Totally Home Improvement Blog
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Tips to Avoid Outdated Home Improvement
Let’s face it, no matter how much you would like your home to look like it is worth a million bucks, the sad reality is you most likely live on a budget. This being said though does not exempt you from being able to create an aesthetically beautiful home.
It seems too foolish to mention home improvement and be able to confidently say that you expertly know what to do. Honestly there are a lot of considerable ways to be able to recreate a wonderful home but you have to make sure to follow a path of creativity and at least have a pair of (or more) helpful hands ready to work with you.
Stick With the Basics
There are a good number of people who tend to become overwhelmed with the idea of home improvement, so much so that they think the more design elements they work with the better looking their home turns out. Truth be told, the exact opposite which is to keep things simple, is what you really need to work with first.
If you are unsure of what particular patterns and color combinations look good together go for furniture that are plain and have one general color. Keep the decorations and designs to a minimum and work your way to more detail once bigger pieces are set in place.
Splash a Bit of Color
If there is one thing that is under rated when it comes to home improvement it would have to be adding in lively colors but make sure never to go overboard. Start things out as simple as you can through painting a particular color to the walls of your bedroom, choosing an accentuated color of throw pillow covers for your living room or placing a fun colored tablecloth on your dining table.
Remember that colors are there to make a room in your home come alive and look extra special, so avoid having just one color for everything inside the room. At the same time avoid having way too many colors popping out from every direction of the room after all you would not want to live like you were stuck inside a rainbow.
Learn to Redesign
As you go through home improvement, surely you would have your own point of view and style to consider, however it is best to learn a tip or two before starting out. Common personal mistakes reveal that those who redesign their homes based on just what they find appealing to them tend to end up with a home that looks like an unfinished classroom project.
Take the time to get a handful of inspiration from design magazines or the Internet and work your way to seeing what makes these particular designs stand out. Ask the point of view of others too if you find it difficult to select what particular designs look great together as for sure they can help prevent your home improvements from turning appalling.
Stay Away From Too Much Detail
Whether it is bizarre prints and patterns, way too many ruffles or feathers or even a ton of gold embellishes, steer clear of going overboard with way too many details unless you are aiming for a house from the past. Be reminded that home improvements are meant to turn your home to better quality and not the other way around.
Before braving through adding details to your home décor, establish a well planned and distinct design that work well together, for each of your living spaces. Also be certain that you are working on designs that are current and updated as it ensures that the additional details you will be adding to the furniture and fixtures are also up to date.
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10 Tips to Simplify the Big Move
Moving industry insiders have a secret they don’t want you to know. It’s called the “full-service move hack.”
It’s a way for you to afford whatever help you need to make your move easy – yes, easy. And you don’t even have to hire one of those really expensive full-service moving companies. While they do everything short of carrying you out on a couch, that means they’ll be charging an arm + a leg + rights to your future first born child.
Since you most likely want to keep your baby and some of your money, here’s how to hack your move so even though you’re “moving yourself” you don’t lift a thing - and, most importantly, you’re still keeping costs down:
1. Go hybrid.
It’s not what you think. Going hybrid means combining elements of DIY moving with the benefits of hiring professional movers. You gather your friends and family, who are willing to pitch in (DIY), and then hire moving labor just to do the heavy lifting (movers). Thanks to the beauty of the world-wide-web, you can now find and book move help online through a number of moving labor marketplaces. When the moving crew you hire arrives you can assign them to pack and load everything or just have them load the heavy stuff.
2. Pack yourself.
Sure, you can hire the professionals to put all your worldly belongings in boxes, but you are charged by the hour and that’s probably the longest task in the moving process. Instead, get family and friends to help you to do that. Have the professionals load and unload the boxes and furniture onto the truck or portable storage unit (you know, those PODS containers you see sitting in driveways around town. We’ll get to those). Besides, packing yourself will allow you to pack everything by room, so unpacking will be easier for you.
3. Pay someone for the delicate stuff.
While you should pack almost everything yourself, you should consider hiring professionals to pack up delicate or difficult-to-move items, such as a piano, family heirlooms, or fine art.
4. Play truck driver…or not.
Price out your options for moving truck rentals that will allow you to carry your entire life from one destination to another. You’re not limited to U-Haul, by the way. There are others, including Penske, Budget, Ryder, and Enterprise.
If driving one of these big boys sounds like torture, you might consider portable storage units (also called portable moving containers) or professional transportation. Companies, such as PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT will pick up your packed storage containers and transport them for you. And the likes of ABF UPack and Estes SureMove have professional drivers, who carry your load with other customers on their semi trailers and make deliveries along a specified route. Remember, these guys don’t offer any moving labor help, so you’ll still need someone for that.
