Tag Archives: home

Home Improvement Tips – Finding The Right Color For Painting Your Bathroom

by admin

Painting any room in your house can be a problem. Of course if you get the color wrong, you can always repaint over it, but who would like to waste money and time repainting an area if you don’t really have to.

One of the most commonly judged rooms in the house is the restroom, so once you’ve made up your mind to give the room a fresh lick of paint, and you’re happy with your chosen decor, you will then need to choose the right color.

By taking the steps below you can ensure that you are painting your bathroom that perfect color.

1. Decide whether you will just be painting your bathroom, or if you will be redecorating.

2. If you’re repainting although not changing all the various other things within the bathroom, you will want to opt for a color similar to the one you have. If you are redecorating the whole room entirely, you will need to choose the style first, and then base your paint color around that.

3. When you know what style your bathrooms will be, whether altogether new, or perhaps the same, visit the local hardware store and choose color samples which you think may match your room.

4. If time permits, take the samples back home and hold them against one of the walls of your bathroom so you can see more or less how each color would look. Also hold the samples towards the different objects within the room, such as a shower curtain or rug.

After completing these steps you ought to be able to select a color for the bathroom. You should remember that you might have to repeat a few of these steps many times to get the color that you need. Choosing the right paint color for just about any room takes time, and it’s certainly not a process that should be rushed.

Remember, your bathroom is one of your smaller rooms in your house, and that means that dark colors could make the bathroom appear even smaller. Essentially, unless you have a very large bathroom, you will need to make sure you choose a light shade of paint.

We have the best home repair tips and articles about home accesories like bbq grills

Related Repainting Home Articles

Give You Home a Facelift With Face Brick

by admin

When considering building, remodeling or upgrading your home or place of business, it’s important to understand the variety of brick options available to you. Certainly there are other options for building materials, but really, why would you chose anything less than the most attractive, environmentally friendly and cost effective material?

While there are a number of brick types to select from, there is only one type of brick that is specifically designed with an aesthetic appeal: face brick. Face brick is the brick that you can see on the outside of homes, residence halls, public buildings, and landscaping features (like walkways) and hardscapes. It comes in many different sizes, colors, and shapes. It can be customized to fit different tastes and it is a versatile and elegant masonry material. A face brick façade immediately conveys an air of sturdiness, durability, and timelessness. What you may not know, however, are that there are many environmental and economic reasons to choose this material if you are thinking of giving your home or business a facelift.

Face brick is environmentally friendly for a number of reasons. As the Brick Industry Association notes on its website, natural clay brick is made of “inherently natural ingredients  it offers, “countless recycling options,” it creates “minimal wastes  most brick is made through “environmentally friendly manufacturing processes”, and brick “is the first masonry material that can attain a “Certificate of Environmental Claims” from a third party source.” It is also a smart choice for the environment because of its longevity. Unlike many other materials, brick does not rust or dent and it is unlikely that it will need to be replaced for decades after first building. This means less materials need to be manufactured, a fact that has a direct relationship to helping the environment as it saves both raw materials and energy. Further, because brick can absorb heat and slowly release it, it can help you consume less energy and save money on heating and cooling costs throughout the year.

Besides saving you money on energy costs and repairs, face brick is a great choice for building because it can withstand fire and high winds. Clay bricks are fired at high temperatures (2000F), and as such, they can withstand the heat from residential and commercial fires in ways that other building materials cannot. Further, because of this fire resistance, most brick homes and businesses enjoy lower insurance rates. Although wind damage is not a possibility in all parts of the world, it is true that building with brick is generally a smart choice for withstanding all types of weather. Building with brick can also reduce moisture damage and mold growth. With all this in mind, it is no surprise that many of the great buildings–train stations, opera houses, public buildings, and homes–that still stand after several centuries are built of face brick.

So, if you are looking to build a new home of business or if you just want to give your old place a facelift, consider the benefits of face brick. It is beautiful, strong, durable, environmentally-friendly, helps with fire and mold reduction, and it can withstand the test of time!

Nothing is more appealing in an exterior building than the quality face brick used in the construction, which is why Mr. Masonry gets all of his face brick from General Shale.

