fix? Often, there is a quick fix. If you aren't dealing with structural changes , Solar Energy Systems for Pools or a complete makeover, then consider a coat of paint, , Garage Storage Cabinets new flooring, , Marble Repair new baseboards, and/or new window , How to get a Quotation of Estimation From a Contractor or Supplier for Home Decorating treatments. There are lots of things that you can do yourself, , A Quick Guide to Plastic Mailboxes now. You might want to up-date your bathroom , 5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project or kitchen , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? with new flooring. , Home Audio Furniture for Beginners There's a new glueless laminate , Memories in Wood: Knowing Closets 'wood' flooring , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? that you can tackle on your own, if you are so inclined. Tiling , Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door is an excellent option, too, and you can learn how to , Solar Energy Systems for Pools do that on our site (click on the Tiling , A Brief History Of Fireplaces page), or attend a seminar at your local , How To Choose A Pool Cover? hardware store. A really nice throw rug , Garage Storage Cabinets can change , The Best Kept Secrets In Kitchen Designs the look of a room , Pellet Stoves and add new life to an old carpet. , A Brief History Of Fireplaces Installation of new carpet , The Vacuum Cleaner - An Essential Home Appliance should be professionally done, unless it's a small area and you are skilled at that. Sometimes a simple change , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? like up-dating your hardware , Radiant heating system: A Comprehensive Overview (the knobs in your kitchen , Marble Repair - no, not your husband's friends! Ha,ha,ha! ) can make a huge difference in the overall look of a room. , Advice On Asbestos Disposal You may be able to paint , Advice On Asbestos Disposal your cabinetry if you don't want to replace it. If you are replacing the cabinets, Check out your Local , Champion Juicer Chews The Competition Hardware Stores selection. You can check for price, availability, installation fees (don't try this alone!), and for some ideas in general that you like. They will provide you with a computer printout of what your completed kitchen , Which Ladder Should You Choose? will look like, if you arrange to meet with a Kitchen Designer , 6 Top Reasons why Air Conditioners Leak Water and draw one out together. If you have an old brick fireplace that you don't care for anymore, or want to give it a fresh look, consider painting , Roman Shades Give Old House A Rich Look it. This is not a crime"¦painted brick looks great! Generally, creamy shades work well, but you can choose what you like. Brick really soaks up the paint, , How About a Jungle Mural to Put Some Swing Into Your Childs Room? so use a good primer, first. You can also put a marble tile , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? (slate works well, too) around the fireplace. Use the correct tile , Kit Homes: Popular for Over a Century adhesive (ask at the store) and choose a nice grout. You can actually buy a Fireplace Surround pre-made, or you can build your own Mantel with Crown Moulding and some nice lumber. You may want to bring in some help for this. While you're looking at the Fireplace Mantels, check out the cool 'Fireplace Overmantels' -- they're gorgeous! You can have mirror custom cut to fit in the center and make your house , Kit Homes: Popular for Over a Century look fabulous, darling! Changing the lighting can create a whole new look in your home. , A Brief History Of Fireplaces If it's not too complicated, you can do this on your own. If it's too tricky or dangerous, bring in an electrician. Changing the light , Safety Tips When Purchasing Playground Equipment switches and switch plates can make a huge difference, too. You can go from the past to the present in a flick of the switch! Ha,ha,ha! Doors have a huge impact on how a house , A Guide to Home Dehumidifiers looks. Painting , The Consequences of Improperly Pitched Gutters old wooden doors , Strongly Scented Candles: Use your mouth, nose and eyes to tell (the ones from the 60's and 70's) can add new life to them. Change , The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs the hardware , Marble Repair while you're at it, and you'll have a nice new door! , Spring Clean Year Round: Home Cleaning and Organizing Tips Switching to French Doors , Hampers: Aids In House Organization (the ones with the glass , Strongly Scented Candles: Use your mouth, nose and eyes to tell inserts) can add extra light , Kit Homes: Popular for Over a Century to a room. , Ten Convenience Built-Ins That'll Save Your Busy Household Hundreds Of Hours Each Year You can get the glass , How To Choose A Pool Cover? with many different looks, if privacy is a concern. If your budget will allow, consider changing all the doors , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? to the new white , Discount Wood Flooring colonial style - that looks nice in just about every home. , Architecture They're clean and neat, and will brighten up a hallway. Replacing your front door , Advice On Asbestos Disposal can give the house , Thawing Frozen Pipes Without a Plumber a real boost and probably add a bit of safety, , Memories in Wood: Knowing Closets too, since many of the new