Tag: DIY

Choosing A Kitchen Worktop

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The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home, being a functional space where culinary masterpieces are created and having another use as a social space for entertaining or interaction.

Choosing the right kitchen to reflect your cooking requirements and the style of your property is vital, as the kitchen is a room where you are likely to spend a lot of time in and can add considerable value to your property.

As well as choosing paint colours, units, sinks and accessories, perhaps the most pressing ingredient to consider when designing your new kitchen is worktops. Depending on your cooking and entertaining balance, it is better to choose a worktop that can fulfil your requirements, whilst looking stylish in your kitchen.

Stone kitchen worktops are perhaps the hardest wearing of all work surfaces and as such are favoured by avid cooking fans. Popular stone includes granite, marble, slate and quartz. Such materials can give a high shine, expensive look to any well-designed kitchen. In addition to an opulent feel, stone worktops are durable, hard wearing and water resistant – the most well known of these being granite worktops. Hampshire residents to Leicestershire inhabitants can easily obtain stone worktops as they are widely available across the UK from bespoke suppliers to DIY stores.

For an industrial look, in a modern apartment or architect designed property, stainless steel work surfaces can provide a professional and bright theme – think stark white combined with a metallic and glass finish. Water resistant and incredibly durable, stainless steel worktops are favoured by professional chefs – do be sure to use a chopping board however, as they can be easily scratched.

Those who enjoy a more rustic country kitsch theme, will perhaps appreciate the natural beauty of wood worktops. With its anti bacterial properties and large range of colours and types of wood, such worktops are popular in large family kitchens. To prevent drying out, it is prudent to proof work surfaces annually – protecting against damage from spills.

Keep Your Pocketbook Happy With These Home Improvement Tips

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Today, home improvement is an incredibly popular hobby that is growing in popularity. The demand for products and techniques related to it are on the rise. Now is the time to start with it. Here are some tips that you can use to get you started with your home improvement plans.

Still running those window unit air conditioners? Central AC is a costly upgrade but a rewarding one. It will save you money on your electric bill, so you will slowly make the upgrade cost back. Plus, it significantly increases the value of a home. Look into upgrading to Central AC in your home.

As you begin your home improvement project, take care not to demolish too quickly. You should always check the structure behind a wall or a cabinet before you tear it down. If there are electrical components involved, you may have to spend a lot of money to fix the mess that you made.

A great home improvement tip that will give a great feel to your home is to place wooden panels all throughout your living room. This will give your living room an extra homey feel, and you’ll find yourself wanting to spend even more time in front of your television set.

One of the biggest causes of failure in a DIY home improvement project is to start more than one project at a time. When you focus your efforts on one area, you end up with better results and a better success rate of finishing your project. Also, you have more usable space while renovating if only one area of the home is in progress at one time.

If you do not like the looks of your hardwood, tile, or even laminate flooring, you may want to install carpeting. It gives a home a comfortable, lived in feeling and is much better for your joints. Just remember to pull it up if you ever move, since no one wants a home with used carpeting.

If you are stuck with a boring steel front door, and can’t afford a new one, try painting it an interesting color, or choose a paint with special effects. You could also apply some kind of faux-finish to make it appear more interesting and expensive!

With any new home improvement project you need to consider what the savings are going to be from doing the renovation. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money. The new appliances are highly energy efficient, so choose the right ones that will save you in the long run. Consider putting extra insulation in the attic to save on heating and cooling.

If you are planning on painting a room as part of a home improvement project, you can save money by accurately estimating the amount of paint you will need. One gallon of paint will cover about 350 square feet of wall space, unless you are painting drywall, which absorbs more paint. An accurate estimate can prevent you from overbuying paint, which once mixed in a specific color generally can’t be returned.

Get really good references for contractors you use on your home improvements. It is far too easy for a con artist to take your money and run, leaving you with a wreck of a home and no more money to fix it. Don’t trust just anyone. Make sure you have plenty of excellent references, from people you really trust.

You should now see why this hobby is very popular. There is so much you can do in it! There is also a ton of information on how to start enjoying the benefits of it. By following these tips, you are well on your way to successfully improving your home.

Ideas For Arizona Landscaping

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Landscaping is a big business these days, with new homes and
properties coming up in this southwestern state. A lot of homeowners are
wary of landscaping their homes since they are not sure about the kind
of plants that grow in the arid climate of the state without using lots
of water. The good news is that the landscapers can help you with
suggestions of plants which can survive the tough drought conditions.
You may get the landscape of your dreams by incorporating a fire pit,
inbuilt grill, or a pool. The first thing to do is look at your property
as an opportunity instead of a challenge.

