Category Archives: How To (How I Did)

With so many options and possibilities to choose from, homeowners who have embarked on a bathroom renovation journey at one point often feel lost at sea. It’s important to know what stays and what has to go. Sometimes even seasoned renovators have to balance the pros and cons. A residential contractor may advise total destruction of the old bathrooms, but it’s ultimately your old bathroom’s design and layout that determines the extent. When it comes to floors and plumbing, showers, sinks, and surrounds, contractors and experts often have their rules of thumb, but don’t forget it’s you who’s calling the shots.

Re-decorating or re-designing

If you’re only giving your bathroom a facelift, your decisions will include adding colored wood trim, introducing a new commode, replacing the old vanity with a more back-friendly one, or replacing blinds with shutters. These updates don’t require re-plumbing and structural modifications, which, in return, call for new floor plans, wiring and lighting. While in the previous decades, the primary use for the bathroom was utilitarian, today, the emphasis is on luxury and relaxation which can be achieved only through a complete overhaul. In some cases, the tub and commode will remain, but the other fixtures and furniture will be replaced. It’s important to know, however, that in overhauls like these, one new element usually dictates adding of another. Another important rule is to go through the renovation with the same high standard. Otherwise, you’ll be pairing a JC Penny suit with Armani shoes.

Fate of the toilet

In a re-decorating scenario, a perfectly good toilet is something that can stay, but once it has to come up from the floor during the remodel, the best course is to replace it. An old toilet taken from its place needs to be rebuilt before it’s returned. However, the tank-to-bowl seals harden over the years and are likely to separate when the toilet is taken out. And the costs of a plumber rebuilding an old unit don’t fall any short of buying a new one. Another consideration concerning the toilet is what every experienced bathroom designer might tell you – put the new toilet where it won’t be the first thing you see when you open the door. The logic is simple – the bathroom door often gets left open, so the first thing a guest to your home will see is the toilet. So, if you’re aiming for a spa-like vibe in your new bathroom, consider hiding the throne behind a hutch like a cabinet wall.

Should tub stay or should tub go

If your tub is nicked, or someone has ‘expertly’ used abrasive cleaners to the point that now it can be everything but white at its best, refinishing or replacing is just a matter of finance. Refinishing a tub is not even a third of the total tub replacement cost which includes tearing up the door, as you can’t get the old one out otherwise. Another pro of refinishing is that you aren’t messing with the lead drain traps that are soldered into place and keeping the existing fixtures. Apart from financial concerns, refinishing is also recommended if it’s just that awful avocado green, rose gold or unsightly brown colour of the tub that’s bothering you. If the floors and wall coverings come down, refinishing, however, loses its economic appeal, and you might as well stretch out for a new bathtub and maybe add some new features to accompany it.

Less is floor

When it comes to floors and remodel, think twice before you decide to rip the old one up. If you like the material and texture of the old floor, and it’s in good condition, keep it. If the floor is in less than ideal shape, you can still restore it, especially if it’s a quality hardwood floor. Similarly, if it’s a tile floor, and only needs re-grouting, leave it be. However, if the tiles are damaged and you don’t have a box of extras sitting somewhere, it’s better to replace it altogether than to lose your nerve looking for the ones that match. With floors, it’s essential to watch your timing and not jump ahead of schedule. The fact that you saved some money on replacing the vinyl flooring yourself means little if you did it before the major remodel started. Not only are you limiting your floor plan options but also put the new floor at risk of being damaged.

Although contractors and renovation experts will have their ideas on how to do it, it’s the condition and layout of the existing bathroom that determines the scope of the remodel. Before you decide about the basics, make sure to answer the question – are you re-decorating or re-designing? The answer will help you decide what to keep and what not.

Bio: Cooper Klein is an entrepreneur with a degree in Marketing. He’s interested in real estate and home decor. In order to spend more time with his family, Cooper decided to take a break, and he’s currently working from home as a blogger for SmoothDecorator and several other sites.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CooperNKlein

As the famous saying goes, cleanliness is equivalent to godliness, it could not be any truer. Everyone likes to stay in a house, which is clean, and tidy, not only for one’s hygiene and sanitation but also as a projection to the outside world.

