Refinish the Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen remodeling is the most expensive home improvement project that most people undertake.  In order to manage the cost of kitchen remodeling, some people choose to refinish their kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them.  Refinishing kitchen cabinets can save a lot of money and can also cut a lot of time off the kitchen remodeling schedule.  Wood or plywood cabinets are the most easily refinished. Refinishing not only refers to sanding, staining, and sealing.  Metal, laminate, and melamine cabinets can also be refinished with paint, but beware that special paints need to be used on those materials.

Before deciding the refinishing your cabinets is the optimal solution to your kitchen remodeling ideas, be sure that the cabinets are in good condition to begin with.  Refinishing does not remove knicks, warping, or other damage to the cabinets.

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of this home improvement project:

• remove doors and drawer fronts from the cabinets
• remove all hardware from doors and drawer fronts
• clean the cabinets thoroughly, paying special attention to any grease spots
• prepare the surface according to recommendations for the particular material
• if painting, spray on the paint for the most uniform coverage
• refinish the inside of the cabinets at the same time
• use gloss or semi-gloss paint or polyurethane

If you follow these tips and remain patient, your cabinets and your kitchen should have a renewed look and you can cross one more home improvement project off your list.

If refinishing your cabinets is not going to get you the results you are looking for, stay tuned to this home improvement blog for information about refacing kitchen cabinets.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/hazeldog/3815828729/)

Cabinets Refinished with Paint

Green Remodeling by Adding Ceiling Fans to Your Next Home Remodeling Project

Installing a ceiling fan is a quick green remodeling project.  When you are thinking about home remodeling, the projects don’t all have to be expensive and drastic to make a big impact.  A ceiling fan can add a dramatic feel to a room, but it also will add some green to your wallet.

A ceiling fan can reduce your energy bills year-round.  Most people understand that adding a small breeze to your living space in the summer will reduce your cooling needs.  In the winter, moving your heated air that sits near the ceiling through your living space will also decrease your heating needs.  That energy savings throughout the year makes this small improvement a great green remodeling project.

Ceiling fans come with or without light fixtures.  Most come with an extension arm so that they can be hung in rooms with vaulted ceilings.  There are many different styles available.  Newer ones even come with a remote, so that you do not need to wire the fan down through a wall to a switch.  This is a convenient way to ensure that your small home remodeling project doesn’t turn into something bigger.

Green remodeling is always a good goal in any home remodeling project.  Adding a ceiling fan to your bedroom or living room during home remodeling will help you achieve the goal of green remodeling.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplycute/129749167/)

Simple Painting Project

Ready to Paint!

Painting is absolutely the easiest and cheapest of any home improvement project.  You can update the interior design of a tired room or add curb appeal to your home’s exterior at a fraction of the cost of most home improvement projects.

Choosing the right colors for you, your room and your furniture is the most difficult aspect of interior design.  The color choices today are endless, but thankfully experimenting with color is relatively easy with paint.  If you want to try something different, just buy a half-gallon and see how it looks.  Express yourself in your interior design.

After your color decisions are made, it’s time to get down to work.  The most important, and least appealing, part of painting is the prep-work.  These steps are time-consuming, but will pay off in the end:

• Remove switch and outlet covers.
• Spackle nail holes.
• Tape off windows and other areas difficult to paint around.
• Cover furniture.

Another time-saving up front step you can take is to make sure you have all the proper home improvement and painting tools at hand:

• Brushes (at least one smaller one with an angle tip for cutting in molding)
• Rollers
• Roller pans
• Edgers
• Rags for spills and drips

Edgers are great time-savers for painting up against ceilings or up to door trim.  As long as the wall texture is not too thick, an edger will help you make a clean line transition, a hallmark of excellent interior design.

Remember, paint top to bottom.  Paint the ceiling first, then all of the trim, finally the walls.  After all of the preparation is done and the right tools are available, the actual painting goes very quickly and the look of your room transforms in front of your eyes.  A simple coat of paint, done well, could be just the right home improvement project for your house.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/booleansplit/3366476478/)

Hiring a Handyman: The Remodeling Contract

Now that you’ve gone through the process to find a good, reputable handyman, it’s time to consider a written remodeling contract.  Sometimes it seems that a remodeling contract may be overkill for your situation.  It’s not.  A remodeling contract will prevent misunderstandings during the job and will help you enforce your verbal agreements.  The complexity and amount of detail in the remodeling contract will depend on your comfort level with the handyman, and the complexity and dollar value of the job.