5. Stick to a schedule.
Many of the additional costs surface because people take too long to load trucks or keep professional movers waiting. If you’ve hired professionals to pack the truck, make sure you have the boxes ready to be loaded when the movers arrive. Be ready to move – literally and figuratively – as soon as the clock starts ticking on your time with the rental truck, professional transportation, or portable storage units. If you stick with the schedule that you’ve agreed to with the rental services, you won’t end up paying extra. Everything will run more smoothly, too.
6. Learn the law.
Every city has its own rules and regulations about parking big trucks and storage containers. For example, Chicago and New York are notorious for their restrictions on dropping of portable storage containers on city streets - which means you may need to also rent a truck to shuttle your stuff from the container delivery headquarters to your new apartment.
Find out the policies both where you live and where you are moving. Follow the rules, or risk, at worst, paying fines and, at best, being inconvenienced on moving day.
7. Shop wisely for supplies.
Rental truck companies and other movers often offer the chance to buy boxes and other materials. You can save money by shopping around and looking for sales at office supply stores. Some stuff, such as packing tape, is often available at your local dollar store. What you might want to do is rent loading carts and furniture pads from the truck or moving container rental company.
8. Avoid supermarket boxes.
Free boxes sound like a good deal, and lots of people source their supermarket for them. But boxes that have carried food can be ripe with mold, mildew, and bugs. And you don’t want any of that getting into your stuff or your new place.
Rather, visit your local liquor store, book store, and/or coffee shop for free boxes.
9. Don’t forget the T.P.
Be sure to keep toilet paper on hand and in an easy-to-access place. Chances are someone will have to relieve him or herself before you take off or when you arrive at your new place.
10. Feed the help.
You’re saving hundreds, if not thousands, on the cost of your move by making a hybrid move, the least you can do is offer beverages and pizza to friends and family who are giving up their precious time to help you move. Besides, food and drink makes it seem more like a party and less like a job.
Moving to your new home, new job, or new life is exciting. It shouldn't be stressful or expensive. Now you know how to hack your move to keep it cheap, without moving it all yourself.
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• Should You Redecorate Before or After You Move?
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How To Recover From A Bathroom Design Disaster
Whether it’s a shady contractor, an accidental hole in the wall or even a shocking shade of pink – a design disaster can (and probably will) affect us all.
And a design disaster in the bathroom can mean serious trouble. Renovating a bathroom or kitchen are two of the most costly projects in the home so if it all goes wrong, you’ll need an escape plan. And quickly.
Problem 1: You don’t like something once it’s in place
If you’ve budgeted carefully then you may have enough money left over to purchase something else more to your taste. Obviously, this isn’t ideal but if you feel like you hate it so much that you absolutely, positively can’t live with it – it may be your only choice. It’s better to do it now than at a later stage.
Due to the large costs involved in fittings and furniture and if like, most, you don’t have enough spare cash to get something else then you will have to finish the job. If it’s the colour you dislike then paint the wall in a shade closely related to the tones of the furniture to compliment the look and add colourful accessories or introduce a feature colour to brighten it up.
There are plenty of virtual colour painters online where you can upload a snap of your bathroom and choose the most appropriate colour to go with it. It’s not perfect but it could give you some ideas of how to liven the room up.
Consider painting the walls or your vanity to match with the rest of the room. Experiment with some fresh patterned tile to lived it up. If you’re feeling extra brave, then why not consider a weekend DIY project and upcycle or purchase a second-hand dresser and transform into a custom-made vanity.
Play with the accessories in the room to create a focal point elsewhere. Look closely at your light fittings and fixtures, your mirror and your towels. Install a few sconces, frame your mirror, add some artwork and pick some really funky towels and shower curtain to match.
By playing around with the little things – it should, at least, make the room feel a little bit more of your own.
How to Avoid
Try to stick to neutral shades and colours when planning your bathroom renovation. Don’t go for anything too wacky – you might really want a toilet that doubles up as a sink – but when it comes to selling your home, funky gadgets and colours aren’t to everyone’s taste so it will mean more expenditure for a buyer and ultimately, a lower price for you.
Don’t buy products without seeing them in person. It could mean the difference between a perfect bathroom renovation and a design disaster.
Problem 2: You find mould
The bathroom renovator’s worst nightmare. Mould.
If It’s a small area of mould (less than three patches, each smaller than a metre each) you should be able to tackle it yourself. Grab your goggles and a dust mask and get to work. Clean and disinfect the area thoroughly – but don’t use bleach! Get rid of any materials which have mould damage, unfortunately these will have to be replaced. Once the area is clean and dry ensure that the cause of the mould i.e. a leaky pipe has also been addressed to prevent the problem reoccurring.
For larger mould patches, you will have to call someone out. You could call a floor contractor to repair water damaged floors, then contact a builder to repair the interior walls and then get a plumber to solve any leaks but this could mean waiting around for a long time for each stage of the work to be completed.
