December 3rd, 2008 — Cabinets, Fix, Handy Man, Kitchen, Repair
In the kitchen, one of the biggest points for decor in the kitchen are the kitchen cabinets. The cabinets in a home are meant to last for the life of your home. However, there are things that are unexpected which can cause damage to your cabinets, their doors, hinges, drawer slides, and more. When something occurs, there are two choices: repair or replace them. It may be easy to replace them, but that route is expensive, and creates a good deal of waste.
The better choice is to repair the cabinets. How to do so depends greatly upon the location and extent of the damage done to them. If the damage is light, then it can be very easy to repair and will require minimal quantities of parts to purchase, which means a cheaper fix. Based upon the problem areas of the cabinet, the determination of what is needed in terms of money and time becomes clear. From this, you can figure out if it would be cost effective to fix the cabinets, or if it is required to replace them.
Doors and Hinges:
The easiest area to fix, a problem with the door and hinges on the cabinet cab be fixed by looking at a couple of things. Look at the screws; do any need to be tightened? If that is not sufficient, you may need to replace them with larger or longer screws. If the holes for the screws are too damaged, then you can move them to another part of the door
Drawers:
This is another easy to fix area, even if the problem is a stuck drawer. Moving and repositioning the drawer until both runners are back in place will fix most sliding problems. It may be the case however that damage may be done to the slides or runners. If this should be the case, then they will need to be replaced. Many times however, the necessary fix is to ensuring that all screws are tight and in their right locations.
Frame:
Should something occur to the frame and wood of the cabinet, the question is to what extent is the damage. For minor occurrences of damage, it’ll work just to reassemble the pieces with wood glue. As the damage grows in magnitude, so will the methods to repair them. More extensive repairs will require something stronger, such as an epoxy wood kit, or the introduction of a piece of wood the same species as the cabinet.
When you should find that damage has occurred to your cabinets it is key to assess the damage and find out what it will take to repair the damage. It could be fixed with a screw driver, or a small trip to the home improvement store. Do not overestimate what you can do however; there are always jobs that beyond the homeowner and it may be best to contact outside help. It may even be the case that the damage is so extensive as to warrant fully replacing the cabinets. Just check out the situation and come up with a plan.
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October 3rd, 2008 — Book Review, Handy Man
If you have ever looked at a sink, a lamp or anything in your house and wondered how does that work this book has your answers. Any homeowner can benefit from learning more about how specific appliances and fixtures work, but there are not many resources that put it all into one easy to read format. The book, How Your House Work has changed all that and we were very excited to get a chance to review this book.
By far, this is the most exhaustive resource we have ever come across on the interior of a house and everything in it. The first chapter covers the plumbing system of a home, discussing everything from your basic drain, toilets and showers. Every imaginable kind of drain is covered, and just about every fixture you could have in your house as well. The illustrations do a great job of making all the instructions very clear and they were very easy to follow.
The second chapter on wiring demystifies your home’s electrical system and explains in easy to understand terms how everything is powered in your home. From light switches to the circuit box, you’ll have a clearer understanding of just what goes on when you flip that switch and how power gets back to the lamp. We found this section absolutely fascinating.
Chapters three and four cover home heating and cooling, and offer rare insight into how everything works together for climate control. The chapter on air quality is also a must read and provides life saving information on how to tell when your home’s air quality may be compromised. Chapter six goes into detail on every home appliance known to man and was worth the cost of the book alone. Whether you consistently have trouble with your appliances or just want to know more about what goes on inside, this is truly the best guide.
Chapter seven and eight get into more structural items in your home, such as doors, windows, framing and foundations. You’ll be learning a ton about how your house holds itself up, how to find problem areas in your foundation and many other valuable tips. While it may not be a book that everyone would sit down and read in one sitting, it is a great reference tool and is perfect for the curious.
We highly recommend How Your House Works not only to homeowners, but also to renters that are interested in keeping their properties well maintained and maybe one day getting into home ownership. It’s easy to feel like an expert after you read this book and you’ll find plenty of ways to impress friends and family with your newly acquired knowledge. From the top notch illustrations to the way everything was presented, this is the absolute best book we have read on the subject. Makes a great housewarming gift, but don’t forget to get a copy for yourself. This is one book that really should be read.
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September 23rd, 2008 — Low Budget, Refresh, Renovate
If you are thinking about completely remodeling your home, but your budget is pretty small, you may want to think about refreshing it instead. There are some definite benefits to both types of home renewal, but there are some downsides as well. Let’s take a closer look at both types of renovation and see what you can expect.
Refreshing
Pros – This is a very cheap alternative to completely remodeling your home. It will allow you to retain certain features such as built-ins or other permanent fixtures in your home. With the right techniques, refreshing can be done in as little as a week and often gives similar results.
This is perfect for homeowners that need to sell their properties quickly and do not have the time to do a complete remodel. You can essentially make the home look almost brand new and you won’t have to worry about it taking months to get to completion. This is also a good alternative for those who prefer to do the work on their own, but may not have the time to dedicate to a complete remodel.
The main benefit is of course the price. Refreshing a home will cost thousands less than a remodel, and can produce almost comparable results in many cases.
Cons – The biggest con for refreshing is that you are not really addressing problem areas in the home. For example, you are not replacing older appliances that may be past their prime, nor are you fixing issues regarding flow, fixtures that no longer work or areas that are completely rundown. Basically, refreshing is best for homes that still have a lot of life in them and only need cosmetic assistance.
Remodeling
Pros – Remodeling your home can greatly increase its overall value. This is vital if you are trying to recoup equity in your home or sell it in a down market. The results are usually more dramatic and can make the entire home feel like new. Problem areas can be addressed and newer features can be added that will make the home more workable.
If you have been considering moving, but aren’t really committed to it, remodeling your home can make it feel brand new. Whether you are creating larger rooms, making your kitchen more functional or just improving the existing space, remodeling is usually the best answer.
Remodeling may be necessary in many cases, especially if a home is severely dilapidated to the point where refreshing will not help.
Cons – The cost of remodeling makes it prohibitive for many homeowners. It can easily run into the tens of thousands, especially if your home needs a lot of help. This may require a home improvement loan, which can eat into your home’s equity.
Another major obstacle is the fact that a remodel can take months to complete. If you are remodeling areas such as the kitchen or bedrooms, this can significantly impact the way you live for a long period of time. You may need to stay in a hotel or with friends, and costs can really mount up over time.
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