How To Update The Look Of Your Home With Small Projects

When your appliances fail or become outdated, you may be thinking that it's time to spruce up that kitchen with new cabinetry and some new countertops and flooring. There are many types of home improvement jobs people attempt to do for many reasons. Before you pull out that tape measure, though, take a few minutes to read these tips.

Remove an old vinyl tile with heat. Old vinyl tiles often need to be replaced. Getting them up without damaging the tiles around them, however, can be a challenge. Place a dry towel over the tile and then heat it with an iron. The adhesive should loosen and the tile can then be easily removed using a putty knife.

Once you've checked the flapper valve, if the toilet is still running, check the chain. If the length of the chain linking the arm lever to the flapper valve is too short, water will keep running from the tank, as there would be no seal. To remedy this, simply remove the old chain and attach a longer one from a hardware store.

Make your home feel like a home by adding a doormat. A lot of people tend to overlook the addition of a doormat in front of a door. It not only serves a purpose of making a home feel complete, but also serves to keep your floors clean. Putting out a doormat where people can wipe their feet will cut down the amount of time you spend cleaning your floors.

Put exhaust fans in the kitchen above the stove, and in each bathroom. By getting this type of air up and away from the inside of your home, you make it much less likely that you will eventually have mildew or mold. Not only does it do that, it also doesn't allow condensation to become trapped within walls and that keeps them from rotting.

Keep your furniture safe from drink spills and cup outlines by displaying coasters. Coasters are available in a myriad of designs and you are sure to find one to fit your taste. The most common places to use coasters would be your living room end table, coffee table, nightstand, and dining room table.

When remodeling your kitchen or bath it may be wise not to do it yourself. These projects are extensive, time consuming, and much more involved than other home improvement projects. Often times it will actually save you money to hire a handy man or other licensed professional rather than take on these potentially monumental endeavors yourself.

Updating an outdated kitchen could be as easy as replacing the cabinetry. This can be done on your own, but remember to make sure to check for all of the screws that are holding your existing cabinets in place. Cut the caulk that is sealing it to the wall prior to removing them, and you will have a nice smooth surface to install the new ones.

You will need to purchase shims prior to installing your kitchen cabinets. They are used to keep all of the cabinets level and straight. They are especially helpful if the kitchen floor is not completely level or the wall is bowed. Shims go up to about 3/8 of an inch to completely flat.

When you are remodeling your bathroom, make sure not to add carpeting to the floor. Not only does carpeting stain easily, but the water from the shower will give the carpet, and subsequently your whole bathroom, a foul odor. Instead, go with a tile that can withstand any water that may get on the floor.

If your bed set seems old and you want to try something really new, build your own new bed set. While this is a difficult task, if you take your time and work hard at it, you can create furniture that is beautiful and fully customized to your liking.

Windows

Make sure you have weather stripping around all of your doors and windows. This helps you with multiple problems. It keeps air from leaking out keeping your house cooler or warmer when you're running your A/C or heat. It can also keep little critters from finding their way in. It's also good if you're in an area that floods a lot, to keep water from seeping in.

Install energy saving windows in your home. They will lower your energy bills while keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They also increase the value of your home as buyers love new energy saving amenities. Take the time to pick windows that are visually appealing and fit your home's motif.

Replace your windows. If you have cracked, damaged, or drafty windows, replacing them is a quick home improvement project that has a great payoff. Replacing them with weather resistant or high efficiency windows will allow them to pay for themselves in no time and also give your home a fresh new look.

Before rolling paint onto walls or ceilings, cut in the edges with a brush. Tape off trim, moldings, windows, ceiling edges and fixtures. By painting the few inches closest to the edges using a brush, you do not have to roll right up to these obstacles which may prove too cumbersome with a full-sized paint roller.

If you live on a floodplain or in a hurricane zone, think about picking up a couple sets of hurricane socks. These pieces of fabric are highly absorbent, and can trap around a gallon of liquid. These should be installed at your doors and other entry points, such as windows.

Replacing your old windows is a great home improvement project, but do not get fooled into thinking that it is going to be a huge energy savings. The cost of replacing your old single hung windows with new energy efficient double pane windows is far greater than any savings on your utility bill could ever bring. So do not use that as a factor when determining if this is a home improvement project that you want to start.

When painting the exterior of your home, use architectural details, doors and windows to add visual interest by painting them (or around them) with an accent color that coordinates with your main color. This keeps your color scheme from looking too monochromatic and helps interesting design features to stand out.

An easy and fairly quick improvement is to re-caulk old windows. Sealing drafty windows will save on heating expense and avoid water damage. This prevents your windows from becoming drafty and letting moisture in, which can promote mold growth as well as raise heating costs. If the existing caulk has cracks, use a chisel to get rid of it, then re-caulk as necessary.

If you find that your utility bills are through the roof, consider having someone come and inspect your home for efficiency issues. Often you will find that your windows and doors need to be replaced, and the new ones will pay for themselves in no time with the savings on your heating bill.

If you have high ceilings, do not dwarf your windows by hanging drapes immediately above them or on the window frame itself. Hanging curtains or drapes about a foot above the top of the window makes them look larger, and you will not have so much empty space above the windows.

You need to be informed with anything you attempt to accomplish in life, and this definitely holds true for home improvement. The last thing you need to do is to mess something up in your home. Pay attention to what you learned in this article and use these tips for your next improvement job.