What You Should Keep in Mind When Remodeling Your Bathroom

A bathroom renovation is a huge project! Even though you can upgrade your bathroom without spending a lot of money, bathroom remodels are often quite expensive, and involve a lot of time and energy. You want to make sure you do your bathroom renovations the right way. Here’s what you should keep in mind before you get started.

1. Decide on an aesthetic. Do you want a cold, clean, industrial looking bathroom? A playful, fun bathroom that feels kid friendly? A tropical vibe that makes you feel like you’re on vacation. When you know what you want from the start, you’ll be able to add little details that make your whole bathroom feel more cohesive. It’ll be easier to pick the right flooring or paint colors, and will make your whole bathroom look like it was designed by professionals.

2. Decide what needs to be replaced, and what can just be freshened up. A new toilet is nice, but if yours is working fine, a new seat and a water saver is all you really need. New cabinets might look great, but if your cabinets are in good condition, you can just add new fixtures instead. Limiting the costly renovations to the essentials will ensure you have the money to create the look you really want.

3. Think about how much work you’re willing to do before you get started. There’s nothing worse than renovations that are only half done. If you’re not sure you have the time to re-tile your shower right now, than leave it as it is until you’re sure you can get the work done. It’s easy to get carried away when planning your bathroom remodel, but you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew.

4. Give your bathroom a deep cleaning before you start the planning process. It may seem silly to waste a weekend cleaning a room you’re planning on tearing up, but you’ll be surprised at what a good cleaning can reveal. Tile that previously looked unsalvageable may prove to be pretty nice. Flooring that once looked dingy may look fresh and new. A good cleaning will give you perspective on what really needs an upgrade.

5. Don’t forget to take a look at your lighting. Bad lighting can leave a bathroom looking dingy even when it’s brand new. You also want to be sure that any paint, flooring, or fixtures you choose looks good under your bathroom lights, not just in the store. Get your lighting situation taken care of before you start buying things for your bathroom.

6. Remember that you don’t always need to replace – sometimes you can just accessorize. If your vanity and your shower don’t blend well together, a matching bathroom set may be all you need to make your bathroom look more cohesive. A well placed rug may be able to prevent you from replacing your floors. Don’t tear something up until you’ve tried fixing it with accessories first.

A bathroom renovation can be a nightmare, but it can also go very smoothly. When you keep all this advice in mind, it’ll be easy to avoid the common pitfalls of bathroom renovations. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get the bathroom of your dreams without dealing with issue after issue.

Improving your home doesn’t have to wait until you have a reason, such as selling the house or holding a large, significant gathering. Simply living in your home is reason enough to strive to keep it in its best shape and up-to-date with your tastes and preferences. Here are some ways to make home improvement an ongoing habit in your house.

First, sit down and make a list of all the projects that you would like to accomplish in both the short term and for the long haul. Consider each room in your house–perhaps the kitchen needs a new floor and the faucet leaks, or your son’s bedroom has chipped paint and old carpeting. Don’t worry about organizing your list just yet; merely writing down all of the projects you can think of is the goal.

Once you have a solid list of home improvements you would like to make, you can start to prioritize them by importance. Repairing or replacing major appliances or fixing any ongoing problems that could lead to structural damage, such as a leaking toilet or a sagging roof, should be top priorities. Cosmetic concerns such as replacing carpeting or painting walls should be lowest on the list for now.

Once you have prioritized your tasks, you can start tackling them one or two at a time. Break each task into chunks and delegate the responsibilities. For instance, if you need a new roof and a new shower surround, your spouse may be in charge of calling roofers for estimates, while you are in charge of purchasing the supplies for the bathroom or hiring a contractor. Don’t try to tackle too much at once, especially if you have a limited budget for home improvement.

