MY-IRISH-HOMETOWN

Leading Your Home

Tag: homeowner

Home Improvement Suggestions That Every Homeowner Should Know About

by Louise B. Delia

Disappointments abound when a home owner decides to begin a home improvement project. Hiring the wrong people, not enough planning and attempting tasks you lack the experience for are all contributing factors. In this article we will discuss some important tips to help your next home improvement project go well. This article will help!

It is often more manageable to approach home improvement one room or area at a time. Just improve different rooms gradually to save you some money and time. Plan your project beforehand and look for good deals on prices. A great way to save cash in home improvement is by planning ahead.

For a quick and affordable way to update the appearance of your master or guest bathroom, consider purchasing coordinated metal fixtures. You can find matching fixtures in stores or online. These include towel racks, showers curtains, toilet paper holders and other things. You can put these in quickly and easily, especially if you buy the prepackaged coordinating sets available at your local DIY store.

Prior to purchasing hardwood flooring, ask a professional about the status of your existing floors. Your home might be one of the many that has potentially-attractive original hardwood lurking beneath multiple layers of tile, linoleum, vinyl, or carpet. If this is the case, you’ll just need to strip the old carpet or flooring and refinish the natural floor underneath.

Homes with an attractive view generally fetch a higher sale price. However, the extra cost may not be worth it to others. Future home buyers might not be as impressed by the view and might not be interested in paying a higher price for it.

A great improvement idea for a home with children is to pad sharp furniture. There are prefabricated corner covers available for purchase; however, foam tape can also achieve the desired effect. A huge threat to young children are cords and strings. Be sure that they are taped down or far out of the reach of children.

Most homes do not have natural lighting in the basement. Be sure to have an artificial lighting layout plan so your basement is livable. If you are lucky, your basement walls may extend above ground level. If this is the case, you will be able to add some windows for ambient lighting.

Before you embark on a major landscape project, be sure the construction and style of your improvements enhance other aspects of your property, including your home. A deck or gazebo that complement the style of the home can bring everything together. On the other hand, mismatched styles can seem unplanned and unattractive.

An unsightly AC unit might be unattractive, but it might be necessary. Consider using a trellis or small fence to cover the equipment and make your yard look more beautiful. You can also try planting ornamental grasses, such as pampas grass, in the area, as long as you maintain 12 inches between the unit and the roots.

If you do not properly manage your home improvement project, you can easily run into problems. This article has given you some tips for you to manage and plan the next home improvement task you do. Use these tips to boost your worthwhile investment.…

Continue Reading

Solid Plumbing Advice For The Do-It-Yourself Homeowner

by Louise B. Delia

Do you find your plumbing is any good? Learning how to take care of it yourself could save you a lot of money. This is the proper article for you, now that you have made the decision to learn more. Your home plumbing will prove more efficient if you apply the advice learned from this article.

If your pipes make squeaking and hammering noises, it may be very simple to fix. Exposed pipes need to be anchored. If pipes are located in the floors, ceiling or walls, a professional might be needed for the job.

To prevent your frozen pipes from bursting, leave the nearest faucet on to give the water a way to escape. By doing this, the pipe pressure is relieved, and this should stop it from bursting, which would prevent further home damage.

To keep your septic tank in good working order, it is advisable to have it pumped out every five years. This will prevent sediment from piling up in your tank, which could cause it to overflow into your home and yard, or even cause the entire septic system to fail. Hiring a professional to pump out your septic tank is costly, but it is far preferable to the damages that could be incurred if the tank becomes backed-up or inoperative.

Do not give a plumber the entire payment for a job until the whole job is completed. You might have to give them a deposit, but do not give them the entire sum of money until you are sure they have done a good job. You will feel better paying the bill when you are completely satisfied with the job.

Don’t use any colored tablets that claim to be cleaners in your toilet. It may help to get rid of your toilet’s odors, but it will damage any rubber parts, causing your toilet to malfunction, or even break down.

Check for softness in your floor to determine flood damage. Sit on the toilet and move from side to side, placing one foot on the ground. As you do, see if the floor lacks sturdiness or feels otherwise soft. You can wind up saving your money simply by noticing the problem early on.

A strainer positioned over a drain can prevent stoppage by collecting food particles as they try to enter the drain. Kitchen sink strainers should be cleaned every time they collect large food particles. You should clean out the strainer in your bathtub often.

To lower the chance that you will have issues with your toilet, do not approach it like it’s a trash can. Avoid flushing pads, cotton, towels, tissues or anything that cannot dissolve easily to avoid plugging the pipes. Reduce your use of toilet paper if you notice frequent clogs.

Now that you have read this article, you are probably anxious to get started on plumbing repairs. Hopefully, the techniques that you have read about will give you the results that you are looking for. If you cannot fix something, look for more information or consider calling a professional.…

Continue Reading

Home Improvement Tasks That Any Homeowner Can Do

by Louise B. Delia

Improving your home is one of the most satisfying things you can do. Everyone feels as if their house is special, so designing it with your particular taste in mind will really transform that house into a home. The hardest part is getting started. For inspiration and ideas on getting the most from your home, read on.

If you live in an apartment, condo, or small home without room for a washer and a dryer, consider getting a combo unit. Select a tiny washer that can fit between two cupboards. These machines wash and dry clothes in the same unit.

Be sure to protect your flooring when you paint. Doing so can prevent paint from staining floors or carpets. A cheap way to get this done is using old newspapers in your layers. You may also use plastic sheeting or a paint cloth to protect your floor from dripping paint.

Before you purchase new hardwood floors, have a professional investigate your current floors. Your home might be one of the many that has potentially-attractive original hardwood lurking beneath multiple layers of tile, linoleum, vinyl, or carpet. You will wind up with a nicer looking, higher-quality floor for less money.

Having some fun is the best part of home improvements. While you do need to take the project seriously and carefully do any work, you should also try to have fun. It is more likely that you will make mistakes if you don’t have fun with your project. Consider hiring a professional if you feel that this is happening to you.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you owe it to yourself to buy only the best tools and supplies. Your start-up costs may be high, but you will definetly benefit in the long term. Better quality products survive wear and tear and last longer. Therefore, you should purchase quality tools that will last for a long time.

When cleaning stubborn clogs, make sure you are knowledgeable on the product that’s being used. Some of them are very harsh. Crystallized products are damaging to pipes. Your drain cleaner should be safe to use for your particular type of septic tank.

While many older houses have a lot of carpeting, many are left outdated and stained because of years of wear. Hardwood floors are timeless and last a long time.

Plan any landscaping to complement your home. Hardscapes and plantings that blend with the exterior of your home present a cohesive and attractive look.

For all except the very smallest home improvement projects, putting together an estimate of all the building materials required before starting work is vital. Buying in bulk is a great way to save money in the long term. Some materials and equipment that may be needed have significant lead times. Avoid project delays by putting your orders in as soon as possible.

Your home is your castle, your headquarters, your life. It is also important that it looks the best it can. Hopefully, you have learned a thing or two from the suggestions in this article. Consider which ones you like and create some time for you to work on them.…

Continue Reading