There are some simple tips that you can follow to cut down your costs and get an impeccable house, a few of which have been listed below-

Use Mild Dish Soap Or Plain Water

Dishes are something that is used every day, it is a good idea to clean them as, and when they come instead of stacking them up for later. A clean dishwasher gives a tidy look to your kitchen immediately. To clean these dishes, you will need dish soap and a sponge. The type of soap you use and the quantity and technique is important in saving money. This works by primarily preventing wastage due to overuse or wrong usage.

It is always better to use mild dish soap instead of the harsh ones laden with chemicals because not only does it prevents the dishes from getting spoilt, milder dishes are cheaper in comparison to the stronger ones. If you wash the dishes as soon as you finish eating, you can even use plain water to scrub off the initial leftovers so that cleaning becomes easier and less cumbersome.

Clean Daily

Doing the stipulated work every day is going to be helpful in reducing the burden of the work. If you procrastinate, you will end up bulking a lot of work, which will become very stressful later. Tidying up daily is a good idea. Using microfiber brushes to dust areas that commonly get dirty on a daily basis or brooming in the morning is a good habit. Some things might be displaced from their original position; you can put them back where they belong.

Dusting

If dryer sheets are being used, you can keep them to dust your laptop and television screens later. It prevents the leftover static, which holds the dust and is an effective method of reusing.

Choose Reusable Cloths And Mops

Recycling and reusing are the orders of the day. Recycling by yourself might be difficult because of the need for specialized tools, but reusing is something that you can easily do. Using your old clothes and towel as rags to clean the house is a good idea. Newspapers and magazines, something that almost every house has, can be used to clean windowpanes and doors. You can even buy cleaning clothes, which can be reused after washing them in a washing machine once in two weeks. Disposable ones should be avoided to save money and make the process more cost-friendly.

Make Your Cleaner

Do-it-your yourself cleaners are one of the most effective methods of not relying on chemical products for cleaning and saving a lot of money as well. All the ingredients that are used for making your cleaner are easily available in the market. Baking soda, vinegar, liquid soap, and water are the most common ones. Take them in appropriate quantities and use them to clean effectively.

Clean With Baking Soda

Baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner and is used in food as well. It is mainly used for cleaning utensils, fridge, windows etcetera because of the presence of mild alkali, which dislodges the grease and dirt from the surface, which can be later easily removed with water. Baking soda is very cheap as well.

No Shoes

This may sound a bit rude, but it is a conscious decision that you have to take to ensure that your house remains clean. People carry the maximum dirt from outside through their shoes. Therefore, make it a strict rule of not wearing outside shoes inside the house. You can make a customized rack to keep the shoes and may label it for general instructions. Providing alternative shoes might be a good way of keeping up the hospitality but make sure that only the person enters the house and not his or her footwear.

Vinegar: Cheap And Versatile

White vinegar is an ideal cleaning product. Mix it with one portion of water to clean taps of metal, countertops, windows, glasses etcetera. You can even use it to clean the inside part of your refrigerator.  This avoiding the use of chemicals in cleaning the area of food storage. It also does not leave behind any lingering smell which gives it an edge over other cleaners.

If you follow the above mentioned easy tips, you will realize that not only is your house clean, you will have extra money remaining.  Which is a good reason to follow the tips in this article.

I almost didn’t publish this, but I can’t let the article go without the real reason to update your plumbing – because your wife said to….

Old homes often come with lots of little problems that need to be fixed before they become larger issues. Some of the most common items that need to be repaired or replaced are your plumbing fixtures. Taking care of them early is the best way to protect your home against water damage and other problems. Here are some of the signs you need new plumbing:

Screeching Noises

Older fixtures or plumbing pipes will often make a screeching noise when you turn them on or off. This could be a sign that it’s time to have them replaced before they have a chance to spring a leak. Look into using a bathroom plumber if you notice this noise emanating from your bathroom fixtures. It’s better to have it looked at before it can result in water damage to your home.