Budgeting for home improvement is a major concern, especially if you have lots of projects to accomplish. With your other expenses in mind, determine what you can afford to set aside each month solely for home improvement projects. You can use your budget as a tool for prioritizing tasks, as well. For instance, you may find that you don’t have enough saved to renovate your bathroom just yet, but you do have enough to paint your child’s room and make new curtains.

Keep your list in an accessible, visible place, and add to it as you notice things that need to be done; next to your shopping list is actually a great place to hang it. Automatically place repairs at the top of the list to ensure that they receive prompt attention, and jot down the supplies you need on your shopping list.

Revisit your list at the start of every season, or at least three times per year. You may find that you need to adjust your priorities based on the upcoming warm or cold months. For example, winterizing your pipes certainly can’t be put off until February, but fixing the air conditioning unit can wait until spring.

Maintaining an ongoing list of home improvement projects is a great way to ensure that you home stays in good repair and aesthetically appealing. While working your way through your initial list may take a year or more, the habit of constant improvement will stick.

It really doesn’t cost a lot of money to improve your home. Far too many people think that it costs a lot of money in order to make a bunch of improvements on your home. What it takes more than anything is the patience to figure out how to save money on improving your home. What is in your favor is that this article is here to assist you in figuring out different ways to improve your home on a budget. Any home can look better with the right amount of planning and patience, remember that.

Look at weekly deals and specials that you see either at your local hardware store, or online. You want to slowly buy things when they are on sale, that way you can save money when you are making improvements to your home. A lot of people don’t realize the importance of buying things then they are on sale, and just buy a bunch of items to improve their home when they want to make the improvement. Do not waste all of your money all at once, take a little time to plan things out properly and to truly improve your home on a budget by purchasing the items that you need when they are for a cheaper price.

Consider making the improvements to your home on your own. Simple jobs such as painting, simple electrical things, and other simple tasks around your home can be completed on your home. There are a lot videos that can help you figure out how to make improvements to your home, and you can learn a lot by watching them before you tackle any task. What you can also do is ask friends or family members for help to see what they have to say about the improvements you want to make in your home. They can be valuable resources with helping your make improvements to your home as well.

Save up a good amount of money before you decide to make any improvements to your home. Instead of hurting your bank account directly, you can gradually save up money and then use it towards making improvements to your home. This is a very smart thing to do, and it will help you feel like you don’t have to waste a lot of money to spend on your home.

Just as stated in the beginning of the article, it is wise to figure out how to make improvements to your home in order to feel good about the place that you live in. When you make improvements to your home and don’t feel like you are spending a lot of money in the process that is also a good thing. So do your best to see what you can do to make various improvements to your home on a budget, and you should feel happy with the results. Even if it takes a little more time than you thought, it is well worth it in the end to improve your home on a budget.

When you purchase a home, it is a huge investment of time, energy and money. Most of the time you chose a home because it appealed to you and met the needs of your family. Unless your home is a new construction, there are probably a few things you would like to change or improve. Use the information in this article to decide which updates can add the most equity to your property.

Paint is probably one of the least expensive materials you can use to update the appearance of your home. It is important to purchase a high quality paint, and make sure the finished job is of professional quality. Repainting interior rooms is not difficult, but if you do not have any experience with painting, get some advice. Painting the outside of your home can be considerably more complicated, especially if the old paint is peeling and cracking. The surface does need to be properly prepared for painting, or the new paint job will not last very long.

An updated kitchen can greatly increase the value of your home, and it is one of the most important rooms to prospective home buyers. If the kitchen in your home is very outdated, you may want to completely gut it and start over. This can be quite expensive, and refacing the cabinets and installing new counter tops may be enough to create a new look in your kitchen.

Modern bathrooms are the second most important areas of a home that prospective buyers look for. Since a bathroom is a relatively small room, the cost of installing new tile on the floor and showers is relatively reasonable. If finances allow, replacing the vanity and counter top can add a finished look.

