Handy Man Fix Home Repair » Bathtub

Budget Fixes For Your House

keira — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:29:47 +0000

Fixing up the home is a task all of us have on our lists, but they never get done due to high costs for materials and labor. Home improvements do not have to blow the budget, however, and by doing it yourself, you can save even more. Here are seven tips that will demonstrate how a little can go a long way.

1. Revamp the appearance of the kitchen.

Despite the prevalence of the fast food and restaurant culture, the kitchen is still the life center of the home. Home buyers will head straight for the kitchen when they check out a house, and small, visual improvements here will go far in your renovations. For around a couple hundred dollars, the hardware in the kitchen; cabinet handles, lighting, faucets; can all be replaced with newer, more modern looking pieces. Lighting can also get replaced with more energy efficient fixtures to make things more environmentally friendly.

2. Improve the appearance of your appliances.

Appliances which appear to be part of a matching set look more high class and vastly improves the value of the kitchen. Ordering new face plates for the kitchen appliance set can go a long way. It may even surprise you with a couple of free fixes. Items like dishwashers, with a sheet panel exterior, may have the alternate color on the back side.

3. Attack the bathroom.

This is the room which should get the revamp after the kitchen. The bathroom can be improved along the same lines as the kitchen. Buying a new toilet seat, a pedestal sink, new hardware, all of these are simple tasks for the home owner. The floor can get a renewal with new vinyl tiles that are simple to install, even without removing the old floor. The tub can also get a similar revamp, saving the cost of installing new tiling or refinishing the tub.

4. Create new storage spaces.

Adding new fixtures such as wire or wooden closet systems are easy to install yourself and expand the storage available in the home. A lack of storage space can be a deal breaker for home buyers. There are many brands of closet organizers that will greatly improve the space available to you in your closet.

5. Turn a room into a bedroom.

If you have a room like a den, then by adding what is needed such as closet space, then you can turn the room into a bedroom, greatly increasing the value of the home while requiring little work.

6. Give the mechanics their run of the place.

It can help to hire a handyman or two, such as plumbers or electricians, to fine tune the systems in your home. Fixing little things all around the home can add up really quickly and make the home more polished.

7. Clean the carpet.

The carpeting all throughout the home is always in sight, and giving it a thorough cleaning will give the home a drastically improved appearance. Little spots of wear, like at the entrances or the foot of the stairs, can get covered by small area rugs. If need be, then replacing the carpet should be considered.

These are a few ideas for increasing the value of your home.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-25 05:35:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

Updating the Bathroom on a Budget Are you looking to achieve a high end sense of style in your bathroom without having to invest in the form of a costly remodel? These tips will help you update your bathroom on a budget in order to revolutionize your space without costing you a lot of money in......
10 Ideas for DIY Home Improvement There are a lot of different DIY home improvement projects that you can take advantage of in order to change up the look and feel of your home quickly, easily and effectively. Why pay an arm and a leg for contractors and professionals when you can make grand changes to......
How to Get a Higher Appraisal For Your Home If you’re trying to sell your home in today’s market, you may be faced with a lowball appraisal that could threaten a loan. Even the nicest houses are being downgraded, and if your area has had a lot of foreclosures, getting a good appraisal may be next to impossible. However,......
4 Easy Little Touches Anyone Can Do To Their Home When it comes to home renovation, many people are under the impression that it means big projects that are costly. Actually, there are many different small and inexpensive projects that can be done that will not only make your house look great, but also increase its value. Most of these......
Basic Home Repair: Home Improvement DVD The Basic Home Repair: Home Improvement DVD is designed to provide complete details and lessons on home repair topics including energy conservation, home security, replacing a faucet, sweating copper pipes, replacing toilets, unclogging drain clogs, replacing the caulk on a tub, replacing lighting fixtures, repairing broken lamps, replacing tiles that......

Online Stores

Save Money and Time with a Bathtub Remodel

keira — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:31:21 +0000

You've heard of a bathroom remodel, but what about a bathtub remodel? Replacing a bathtub can easily cost three to five thousand dollars if you have a contractor do it. If you purchase the tub and do it yourself, you can save a lot of money. But sometimes, especially in older homes, the logistics of removing the old tub and getting the new one in are prohibitive. Some homes even require that a bathtub be cut in two before it can be removed. If you want a new bathtub, but don't want to go through the hassle or expense of replacement, consider a bathtub remodel.