New Home Redesign

by admin

Congratulations on that new house that you just got. Now, we are sure you are looking for some new ways to fill it out. However, before you start with a project on decorating, you need to ask yourself a number of questions. First of all, what type of living environment would you like to stay in? We know that you just put a down payment on the house, but how much are you able to afford on decorating this newly acquired home? As we continue this article, we are going to run you through some questions and give you some tips.

First off its great to decorate a home that belongs to you but a lot of people are still renting and if this is the case you can’t just change the look of a rental. There are rules that you have to follow and others you will have to inquire about. Most people will not want you to paint the walls in a rental, while others may well let you. If you are renting and don’t plan on staying for a long time you may want to forgo any huge decorating changes. But if you see spending several years in the place it’s best to talk with the landlord and see if they will allow you to make a few changes.

Next, everyone needs some place to start, so here you are, sitting inside a big cube that has nothing in it. Where oh where would you start? Well, do you see those windows? That is a perfect place for you to start. Once you pick out the curtains and find the best design, it will be time for you to move forward to the furniture.

In most cases though people will already have some furniture and if you plan on keeping that make sure that it matches the curtains you plan on putting up. Depending on how you go about it, you just really need to make sure that you have something that is comfortable to sit on. Not only that but keep in mind how many seats you may need to have for people to sit when they come to visit.

You can’t forget about the other furniture that will be placed in rooms. Try a nice coffee table that goes with the furniture or some lamps that will make the lighting intimate but nice. It will all depend on the theme that you are hoping to accomplish with which styles you will pick out.

It’s time for those rugs! Area rugs will make any area look fantastic. When you look at the floor after you put the rug down, you are going to realize just how bland it looked without it. Yes, my friend, you are missing an area rug. Now, look at your floor, where would rugs look good? In your bedroom? Living room? Anywhere you think there should be a rug, chances are you’re right.

Interior Design has never been this easy with these rugs. Be sure to take a look at this rugs for the latest information.

Home Remodelling Tips for Winters in Chicago, IL

by admin

Winters are the best times to renovate and upgrade your house. Here are some areas that need a major upgrade during winters so that you can enjoy the coming spring to the fullest.
It is that time of the year again. Winters are here and you will be spending most of your time indoors. So why not spend a little time and put in a little effort to make your home ready for the coming winters? From the floors, basement, kitchen, bathroom to the exteriors of your house, everything needs a little renovation to help your house stand the falling temperature and make you all cosy and snug indoors.

Flooring

If your carpet is falling apart at seams it is time to buy a new one. To avoid your hardwood floors from freezing your feet it is best to put in a carpet during winters. This will not only improve the comfort of your home but also make it look better. It is recommended to get it installed by professionals rather than doing it on your own. Make sure they are aired out a couple of days before they are installed at your home. Other than carpets you can also consider tile and laminate for your floor during winters.

Paint the house

No doubt winters are cold and dark but you can always make it lively and cosy by repainting your walls with a bright and cheerful colour. Go for a bold and bright colour and make the rooms look full of energy and life. Painting the house with a new colour will brighten things up and lift the mood and reduce the gloominess of winters.

Clean the basement

Winter is a great time to de-clutter and organize. Therefore, spend some time every day deciding what you want to keep and discard the rest. However, do not take up the task of de-cluttering the entire house on the same day. Start with one corner of a particular room and take up small parts every day and you will be able to do it better.

Bathroom

Look carefully at your bathroom. Does it appear too outdated? Are you bored of the light green paint on the walls and the sink seems too old? Give a makeover to your bathroom. You can start with repainting the walls, replacing the tile floor or updating the countertop.

House exteriors

Do not forget to check the exteriors of your house for cracks and holes. Shut off the outside water and drain the hoses to avoid freezing in winters.

Scour your house for areas that need a major uplift. Find out whether your kitchen needs a new set of cabinets, whether there is room for a new bath vanity or whether you need a new hardwood floor and then hire professional remodelers to do the task for you.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Home-Remodelling-Tips-for-Winters-in-Chicago-IL/10011782/

Homewise Remodelers is a home improvement company specialize in Home Remodel Chicago IL and quality renovation of kitchens, bathrooms, basements as well as the exteriors of the house.