A remodeling contract should, at the minimum, contain:

• What is expected of each party
• Who is responsible for acquiring any necessary permits
• A statement affirming that appropriate insurances and licenses are held by the handyman
• Price and payment schedule
• Detailed list of materials (if the handyman is supplying them)
• Timetable for completion

Some experts say that you should never give a handyman a down-payment, however it may be acceptable if the handyman is purchasing the materials.  A handyman is different from a contractor and may not have all the credit accounts needed for your job.  Another alternative would be to set up an account at a lumberyard against which the handyman can charge.  If you do this, be sure to carefully monitor receipts.

Many nightmare remodeling stories can be averted by having a good understanding with your handyman and then entering into a written remodeling contract.  It makes sense for you and is also good business for any handyman.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/30157413@N08/3567036023/

A Contract Will Help Make Sure this gets Finished

After Remodeling Your Home, Cleaning the Sheetrock Dust

Sheetrock Dust gets Everywhere

During and after remodeling projects that involve installing or disturbing sheetrock, dust becomes a major problem.  One of the most effective ways of dealing with sheetrock dust cleanup is, of course, to prevent the mess.

As much as possible, control the spread of sheetrock dust by covering flooring, tile, and window treatments.  Try to contain the dust to the remodeling area by hanging plastic sheeting and removing shoes before walking in the “clean area” of your home.  Cleaning during and after remodeling projects is always difficult, but sheetrock dust is especially hard to clean up.

Sheetrock dust is so fine that it can by-pass filters and ruin both vacuum cleaners by getting into the motor.  The best home cleaning tip for getting rid of sheetrock dust is to use wet cleaning methods.  Because of the fineness of the particles, sweeping and dusting move the dust around rather than pick it up.

While remodeling with sheetrock, experts recommend that your forced air furnace or air conditioning be run at a minimum.  The dust particles not only get spread throughout the entire house, making home cleaning more difficult, but they also can get into the fan motors and cause mechanical problems.  It is also important to change the furnace filter after your remodeling project is complete as this will help with your home cleaning.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/22590743@N05/2200514671)

Replacing Your Furnace

Home improvement and remodeling projects can save you some green.  Remodeling by replacing an old furnace is one such example.  There are government tax incentives available for installing an energy efficient furnace that meets certain standards.  Green remodeling pays off now with these incentives.  Your state or local utility may also offer incentives for green remodeling projects.

Efficiency ratings need to be considered for remodeling that includes appliance, furnace, or boiler replacement.  For example, a 90 percent efficiency rating means that 90 percent of the fuel converts to heat.  Most 20 year old furnaces are operating at roughly 60 percent efficiency.

Another important consideration, regardless of the type of heating, is that the heat source be adequately sized for the space you are heating.  If you have done some remodeling and added on to your house or have finished your basement, your heated space has increased.  Your furnace or boiler size should be increased, as well.

Due to electricity prices, electric heat is the least desirable form.  But the fuel source for your heat varies in different parts of the country.  Gas, electric, heating oil, wood, and pellets are all common heating fuel sources.  Installing a fireplace to supplement your current system may not be efficient, but it will add value to your home.

Also, remember to regularly maintain your heating system, and have it checked by a heating professional at least once a year.  Regular maintenance will improve the efficiency of your system and prolong its life.

Effective Snow Removal with Snow Removal Equipment

It is that time of year.  We are greeted by snow in the morning or after work and we don’t have the time or energy for snow removal and, yet, it must be done.  There are several pieces of snow removal equipment that are worth having.  To choose the type that best meets your needs, think about the type and amount of snow you generally get, snow removal equipment that matches your budget, and the areas in need of snow removal.

Brooms:

Brooms can be used for removing snow from car windshields as well as dealing with light snow on steps and sidewalks.  An advantage of brooms is that they are relatively light and since you are not picking up the snow, will be easier on your back.

Snow Shovels:

Shovels are a necessary piece of snow removal equipment in many parts of the country.  Invest in a good shovel that is lightweight and that has an appropriate length handle for your height. Be sure to take breaks and not push it too hard.