You have two options in a bathtub remodel. You can have the bathtub reglazed or you can opt for a bathtub liner. Reglazing involves the use of equipment and chemicals to smooth down the surface of the tub before it's reglazed. This eliminates the long amount of time it can take to have a bathtub replaced, so it's convenient. The average cost is around $500 to $600, so it's far less expensive than a bathtub replacement.

While some people do attempt to resurface their bathtubs, it's difficult to get a professional, long-lasting result, so an expert is really necessary if you don't want to have problems with the surface down the road. The chemical smell can last a little while, so that's also something to consider.

The other option in your bathtub remodel is a bathtub liner. This is a custom-made acrylic or PVC liner that goes over the bathtub. This, like reglazing, is convenient because you don't have to turn off the water to remove the bathtub. Your water can stay on as only the knobs need to be removed while the liner's being installed. Also like reglazing, this can be easily done in a single day.

A custom-made bathtub liner will cost more than reglazing, usually anywhere from about $700 to $1000. It can be twice that if you have a bathtub surround custom made and installed at the same time. Your bathtub will be measured and two or three weeks later they'll return to install the liner.

US $15.50

Sale

Photo Credits: Miss Shari

Originally posted 2009-09-06 12:10:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

Book Review: Insulate and Weatherize - Expert Advice from Start to Finish By Bruce Harley As energy costs continue to rise, many homeowners are starting to get serious about how much money they are wasting on home heating costs. In reality, if your home is poorly insulated, and you have not taken the steps to weatherize it properly, the fact is, your money is going......
Upgrade to a Spa Bathtub A spa bathtub can add some value to your home as well as make bath time a luxurious retreat from the cares of the day. Spas use tubs with jets because the benefits of this type of treatment are well known. Just a hot bath can relax you and make......
Complete Guide to Bathrooms by Black and Decker Our bathrooms are used every day, and as such, they are usually one of the first places that trouble strikes. Whether you’ve ended up standing ankle deep in water at 3am, or you just want to find some ways to save money on plumbing costs, this is the ideal book......
9 Home Improvement Ideas A great way to save money around the home is to make use of home DIY projects. These projects are typically an exchange of money and time; for putting in a little time and effort, the homeowner will save money in the long run. Listed are nine projects that are......
Simple Energy Solutions That Save Big Money As energy prices go up, many people are looking to alternative power solutions in order to save money. However, converting an entire house to go off grid can be costly, and the work involved may be too much for some homeowners. That doesn't mean that you have to abandon the......

Online Stores

The Credit Crunch and Your Home – Raise its Value

keira — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:15:08 +0000

With the recent economic crisis, a lot of individuals are worried about property values in light of the current events. While nothing can be said to predict just how everything can pan out, there are steps that you can perform to raise the value of your home and give yourself some wealth during these turbulent times.

The number one place to improve the value of your home is the kitchen. Renovations there are going to be worth and additional 92.9 percent of what you put in. Bathroom improvements are a close second at 90.1 percent. Additionally, improvements elsewhere in the home (and on the outside) will increase the value of the home and give you something that will be a great asset for you.

Paint the Cabinets -

Replacing the cabinets can be a costly endeavor, so it is much cheaper to paint the cabinets or re-stain them. It is wise to pick neutral colors that are not black or white. A color near the middle of bright and dark is good and for extra protection and ease of cleaning, pick a paint that is mild, matte finished and weather proof.

Improvements by Replacing all old Appliances -

Your cabinets could be stellar, everything looks perfect, but the value of the furniture lessens the appeal of a kitchen. The cheap way to get them replaced is to visit a scratch and ding facility, with most appliances 50 to 70% off. They are likely guaranteed to look new compared to the old furniture, and that raises the potential value greatly.

