Tag: great

Home Renovation

Kill More Bugs With These Great Pest Control Tips

Laura

Distress. Frustration. Both of these words aptly describe the feelings you experience when you find out that you are sharing your home with pests. Not having a clue what to do can make your problem feel even worse. Luckily, there are things that you can do to control the problem. Keep reading to find out how to get rid of pests.

When you find holes that pests can get in through, stop it up with steel wool. Rodents can bite through a lot but this might be cause an issue for them. Seal any opening that is over a half inch in diameter. Small pests can squeeze through these tiny openings.

Vacuuming rugs helps eliminate the pests inside a home. This will help get rid of the pests in your home. Change the bag of your vacuum cleaner on a regular basis.

Are you having recurring problems with fruit flies, even after you have eliminated them? They may be living in your sink drains. Seal your drain with a sheet of plastic wrap and monitor the fruit fly situation. If you see some fruit flies, boil some water and pour it down the drain or use a drain cleaner. This will help keep the flies from breeding in there.

Seal food that isn’t being used. Pests love the smell of food, so it is important to keep them away from scents. To help combat a pest infestation, take out the garbage as soon as it is full. Pests love the smell of trash.

One pest that is known for being hard to eliminate is fleas. Thankfully, you can use several methods for eliminating fleas and their eggs. Investing in a quality flea spray can be an effective tool, as can vacuuming every day. Remember to throw away your vacuum bag after vacuuming your house.

Use mint to keep mice away from your home. Mint should be planted around your home’s perimeter. This makes your home less than desirable to mice. Mint leaves are a great tool when trying to ward off mice. This usually repels them, but the leaves used must be fresh.

You don’t have to live with pests in your home if you are proactive. See a home improvement store nearby to ask the pros in there how to get rid of pests. These people are experienced and will be able to recommend a pesticide that is appropriate for your specific infestation.

Use hairspray to kill flying insects. Hairspray doesn’t harm you or any pets you have, but it kills the insects. The hairspray leaves a sticky film on the bugs, preventing them to get water or food. If a bee enters your home, this method is one of the safest you can try.

With this information in hand, it is time to exterminate the pests that have invaded your home. Start a war with them now using the information you’ve read. Before long, you’ll have control of your own home again and you won’t have to worry …

Bathroom Remodel

Save Time And Money With This Great Home Improvement Advice

Laura

Do you want to get more comfortable with making repairs to your own home? Maybe you want to save some money or perhaps you just have changes that you do not trust anyone to do. Regardless of what you want to create, you need to learn more about home improvement and how you can prepare your different projects.

There are many small projects that can improve the value of your home. If you want to sell your home, think about doing a few minor projects. One easy way is to apply new paint to the interior and exterior of your home. Although it is an inexpensive project, it can increase your home value, dramatically.

When it comes to managing your home during the summer, use all of the fans that you can. Ceiling fans especially help keep the air in a room circulating and therefore help keep the room cooler. Making good use of ceiling and portable fans can ease the drain on your air conditioning, reducing your monthly electric bill.

When you are replacing the baseboards, opt for stained wood over painted for more appeal. On top of their classic appeal, they also give an aura of warmth. In addition, stained baseboards hide scuff marks and are easier to maintain than painted baseboards. The numerous colors of stain available ensure that you will find the right color for your home.

If you want some new tile floors, think about getting radiant heat tiles. Radiant heat tiles use electricity to heat the tiles and keep your feet warm. Fortunately for you, these are also really easy to put in if you are able to precisely follow the instructions. Since you are going to work on your floor or hire someone to do it, this project can been seen as a small add on. Either way, you will be thankful that you chose radiant heat tiles on the first cold day of the season.

After a period of time, ceramic tile will lose luster and get grungy. Thankfully, all you need to clean it is a little water and vinegar. Get a pail, fill it up with the solution and mop the floors easily. Your floors will look brand new after the dulling residue is removed.

Allow for a space to place the debris during your future projects. Planning in advance what you are going to do with rubbish can save you time and money during the construction.

If you are doing any home improvements in your kitchen, ensure you shut off the gas in your home before you begin. It is also important to exercise extreme care in these circumstances. Unexpected accidents can occur if you do not plan accordingly.

Whenever you work with electricity you should always kill the power at the circuit breaker. This is such a simple thing, and it can be the difference between life or death.