DIY Home Security

by admin

Most home security experts agree that homeowners have three major defenses against potential burglars:

* Light
* Time
* Noise

For the handy men and women of the world, ideas are probably already forming in your crafty heads for ways to tackle these areas of home security yourself. Do-it-yourself home security can be a very effective way to protect your family and your property without spending a bundle.

DIY Home Security: Light

Tonight, after dark, go stand in your yard. Look at is as if you are a potential thief. How dark is your yard? Are there shadowy patches near your door or windows? If you were a thief, would you feel relatively “safe” approaching your house?

If you discovered the answer to those questions is “yes,” don’t worry. As a do-it-yourselfer, there are lots of illuminating ways you can protect your home and family:

* Trim hedges and trees – especially those near doors and windows. Don’t give potential intruders an easy place to lurk. All the light in the world won’t eliminate the shadows cast by out-of-control shrubbery.

* Install motion sensor lights in your yard. For under $ 30, you can install a wireless, outdoor, weatherproof light designed to illuminate your yard anytime it detects motion. Whether it brightens the path between your car and your door, or casts light on a trespasser approaching your home, this do-it-yourself security device is well worth the money.

* Put your lights on timers when you go out of town. A house that sits dark day after day is a potential advertisement to thieves. For around $ 70, you can put your lights on timers and schedule them to turn on at various times of the day or night.

DIY Home Security: Time

Most burglars will only spend about 60 seconds trying to enter a home. Increase the time it takes to break into your home through some simple DIY techniques:

* Install dead-bolt locks on all exterior doors. Deadbolts are harder to pick and make it extremely difficult to kick down a door. For around $ 100, you can take security one step further with digital dead-bolts. These heavy-duty locks eliminate the need for keys – just punch in your access code to open your front door.

* Secure the locks on all windows. Most windows are designed to keep out the elements, not burglars. For about $ 3 a lock, you can replace your standard window locks with stronger sash-locks.

* Protect your sliding doors with a doorguard alarm. When wedged under the handle of your sliding door, this steel rod makes it very difficult (if not impossible) to open a sliding door. On top of that, a doorguard alarm emits a 120-decibel alarm if the door or door handle is moved – all for less than $ 30.
DIY Home Security: Noise

The final element to consider when tackling home security yourself is noise. If a burglar manages to creep through your well-lit yard, bypass your sturdy, time-consuming locks, and make it into your home, noise is your last line of immediate defense:

* Purchase a wireless alarm. Typically ranging from $ 200-300, wireless alarms systems are easy to install and ready to use. They don’t require programming and most of them include a piercing 110-decibel siren sure to wake the neighborhood and terrify intruders.

* Install an indoor motion detector. These security devices emit an alarm when they detect unauthorized motion inside your home. They’re easy to set up and easy on your wallet – a good motion detector costs around $ 120.

* Consider getting a dog. The ultimate in DIY home security noise is a barking dog. Not only is a dog a lovable member of the family, but it is also a great defense against potential intruders. Even a small barking dog is usually enough to deter a thief.

These are just a few of the many ways to secure your home yourself, without hiring professionals or spending a small fortune.

Ralph Winn. 35 years in the Security System industry. Home Security and Alarm Monitoring tips.

DIY Home Solar Kits – Simple and Expedient

by admin

Renewable energy market has been revolutionized by the introduction of DIY home solar kits. Several people, who once thought, that they could not afford solar power systems to their home, are now creating and installing them at a reasonable price. Solar power guides has made it extremely convenient to build them properly, yet inexpensively. Speaking about the installation procedure of home solar kits, it is really not a hard task at all. It can be done by a normal individual who does not have any skill or expertise in this field.

Alternative energy has become a necessity these days. Energy conservation has become one of the foremost issues being faced nowadays, and it should be taken into consideration because of the increase in cost, let alone the harm the fossil fuels are doing. Interest in DIY home solar kits has increased a lot, because it is less expensive and has several advantages.