Improve Bathtub and Shower Fixture Improvements

One way to increase the apparent size of a bathroom is to replace a shower curtain with a glass door, and by replacing the shower head with one more luxurious, you have turned a small bathroom into a lavish getaway. The glass door lets light in, and allows the viewer to see past the edge of the shower and see a larger space.

Paint Improvements -

This is the easiest thing that one can do to make the house more inviting is to freshen up the pain in all of the rooms. Pick neutral colors, since a colors are personal and a more bold look could make the house worth lesser than before.

Conclusion -

The value of your home is a measure of what a potential buyer will pay for the abode. The key to successfully raising the value of a home is the anticipation of what will and will not be desirable enough. One of the best ways to do this is to think of a change and consider what would cause the change to fail for you. Then you'll think of the appropriate and safe colors to use, and enough to make the environment one that is welcoming and will make the new tenets feel like they are getting a new home.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-27 05:57:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

Steps to Installing a Home Steam Shower A home steam shower makes your bathroom a retreat, and if you're a do-it-yourselfer with some experience you can probably handle at least some of the installation yourself. Not only will it make time spent in the bathroom more enjoyable, but any type of bathroom remodeling improves the value of......
Is Wreckovating Worth It? If you are considering changing your home, it is important to decide if “wreck-o-vating” or the process of completely tearing apart a room and redoing it entirely is worth the effort. There are many opponents to wreckovating, but in some cases, this style of renovating may be necessary. Here is......
Three Great Easy DIY Projects Sometimes, all it takes to improve the look and feel of your home is a simple DIY project. It doesn't have to take too much effort or be difficult. Not only will this make your space a more interesting place to live, but it will increase the value of your......
How Home Improvement Software Can Help You Out If you are interested in home improvement these days, you also need to be interested in what the modern world can do for you as far as home improvement is concerned. There is no type of handyman in today’s world that does not use the conveniences of modern technology to......
How to Save Power in Summer Summer is usually synonymous with high electricity costs and as our cities become more overloaded, there has never been a better time to start saving power during these months. It's actually quite easy to start cutting your power costs, and it only takes a few minutes to implement some changes......

Online Stores

Fixing a Leaky Faucet

keira — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:45:36 +0000

At best, a leaking faucet is more than capable of being annoying. At worst, a leaking faucet is capable of being extremely wasteful. The sound of water as it continuously drips into a sink can be completely maddening over time. Luckily, the fix required for repairing a leaky faucet is relatively simple as a DIY home repair project. With a few simple tools and some basic DIY know how, there is no reason why you cannot learn what it takes to fix a leaky faucet all on your own.

First and foremost, before you attempt this fix you need to make sure that the water has been turned off. Look under the offending sink and you should find a shut off valve that will allow you to turn the water off. Older homes may not have this shut off valve beneath the sink, meaning that you would need to go into the basement to turn the water off. Once the water has been turned off, you should open up both faucets so that any water that is still in the pipes can be let out. You need to take care to make sure that a drain stopper is put down so that if you drop a loose part, you do not end up losing it down the drain while you are working on the repair process.

If you happen to have an old lever handle faucet, then it is going to require that you use a screwdriver in order to remove the screw from the top of the faucet. Newer faucet handles are not going to have any visible hardware in the top but rather you will need to undo the set screw using a standard Allen wrench. Once the screw has been removed from the faucet handle, the handle can be removed.

If you have a knob handle, then you should remove the knob from the fixture so that you can gain access to your screw. Use an adjustable type of wrench to take apart the handle's inner workings. Make sure that the pieces are lined up as they are removed so that you can replace them in the right order. Keeping them in the right order will make reassembly easier when you are done.

Remove the washer and prepare to replace it. Bring it to the hardware store as a reference when you are buying a replacement. If you use the old washer as a guide, you will make sure to buy the proper new washer. Set the newly purchased washer in, and then replace the rest of the hardware to reassemble the faucet. If you have a double handled sink and it is still leaking, then you are going to have to repeat this same process for the other faucet in order to address the problem completely and fully.