Curb appeal is important to the look and value of your home, but the backyard has the potential of added living space. A roomy deck surrounded by trees, shrubs and flowers creates an enjoyable space for relaxing and entertaining. Check at your local nursery for good deals on perennials and shrubs. You can also find advice on creating a landscape plan that is easy to maintain.

If the windows and doors in your home are older, they not only detract from the appearance of your property, but can result in increased energy costs. This type of home improvement project almost always requires the services of a home remodeling contractor, but the finished project can be well worth the extra cost.

Additional living space in your home adds value when and if you resell it. It also makes your home more comfortable for your family while you are living there. Many times an attic or basement conversion can be used as an extra bedroom, or a room where the family can relax together.

You may want to take on some home improvement projects to increase the equity of your home in case you need to resell it in the future, or just make it a more comfortable living space for you and your family. Whatever the reason, the tips in this article can guide you in choosing the best home improvement projects.

From renovating a kitchen to adding on a bedroom, major improvements to your home require significant planning and preparation before you ever pick up a hammer. Here is a step-by-step guide to planning a big home improvement project.

1. Determine whether the timing is right. As many seasoned homeowners will tell you, tackling a big home improvement project can be taxing. If you have a lot of other stress stemming from relationship problems, a pregnancy, irregular work hours or caring for an ailing family member, you ought to consider putting off your project until you can devote more time and mental energy to it. This is especially true if your project will put an essential part of your home out of commission; you can’t very well make do without a bathroom if you have to drop everything for a few weeks.

2. Create a plan for the work that needs to be accomplished. Be generous when determining your time frame, especially if your project will depend on factors like the weather or air temperature outside. When redoing a kitchen, for instance, you will need to make plans for replacing (or salvaging) the floors, cabinets, ceiling fixtures, appliances, sink, counter tops, trim, molding and more. Plan for potential issues that you might encounter, as well. What happens if you need to re-wire the room? What if you encounter lead paint or asbestos?

3. Once you have a complete picture of your project, outline your budget for the project. Determine how much you can spend on each aspect of the project, especially the parts that are most essential to the room’s function. You don’t want to spend too much money on a fancy mirror in the bathroom, only to discover that there isn’t enough left for the toilet. For this reason, it’s a good idea to wait until you have all or most of the money for the project saved to get started.

4. Purchase your materials. If you prefer the most simple approach or have little room for storage, you may choose to buy all of your supplies in one trip to a big-box home improvement store. However, if you have more leeway in your timeline, you may snag better deals on building materials by watching for sales on the supplies you need, purchasing and storing them until it’s time to begin the project. Keep a running checklist of what you have already purchased and what you still need.

5. Secure the appropriate permits. Certain building projects will require permits from your local municipal or county building regulators. Generally, you need these permits to build a new structure on your property or add onto an existing structure, although many jurisdictions require permits for renovations, too. Talk to your local authorities to see if you need to secure documentation prior to beginning your project.

Tackling a major home improvement project requires careful planning from beginning to end. By using these tips, you can ensure that your next big project gets off on the right foot.

There are two areas in the home that are fixed up and remodeled more than any others, and those are the kitchen and the bathroom. It makes sense; these are very high-traffic areas. And with the bathroom getting so much personal use, it’s no wonder that so many want to add their personal touches. So here are a few tips you can use when fixing up your bathroom.

Before you break out the hammer and get to work, you first need a plan. You need to have everything planned out from the type of toilet to the type of paint and flooring you want. You can’t just demolish the existing space first and then piece things together as inspiration comes to you. Make sure you create a plan covering what you want to change.

When you’ve created your plan and are working to remodel the bathroom, the first step is to replace the sink. Even though there are jobs that seem larger, this is actually going to be one of the toughest jobs you deal with during a remodel. Select a good sink and install it before you move on to your new tile (unless you have a standing floor sink, in which case you would do the tile first).

This job is going to take some skill and some elbow grease, but it can be worth the effort. You can grout the existing tile a new color and put a new finish on it for an updated look, or you can go the harder route and actually put new tile down. If you’re opting for the former, make sure the existing floor is thoroughly clean and that the old grout is removed.

