With the present slump in the housing market and foreign holidays becoming more expensive many people are investing money in their own homes. Whether it's for home repairs or larger scale home improvements people will benefit from enjoying a more polished home whilst also increasing its value. There has also been an increase in people making use of their gardens to grow vegetables or to use their roofs to install solar panels which again means that your home not only has added value, but over time is actually creating value! Home improvements can offset the cost of any home repairs which, unfortunately, need to be carried out on a regular basis. So if you feel you're up to the challenge, have recently acquired a great DIY book and have a back-up handyman as a friend (purely for back up!) then read below to see what steps you should take: Snag List - With all Home Repairs it pays to plan ahead so the first thing you need to do is to make a full "snag list" for the entire home and garden. Maybe it's touching up the paintwork in the hall, replacing an old skirting board, fixing a faulty socket, fixing a leaky tap or mending a broken fence. Some jobs can be quite big and others quite small, but don't worry about that just make a full list of everything. Once you have a full list you can then begin to decide what's most important. Prioritise - Prioritising your jobs is the next most important step, so once you have the full snag list in your hand think about what's most critical. For example if it's nearing Christmas it would definitely make more sense to fix a leaking tap rather than mend a broken fence at the end of the garden - which will more than likely be covered in snow - by the time Christmas arrives! So think about what needs to be done, talk to family members, look at your budget and then put a corresponding number beside each job! Materials - OK so now you have your full job list, and you know what jobs you want to do next, but what about the materials? Many jobs around the house like doing a paint touch up, may already have the existing supplies in the garage or attic. So take an inventory of what you have, there's no point in buying things you already own! After that you may need to buy something, for example if you're replacing an old floorboard or door handle you may need to go to your local hardware to buy the necessary materials. Advice - As mentioned above its always great to have a recommended DIY book to hand but there are always some questions that only someone with experience can answer. You may have a neighbour who is quite handy, or you may have a handyman friend who you can phone but at the very least your local hardware store should always be able to give advice on a whole range of things. In fact the local hardware store is always more willing and able to offer advice than the larger depot stores, and for that reason alone we would always recommend them. Reward - Lastly one of the great things about doing DIY and performing Home Repair jobs is the gratification you and your family will receive when finished. But also try to get other family members involved as the old saying goes "many hands make light work!" has never been more true. And it's also a great way for children to learn about the importance of maintaining a great home whilst having some fun!
0 Comments
Your garage, is it a glorified storage room? Is it packed full with boxes or unlabeled and overflowing bins from old garage sales, Christmas decorations, beach toys, and Halloween decor? Is it almost impossible to find a rake or shovel or edger if you need it? Your tools are they scattered everywhere? Do you have to push aside piles of screens torn and bent to get your lawn mower or bicycle or stroller? Is your garage so full you have no room to park your car in it? If you answered yes to any of these questions, don't you think it's time to get your garage organized. If you can get your garage door organized and cleaned, you should be able to put your car inside. Imagine! Having a place where your car is protected against the elements, a place where you can enter and exit your car and stay dry and warm, depending on the weather. These are the reasons why garages were made. Garages were not made only as a storage place; but a place where you can park your car, to keep it out of the elements. Here are some ways to help get your garage cleaned and get that space back that you so richly deserve make the most of it again. First, determine the primary purpose or purposes of parking in the garage and why you need the space. For example, is the purpose of the garage to only store your vehicle or vehicles and nothing else? Is your home garage used as a workshop or training area? Does it need to serve as storage area for tools, lawn and garden, bicycles, strollers, scooters, toy vehicles, sports equipment or maybe garden decorations off-season home decor? It is important to list all the things you want to do in your garage and all the things you want to store. Then, using this information, identify the part of the garage to be used for each function and what types of things you want stored in various places in the garage. List of tools or additional materials, you may need to succeed at this. For example, do you need to purchase shelving, storage bins, bike racks, tool organizers, pegboard, hooks, etc. And then what tools you will require to accomplish this task. Set aside a time when you will start. Without doing this you will probably keep putting it off. Use containers or areas in your driveway to help you sort and organize. The key is to empty your garage and sorting articles with similar elements. This will give you the opportunity to really look at how many things you have and help you identify items that are broken or no longer wanted and throw those things away. Make sure you dispose of any old paint cans and batteries or other hazardous solvents properly. Give your garage a good sweeping or vacuum cleaning too. You want a nice clean surface to work with. Now, in organizing your garage, you should also take note of the amount of space available. If storage is a problem, remember to make use of vertical space. The walls and ceiling are a great way to increase the storage available. There are several types of shelving to choose from, such as standing and free floating, organization, cabinet systems, suspension systems and bin hanging rack available to help maximize your storage area. After sorting the elements in their respective categories, be sure to place each category of items back in the garage keeping in mind how it is used. For example, children's toys should be stored in bins and in a way that makes it easy for them to access and store toys. It is also useful to place small objects in drawers system or if you have more time, you can also create tool boxes with labels buckets or pots for your strips, routers, switches, screws, nails, or anything you use on a regular basis. By following the above steps, you not only have a place to store your vehicle again, you will be able to know exactly what you have and enjoy the ability to find what you want, whenever you want. Imagine your sense of accomplishment and pride whenever you walk into your garage, clean and organized and know you've done it all by yourself. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6135841 We always feel the need to remodel our houses with latest and greatest material. Often the garage is the least looked after section during this process. Most home owners continue to have a garage built 10-15 years ago without any remodelling at all. If this sounds like your garage, maybe it is the time to give it a fresh look. The garage door is the first thing that you can replace to significantly improve the market value of your house. If your house has an old fashioned steel hinge door, then replace it with a modern electric roller door. Also ensure that the colour of the new door matches the overall ambiance of your house. The next thing that you can look into when improving the look of your garage is the floor. There are many new flooring materials out there which look great, affordable and easy to clean. You can even go for a new interlocking pattern with multiple colours. An option such as a polyvinyl floor is beneficial if you are considering other future uses of your garage, such as a home gym or a play area. If you need some additional storage space with your garage, you can add some space saving storage cupboards and drawers. Most hardware stores carry a large rage of these space saving fixtures. However, to get the most out of your garage, talk to a home improvement specialist who can have a look at your floor plan and give you some expert advice. For those who are living in an area with a hot and warm climate, you might need to consider insulating your garage. Depending on your budget, you can either do it yourself or hire a professional. Keep in mind that you will have to check with your local officials about the building codes in your area for this. Because of the possible storage of flammable liquids and the lack of smoke detectors may breach some fire safety rules. If you have such a doubt, hiring a professional will keep you out of trouble. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3662593 |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2019
Categories |