doors , Alexander, the Great was a Real Corker! are made of steel. Sometimes adding a lovely screen door , Memories in Wood: Knowing Closets can create more interest at the front entry. When you change , Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door the doors, , Solar Energy Systems for Pools you will probably want to replace the baseboards, too. If you are trying to make the job as easy as possible, consider using Rosettes for the corners, then all the cuts will be straight ones. Use Dap to fill in any little gaps, or wood , Discount Flooring filler if you've gone with a wooden , The Consequences of Improperly Pitched Gutters finish. Also, Changing out the Garage , Memories in Wood: Knowing Closets Doors in an Older Home , Thawing Frozen Pipes Without a Plumber to Update the Exterior look of your house , Western Red Cedar - A Multi-Purpose Softwood is a great idea. Garage , A Guide to Home Dehumidifiers Doors are a very reasonable price, these days -- some things become more reasonable as time goes on -- go figure! But changing out the Garage , Everything You Need To Know About Spa Filters Doors can create an incredible new look for your house. , Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door And maybe add some nice neat Trim around the Doors, , Western Red Cedar - A Multi-Purpose Softwood too! Did you know that you can paint , The Vacuum Cleaner - An Essential Home Appliance your appliances? It works, too. You can hire a painting , Ten Convenience Built-Ins That'll Save Your Busy Household Hundreds Of Hours Each Year service to do this if you're worried about the outcome. If you are getting new kitchen , Roman Shades Give Old House A Rich Look cabinetry, you can order matching covers for the appliances. Ask at the cabinet place , Carpet Cleaning Tips And Secrets for details to see if that is feasible in your kitchen. , Building An Outside Deck Sometimes your best bet is just to bite the bullet and buy new appliances. My favourite new appliance (who knew you could have a 'favorite appliance?!) is the Upright Freezer. I'm putting one in the new house, , The Consequences of Improperly Pitched Gutters it's sooo cool! It looks like a refrigerator -- some the same height and almost the same size, and some a little shorter. You can arrange to have the door , Discount Wood Flooring open from the left, if you have the fridge and upright freezer side by side, so access is even easier. Anyway, it saves , Advice On Asbestos Disposal 'losing' all those items at the bottom of a regular freezer that you can't remember and find a couple of years later"¦ Also, there are some really neat new small appliances that will add more efficiency to your kitchen. , Pre-drawn House plans the Benefits and Styles There's a roasting oven that that just plugs in and sits on your countertop - great for big dinner events when you could really use another oven. If you have a small space with a closet (front entry, bedroom), consider changing the regular doors , Built In Home Appliances to mirrored doors. , Physiological Response to Window Coverings That really opens up a room , Marble Repair and provides more light, , The Consequences of Improperly Pitched Gutters quickly. Window Treatments can make the world of difference in a room. , Building An Outside Deck There's a huge selection of gorgeous curtains, most of them reasonably priced. Shop around - there are some great deals, out there. On-line shopping is perfect for this. At the very least, it'll give you an idea of what's available on the market. Adding a beautiful , Radiant heating system: A Comprehensive Overview Valance will have a huge impact on the room. , Top-notch ways to learn more about loft and bunk beds plus more. You can make them out of Crown Moulding if you like the wooden , Choosing the right kind of sofa look, or you can build them out of plywood, cover with cotton batting, then material to suit your room, , 6 Top Reasons why Air Conditioners Leak Water and staple them at the back. Be sure to get help hanging them on the wall , 5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project as they will be quite heavy. Be sure to attach it where there's a stud, too. (Are you making your own stud jokes?! Ha,ha!) The relatively new wrought iron curtain rods with all the cool attachments are really attractive, too. They are much easier to install and generally less expensive than a valance. You can buy ready-made material valances, too - they're usually offered with the set of curtains that you choose. Tie-backs can make a real difference, too, so have a wee look at them, as well. Furniture plays a key role in the look of your house. , A Brief History Of Fireplaces There are some gorgeous slip covers available, if you don't want to replace your extra comfortable stuff! You could try your hand at reupholstering your furniture. , The Consequences of Improperly Pitched Gutters It's not as hard as it looks, but it does take time and skill, , How About a Jungle Mural to Put Some Swing Into Your Childs Room? but if you're a willing participant and plan , Everything You Need To Know About Spa Filters it carefully, it should work out all right. Get a staple gun to make the job a little easier. Maybe you're in the market for a new head board? You can make your own out of a nice door, , Solar Energy Systems for Pools with an even pattern, some nice Crown Moulding, and some legs. You