There are many different cosmetic upgrades you can make to your bath and shower instead of having to replace the entire kit and caboodle. For example, a new liner and some updated caulk will make your tub and shower seem brand new. The same goes for using new plumbing features, like a detachable shower head and new bath spigot.

Now, there’s nothing written in stone saying that you have to put in a new sink. If you’re only planning to upgrade your existing sink, then this can wait until your flooring and shower are finished. Just use the same principles you used when creating a new look in your tub and shower. Update the hardware for a fresh new look.

If you have any plumbing issues at all, you need to take care of these now. Slapping on some new cosmetic features won’t do anything to hide those plumbing issues. Hopefully you won’t have to tear into your walls or your floors to get them fixed. You may just have to replace your toilet and perhaps replace the valves around your sink and tub. These are easy fixes as long as you cut the main water supply off.

If your plumbing issues are more than you anticipated, or if you run into any problem that you can’t handle, you need to call a professional right away. Don’t sit around and wait for the problems to get worse.

A bathroom remodel isn’t exactly easy work. The good news is that it can be done as a weekend project, but you have to follow the right approach if you want to do it correctly.

Home improvement projects can range from simple paint jobs to major renovations and additions. Somewhere in the middle of those two extremes lies a very important aspect of home improvement–regular maintenance. Without a specific plan on how to keep your home in top shape on a consistent basis, you could end up doing far more actual improvements due to neglect. Check out some ideas here on things you can easily do to minimize future projects.

Unless the pipes throughout your home, both inside and out, are very old, they will likely last for years. This is true unless, of course, you neglect to protect them from the elements. Particularly with outdoor pipes, and ones inside your basement, they need to be routinely wrapped in the winter months. This will ensure that freezing temperatures do not cause the pipes to burst. At the first sign of freezing temperatures, empty outdoor faucets of any accumulated water and then place insulated caps over the outer areas. Wrap all exposed pipes with weatherproof materials and secure them from potential wind and heavy rains.

If you notice cracks in the outdoor siding or the inner walls of your home, seal them immediately. This will not only protect you from the elements and keep your utility bills in check, but it will also keep insects from getting into the wood and making nests there. This could include termites and any other number of unwanted pests. If sealed early on, the cracks will not worsen and cost much more to fix.

Equip your home with dimmer switches in place of the older style of light switches that merely have an “on” or “off” position. This will allow you to regulate the ambiance inside every room, and can reduce utility consumption, resulting in savings for you and having a lesser impact on the environment. It can also significantly increase the average life of your lighting fixtures.

Consider installing ceiling fans in the most used rooms throughout your home. The soothing effect of constant motion and cool breezes can create a calming influence for your family. It is also much more environmentally friendly and cost efficient than using air conditioning. Some experts suggest that freon and other components of air conditioning units can actually be harmful to humans. Look for ceiling fans with reversible blades, which can also help to disperse warm air during the winter months.

Even for very small drips or leak in faucets, check for where the leak is originating, them replace that part. There is often no need to replace the whole faucet or even to make major repairs. Remove the small part in closest proximity to the leak, and take it to a home improvement store to find a replacement for it. You may be surprised at how easy it is to fix leaks on your own without paying expensive plumbing bills.

Repairs and regular maintenance may not be the most exciting part of home improvement, but can give great satisfaction when it helps to avoid major problems down the road. Use the ideas here to keep things running smoothly throughout your house year after year.

For every one thing that can go right when you’re remodeling your home, you better believe that there are a hundred different things that can go wrong. A lot of home improvements are simply cosmetic and you might only spill some paint; others, however, could leave you with leaking pipes, creaking floors, and much worse. Before you get started with any type of home improvement project, take a few minutes to learn some of the things that you should be avoiding.