Photo Credits: Meredith_Farmer

Originally posted 2009-06-23 05:57:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

Restoring Tubs and Sinks Whether you have a fiberglass tub or sink or vitreous china, it doesn’t take long before stains start to appear. This is particularly true if you have hard water. While these unsightly stains can be frustrating, there are actually a few ways that you can easily get rid of them,......
How to Fix a Leaky Pipe Whether you're dealing with a slow drip, or you've got a gusher, a leaky pipe can be a serious problem. If the pipe is dripping on electrical wires, it can be even more dangerous. It is important to fix a leak as soon as you discover it. You can waste......
Screws and Screwdrivers 101 Handling your Tools with Care Treat Your Tools Right - When you are using a screwdriver for a purpose that it was not meant for, you are risking causing damage to the tool as well as to yourself. You should try not to use the screwdriver as if it were......
Safe Power Tool Care Most professional style power tools are really rough and tough. We can use them hard, we can heat them up, we can drop them, we can beat up on them, and they withstand it as we do this to them over and over and over again. We never really stop......
Mastering the Art of Stair Repair Broken or loose stairs are not only unsightly, but they can also be incredibly dangerous. Repairing stairs doesn’t have to be difficult and unless they need a total replacement, you should be able to take care of it with just some basic tools. To get started, you’ll need to have......

Online Stores

Best Home Improvement Projects

keira — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:30:42 +0000

It might just be time for you to treat yourself to some really nice home improvement projects. Some of the best home improvement projects that you can implement are going to involve your bathroom, which should be a comfortable and relaxing space that you can take advantage of. There are a wide variety of different things that you can do in your bathroom that qualify as being best home improvement projects, and they will turn your bathroom space into a place where you can achieve total bliss and complete relaxation. Let us look at a couple of the best home improvement projects that you can implement in your bathroom.

The first and one of the most important steps when it comes to the best home improvement projects in your bathroom is to figure out what type of look, style and feel you are going for. Are you going to plan on spending a lot of time soaking in your tub, or do you prefer relaxing stand up showers? When you make decisions like these, you are going to want to make sure that the only thing that is influencing your decisions is your own needs and wants above everything else. What is really important to who you are as a person? Your bathroom space is yours alone, so make sure that it is your ideas that are influencing your design ideas.

When you are visiting a plumbing supply showroom, you are going to see that there are a lot of complete bathroom displays that show you some of the best home improvement ideas for your bathroom. When you are looking at all of the different elements together, they can really rope you in because everything seems to fit so well together. The people that set up these display models are specifically trained to do so in a way that is going to entice you to buy the entire set. It is important to know that the best home improvement ideas for your bathroom are those that you implement, not those that the designers and decorators put together for you to fall in love with.

So when it comes to best home improvement ideas for your bathroom, what are the three most important elements necessary for your bathroom?

Your sink and faucet
Your toilet
Your tub or shower

You may be able to make considerable changes in your bathroom simply by updating one or several of these essential parts of your bathroom. There are simple and complicated or complex options for when it comes to best home improvement ideas for your bathroom. Keep this in mind when you are deciding what you want to do with this unique space of yours.

Photo Credits: Jeremy Levine Design

Originally posted 2009-09-18 09:58:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

The Online Home Improvement Community There are many home improvement communities around the world these days, but the one that is truly international is the online home improvement community. This is a community that has been building for the last few years and has now come to the point where it can legitimately claim to......
Using a Home Improvement Guide for Best Results Using a home improvement guide for best results is actually a somewhat explanatory title on its own. However, there are many people that for one reason or another have a mental block when it comes to using help of any kind. It is for these people that this guide has......
How Home Improvement Software Can Help You Out If you are interested in home improvement these days, you also need to be interested in what the modern world can do for you as far as home improvement is concerned. There is no type of handyman in today’s world that does not use the conveniences of modern technology to......
The Easiest Home Improvement Projects Some home improvement projects are simply easier than others, but they all make a powerful impact when it comes to increasing the value of your home. Whether you are increasing the monetary value of your home to sell it, or the aesthetic value for the sake of your own family,......
Home Improvement Tips for Your Home When it comes to home improvement tips, it is important to keep in mind that the beauty of your home is absolutely in the eye of the beholder. A home is generally going to reflect the personality behind the residents. There is a very important role in home improvement that......

Online Stores