The desert terrain of Arizona is characterized with
mild winters and warm summers. This is the perfect setting for outdoor
living round the year. Consider the ways in which your family would like
to spend their time outdoors. You might envision your kids swishing in a
new pool, or friends gathering around the pit. Try the AZ landscaping
ideas if you want to host incredible barbecues. There are primarily two
landscapes – the hardscape and the softscape.

Hardscape: This
includes the fire pit, water features, flooring, fireplace, and the
barbeque. You can create a relaxing environment with a carefully chosen
plant life, although not many pay attention to a decorative structure.
Decking materials, fireplaces, patios and barbeques have a crucial role
to play in your outdoor life. There are actually endless options. You
may choose according to your lifestyle, but the landscape specialists
can pick up the elements that suit your needs and tastes.

Softscape:
Flowers, plants and trees are generally the aspects we think of while
landscaping. Softscapes are usually the most distinctive features in a
landscape, one need to choose them intelligently. The AZ landscape
designers will help you make the horticultural decisions and the right
choice can help you choose wisely. If the trees are placed creatively,
you can create a curb appeal, enhance property value, decrease your
utility bills, and add to your outdoor living space. Once your property
is appraised, the landscape designer creates a personalized plan.

Flowering
plants are ideal for desert landscapes. These are ideal for adding
color and beauty while conserving your time and water. Torch plants and
bougainvillea are ideal for adding different shades and impressiveness
through the year. However, the petals may run your pool. This is why it
is best to go for colored shattered blossoms along the patio to give it a
Mediterranean look.

Terracing the back or front yard is a unique
way to handle sloping terrain. The landscape retaining walls are well
known in Arizona and there are different materials for creating walls,
from DIY projects to elaborate ornamentations by skilled craftsmen.

Lead A Better Life Through Home Improvement

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Your daily attitude and the way you feel is closely related to your home and how it makes you feel. If you think about it, you spend a lot of your time there. If you don’t work outside the home, you spend even more time in the house. The comfort level of your home is an important factor in the way you feel about your daily life. You should insist that your home is somewhere you want to spend your time, it will make you feel better. Here are some smart tips for making your house feel like home.

When considering home improvements, keep your own comfort in mind. No home is perfect, but make up your mind to transform those more serious flaws that cause you daily irritation. Small transformations of this sort can brighten your everyday life. Things like replacing old, uncomfortable furniture can enhance the way your home looks and feels.

Try expanding the space you have. Being confined in the living area will prevent you from adequately rearranging the space. Solve this with an expansion. Even increasing the space by several feet can make a big difference.

If you expand your home with recreational areas, it will be more enjoyable. Fixtures like pools, hot tubs, and tether-ball poles serve the dual purpose of giving you more things to do around the house and increasing your home’s value.

Consider the lighting in your home. By bringing light into a formerly dark corner of your home, you will brighten the space as well as make the room look more spacious and welcoming. Replacing burnt out bulbs or changing the color or wattage of old bulbs is a simple way to make a room seem brighter and more inviting. Take this simple DIY project a step further by also updating your lighting fixtures.

Turning your backyard into a beautiful garden makes it feel like you are walking in a nice park. Whether you tend the garden yourself or hire a professional, you are sure to enjoy the many pleasures and positive aspects offered by this type of outdoor space. A garden is a place where stress melts away; where you breathe deeply of fresh, clean air. It is a place where you can relax amidst the beautiful flowers you have chosen to grow, or pick fresh herbs and vegetables for your dinner.

There are lots of ways to improve your home’s exterior. That way, you will be happy to see your home every time you come home.

Home improvement projects can have a tremendously positive effect on your mood and the quality of your life by making all the time you spend within your home more pleasant. Because of this, anything you can do to improve your home will benefit the house and your personal satisfaction.

Services Usually Provided By An Ogden Landscaping Designer

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Landscaping your outdoor area is a worthwhile investment as it increases property valuation in future. Now, the landscaping can either be DIY task or by hiring a contractor. However, it is advised to appoint a contractor to complete the whole project satisfactorily. It is even important to decide the budget first to avoid reckless spending. Hiring a landscape contractor again can plan and develop a striking design. Usually, a landscaper gets into the work by consulting and understanding your requirements well.