Several people are acquiring home solar kits nowadays. It can be purchased and easily installed by a majority of people. You don’t necessarily require any technical knowledge for it, as they are reasonably inexpensive and extremely simple to follow instructions. But, it doesn’t mean that you need to be completely powered only by solar kits. These kits help in providing power to many household items like light bulbs, televisions, laptops and several other small appliances.

Benefits of DIY home solar kits are quite the same as the benefits of going green. The integral role home solar kits plays is to lower the cost of electricity for household appliances. Instead of assuming it only a purchase, consider it as an investment for the future. This investment will help you cut down the cost of energy as well as your carbon footprint in the procedure. Think of it as playing apart in stopping global warming. Renewable energy sources are the best probable opportunity of creating a healthier planet.

Acquiring home solar kits will also facilitate in dealing with those frustrating power outages that happen from time-to-time in all areas. Because of fallen power lines, storms, accidents or whatever, solar energy would never go out. Home solar panels help in the event of any power outage. The kit has enough electricity stored in its batteries for providing light, hot water, heat and many other conveniences for an extensive period of time. The amount of electricity available entirely depends on the storage capacity of the batteries.

Batteries are the biggest issue in the purchasers mind. It is considered as the main expenditure for several people. There are various areas where you can acquire batteries free of cost. If the cost of batteries is eliminated, the building process of these kits becomes even more inexpensive. You will be able to create your alternative energy bank for living completely off grid and possibly feeding electricity back into the grid for earning income.

Considering acquiring home solar kits is a wise consideration. It has the ability to keep you well prepared in case of emergency, save a definite amount of money and keep the environment safe and healthy. Getting your own source of renewable energy will help you in various ways. For further information about these exceptional kits, you can check the expert reviews of the top (5) available to the public on http://solaren.notlong.com.

Summary:

The interest in home solar kits has increased over these last few years because of increase in cost of electricity and the harm being caused to the earth by the use of fossil fuels. As a result, a huge amount of individuals have shown their interest in attaining alternative energy. DIY Home solar kits have gained immense popularity these days and everyone is taking notice of this supremely beneficial alternative energy with its many benefits and its inexpensive renewable source of energy.

Getting your own source of renewable energy will help you in various ways. Our number (1) goal is to provide you with all the information necessary for you to make an educated and responsible decision about DIY renewable energy kits For further information about these exceptional DIY renewable energy kits, you can check the expert reviews of the top (5) alternative energy guides available to the public.

Find More Diy Home Articles

Home Security Camera Systems: Taking Your DIY Home Security System to the Next Level

by admin

Back in the 80’s, visual, information and auto-detection technologies were very poorly understood by the average person. If you’d suggested building a DIY home security system in 1990, most people would probably have thought of Kevin McCallister’s maze of booby-traps in Home Alone.

But computers have traveled light years in the past couple of decades. Hardware glitches, though still not a thing of the past, are far rarer, and operating technologies such as media recording and storage and motion detection is now a fairly simple business, accessible to anyone with the time to skim through a short user manual or do a little browsing on the internet. You can, believe it or not, actually build pretty efficient DIY home security systems using simple webcams of the sort people use to chat online. With a little more cash in hand, you can even override issues of poor lighting by installing your own infrared security cameras.

You should keep in mind, before you get too caught up in building a DIY home security system that turns your home into a hi-tech fortress, that the most effective form of crime prevention is really simple common sense. More than half of all burglaries occur as the result of negligence – someone leaving a door or window open, or forgetting to put the alarm on. Make sure that your spouse, children, and any other residents of your home are set in the ritual of locking doors whenever they leave, even if it’s only to run a quick errand.

On from this, you’ll want to install contact sensors on all your windows and doors. Contact sensors are simply two pads which, when in contact, complete an electrical circuit. If that circuit is broken by, say, the opening of the window, a switch will trip in the contacts, causing them to signal to their central hub (which, in the case of a DIY home security system, would probably be your personal computer). Contacts can be purchased for less than ten dollars at most hardware stores.