Alternatively, call a bathroom remodelling expert or an environmental consultant to assess what you need to do next.
Remember, mould damage can really harm the value of your home and some types of mould are highly toxic so don’t ignore it. There’s no quick fix for this one, regrettably.
How to Avoid
Inspect the bathroom thoroughly before undertaking a bathroom redesign. Check the shower, bath, toilet and vanity. Feel around for any soft or moist patches. Check for water stains. Use a flashlight to help you look closer and if you do find spots of moisture, then call in an expert to do further tests. They can check for mould, even when it is unclear if you have it, using specialist devices.
Take precautions after the mould has been removed. Ensure your bathroom is well ventilated and invest in a fan. When cleaning, clean your bathroom with mould-killing products.
Check your home insurance as some insurance companies will cover mould under certain circumstances.
Problem 3: You hired a shady contractor
If you’ve had some shoddy work done to your bathroom or your contractor has run off altogether, go to the police in the first instance. Give them as much information as possible as the poor work constitutes fraud so they could be subject to a legal case.
Next complain to Trading Standards or the Better Business Bureau and finally, you can try to take the cowboy builder to court in a small claims case. Be aware though, as this may take up a lot of time and depending on the amount of the claim – can cost a lot too.
How to Avoid
Don’t scrimp on workmanship. You can’t make a bad tradesman do a good job but in some instances, you can ensure cheap materials are made to look expensive through the work of a good contractor.
If it seems too good to be true (in terms of cost) – it usually is.
Shop around, get a minimum of three quotes on the work you require doing. Get recommendations from friends and work colleagues on who they have hired previously – what’s better than a word of mouth recommendation?! Do they have references? Do they have an office and a landline phone number as opposed to a van and a mobile phone? Be really sceptical of cash-in-hand jobs and ensure they give you written estimates for the cost and time frame of each stage of work.
Make sure you receive a remodelling contract and ensure you read it carefully. Address them with any discrepancies or things you are unsure of.
And finally…
- Make sure you plan each stage of your bathroom remodel carefully.
- Don’t try to rush any work. Expect that it will take a long time for your bathroom to be the superstar bathroom you desire.
- Budget more than you need to allow for anything to go wrong.
- Don’t attempt to do any plumbing or difficult tasks yourself. Save money by painting and undertaking cosmetic tasks.
- Stick to mid-range fixtures and fittings – don’t cut corners in the wrong places.
Remember, if you've had a bathroom design disaster – it’s not the end of the world. Read up before you undertake any work and be sure to check out my list of common bathroom design mistakes so you are well equipped to have a smooth and painless bathroom remodel.
Have you had any bathroom design disasters? From a sink skirt to a collapsed ceiling – we want to hear from you!
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Why Should Your Home's Windows Be Tinted?
Owning a home is expensive enough as it is; upkeep can be difficult and people's priorities can feel scrambled when they are faced with several necessary improvements or upgrades that cost tons of hard-earned money. Even beautiful, new homes could always benefit from certain improvements. Commercials, magazines, and the amazing house down the block constantly push people to improve their homes with similar dedication to optimistic self-improvement. New paint jobs, new furniture, better shrubbery, crown molding, de-rusting fixtures, upgrading lighting--the list of home improvements never ends.
So why tint windows, then? What makes this upgrade to a home important? Why should it take priority over other home improvement needs? Most homeowners cannot simply flick their wrists and, within a single month, improve just about every aspect of a home at once.
However, a single upgrade can in fact improve multiple aspects of a home at once. These are 5 ways that tinting, above any other home improvement project, causes a cascade of important and beautiful effects on a home.
1. Tinting Protects Inhabitants
Part of the UV rays that make extended exposure to direct sunlight highly carcinogenic also enter through windows. Ordinary window glass does filter out the most harmful part of the light spectrum, but some of it still gets through. . Tinted windows, however, protect the inhabitants from accelerated aging, dry skin, vision damage, and other health hazards associated with UV ray exposure. Nothing is better than a home that is safe to live in.
2. Tinting Protects Belongings
Furniture, art, rugs, and other belongings also appreciate being tinted from harmful UV rays. Sunlight damages more than skin, after all. Fabric, leather, canvases, wood, and many other materials that are common inside of homes experience sun damage. Tinting has a way of safeguarding all of the belongings, flooring materials, and other expensive items that homeowners consider purchasing for home improvement purposes.
3. Tinting Protects Belongings from Theft
Speaking of keeping things safe, the sun is not the only culprit behind home damage. Theft affects hundreds of American homes every single day. Tinted windows keep the greedy eyes of burglars from seeing what is behind the glass. When they are unaware of what sits inside of a room or an entire home, they are less likely to break in. For all they know, a home with tinted windows could have only a single television and no stereo equipment inside. Burglars would prefer to make a break-in when they know what goods are on the other side of a window. Tinting helps to keep all of a homeowner's possessions safe.