A landscaper can analyze the whole area and then get into the designing work. It is also important to check if there is permit for carrying out the construction works. Landscape designs are generally prepared with ideas on your mind, getting some tips from past works of the contractor and indeed landscape designers own thoughts. Whilst preparing the landscape design, it is also important to take into account the drainage system. Drainage system is simply a crucial phase in executing all landscape projects.

Landscape drainage system, if neglected, can result in accumulating rainwater and irrigation thereby destroying the overall property. This can cost huge bucks to be spent from the owners pocket. Therefore, an ogden landscaping designer prepares the design keeping into mind all such affairs. Nosooner the landscape design gets ready; the next step in the process is installation. The installation process requires cleaning up of creeping plants, shrubs and patches. Alongwith they are likely to trim the trees and bring those in good shape. The landscape contractor even ensures that mulching is done in the area for proper flowing of water and air in the loam.

Landscape contractors mostly keep a regular check in maintaining the area even after the installation process gets over. Most of the landscape contractors offer services for commercial setups as well. The commercial establishments put up lighting in the area making it look more theatrical and eye-catching. Now, you might think on how to find a good landscaper for the job. You can ask recommendations from neighbors, relatives, friends and colleagues if they are aware of any good landscape contractor.

At times, the advertisements relating to good landscapers come up in journals and newspapers. You can list out few reputable names and then look for who the best is. One of the great sources to find a landscape contractor is internet. By surfing the net, you can get ideas on names of service providers, what they do and how. This can help you in taking the right decision.

Ideal Roofing Selection 101

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When one speaks of home improvements, more often than not, this is immediately connected to either interior remodeling or exterior house painting. One can easily rearrange furniture and effortlessly apply coatings of paint, but imagine an individual scaling the tops of houses to complete a metal roof installation. For the DIY junkie, remodeling and painting may possibly be a piece of cake but roofing repairs may prove otherwise. From the height alone, tinkering with the roof is already risky. Add a couple of pounds from the tools, the slippery feel of the steel and the not so soft ground (that is the only thing thatll break your fall)—an ideal equation for a concussion waiting to happen. The cost of a steel roof installation is traumatic but falling from the roof with only the ground breaking your fall is more traumatic.

Planning. Every project, be it a metal roof repair or replacements, needs keen planning. Make al list showing the pros and cons of every aspect of the installation. An example would be choosing between asphalt shingles over a steel one. The former is much cheaper but it will easily break on you. The latter is expensive but itll prove its purpose in the long run. With regard installation, the asphalt shingles does not require a rocket scientist to set up the same. For the metal, I suggest you hire a professional to do the job. This is not a simple DIY project for it entails much complexity. So if youre not that confident with your roofing skills leave everything to the pros. Speaking of the pros, Ill share with you how to select the crme of the crop.

Selecting the Ideal Roofers. Collect then select. Two simple words but these terms summarize the whole process of hiring a roof contractor. Use everything in your means in order to know the actual situation of a company. Do a research concerning their past projects, their clients (satisfied or otherwise) and their position in the industry. Look into the longevity of the company; remember that an entity will not last that long in the business if they provide substandard service. Are they endorsed by any organization? Ask your family and friends for their referrals and recommendations. If youre using the Internet, take advantage of those establishments that offer free estimates. Note if there is a huge discrepancy in the price. If there is, be quick on your steps. This may be caused by inefficient estimation/quotation done by an individual who has no idea what hes doing. Whats worse is that if he over quoted, youll ended up buying more sheets of metal or tile shingles thatll be left deteriorate. Make certain that youll be getting a licensed, bonded and insured company. You may opt to ask for their certifications, if the company cant furnish the same—go on to the next one. These are some of the tips thatll help you weed out inferior crops.

Execution of the Project. You may not be available every time the roofers are doing their work. So be sure to lay down everything you want in writing. From the materials to the time frame allotted for completion, all of these must be agreed upon before the start of the project. But to be realistic, not everything you want can be done. The experts will recommend what can be finished based on what you currently have and established on the limitations youve set. These are the signs that separate the bad from the good and the good from the better—setting realistic goals, making use of what is within your reach and doing a great job in spite the limitations.

Distressed Kitchen Cabinets

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Styles of Distressed Kitchen Cabinets

A well-designed, welcoming, and functional kitchen space can be attained with the use of distressed kitchen cabinets. These cabinetries have lavish and layered finishes and wood edges that make the wood looked aged or old. You can order distressed cabinetries or if you are a DIY person you can distress the cabinets in your kitchen yourself, which is a more economical alternative.

This article will guide you if you choose to use distressed kitchen cabinets as an addition to your kitchen and home style.