can purchase these at any lumber store. Turn it on its' side to create the look you're after. If you'd like a softer headboard, try covering a sheet of plywood with a fair bit of padding, then cover with material and staple. If it's big enough, you may be able to just sit it behind the head of the bed, , Everything You Need To Know About Spa Filters or you can attach it to the frame. Let go of your old notions about painting , Radiant heating system: A Comprehensive Overview wooden furniture , The Art of Choosing the Right Window Shades Including Roman and Roller Shades for Your Home - it can really bring it into the present (especially if it's that really dark wood , A Guide to Home Dehumidifiers so very popular in the 70's"¦). If you are painting , The Art of Choosing the Right Window Shades Including Roman and Roller Shades for Your Home a hutch, remember to paint , Ten Convenience Built-Ins That'll Save Your Busy Household Hundreds Of Hours Each Year the interior , 5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project to keep it looking light. , Safety Tips When Purchasing Playground Equipment Adding additional lighting is easy with the new 'stick on lights' available at regular retail outlets. Smear Vaseline on the windows , Physiological Response to Coverings of the unit before you paint , Discount Wood Flooring it to make clean up faster and easier. You can replace the hardware, , Advice On Asbestos Disposal too, or paint , Strongly Scented Candles: Use your mouth, nose and eyes to tell that, as well. If you really want to be adventurous, you could tile , Western Red Cedar - A Multi-Purpose Softwood the top of your dressers and end tables with a nice marble or ceramic tile. , Physiological Response to Window Coverings Check my'Tiling Page' to learn how to , Garage Storage Cabinets do this. New Bedding , Building An Outside Deck can really change , The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs the feel of a bedroom. If you don't already have Bed , Humidifiers - What Are the Benefits skirts, try adding these. An easy and inexpensive way to create you own bed , How to get a Quotation of Estimation From a Contractor or Supplier for Home Decorating skirt is to take a flat , Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs sheet that is a size larger than your bed. , 6 Top Reasons why Air Conditioners Leak Water Place , How to get a Quotation of Estimation From a Contractor or Supplier for Home Decorating it carefully on the bed , Everything You Need To Know About Spa Filters to reach the floor , Which Ladder Should You Choose? around the bed, , 5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project then make pleats at the corners. You can pin it, or just arrange the top mattress over the sheet to hold it in place. , Western Red Cedar - A Multi-Purpose Softwood Try adding a Duvet Cover over an old comforter for a different look. You can get matching Pillow Cases, too, that'll really complete the look. Speaking of Tiling, , Thawing Frozen Pipes Without a Plumber if your Kitchen , The Vacuum Cleaner - An Essential Home Appliance Countertop has seen better days, you might want to consider tiling , Architecture it. This is actually a surprisingly inexpensive venture, especially if you can do it yourself. , Garage Storage Cabinets Many arborite countertops have a little 'lip' at the outer edge, which you will probably have to plane down to create a smooth and square surface in preparation for the tile. , 6 Top Reasons why Air Conditioners Leak Water You can also remove the old countertop and replace it with ¾ plywood (have it specially cut to fit), then tile , Garage Storage Cabinets on that. There are so many beautiful tiles , A Guide to Home Dehumidifiers to choose from, that the possibilities are endless. Look at all the different sizes of tile, , Carpet Cleaning Tips And Secrets too. People often think of the tiny tiles, , Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door or the 4" tiles, , Ten Convenience Built-Ins That'll Save Your Busy Household Hundreds Of Hours Each Year for a Countertop, but you can go much larger. The tile , The Vacuum Cleaner - An Essential Home Appliance we chose for our next kitchen , Home Audio Furniture for Beginners (you can watch this process by clicking on the Tiling , Advice On Asbestos Disposal box) is a 13" X 13" Green , Strongly Scented Candles: Use your mouth, nose and eyes to tell Marble Ceramic Tile , The Consequences of Improperly Pitched Gutters - gorgeous. Real marble tile , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? is fantastic, too. There is a special grout to use for countertops, so be sure to tell your retailer what your project is. Also, using a thin grout line will make a real difference. If your bathroom , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? is in need of an up-date, a coat of paint , Thawing Frozen Pipes Without a Plumber might do the trick. Many people have successfully painted their tile. , Radiant heating system: A Comprehensive Overview Ask your retailer what type of paint , Discount Wood Flooring and finish you'll need for this. The bathtub can be painted, too - there's a service that specializes in this, so check your local , 6 Top Reasons why Air Conditioners Leak Water papers. Tub Surrounds are not a bad idea if there's no water , How About a Jungle Mural to Put Some Swing Into Your Childs Room? damage