If your DIY home security system effort is going to include the rigging of a full-blown home security camera system, it’s possible to have your contacts serve as the activators for the recording function of your cameras. Thus your cameras will be set to record as soon as the contact circuit is broken and the perimeter of your fortress is breached. Truly, if the lighting in the house is decent, and you’re generally at home at night, there’s no reason to construct your home security camera system using anything more snazzy than a few good webcams. Webcams start at under $ 20, and go right up to the point of being far more accurate as regards color and contrast discrimination than the human eye.

Infrared security cameras present an opportunity to take your DIY home security system to the next level, leaving it immune from changes in lighting conditions, and ensuring that you find out what happened in your home entirely regardless of whether a bulb blew. The flip side of this coin is the fact that buying one may leave you feeling like you’ve been robbed – while infrared security cameras have become a lot cheaper in recent years, decent ones are still priced in the $ 2000 area. The question is really one of need – if your home is adequately lit by streetlights from the outside, then your home security camera system probably won’t be much improve by the purchase. Keep in mind, however, when doing your cost-risk calculations, that infrared security cameras can double as fire detectors, eliminating the need to install smoke detectors.

For more useful tips on Home Security Camera Systems be sure to check out www.Home-Security-Pro.com.

Related Diy Home Articles

Crucial Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Home Improvement Tips

by admin

With an ever-expanding network of home improvement television shows and DIY magazines, the do-it-yourself home improvement sector has taken off. Homeowners everywhere are rushing to their local hardware stores, ready to rip out their bathroom tile or tear down old kitchen cupboards.

As excited as you may be to get started on your first DIY home improvement project, there are a few considerations you should first take into account. You need to plan, understand your project, budget, and be aware of your space. To learn more about these basic, but crucial, DIY home improvement tips, keep reading.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan

Before you even begin a DIY home improvement project, you should have a full plan in place. And prior to making that drive to the home hardware store, put together a folder with all your measurements and a complete list of everything you intend to buy, right down to the last nail.

People get excited about projects and don’t want to get right to it instead of “wasting” time planning. However, By planning out the phases and details your project, you’re less likely to overspend on unnecessary materials or find that you need to backtrack over already-completed work.

Planning prevents mishaps such as needing to stop work and call a plumber because you forgot to verify whether there were pipes running where you wanted to put in that door. Planning also decreases overspending, such as buying three cans of paint when you only needed two.

Meanwhile, researching your project will help to avert the more costly mistakes. By reading books, watching relevant DVD’s or researching online information about the project you want to tackle, you’re less likely to botch a job and more likely to complete it with a professional finish.

2. Budget

Along with planning, comes budgeting. As you plan the details of your project, keep a running tally of the expense for each material. If you don’t know how much something costs, check the Internet or call your local retailer to obtain a price ahead of time.

Once you have your budget, add 10-20% extra. Almost every home renovation project, DIY or not, runs up against unexpected expenses – it’s just a reality of life’s uncertainties. Whether it is materials that cost more than you expect or a surprise problem that needs to get fixed, you’ll need to have the money ready to take care of it. Every good DIY’er knows to have a little extra on hand.

3. Understand Your Project

Before you attempt to tackle a major home improvement project, make sure you know what you’re doing. Use resources like books, your local hardware clerk, the Internet and how-to videos to get a good grasp on the project you will be undertaking.

If you feel like the project is out of your league, don’t hesitate to call in a professional.

4. Know Your Space

This tip is related to planning, but make sure you have enough space to take on your project. Don’t try to fit a new island in your kitchen if there isn’t sufficient room for it. Try to live by the old carpenter’s adage of “measure twice, cut once.”

To help meet your home improvement needs, such as for beautiful replacement windows, great flooring options, home improvement loans, and much more, please visit www.home-improvement-needs.com for insightful information.

Related Diy Home Articles

DIY Home Improvement Projects Reviewed

by admin

You have seen it on television, read about it magazines and you may have even taken a course or two yourself. This refers to DIY, also called “do it yourself” home improvement projects. Home improvement, which was once reserved for the tried and true professionals, are now being completed by weekend warriors across the world. No longer do you need to check the phone book and call several companies to come and fix your toilet or replace your kitchen cabinets. Now with a little preparation and a few tools, you can do these improvements all by yourself.