These hints and tips can help you do it yourself and do it the right way. Anyone can have …

Home Improvement Contractors

Save Money With These Great Landscaping Tips!

Laura

You can greatly improve the look and value of your home by enhancing your landscape. Understanding how to best landscape your yard takes a little time and dedication on your part. It is crucial to learn the top landscaping methods and techniques. The piece that follows includes a broad array of useful landscaping ideas for beautifying your home.

Quality products are worth their higher cost. Most home improvement discount retailers only offer lower quality items. For the best products and advice, shop at a garden or landscaping store. Paying a little extra money is worth it, because you will get better products and be properly advised.

Make sure to carefully pick your plants, since this could make the difference between having a positive or negative outcome. Don’t plant sun-loving plants in shady areas. You don’t want to plant a tree where there is little room for growth. By carefully considering plant-specific factors such as these you can practically guarantee your landscaping success.

When it comes to landscaping, don’t just stick to a few types of plants. Your yard will be protected from insect and disease attacks by this. If there is only one type of plant in your landscaping, you could lose them all with an outbreak of disease or an attack of insects. Diversity is key when planning a landscape project.

Contrary to what most people believe, it isn’t necessary to have a designer or landscaper do your landscape. You will just be spending unnecessary money. You may want to consult with a landscaper, though, to get some guidance on how to best approach your project.

Always keep any existing structures in mind prior to any landscaping project. Know where all pipes and other hardware are located so that you can landscape around them. Also call your local municipality to come out and mark the underground wires before you begin digging.

Stop thinking that spending less is always the way to go. Sometimes the quality of cheaper items is not worth the lower price tag because they break down more quickly. If you are new to landscaping, a specialty store, while a little more expensive, will provide you with the advice and guarantees that you may need.

When doing landscaping to your yard, use curved borders for beds and edges. Having rounded shapes in your yard looks prettier than geometric shapes. When people look at your yard from the curb, they will see a softer design that stands in pleasant contrast to the sharper lines of the home itself.

Anyone who is creating their own landscape design should think about utilizing mulch in their flower beds. Mulch allows the plans to retain their moisture which is a big help especially if you reside in a warmer climate. Mulch will help your plants obtain the water they require.

Landscaping can make or break the outside look of your home. While it isn’t easy to landscape your home, it is very possible with a little time and dedication. Make sure to …

Remodeling

Finding A Great Contractor To Do Your Home Repair Is Easy

Laura

Always have a working knowledge of the tasks at hand when you are completing a home improvement project. In this article, you’ll find tips, tricks, and pointers that will guide you through any home improvement project. This advice will assist both beginners and experts.

Make sure you understand your style before customizing your home. Getting to know the decorating style you prefer can guide your home improvement and decorating choices. You may accidentally change your decorating style midway through without realizing it. At this point, it may cost more to change the style back to what you originally intended.

Air filters are something you have to remember to change. This will bring in healthier air and keep your air conditioners and heaters running efficiently. Repairmen are often called out only to find that the filters are simply clogged.

The commercially available shades for your lamp tend to be mundane and lack creativity. Use some basic stencils and paint to give your boring lamp shade something extra. This will add a little personality to any room, and give your lighting source an interesting effect.

In order to make storage containers for small items like screws and nuts more useful, try hot-gluing an example of the contents to the outside of the container. When you’re looking for just one tool, even the best shops may have difficulty finding it. These labels provide better organization so that you do not have to waste time.

Take time to investigate the background of any company you wish to do business with to ensure that they are above-board. Look for a real address and in-person meetings. Stick to working with contractors and businesses that can show you a strong, verifiable track record.

Before you work on your outlets, be certain the power is turned off where you’re working. Leaving the power circuit on can increase the chance of electrocution.

Think about the colors you want to add to your home and decide what is a good fit for the impression you want to give off. Stick to airy fabrics, like linen and cotton, instead of heavy brocades and dark patterns. The way a room smells can also help create a relaxing atmosphere, so considering the use of potpourri or scented candles.

You must make an effort to drain the water out of your hot water at least twice per year. When you take the time to do this, you will find that it it will run much more efficiently, and you will help to improve the life of the heater, too. Just put a hose on the drain value and release the water.

