Nearly everyone has at least one thing that they would like to see changed about their home. Fortunately, many home improvements are projects that even a novice homeowner can tackle. You can, with a little planning, easily accomplish projects like cabinet refacing, adding decorative molding to walls, windows, doors, or outdoor projects like improving your gutter system. Some things, however, are best left to the pros, especially if they involve electricity or plumbing. This article will help you decide if your home improvement project can be done by yourself, or if you need to call in expert help.
Don’t overlook the addition of storage space to your new or existing home. Most homes are substantially lacking in storage space. Add built in bookshelves to the living room or dining room. Turn a broom closet near the kitchen into a food pantry. Small changes and additions will really add up.
Get at that drywall with a sponge! Use a sponge instead of a sander on those drywall seams. If you practice, you can use a wet sponge as effectively as using sandpaper. With the sponge, though, you’ll avoid getting all that drywall dust all over your house.
Use aluminum foil to mask electrical outlets before painting your room. Aluminum foil will protect covers from paint, and it is not as difficult to use as tape is. It’s also pretty easy to clean it up. Just be sure to let the paint dry before you carefully remove the foil and recycle it.
A great thing about home decor is that oftentimes it doesn’t have to match. You can buy a great dining room table and mix and match chairs. This is great for cottage and country-styled homes. Buying a table second hand and adding chairs from different places actually creates a great design element, as well as a sense of accomplishment. Give those used chairs a chance to shine!
Always turn off the main water supply before you mess with plumbing. Whenever you will be working with pipes or the water supply, find the shutoff valve before you begin. Neglecting this step can give you a flood to deal with in addition to your initial plumbing problem.
Before you perform any major repairs, run your plans by a professional. Advice from a professional can ultimately save you thousands of dollars and hours of frustration. Consulting with a professional is really the best way to avoid making costly mistakes.
Seek out advice before starting on do it yourself projects. There may be important steps you will overlook if you don’t know what you are doing. Although many household jobs can be done yourself, it is always a good idea to ask an expert how to do the job properly.
You should always wear safety glasses or goggles when cutting with a saw or other powered equipment. If you do not wear protective equipment for your eyes pieces of the material you are cutting or dust can become lodged in your eye or cause irritation. In severe cases permanent damage can be done to your eye.
Take your trash out at least once a day. Don’t let your trash pile in the kitchen because it attracts flies and ants as well as mold. Make sure that you don’t let your trash take over your kitchen and set aside three minutes a day when you throw it out.
As you have read in this article, with just a little planning and some investigation, you can take on basic home improvement projects and make your home a happy, healthy place for your family. By knowing what projects you can do and what projects you should leave to the experts, you can even save a significant amount of money. So pick up that hammer and those nails, and have fun with your next home improvement project!
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