on the walls. , Strongly Scented Candles: Use your mouth, nose and eyes to tell Tiling , Western Red Cedar - A Multi-Purpose Softwood is always a good option. If you're doing it yourself, , Discount Wood Flooring and you have to tear down the existing walls, , Memories in Wood: Knowing Closets remember to use waterproof drywall before you complete the wall , The Consequences of Improperly Pitched Gutters finish. Replacing the countertop, sink, toilet, tub or fixtures will really improve the look of the bathroom. , Everything You Need To Know About Spa Filters Call , The Curtain Cart - When Color, Texture and Design Matter a professional before you 'get in too deep', though, and by that I mean before you end up in a foot of water , Champion Juicer Chews The Competition - outside , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? of the bathroom! , Architecture Shelving can make a tremendous difference in the feel of you home , The Curtain Cart - When Color, Texture and Design Matter if space is an issue. Check your closets to see if there's a space at the very top where a shelf could be added. That's usually wasted space, and you could store your 'opposite season' clothes up there. Can you build shelves into your Pantry to make more room , Carpet Cleaning Tips And Secrets for canned goods? Stackable baskets and boxes are useful for storing all the extra little things that cause clutter around the house. , Pre-drawn plans the Benefits and Styles There are lots of shelving 'kits' on the market, now. They are often less expensive than buying all the materials to build your own shelves, so check these out first. A really simple way to change , Roman Shades Give Old House A Rich Look the look and feel of your home , 6 Top Reasons why Air Conditioners Leak Water is to rearrange the furniture. , Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs Sounds painfully simple, but it can breathe new life into a room. , How About a Jungle Mural to Put Some Swing Into Your Childs ? Also, the addition of some nice big tropical plants, , The Art of Choosing the Right Window Shades Including Roman and Roller Shades for Your Home some hanging plants, , Western Red Cedar - A Multi-Purpose Softwood and/or some potted flowering plants , A Quick Guide to Plastic Mailboxes will add life and colour , How to get a Quotation of Estimation From a Contractor or Supplier for Home Decorating to a room. , Solar Energy Systems for Pools Hanging some nice prints or other artwork will do wonders for your décor, too. Major Renovations Generally, major renovations , Alexander, the Great was a Real Corker! would encompass Remodeling a portion of your home , Memories in Wood: Knowing Closets or the whole thing. The important stuff to remember is not to get in too deep. A very common problem is taking on more than you can chew, usually right after watching your favourite renovation show on television! It always takes waaaay longer to do a renovation than what is accomplished with the magic of TV! Ha,ha,ha! For one, they have all kinds of professional help (free - yours probably won't be"¦), and note how the camera , The Curtain Cart - When Color, Texture and Design Matter carefully avoids any close-up shots of the finished work. If you race through a job, you'll have lots and lots of time afterward to look at all the mistakes. Take your time, plan , Radiant heating system: A Comprehensive Overview it out carefully, and do one area at a time. Sounds obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to start ripping out all the stuff you don't like, then realize later that it takes forever to actually fix any given area. Much better to decide what needs to be done, write out a list, then prioritize. If you have the Walls , 6 Top Reasons why Air Conditioners Leak Water and the Floors , Discount Wood ing on the same list, do the walls , Safety Tips When Purchasing Playground Equipment first - it'll be less stressful when the paint , Built In Home Appliances splatters! If it's a huge remodeling job, consider how you will cope with all the mess. Do you have an alternate location , Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs where you can live during the renovations? How about a little area of the house , What Should Be Considered Before Buying Home? that you can keep as a sanctuary? Give this some serious thought before you get started. It can be surprising how difficult life can be during a reno project. If you happen to have a House , Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs Trailer, this is probably a good time to 'camp out', if only for a little break from the chaos. Read through the Building , 6 Top Reasons why Air Conditioners Leak Water Information on www.buildyourownhouse.ca for a really big project, since much of the information , Memories in Wood: Knowing Closets is applicable. Don't forget the Permits!Ailsa Forshaw is a Writer, Builder, Website Owner & Manager, Teacher, Mother... all in Alberta, Canada. She is Married with Two Lovely Children, and one gorgeous wee dog. Her Website, http://www.buildyourownhouse.ca, is chock full of all sorts of useful & fun information , Pellet Stoves to help anyone become Financially Successful, Slim, Trim, and Happy... what more could you want? Pop in for a wee visit! http://www.buildyourownhouse.ca http://www.theScottishDiet.com |
  
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