If you want a quick way to add value to your home, considering refinishing your wood floors. It’s not really hard to refinish floors, but it can take quite a bit of time and effort. You can even take classes at a big box hardware store. This can save you a lot of money instead of putting a new floor in.

Always have …

Renovation Costs

Great Tips For A Successful Home Improvement Project

Laura

Are you wanting to do home improvements? Do you need information on how to proceed with those improvements? This article is designed to give you the information you need.

Keep your eyes peeled for major carpet sales at local home improvement stores. Often, they will reduce the cost of installation to extremely low levels to help sell the actual carpet. This could be a great opportunity to replace your flooring or to get something done that requires too much work for you.

If you are thinking about home improvement, consider which part of your house needs the work first. There is no need to do everything at the same time. Choosing one room or project at a time makes sense financially as well. Once you have a plan, look around for sales on the supplies that you will need. Plan carefully when you consider making improvements to your home if you want to save some money.

Before you begin renovating, devise a firm and detailed plan. This is crucial to make sure you stay on budget and within a certain time frame. If you plan to add extra fixtures, you will surely increase the time and cost for the project. By deciding what you want beforehand instead of having to pick things as you go, you will find that your contractors are also a lot happier.

Consider using radiant heat tiles when redoing any tile floors. Not only do they look great, but they are the best for giving off heat. At least these are easily installable if you carefully follow the directions. Since you are going to work on your floor or hire someone to do it, this project can been seen as a small add on. The first time you enter your bathroom on a cold winter’s morning, you’ll be glad of it!

Think about adding coordinated metal fixtures to bathrooms to make them look more modern without spending too much. You can find towel racks, curtain rods, cabinet knobs, and toilet paper holders in different shapes and colors that will complement your new design. These items can be purchased in coordinating sets as well as individually.

A way you can rid yourself from insects is to caulk holes and cracks. Apply caulking around windows, baseboards and other places that need it. After your caulk is dry, the bugs will not be able to get in as easy, and your air will stay in better.

If you want to change a lock, you should replace the whole thing, or if not just change the cylinder. If you don’t know, the piece that actually locks the door is the cylinder. If you wish to replace a lock for security, you can simply replace the cylinder. If you want the door to look better or want added security, just go ahead and replace the whole unit.

You might reach a place where you are unsure, if you are not inspired. The ideas in this article are great, but make sure …

Renovation Contractor

Great Ideas And Tips About Home Improvement

Laura

When you lack the proper knowledge, even the simplest home improvement project can seems like an insurmountable challenge. If you are unclear about how to get started planning your project, take a look at these ideas for getting things off the ground properly.

You may need to repaint a porch. Use exterior paint that is good quality. But be sure to use a paint with the same base as the old paint, i.e. oil over oil-based, and water (latex) over water-based paint. Oil-based paint is good for trim, as it lasts longer, but it should not be used on a deck or floor outdoors, as it becomes very slippery with snow.

Sprucing up your kitchen cabinets is a great way to update your kitchen without a complete remodel. You can use some paint on the base and add new finishing knobs to really update the look. This will modernize your kitchen without you having to spend a small fortune.

Buy some clear plastic storage boxes to help you organize the clutter in your garage. Placing labels on each box will make it easy to find the category you seek when boxes are stacked. This will keep vermin out of your things, and will let you have a tidy garage without spending much money.

When doing any home improvement project, it is important to use the correct tools. This will help make sure the job is done right. You need to also know how to go about using the tool the correct way.

Making a replacement window screen is a home improvement job you can easily handle yourself if finding a properly-sized one off the shelf isn’t possible. A simple frame kit can be customized to fit any sized window, and all you have to do is attach a screen to it. Although some windows may use special screens, they can still use an external screen thanks to adapters.

A house that is well groomed and has a pleasant view may have more market value than other homes. Do not consider a nice view as an investment since a view can change over the years, or different buyers might not enjoy it as much as you. Potential buyers may not be as attracted to the view as you are, and might now want to shell out extra bucks because of it.

Do not leave out the landscaping when you are considering home improvements. Your front yard is the first glimpse visitors get of your home, making a well landscaped lawn sure to impress. With neat and tidy grass and landscaping, your home will be a showplace.