Kinds of Distressing

There are many types of distressing. The most used of all are crackle, rub-thru, and natural wood. Crackle distressing showcase a cracked look showing the bottom layer of paint on the upper layer of the cracked paint. Rub-thru makes the bottom layer of paint apparent at wear spots, corners, as well as peaked areas. Natural wood, on the other hand, leaves the wood unfinished while the little filmy topcoat is applied for protection.

You can also make use of styles such as wormholes, cow tails, chain dents and dings, and fly specs. These styles correspond to their names. Wormholes mimic the holes and hoops created by worms or larva. Fly specs on the other hand are dispersed spots that give the impression made by real fly specks. Cow tails present comparable look to fly specs but the designs are arched. Chain dents and dings are very small indentions that demonstrate standard wear and tear theme.

Another great look of distressed kitchen cabinets is the worn corners. This design has corners sanded to provide a worn effect.

Take a look at pictures of these styles online for a point of reference, whether you are purchasing kitchen cabinets with a distressed look or making them yourself.

Which is Right for You?

Choosing the best distressed look for your kitchen should be based on your taste, your kitchen size, as well as your current home dcor. When youre already decided about the distressing style that fits your preference, you can purchase pre-distressed cabinetry or distress them yourself.

The good news is that do it yourself distressing is not difficult. In reality, the most complex part is deciding the distressing style that complements your kitchen and what hues and finishes match it.

There are several methods to distress. Essentially, you must sand the wood material and put several color or paint layers. You should then remove the paints top coat to expose the original colors. Use drill holes to perfectly obtain the wormhole effect. Use chains, keys, and other objects with sharp edges to distress your cabinets. When trying to achieve a wear corner, use sand paper and rub the corners and edges of the cabinets.

If you want like to buy distressed kitchen cabinets instead of making them, visit a local customs cabinet maker in your area. Most of the time, you can ask them to distress your cabinets as per your specifications.

Helpful Pointers to Keep in Mind When Restoring Wooden Flooring

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A well laid out wooden floor is a thing of beauty; it could be just hardwood floors or the more beautiful parquet flooring, but whatever the type, it definitely brings elegance and class to any home. The only drawback to using wooden flooring is that it is very expensive and they are easily scratched by people walking across the floor with sand and grit under the sole of their shoes.

A Dusty Business

The best way to do a wooden floor restoration company that has undergone a lot of damage is to sand the floor down and then do the necessary restoration work and polishing the floor before applying the final coat of varnish and/or other protective coats. Unfortunately the sanding work is sometimes very disruptive and causes a lot of dust, but some of the better companies in the United Kingdom do not use the old-fashioned drum sanders anymore; they use the latest high tech machines that use continuous belt machinery, which is completely dust-free. Moving along with this unit is a mobile extraction unit which catches all of the wood dust thrown up.

Different Grades of Sanding

A professional wooden floor restoration company would use the following floor sanding tips to maximize and speed up their repair work without causing too much disruption to the household. The first tip is to remove all the furniture from the room being restored, as the sander will have to reach all corners of the room to get the best possible finish. Remove any nails or other materials that are standing upright as it could damage the machinery during the sanding process. Remove the old floor polish along with any imperfections on the wood completely using coarse-grade sandpaper. Next the floor is sanded again using a medium-grade paper before finishing the sanding process with very fine-textured sandpaper for a really smooth finish.

Professional Restoration

The best floor sanding advice that could be given to people who wish to try and do the job themselves is that, while the thought is admirable, the final result may not be to their liking as this is a very complicated process and to repair any errors that might be caused during the job could turn out to be very expensive. Small areas of wooden flooring could be done as a DIY project, but bigger areas of wooden flooring, especially parquet flooring, is best left to the professionals. A professional wooden floor restorer knows how much sanding has to be done to get the floor ready for the protective coating or sealant that needs to be applied. If the restoration work is done properly, then regular maintenance is all that is needed to keep the wooden floor in perfect condition for decades.

Do-it-yourself Home Improvement Tips To Save You Money

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With just a few easy home improvement projects, you can make a huge difference in the overall appearance and value of your property. In fact, you can increase your resale value by thousands of dollars with some updates. Check out the article below for some wonderful home improvement projects.

If you are running out of counter space in your kitchen, consider an over-the-range microwave. Over-the-range microwave ovens offer many features, including convection cooking. However, these units often only provide a recirculating filter, so if you are a cook who needs a good ventilation system, you may need to look elsewhere.

