Tips On How To Efficiently Improve Your House


So, you've decided it is time to update or improve your home. That's awesome! Proper home improvement takes a commitment to hard work. Are you aware of what needs to be done in order to make the correct improvements? If not, you should use the tips below.

An extremely simple way to improve your home is to change out your air filters. Not only do allergens and dust creep into your air ducts when the filter is too clogged, but the efficiency of your system can be brought down by neglecting to change the filters. This is very important to do often if you have pets in the house.

If you have high electric bills each month, consider installing solar panels on your roof. While they may be expensive and labor intensive in the short run, in the long term you'll cut down on your electric bill and contribute to helping the Earth through utilizing greener energy sources. There are also tax credits for those who install solar panels.

You can make really neat one of a kind plant stands from old stools. You can buy some old stools from yard sales, garage sales or your local thrift shop. The older the better and the more unique your plant stand will be. Weathered stools that you use as a plant stand can add a touch of unique country to your home decor.

When baseboards are on the agenda for replacement, consider a stained wood look instead of painted. The warmth of stained wood will add value to your home. The beauty of stained wood for baseboards is its ability to show fewer scuffs and scrapes. Touch-ups to the baseboards will also blend better. There are many different tints available in stain form, making matching your decor easy.

Basements rarely have any natural light available. Be sure you make your basement more livable by placing artificial lighting in good positions there. If you are lucky, your basement walls may extend above ground level. If that is the case, you can put in windows that use natural light.

Ugly driveways and concrete can be repaired without having to spend the time and money to replace them. Concrete refinishing has become a new alternative for that cracked driveway or walkway. They can apply a new topcoat, stains, imprint patterns or other design elements that will give your home a whole new look for less.

Keep your furniture safe from drink spills and cup outlines by displaying coasters. Coasters are available in a myriad of designs and you are sure to find one to fit your taste. The most common places to use coasters would be your living room end table, coffee table, nightstand, and dining room table.

If you feel your home is too small, consider a basement renovation. In many cases, a basement can be turned into a second living room or climate-controlled storage space. If your basement has exterior access, you could even renovate it into an apartment for rental income or a mother-in-law suite for family members and other visitors.

Tie a t-shirt around your face! Don't have a dust mask when you're sanding? Shame on you! If you're in a pinch though you can improvise with any close weave natural fiber. It isn't the best solution but it certainly beats having no protection for your respiratory system whatsoever!

While most people know that taking a shower instead of soaking in a tub helps to conserve water, not everyone knows that you can actually save more money on your water usage by replacing your original shower head with a specially designed low-flow shower head. This is a quick and easy improvement that can be done in one day and with only a minor cost.

Use high-quality insulation around your plumbing system to prevent your water from freezing during this coming winter. Weatherizing tape for wrapping your plumbing lines is available at your local hardware store. This will keep your pipes from freezing and bursting.

If you live in a hot climate, replace your original glass windows with low-E glass, which can make it easier and more affordable to cool your house in the boiling summertime. Although the installation can be a bit pricey if you pay someone to do it, you will recoup your costs in energy savings by the end of the summer.

Before removing wallpaper from a room as part of a home improvement project, be sure to determine what type of wallboard is underneath the paper. Generally, you will find either plaster or drywall. Drywall requires much more care when removing wallpaper, as it can be damaged by over-wetting or scraping.

If you want to reduce your costs and beef up your home's security profile, add motion sensing lights to your property. You can save money on your electric bill. Instead of burning your lights all night, motion sensing lights only come on when they detect movement. Anyone trying to break in will steer clear, because the will see the motion lights.

Consider the materials that you are going to use when building an addition or a separate structure on your property: Wood framed structures are going to cost you more to insure because of how flammable they are. Steel or cement framed structures will save you a good bit in home insurance premiums.

Know your area. If your home is in a subdivision or small town, you do not want your home measure a replacement door to stick out like a sore thumb. Look around before you decide to do any outer renovations, and try to fit in, at least a little. Homes that do not fit are homes that usually have a harder time should you ever choose to sell.

If you have an unfinished basement on your property, finish it. A finished basement can almost double your property value if you finish it the right way. Carefully consider the floor-plan before you begin work. If you cannot do it all at once, just build one room at a time according to the plan.

These are the things to take into consideration when you want to tackle your first, or your next home improvement project. You don't have to be an expert to know what you are doing. You just need to have a basic understanding of the do's and the don'ts which is what we have tried to teach you in this article.