Natural building materials are strongly preferred for interior home renovation projects. The benefits of authentic ceramic, stone or wood are well worth the extra cost. They are much more attractive and durable to use. Although you may not want to spend the extra money to purchase natural materials, it can actually save you money over time because you’ll have to replace synthetic materials more often.…

Home Remodeling

A Great Kitchen at a Small Price

Laura

These days, so many of us are struggling with our bills and trying to make cutbacks. We’re often only doing the most necessary repair work on our homes, and anything that is an enhancement is being postponed for being too expensive. However, every kitchen needs a revamp from time to time, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to do it. If you’re on a limited budget you might be surprised at what you can achieve for very little.
The main feature of any kitchen of course will be the kitchen units. It will be very expensive to replace them with brand new units, but perhaps you can get a second hand kitchen that is in better condition that your current one? People are often replacing their kitchens and generally they have no use for their old one. These days many people who would previously have taken them straight to the tip are now trying to recoup a little of their costs back and are advertising them in the local paper or selling them on eBay. You could find a real bargain if you look for a second hand kitchen. Don’t forget, you could always paint it or change the handles if the kitchen isn’t entirely to your liking. If the units are solid enough you could get many more years of use out of it, at a fraction of the cost of a new fitted kitchen.
If your current kitchen is in decent condition, but simply looking a bit tatty or dated, you could think about painting the doors and replacing the handles, or replacing the doors entirely with new ones if your budget will stretch to it. Don’t dismiss painting, you can get a really nice finish, and a whole new look. I once moved into a house with a small galley kitchen. For some reason the previous owner had thought it a good idea to put in a dark oak coloured set of units. It really made the room feel small and claustrophobic. However, instead of replacing the kitchen units, I simply painted them a very pale blue. They looked amazing. They looked like new, and the room immediately felt bigger and lighter.
You can get some really nice handles too. A new set of stylish handles will change the whole look of an old fashioned kitchen.
Some clean fresh cheap floor tiles and kitchen wall tiles will also make a world of difference. If you’ve got dated patterned tiles, replacing them will give the room a crisp clean look. Plain tiles look stunning and you can pick them up very cheaply.
Paint is cheaper than paper and works well in a kitchen. Kitchens can get a lot of moisture in the air, so paper in a kitchen can soon get damp and start to peel. Paint is a much better option. It also happens to be the cheaper option.
Accessories for your kitchen needn’t cost a lot either. These days you can pick up some …

Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen Hardwood Flooring – Is It a Really a Great Idea to Have Hardwood Flooring in Your Kitchen?

Laura

It is common to have hardwood flooring in most rooms but not in kitchen because of regular wetting on the floor that can possibly affect the durability of the wood material. Most homeowners like this particular type of flooring because it provides warm and pleasant feel that can create additional value to their houses. It seems that bad things would happen to the floor if you insist to install such flooring in your kitchen – for instance, unnecessary cracks and warps on the floor due to the overly exposure to the water.
Should you abandon the idea of having a wooden floor in your kitchen or go ahead with the idea of installing it and neglect the unwanted consequences when it is exposed to water?
The ideal answer is – you can actually install hardwood flooring in your kitchen but you need to take note of few things below:
1. Choose such flooring with polyurethane finish – Be sure that you choose flooring which contains polyurethane finish, which has water resistant properties and it provides long-lasting effect. In addition, such flooring requires little waxing – perhaps 1-2 times per year. Therefore, do not choose unfinished flooring as unexpected wetting of kitchen floor can affect the lifespan of the flooring materials over a long period of time.
2. Choose the right hardwood material – Kitchen is a place where inhabitants would regularly visit especially when someone wants to prepare meal, washing dishes and other daily activities that you can do in the kitchen. Therefore, you need to choose certain species of wood floors such as ash, maple or oak which is more durable than cheery, fir and pine wood floors.
3. Fix any possible holes, dings and dents on the floor – Whenever you have found any holes, dings and dents on it, you need to mend the deformities of the floor before the condition gets worse when it is exposed to high amount of water. It is wisely that you contact a flooring repair service to deal with this issue.
4. Choose engineered hardwood flooring – It is basically made of sandwich of several laminations of wood which includes both finish wood (on the surface) and unfinished plywood (underneath. Furthermore, it is capable to tolerate high moisture conditions which are suitable to be installed in kitchen and bathroom. Apart from that, it can be sanded in order to remove unwanted ding and dents, and scratches on it but it can only be done 1-2 times.
5. Ask help from flooring experts – Before you start installing it in your kitchen, you need to seek professional advice from flooring experts so that you can have a perfect flooring kitchen without worrying about the unwanted effects that could possibly spoil the whole flooring materials.
Hope that you would be able to have your own favorite hardwood flooring in your kitchen by considering these few things mentioned earlier. It is a better option than tile flooring, which is much harder to maintain on …