New floors can update your home. You can do the work yourself by visiting a DIY store in your area. Otherwise, the work can be completed in 24 hours or less if you find a reliable flooring company that specializes in carpet, tile, laminate and hardwood.

Check out the credentials of any home improvement company that you are considering. If a company doesn’t give you a physical address and only conducts business over the phone, that means they’re probably small time and aren’t very reputable. Look for a company that gives you a physical address and has a good reputation.

It is always best to plan ahead when working on any home improvement project. Procrastinating until start day can be disastrous, as it can result in hasty decisions and bad judgments. If you plan in advance, you will have a much easier time completing the project.

Before you make firm renovation plans, you should check out other homes and subdivisions. You will get a chance to see how the latest trends in colors and styles look inside a home instead of just in a home center. Model homes are decorated professionally with coordinated window treatments and furnishings, so you can get good ideas without a lot of experimentation in your own home.

Exhaust fans should be put in the laundry room, bathroom, and near cooking surfaces. Venting this humid, warm air prevents mold and mildew from forming. Also, if you are able to reduce the amount of humidity inside, you can prevent rot from occurring.

In most homes, there is really isn’t much natural lighting in the basement area. Therefore, you should ensure you are properly planning for artificial lighting in your basement so that it appears more attractive to others. Hopefully you have a basement that has high walls from the ground. If this is the case, putting in windows might be an option.

If you are going to be painting your home, it is vital that you do the math to find out exactly how many cans of paint to purchase. Simply guessing could cost you a lot of money. Be sure you take some time to measure exactly how much of an area you need to paint.

Clogged gutters can lead to serious drainage issues during a rainy summer. In fact, if you have a leaky basement, the most likely culprit is rainwater running down the outside of your home after overspilling clogged gutters. Make sure you clean your gutters before this occurs.

Seal grout after laying tile. Remember that grout is a porous substance. If you do not seal it, moisture can seep into the grout, promoting mold and mildew. The grout will also stain. By sealing the grout, it will be easier to clean the tiles and you are less likely to battle mildew.

Although there’s a great selection of solar-powered outdoor lights available out there, they’re really not appropriate for anything beyond providing decorative accents. If you want something that can push back the night, you should really consider electric. Although these models can be more costly, they’re also more reliable, and you’ll get a lot more out of them than the average solar model.

While you may think you have level kitchen floors, use your level when you install kitchen cabinetry, just in case. Begin at your kitchen floor’s highest point, and then place a line across the wall’s length where your cabinets are going to be put in. This is needed to ensure that the counters are going to be level.

There is no need to get involved in complicated renovations. If you plan everything out ahead of time, in the end the project will run much smoother. Implement the methods described here and get started with your next project.

Get The Best Brushed And Oiled Oak Flooring For Your Home

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Many people tend to forget that the floor of a house is as important as the roofing and the walls. People are more worried on the size of the compound and the size of the rooms. They are worried whether these rooms are big enough to accommodate all their belongings. They are more concern on their TV sets and the space to put them. However, when it comes to worrying about the floor coating there are several things to think about.

The type of flooring depends much on the texture and your style. There are different kinds of flooring which you may choose from. Each flooring has a different way of maintaining it. Therefore the treatment you give to your floor will determine its lifespan. Taking good care of the floor will help you save on the maintenance and other costs that might be brought about by not taking care of it.

Whereas other people may risk taking a new kind of flooring, several others would want to stick to oak flooring. If you want your floor to be much beautiful and perverted then go for the real oak flooring. Its texture offers different colours so it is ideal for you if you want something stylish. More importantly, another reason why it is loved by many is that it is durable and long lasting.

Many people believe that oak wood flooring is best used only in places where there is less activity in the house, but with the presence of engineered oak flooring, it can be used anywhere in the house, even in the bathroom. Generally speaking oak wood flooring is just a marvelous way to add worldliness to your house. It is a necessity for anybody who loves exchanging the spirit of the rooms.

Before you decide on the kind of oak flooring you want, you must first understand the different types of oak flooring. Solid oak flooring requires a high level of DIY so you have to look for a qualified fitter to avoid damaging the floor. Most manufacturing companies have installation instructions therefore you have to follow the condition laid down properly.

In the other hand lacquered oak flooring are well furnished therefore cleaning it isn’t much work. The only problem with this type is the scratches but most people regard this as another form of decoration. In the recent past brushed and oiled oak flooring is gaining popularity among many home owners. However, oiling of this floor should be done on a regular basis to maintain its texture.