Corroded or Broken Pieces

Your fixtures should be in relatively good shape. When you think about it, water is running through them. You don’t want to risk having a blowout that could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars to repair. Replace them now as a part of your preventive maintenance plan. It will save you money in the long run.

Water Seepage

Faucets and toilets shouldn’t be leaking water around either the base of the faucet or underneath them. This could be caused by a corroded seal inside the fixture itself or some other problem. One option is to replace the seal or the other option is to replace the whole fixture. Your skill level may determine the best course of action for you in tackling this issue.

Age of the Fixture

Fixtures are only designed to last for so long. The interior parts will start to wear out over time. Piping in your walls also have a similar shelf life that will need to be taken into consideration. It’s a good idea to be aware of the type and the age of the pipes that your home contains. This could help you to stay on top on the maintenance instead of the other way around.

Getting ahead of your plumbing issues is the best way to keep your home in good working order. You don’t want to have to be mopping up a water leak just because you ignored the warning signs of an impending plumbing problem. Consult with an expert if you’re concerned that the plumbing system in your home isn’t up to par.

As a homeowner, you have ultimate control over how the lighting in your home serves you. You may be dealing with the limited lighting that was originally installed in your home.  Alternatively, you may have adapted the living space to accommodate your task preferences.

Perhaps you have deep eaves, low ceilings, too few windows.  You may even be in a wooded area with lots of trees and bushes that imped the natural light.

For these and a variety of other issues that make your house seem dark, here are simple ways to improve the lighting in your home:

Evaluate Your Windows

According to Unique Home Solutions, available light is now one of the most popular aspects in deciding on buying a home.  If you are fortunate to have a home that has most of your windows facing southward, you are in luck.  If your home is situated in such a way that few windows are getting the most available natural light, you have some options.

Take stock of your window treatments. Where you have dark window coverings, it may be time to redecorate. This can include the wall colors in any rooms that are particularly dark. Painting the ceiling a lighter color than the walls will also create the illusion of height and space. Reflective paint such as gloss finish as opposed to matte will reflect more light. Hanging or installing mirrors where light comes in multiplies the effect.

Where you have bushes or trees that block the light, you can do some trimming to let more light through the glass. Where doors are solid wood, you may want to consider changing them out for a style that incorporates glass.  This gives both a change in atmosphere as well as lets more light into the home. You may also consider adding new windows. A kitchen that happens to fit a corner of the house but only has the main window in front of the sink may do well to have another window added to match the existing architecture. Corner windows not only bring in more light, but they open up the space giving the impression that it is larger.

Task Lighting and Ambient Lighting

Our desired tasks can change without our recognizing the need to change the task lighting with it. You should have at least three sources of light for every room consisting of:

• General lighting – your overhead or pendant lights
• Specific lighting – task lighting or table lamps
• Ambient lighting – for more decorative or atmospheric purposes

Take a look at what kind of lighting you have in your rooms and consider making some changes. You can add an oversized overhead pendant light or a large sculptural floor lamp that can serve as a focal point. Instead of recessed lighting, how about bouncing the light off the ceiling? This is a way to brighten a room without creating shadows that typically come from downward facing lights.

You can also direct light toward the walls using floor lamps with upward-facing globes. Adding some millwork to the walls behind which you can place linear fluorescent lights allows you to layer the lighting better.

Your lampshades may need to be altered. Lighter colors can either create a cold tone or tint the light to create a warmer, creamier or cooler hue depending on what you choose. You may also work on lighting the darker corners of your home such as closets, under cupboards, in shelves and on counter tops. All these areas take on a beauty and even become more functional when lit properly.