Why are DIY projects so popular? Many people (usually those that are not skilled with tools) wonder why anyone would want to spend a weekend, or perhaps even two or three weekends, renovating, painting stripping and caulking around the house. The answer is because DIY projects are the craze, partly because it is more economical to fix something yourself and partly because people like to do that type of work. Fixing something without calling in help gives many people a sense of accomplishment and pride and potentially saves a lot of money in the long run. Another reason why these types of projects are so popular is because information is so readily available to you. If you need to know how to fix that leaky faucet or install gutters on the exterior of your home windows, you can often find excellent advice and tips right on the Internet.

Getting the Best DIY Advice: When you get ready to tackle any DIY home improvement project, you can find plenty of books and reviewed magazines and websites offering you all sorts of helpful information. If that is not enough to give you a boost, then check out your local home center, such as Lowe’s or Home Depot for classes, tools and help getting almost any size project completed. These stores specialize in helping people just like you to get their home improvement projects done efficiently and easily. In fact, you can rely on these centers to also rent you the tools and equipment you need.

Don’t Want to DIY? For every person out there that loves and looks forward to DIY projects there are at least a few that just want to hire someone else to take over the project. In that case, you will want to hire a contractor that can work with you. You will need to look carefully to find someone that communicates well with you and one that is skilled and competent. Remember, these people will be inside your home, so you want to make sure they are trustworthy as well. Do your research before you hire anyone and you will find that you will have better results in the end.

Concentrating on latest news in interior design, Rob Carlton is writing mainly for http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com . You can come across his abstracts on hurricane demonstrated storm windows over at http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com .

Home Improvement St Louis MO With 3 Essential Factors By Home Repair Experts

by admin

After having constructed the houses, it is the responsibility of the house owners or the tenants to give proper shape to the maintenance work. Without the rightful repair work, no house will continue to look as beautiful and appear safe as in the beginning. It is a consideration that is being brought into the houses in St Louis in Missouri, where these buildings have been constructed in modern fashion, with intricate work done in the exteriors, roofs and even in the inside. After people reside in these buildings, they need to take proper care of their houses, so that they can ensure that the building is safe and looks aesthetically pleasing.

* Engaging specialist repair personnel – To carry out the work of home improvement St Louis MO, there are contractors, who can be entrusted with the repair works. They are skilled in a number of activities, which can build up a strong base in the exterior walls as well as give fresh coats of paintings. They can also handle the repair of windows and replace any broken or eroded parts. Home repair contractors MO can have versatile responsibilities, which they render in the best possible manner. This specialty is an advantage for people seeking home improvement and who want to keep their houses strong and beautiful. Maintenance work is a necessity in the long run because the exteriors start fading after some years and keeping these repaired helps improve the show of the entire building.

* Multiple works possible – When home repair experts St Louis MO are engaged for the maintenance work, they are required to look at various problems in the building. Starting from the roofs to those of the exterior paints, many things are needed to be repaired. The sloping roofs need to be repaired for any holes or cracks, to prevent water seepage. Gutters and sidings running around the border of the roofs have to be replaced if required, so that the water drainage is good, without getting accumulated at a particular place. Home repair contractors MO can also replace the exterior paints by doing a good painting job, which can last for few years more. There is a versatility required in the maintenance work and this can be highly fruitful for the home owners because they can engage the exterior specialists St Louis MO and get a number of things done.

* Maintenance charges quite less – Another important aspect of engaging home repair experts St Louis MO is the affordable pricing charges offered by them for their services. Even though they work on multiple parts of the house, they have a fee with doesn’t burn the pockets. So, when home improvement St Louis MO work is being done, people can easily get the work in a complete manner, without a lot of expenses.

From time to time, it is necessary that home improvement St Louis MO be done in the houses by the owners. This will help in keeping the buildings strong and good looking, especially in the serene environments of the countryside. With the availability of the exterior specialists St Louis MO easily, these works are not very difficult to be finished and that too at prices that are not quite high.

For more information on Home Improvement St Louis MO. Visit Today – http://massaexteriors.com