Now, it might seem like sound logic to make the types of changes in your home that you want. After all, if you can’t remodel for personal reasons, then what’s it all worth anyway? Well, you have to consider your attitude and your preferences here. If you’re only making changes to your home to satisfy your personal feelings, you’re going to find that your mind changes rapidly and that you won’t take other things into consideration. Make sure the remodel makes sense across the board and doesn’t simply make you feel better.

Playing off of the previous tip, you definitely have to consider everything that goes into making this type of improvement. For instance, if you’re working to install a new sink, this means new plumbing, and possibly patching up walls, fixing the flooring around the old cabinetry, getting new cabinetry, and coming in on time and under budget. There’s a whole lot to consider for even a simple sink change. The same holds true for most improvement ideas you have.

If you’re getting too creative with your remodeling plans, you’re also getting far too expensive and elaborate. You might want a dual-level deck outside that steps down into a pool, but you really have to consider the planning, time and money that these things are going to cost. The most-used word in any home remodel is always compromise. Be ready to compromise on what you want if you want to make it happen.

Depending on where you live, you may be dealing with a slew of laws and regulations prohibiting certain remodeling features. For instance, you might not be allowed to add an addition to your home, or you may have to comply with certain standards for shower heads and other plumbing features. Make sure you’re up on these regulations. If you have an inspector stop by, your remodel may be doomed if you ignore the law.

Avoid projects that are too large. Some projects you take on are simply going to be too large to finish. Your eyes are often bigger than your budget and your schedule. So if you walk into a store and see a fancy walk-in shower and the kitchen of your dreams, along with a home theater, you have to take things a step at a time. Start with a small project and see how it goes from there. Don’t get carried away.

Remodeling your home can add some serious value to it while also allowing you to live in the home you’ve always wanted. Make sure you use the advice above so that you know about some things you should avoid.

When remodeling your kitchen, the cabinets are usually a major part of the equation. You must take extra care when dealing with your cabinets in order to avoid certain common problems that sometimes occur. Consider the following helpful hints for installing cabinets properly.

Make sure you remove the cabinets with extra care. You don’t want to be too quick and careless because you could create problems for yourself before even getting to the next steps. Measurements and surrounding materials are precise, and you could run into many problems if you’re not careful.

Ordering an efficient install can go a long way with installing cabinets. You want to make sure that everything is done efficiently in order for the specifications to be correct.

You must remove the doors and drawers in order to get everything into place. You don’t want to lift the cabinets with the doors and drawers still on. Remove them before lifting the equipment into place to avoid injury or damage.

Make sure you support the weight properly. Cabinets are not one big ball; they are odd-shaped all together. Therefore, the weight of the cabinets must be supported properly in order to avoid problems.

Make sure you use finishing nails when dealing with cabinets. These are the proper nails to use when performing the installation. Finishing nails can be found at any hardware store.

Make sure you use the cabinet plan that has been made available to you. You’re going to want to compare it to what you have already available to you in order to know exactly the changes you might have to make. To do this, you must be getting exact measurements and following the plan.

Make sure you install the microwave properly if it is part of your included cabinetry. This is important so that space is set up appropriately.

Make sure you utilize an excellent benchmark level. This is important when setting everything up, and you need it to be exact.

Using shims helps protect against other surfaces, and it also helps provide any spacing that needs to be equal. It helps keep everything in place as well while you’re working on securing everything.

Make sure you use the cabinet filler pieces properly. This is important when finishing up because you want everything to hold just right.

Installing cabinets in a kitchen is one of the best and biggest things you can do for a remodel in your kitchen. You can make a huge difference when the project is complete. You can have a professional do it, but you can also do it yourself with the right knowledge and information. If installed incorrectly, your cabinets will look horrible, and it’s very easy to make a custom job look horrible when it comes to a project this big. Therefore, you must be careful and follow directions in order to have great looking cabinets. Remember the helpful tips and advice you’ve read in this article as you prepare to install new cabinets in your kitchen.