Windowless Areas

If you really want to make some structural changes, you might consider removing walls between rooms to create a more open floor plan. You can widen doorways or where doors separate rooms, you can replace the solid doors with glass-paned ones for a sense of flow while maintaining some privacy if you need to close them for quieter conditions. In hallways or in rooms with no windows, there are tubular daylight devices (TDDs) or skylights that can be added to introduce natural light. These elements can be a real game changer when it comes to increasing the natural light in these spaces.

Compare the difference between the open space that is cut out of the roof to accomplish either of these choices. Sometimes, homeowners prefer the TDDs as they only open a circular hole to receive the reflective tubing whereas the skylight opens a window-sized space that must be carefully installed to prevent leaking.

In deciding what to do to improve your lighting, start by evaluating the present limitations. Think outside the box and consider some of these suggestions that you might not have thought of before. The choice to open up the space for more natural light is a greener option that saves on utilities, but there are plenty of lamp lights available now that also help to conserve your energy use while keeping your house cool. The possibilities are endless when it comes to enhancing your home’s interior lighting.

If you find yourself hearing noises in your attic, you may have some unwanted guests. Don’t ignore the signs. Hearing thumping or scratching noises especially at night is a surefire sign that you have animals or even squirrels in your attic.

Also, if you keep finding your trash can overturned and waste in your yard, this can be an indication that something is thinking about or currently taking up residence in your home. Acting early is important.

Animals like raccoons and squirrels living in your attic can quickly cause severe damage. They are notorious for destroying wiring, pipes and air ducts. You will need to seek the help of a professional to rid your house of these rodents and animals and seek the help of a professional cleaning crew. These types of animals carry diseases that are harmful both to humans and their pets. Here are some ways you can keep your attic rodent free.

Secure your Chimney

This is one of the easiest ways for rodents to get into your house and make there way into your walls or attic. Before taking any steps to block this entrance, you must first make sure there are no animals currently taking up residence in your chimney.

You can check it out yourself or ask for the help of a professional. You can use a chimney cap or vent, to make this inaccessible to animals. The cap will allow smoke to escape your chimney still but will block any unwanted guests.

Check your Roof

Check for any holes or damage to your roof. Missing shingles, gaps around vents or damage to flashing can be an indication that something is trying to get in or is already in. If you have any holes or damage, you must fix them as soon as possible.

Pay particular attention to pipe vents because they can dig around those and squeeze their way into your attic. The professional you have come out can advise you of potential work that needs to be done and additional preventative measures such as vent covers and reinforcements.

Trees and Bushes

Step back and check if you are making it easy for rodents and other animals to gain access to your roof. Do the trees in your yard have branches that touch your roof or are close? If so, these should be trimmed back, so they don’t provide a walkway to your house. Remember, a squirrel can jump pretty far, up to 20 feet in some cases. Keep this in mind when you are planting and pruning around your yard.

Yard

Keep your yard clean an uninviting to rodents and critters. Make sure when you take your trash out it is secure. Never leave bags loose on the sidewalk for pickup, this will attract animals and they will think this is an excellent area to source food and then begin to look for and make a shelter. You can also have a huge mess on your hands.

Make sure your trash cans lids are nice and secure and can’t be easily tipped over. You will also need to watch leaving pet food for dogs, cats or birds out all night. Raccoons especially hunt for this type of easy food at night.

If you are worried that you are at risk for having a rodent or animal problem in your attic or home, you can always call out a pest control specialist.

Most companies will send out an expert that can walk your property with you and inspect your roof and attic to look for weak areas. They are trained to look for spots that we usually wouldn’t see that can easily be covered or plugged.

Conclusions

The bottom line is, it is more cost effective to act now. If you wait until you hear noises in your attic or see other signs, there may already be severe damage that can be expensive to fix. If you do find yourself in this situation, call your homeowners insurance and let them know right away.

They can begin a claims process with you to help alleviate the costs of repairs. Most insurance companies will cover any damages to your roof or home, along with costs to repair or plug holes. While they won’t take care of personal items that are damaged in your attic, they will cover the costs to fix any electrical or plumbing work you may encounter. Taking preventive measures before this happens is the most straightforward path to take.