Basement Remodeling

Great Ways to Shop at a Kitchen Store

Laura

If you love your kitchen, you could probably wander through a kitchen store for days. In your mind, you’ll be trying out tile, countertops, and cabinets in your own kitchen, preparing for yet another remodel. This isn’t always a healthy or smart way to shop, though, especially if you ever want to actually get that remodel done. Before you head to the kitchen store the next time around, try one of these shopping methods to help you complete your trip more quickly and get to the remodeling part even faster.
On some trips, you really do just need to look around. This is true if you’re getting ready to do a kitchen remodel but aren’t quite sure what you want to do. In this case, take a notebook. If the store manager will let you, take a camera to snap some pictures, as well. If you’re going to paint your kitchen, grab some paint chips from the hardware store to take along, as well. On this trip, all you’re doing is gathering ideas and taking notes on the colors, textures, and particular items that you like best. Make sure you’re descriptive enough that you can actually remember what you were looking at when you wrote down your notes!
Once you know what you need, it’s time to start making lists before your next trip to the kitchen store. If you’re like a lot of people, your remodel will go in stages. You’ll probably head to the store more than a couple of times during a full remodeling session. Think through all the things you need to do and the order in which you need to do them. If, for instance, you’re painting your cabinets and replacing countertops, you’ll probably need to rip out the old countertops and then paint the cabinets before replacing the countertops again.
Either way, at this point, you should be going into the kitchen store armed with a detailed list of everything you need. Write down measurements, quantities, and as much other information as you can. This way, you get just what you need, and you don’t have to come back to the store when you aren’t ready to be back there quite yet. This will make the remodeling process work more quickly so that you can get your kitchen function and beautiful before you know it.…

Remodeling Contractors

Great Guide On How To Remodel Your House

Laura

When thinking about home improvements, some homeowners get scared. Perhaps they believe the difficulty, mess, hassle and expense of home improvement are just too overwhelming. However, improving a home doesn’t have to be hard. For the homeowner that takes the time to plan these improvements carefully and learns all they can before beginning, then they can accomplish great things with minimal fuss.

Add weather stripping to doors and windows to give your home’s energy efficiency a big boost. It is a cheap fix that will seal the air leaks around the windows and doors and reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home. You can also reduce the drafts you feel inside your home on windy, cold nights.

Plain lampshades can make your whole room look boring. With stencils, you can brighten them up. Use paint or an ink pad to add designs that be taken from a template, then add them to your boring lampshades. This will give your rooms some personality, taking away from the reality of how boring an ordinary lamp shade can be.

Add some protection to all of your floors before painting. Doing so can prevent paint from staining floors or carpets. One inexpensive and effective way to protect flooring is using layers of old newspapers. Plastic sheeting or inexpensive paint cloths will work, too.

Over time, ceramic tile can stop looking shiny and start to look grimy. A safe, but effective method is by mixing vinegar and water together. Fill a bucket with the solution and easily mop your floor. The solution will wash away dirt and grime, leaving your floors clean again.

If your home improvement project means working near a gas line from a stove, furnace, fireplace or other fixture, ensure that you know exactly where the gas shutoff is before you start working. Exercising extreme caution will keep you and your family safe. Starting a fire or causing an injury during your project is undesirable.

A great way to improve your home is to actually improve your yard through different landscaping tweaks. Your front lawn is the first thing people see when they look at your home, and a beautiful front lawn can impress your neighbors and any visitors. Keep your grass cut and neat, and you may even want to plant some shrubs to make your lawn look even better.

Save money by purchasing a drain snake. You will avoid the cost of buying expensive drain cleaners. Snaking your drain is something you should have someone with experience there for when you do it for the first time. Snakes come in a variety of sizes so make sure you get the one right for your pipe.

Building supplies are valuable and are prone to theft most of the time. That’s why these supplies should be located in a secure spot whenever you are not using them. If your home has lockable doors and windows, keeping them inside is fine. If you house is not complete, and impossible to lock, …