4. Tinting Protects Paint Jobs
One of the most inexpensive but significant improvements to a home besides tinting windows is painting the walls. This visible change adds character to rooms. What it also adds, though, is yet another light-sensitive material to every room of a house. Paint can bleach, fade, chip, and even change color when exposed to direct sunlight. It is clear that UV rays can be harmful to just about everything. They are like floods that many people do not bother keeping out, unless they wise up and invest in tinting their windows.
5. Tinting Saves Money
Home improvement takes a little creativity, a hint of dedication, and a dash of excitement. It also takes money. In fact, there is practically nothing homeowners could do to improve their property without having money to spend, besides rearranging furniture for better feng shui. Whereas most homeowners make important omissions from their budgets in order to afford home improvement projects, many people do not consider lowering the monthly costs associated with home ownership in the first place, namely electricity bills. Tinted windows keep hot sunlight out while still letting bright, filtered light in, improving the energy efficiency of homes and lowering utility costs. With monthly savings on bills that can be astronomically high, there is more money to set aside for occasional home improvements down the road.
It’s clear that homeowners can see numerous instant improvements when they tint their windows as well as the safety and savings that allow for future upgrades. Best of all, just about all of these improvements that come from home window tinting also apply to cars and businesses.
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Solar Attic Fans Versus Electrical Attic Fans
Now that summer is here, have you visited your attic lately?
What? You say it’s too hot up there?
Excess heat in your attic is actually an excellent reason to venture up the attic steps. That is, in order to install an attic fan, or Power Attic Ventilator (PAV).
Why install an attic fan?
In the summer, the sun’s heat on your roof radiates into your attic, and can raise its temperature to over 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Needless to say, this bakes everything in your attic and can damage valuable stored items. The extra heat also radiates into your home, making your A/C run overtime. In a case like this, the passive ventilation from your roof soffits isn’t enough. An attic fan is needed to actively vent the excess heat.
Attic fans can also help in winter. In cool weather, the heat differential between the warm inside air and the cold outside air can cause moisture to condense in the attic. This can lead to serious problems, including rotting trusses and joists, mold growth, dangerous ice dams and damaged insulation. The additional ventilation that a PAV provides helps prevent these problems.
Two types of PAVs: solar versus electric attic fans
When selecting an attic fan, your first choice is to decide between installing a PAV that runs on standard electricity, or a solar PAV. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of solar versus electric attic fans:
Electric PAVs
Electric attic fans operate by means of a thermostat. When temperatures rise above a certain level, the fan kicks on.
Electric attic fan pros:
Electric PAVs are typically cheaper than solar powered ones. Also, they can run at any time, so if your attic is still hot at night they will continue to vent it.
Electric attic fan cons:
An electric attic fan must be hard wired into your home by an electrician. The cost of this service can cancel the cheaper price of the unit. It also requires significant electricity to run — so much so that you may not see much difference in your overall energy bill, even though your air conditioning may be running less.
Electric fans can also emit harmonic noise, which is bothersome to some people.
Solar PAVs
Solar attic fans, as the name implies, run on solar power. Each unit contains a small photovoltaic array. It runs only when the sun is up, working proactively by preventing heat buildup throughout the day.
Solar attic fan pros:
A solar attic fan is a self-contained unit. A homeowner can easily install it. Even if you prefer a professional installation, the labor costs will be lower since it doesn’t require any additional wiring. Plus, solar attic fans are typically whisper quiet.
Solar PAVs also qualify for the 30 percent Federal residential solar energy tax credit, which has been extended through 2016. The solar tax credit provides up to $1,500 credit on the fan, installation and sales tax.
Probably the biggest advantage of a solar attic fan is the energy savings over time. Once installed, a solar fan costs nothing to run. Compare that to a 250-watt electric fan, which will typically use 60 kilowatt hours per month when running 8 hours per day, and 180 kilowatt hours per month running continuously. At a national average electric rate of over 10 cents per kilowatt hour, you can see that your solar fan will pay for itself in short order. For this reason, most energy experts agree that solar attic fans are far more effective than regular electric fans.
Solar attic fan cons:
The higher unit price for solar fans is the biggest reason some people still opt for conventionally powered attic fans.
Also, a solar unit does depend on the sun to run, so you can’t run it at night. However, because it starts early in the morning when the air is cool, this generally does not hinder performance; and, in the event of a power outage, your attic will continue to vent.
A final note on attic fans
PAVs must be properly sized to your attic in order to be effective. Most small units such as those sold in chain stores will require more than one unit to vent a larger attic. This is undesirable because it results in more roof penetrations. It’s also very important to be sure the passive ventilation in your attic is functioning properly before you install an attic fan. If you are unsure how to proceed, consider consulting with an expert who can help determine the best attic ventilation solution for your home.
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