Snow Blowers:

Snow blowers are great for snow removal from large areas.  They are usually self-propelled and can remove deep, heavy snow.

Snow Plow:

Many ATV (4-wheeler) owners have turned their summer toy into an effective piece of snow removal equipment by attaching a plow on the front.  Plows come in widths appropriate for the average sidewalk, or large enough to handle driveways.

Snow removal is a tough job, but having the right equipment on hand will speed up the process and result in fewer sore muscles.

Add a Bathroom Vent Fan during Bathroom Remodeling

Venting your Fan through Insulation and the Roof

Bathroom vent fans can be decorative and should always be functional.  They are certainly necessary to install during any bathroom remodeling project.  Whether you are embarking on an entire bathroom remodeling project, or just looking to spruce up your current bathroom, consider whether your vent fan is adequate for the job.

Bathroom vent fans are categorized by the square footage of your bathroom.  Be sure to choose a vent fan appropriate for your bathroom size, or even a little larger.  Vent fans can be noisy, but peace and quiet can be had at a price.  A quieter fan can be found, but it will cost extra.  The vent fan usually contains a light fixture which can be turned on separately from the fan.

The purpose of a good vent fan is first and foremost to prevent mold in your bathroom.  Remodeling may reveal mold.  If mold is found, follow the proper steps to remove the mold and installing a properly sized vent fan is one step toward preventing mold.  Proper installation of the vent fan means that it vents outside, not just into your attic or wall space.

Installation of a bathroom vent fan requires a knowledge of electrical wiring, the ability to route the vent through an existing vent or the roof, and the ability to repair any plaster or drywall that is disturbed.  Whether you have to hire someone to do the job, or do it yourself, installing a bathroom vent fan should be on your bathroom remodeling list.

Snow Removal Prevents Ice Buildup

Icy Sidewalk

In much of the country, winter weather is setting in and snow removal is on peoples’ minds.  Snow removal should be done before there is a lot of traffic on your sidewalks to prevent the buildup of ice in the footprints left behind.  There are many types of snow removal equipment, but what if you’ve waited too long and ice has started to form on your walks?

Chemicals sold in hardware stores can be spread along sidewalks and driveways to melt the ice.  Salt is the most commonly used chemical, but there are other solid and liquid chemicals that can be used instead of snow removal equipment.  The downside of using salt and other chemicals is that they can degrade concrete and other metals.  Chemicals can also have damaging effects on pets and nearby watersheds.

Sand can also be spread on top of ice to add traction for pedestrians and cars.  Sand works well when the ice is solid and formed, but if it continues to snow, the benefit of the sand below the new snow is lost.  After the snow and ice melt, sand on sidewalks can also be slippery, so be sure to clean the walkways of excess sand in the Spring.

If the snow is light, a broom can easily be the only snow removal equipment needed.  However for wet, heavy snow, removal equipment should include shovels and snowblowers.  Even your teenagers can be useful for snow removal.  If your efforts at snow removal fail, use chemicals or sand on your walkways to avoid slipping on the snow and ice.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/arthill/311237239/)

Vinyl Replacement Windows

Replacement Window Installation

Replacement windows will save you money on heating and cooling, and are an economical remodeling choice.  There are several reasons to replace your home’s windows.  Older homes may have inefficient windows that provide little insulation.  Some double paned windows may have cracked seals and have “fogged up”.  Hinges or slides may no longer work.  Also, avoiding the yearly painting of window trim may also be a reason to consider replacement windows, especially vinyl windows.

Vinyl replacement windows are sold at most home improvement stores.  They come in standard sizes, but odd sizes can be special ordered.  Be sure to measure your current window as instructed by the replacement window manufacturer.  Windows are generally sized by the “rough opening”, not by the size of the window frame.  If the correct size is ordered, they are easy to install.

1. Remove the old trim (carefully if you are planning to reuse it).
2. Remove the old window.
3. Place the replacement window in the rough opening and nail it to the house using the vinyl phlange.
4. Insulate around the replacement window.
5. Re-install the trim.

Homes with stucco exteriors or plaster interior walls present the biggest challenge in home remodeling.  If the old window is not a standard size, then additional trim-work must be done to cover the old non-standard size hole.  You could also choose a larger replacement window and remove extra plaster and stucco.  Enjoy your new energy efficient and easy to maintain replacement windows.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/janorbur/4118114307/)