September 11th, 2008 — Aesthetics, Create, Curb Appeal, Deck, Handy Man, House Value, Kitchen, Landscape, Outside, Yard
If you are looking for new ways to increase the overall value of your home, there are numerous projects that you can tackle on your own. Whether you are an experienced DIY’er, or just starting out, these projects are fun and add more than just monetary value to your home.
1. Go Green.
Installing energy efficient appliances is perhaps the easiest way to increase the value of your home. Look for the Energy Star label since you may be eligible for special cash back rewards. These new appliances are remarkably different from older models and many of the new refrigerators will use about the same amount of energy as a light bulb.
There are many other ways to go green with your home. Try installing a new “green” flooring system, such as bamboo or cork. These floors will add beauty to your home and you’ll feel good about your choice. You can also install energy efficient windows and more to your home to save on your energy bills.
2. Landscape Your Yard.
One of the best ways to installing increase your curb appeal is by landscaping your yard. Whether it’s a single shade tree or an elaborate garden, landscaping gives you the opportunity to have fun and improve your yard. Anyone can landscape, and with the right tools, you’ll get professional results.
3. Refresh Your Kitchen.
The kitchen is the heart of your home and for many DIY’ers, this is the place to start. From replacing cabinet doors, to adding new fixtures, there are many ways that you can make that old kitchen look brand new. If you’ve got the budget, you can tear out your old cabinets and completely overhaul the space.
Today’s kitchens are more efficient and easier to keep up, thanks to new materials and designs that make the most out of the space in your kitchen.
4. Add a Room.
Whether it’s a brand new addition, or a new way to use an old space, there are plenty of ways that you can get more out of your home and make it worth more money. Building on to your home is a great way to save money and get more space, without having to purchase a new house. Your new addition can even be something as simple as a converted garage or basement.
5. Add a Deck, or Screen in a Porch.
Looking to take advantage of outdoor space? Adding on a deck or a patio gives you a whole other room and plenty of chances for fun. Anyone with basic building experience can make a deck, and this is a great addition to any home.
A screened in porch can also be very useful, especially as a three season room. If you’re not quite ready to build on, but you still need some extra space, this is a great solution and it’s easy to do!
These are just a few ways that you can add to the value of your home and get more use out of it.
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July 11th, 2008 — Book Review, Trim, carpentry
Taunton is a well known DIY publisher and their latest book, Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins is the perfect read for any DIY’er or owner of an older home. You’ll find just about everything you could ever want to know about trim - how to make it, how to take care of it and how to add more into your home. As the title suggests, built-ins are covered and there is some great advice in there for homeowners with Craftsman style interiors or even just a few built-ins.
Although the book is relatively small, don’t let its size fool you. There is a lot of information packed into its 166 pages. You’ll find plenty of diagrams and illustrations to make the projects easier and overall the visual presentation is very impressive. Too many DIY books don’t include enough of these, but chances are you won’t be disappointed with this one.
Each chapter in the book deals with a specific type of trim or built-in. You’ll start off however with project planning and this is an invaluable resource that will help any aspiring carpenter get their project laid out. You’ll be able to map out absolutely everything you’ll need to do and there are some great time saving tips in this section as well. The book even shows you how to draw your own designs and work from these plans, making it well worth the cover price.
Next, you’ll be moving on to the different types of materials that trim can be made of. This is an interesting discussion and you’ll learn a lot about the differences and which materials should be used for specific trim projects. If you’re entirely new to trim, this is a very helpful chapter. However, even seasoned pros can get something out of it.
Windows are also covered and this is a fantastic chapter if you are trying to restore an older home and want to be able to mimic the trim and keep that old feel even though you are using new materials. You’ll learn a lot about the process of designing, making and adding trim to your windows, both inside and out.
The chapters on baseboards and crown molding are also very useful and you’ll get some really great time saving tips that can be used on your next project. If you find this type of carpentry difficult, and many do, you’ll find out exactly what techniques you need to be using to pull off the job without a hitch. The section on wainscoting is incredibly useful if you are looking for a unique way to finish off a room and give its own unique character.
The next few sections deal exclusively with built-ins and you’ll learn not only which materials are best suited for certain projects, but also how to build a basic bookshelf that is much safer than a freestanding model as well as how to make your own cabinets. Overall, this is a book that is well worth the read.
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June 27th, 2008 — Book Review, Project, Renovate
George Nash’s book, Renovating Old Houses - Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes is a wonderful resource for those of us that are living in aging homes. If you’re trying to recapture your home’s fading glory or you just need some tips on how to easily fix common issues in older homes, this is a terrific resource that is well worth the purchase price.
Before Nash gets into the actual projects, he provides the reader with some different philosophies and mindsets when it comes to renovating older homes. There are definitely purists out there that will only use old materials and techniques to fix up their homes, while there are those who will use new materials and change them so that they fit the character of the house. You’ll be able to use this section to determine which techniques and materials you should be using for your home as well as some useful workarounds if you can’t match something perfectly.
It should be noted here that there is definitely a difference between renovating and remodeling. When you’re renovating, you’re preserving the heritage of the home - remodeling is usually associated with modernization. While there is nothing wrong with remodeling, this book focuses mainly on keeping with a home’s original traditions and renovating it for restoration purposes.
Part of the best part of this book is that it is useful even for those who aren’t quite ready to tackle their own home improvement projects, but are interested in buying an older home for the purpose of fixing it up. Older homes are usually much cheaper, but there are some warning signs that you’ll need to look out for when buying it. Nash gives some great hints on how to get an inspection and how to find an older home that won’t turn into a money pit.
After the preliminaries are out of the way, Nash gets down to business with ten chapters that cover some of the most common renovations you can try with an older home. The best part of these chapters are definitely the color photos which make it easy to see what the project entails and how your house will look when you’ve completed the projects. Again, if you’re a fan of old homes, but not really handy, you’ll still get plenty of enjoyment out of the book for the pictures alone.
Necessary things such as handling cellars that are frequently breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Older homes tend to have issues with this, especially in humid climates, but you’ll get plenty of information to help you fix these issues quickly. You’ll also learn about fixing little things, like rotting window sills and how to replace the windows with newer and more efficient windows without losing the original charm of the older windows.
Sewage systems are also covered and this is very important for any older home. You’ll need to know how to bring everything up to code, from water lines to sewage lines and this book will walk you through everything you could ever want to know about fixing up an old home the right way.
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