If you have thousands of dollars in required home improvements staring you in the face, you may wonder if going the DIY route could make them a bit more affordable. The answer to your question is a qualified yes; you need to be well-informed before deciding whether or not to handle your work by yourself. This article will give you tips for doing it yourself and deciding when to call in the pros.
Before beginning home improvements apply for the appropriate building permits. Any home improvement that involves plumbing, electricity, or structural changes can require a permit. Check your local laws. If you proceed without a permit then you can be fined or it could make the house harder to sell in the future.
When trying to keep your home cool in the summer time, employ the use of lots of fans. Ceiling fans can be particularly great at cooling down a room because they improve a room’s circulation. Use both ceiling fans and stationary fans in lieu of your air conditioner to keep both the air and your utility bill cool.
Always insist on references before hiring a contractor to work on your home improvement project. Make sure your potential contractor is properly licensed to perform the work in question. Hiring a professional is worth the money to give you peace of mind that the job is done right the first time.
If a designer is out of your price range, it is time to do your own research. Pick up books, look through magazines and visits blogs to help you. A photograph from a magazine may be all the inspiration you need. You can also find projects that are less expensive.
Replace counter tops in your bathroom and kitchen with new marble or granite tops. Over time, counters will wear down especially if they are made of laminate. Older homes can have outdated or vintage counters. By replacing the counters you will improve the eye appeal and home value without spending a great deal of cash.
Give your kitchen cabinets a brand new look with paint. This is a very inexpensive way of updating your kitchen cabinets. Remove the doors and thoroughly clean all surfaces with denatured alcohol to get rid of dirt and grease. Apply a coat of primer: this should take about an hour to dry. Use a latex or oil paint, and choose a gloss finish, as this stands up well to scrubbing. If the paint you are using is roughly the same shade as the original, you may be able to get away with one coat of paint over the primer. Your cabinets will look brand new again!
If you’re improving the look and feel of your kitchen by installing a granite countertop, consider individual tiles instead of a single piece slab. Granite slabs of countertop length can cost up to $5000, and sometimes even more. Instead, install foot-long granite tiles. For the same amount of space, installing granite tiles will only cost you a few hundred dollars.
Your home improvements can reflect you. You’ll find that you can do some amazing things as home improvement projects that won’t break your bank account. Sometimes it is best to leave certain tasks to the professionals, and the advice here should help you to decide when the best time to do this is.
