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Bathroom Remodeling Requires A Plan Before Taking Any Actions

In a world of DIY home renovation projects, it can be easy to get started on an extensive bathroom remodeling project without taking the time to plan ahead. After all, the bathroom is a relatively small room compared with the rest of the house. With so little to work with, planning the project out might seem like a waste of time. However, getting organized ahead of time will save you money, stress and energy as you progress. And having a plan means you’re less likely to forget crucial steps in the renovation process. If you’re planning to remodel your bathroom, then read on to learn about the best ways to get started and stay focused.

Sizing Up the Place

Remodeling projects should always begin with a detailed summation of the size of the space. You can’t go forward without knowing how much room you’ve got to work with and how much room you can steal from other sources. For example, your bathroom might connect with empty wall space, or it might border a wall that contains crucial electrical wiring. Before you plan out what to do with your space, you need to make sure you have the room to do it.

You may not need a professional to help you remodel your bathroom, but you will need a professional contractor to evaluate the project if you plan to extend your space at all. Regardless of your prowess as a DIY home renovator, you probably don’t have the same expertise when it comes to understanding complex wiring and structural systems. Speaking with a professional now will help you avoid expensive mistakes later.

Steps in the Right Direction

Once you’ve established the space limitations, it’s time to start planning your remodeling project. The easiest way to begin is by listing the necessary steps. Doing so will help you stay focused as the project progresses.

Step 1: Establish a budget. Be firm, but allow yourself some leeway in case of emergencies.

Step 2: Create a scaled picture of the final project including dimensions, sizes, fixtures and necessary details.

Step 3: Choose your materials, fixtures, equipment and other necessary items both for completing the project and for furnishing the bathroom.

You can always add or eliminate steps, but start with the basics so that you know you’ve planned appropriately. You may not be able to expect everything that happens during a remodeling project; unforeseen complications and unexpected expenses may throw you off momentarily. But having an established plan and following it in order will help reduce your stress and allow you to see the bigger picture.

Professional Advice

Just as you spoke with a contractor regarding electrical wiring and structural issues, you’ll want to seek advice from someone with experience on where to begin. You don’t have to hire a costly home renovator, but you should ask for help from friends who have done similar projects. You can also browse hundreds of online videos for specific renovation aspects along with books containing useful information.

However, nothing trumps experience, and you may need advice, especially when you get stuck. While you might be able to renovate your bathroom using online tutorials, you could benefit from some expert advice before you begin. Many professionals don’t charge the same rate for advice as they would for actual construction. Consult some local contractors for their tips and tricks before beginning a remodel.

Extras and Special Features

After you’ve planned for the basics and consulted with a contractor, you can add in extra features to really upgrade your bathroom. Universal elements such as handlebars in the shower and comfort-height toilets add immediate convenience and future value. Whether you plan to resell the home or retire in it comfortably, adding in extra universal features will help you in the long run.

Alissa Young works as a writer and a part time blogger. Her subjects are mainly about home and home improvement and in this article, she is giving us tips on how to remodel your bathroom.

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How To Update Your Kitchen Without Spending A Fortune?

by The Diva

For many people, the kitchen is the heart and soul of the home. It tends to be the most used room in the house as it is the place where breakfasts, lunches and dinners are prepared, meaning it is at risk of becoming the most worn-looking room of the house also.

The kitchen should be a place where your family can come together after a long day at work – but if your kitchen is looking tired and outdated, it is going to be the last place you will want to spend your free time.

If you want to add a new lease of life to your kitchen but only have a small budget to do so, follow these tips:

Deep Clean

Dirt and grease can build up in your kitchen easily and quickly. Whilst you may take the time to give your kitchen a quick clean over each day, it is likely you are going to be missing vital parts in your kitchen, allowing grease and dirt to build up – giving the impression that your kitchen is more worn-looking than it actually is.

Take the time to give the kitchen a deep clean, tackle walls, skirting boards, and electrical appliances.

Giving the kitchen a good clean is a great way to give the entire room a new lease of life without spending any money!

Leave windows and doors open whilst completing the deep clean, it will allow the room to dry out quicker whilst allowing fresh air in, totally refreshing the room.

Improve Appliances

It can get expensive when looking at upgrading and improving appliances in the kitchen, to avoid splashing out on brand new equipment, why not just improve on the things you already have?

If your cooker is looking old, tired and grubby but still in great working condition, spend time giving it a good scrub to bring out the original shine and glimmer. To give the impression that the cooker is brand new, why not replace some of the current features? It is possible to upgrade the oven door, hob control knobs and many other things on the standard cooker!

To ensure that all kitchen appliances stay in good working order in the future, it is worth getting them serviced and updating the main parts when needed. It is important that fridge filters are regularly replaced or you may end up with unwanted faults.

Regularly servicing kitchen appliances can save you a lot of money in the long run.

New Accessories

If you still feel that your kitchen has not yet got that brand new look – buy some new accessories to give the impression that you have just had a new kitchen fitted.

Buying new affordable accessories can save you a fortune whilst completely changing the atmosphere created in the room. Update tea towels, pots & pans, and maybe some new storage jars!

Don’t forget to add some personal touches to the room, maybe some photos of your loved ones on the wall and some flowers on the window sill – the little things you add to the kitchen will make a huge difference!

Kerry wanted to update her kitchen appliances, she used Cool Products to source spare parts to update all appliances. By visiting www.coolproducts.org.uk she was able to renovate her kitchen whilst on a budget.

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Improve Your Home With Window Furniture

by Trish

Window furniture is not only a wonderful way to dress up your home and add that extra kerb appeal, but there are many benefits to adding shutters or window rollers as a home improvement. Whether it is for aesthetics or pure functionality below is a list of reasons that detail how certain different types of window furniture can be a valuable investment for you home.

Saving on your energy bills

It is a fact that the windows in your home easily let heat and cold in and out. But roller shutters have the advantage of being fully insulated, so your home will retain heat in winter, and reduce heat in the summer months. This means heating and cooling costs are kept to a minimum all year round.

Keeping your home secure

Most home break-ins occur through windows that are unprotected. Rollers and shutters are an effective deterrent to burglars as they’re made from durable, heavy-duty aluminium whilst not looking unappealing from the outside.

Controlling noise and light

Whether you live in a busy neighbourhood or are simply close to a frequently used road, roller shutters can potentially reduce the level of noise by up to 50% – a handy addition to a lazy Sunday morning. They are also the most effective way to block out UV rays, which is the long run can also provide adequate protection to furnishings and flooring that may fade if left exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Protecting your home from the elements

Extreme weather conditions like high winds, heavy rain, hail and even fires can do enormous damage to your home. Roller shutters are strong enough to withstand the most severe conditions.

Roller shutters come in a great variety of colours to enhance the look of your home. They are opened and closed from the inside, through a wide variety of options. They can be manually operated, with straps or winders, electronically controlled, solar operated, remote controlled, wind controlled, or operated with batteries and you can even add timers. The option of having timers to operate your roller shutters can also prove useful if you wish to go away without advertising the fact you are absent.

Is window furniture expensive?

Window rollers and shutters may cost more than having your windows tinted, but tinting doesn’t offer nearly as much protection or energy efficiency. Compared to double-glazing, the cost is actually about the same, or even more expensive than installing roller shutters and still doesn’t offer the same security, light reduction or energy savings.

For a security, privacy and energy efficient solution, it’s well worth considering shutters and window rollers as a cost effective home improvement.

In addition to this it is also worth considering that the addition of window rollers and shutters can be a valuable asset to your home. Whether it as a rental proposition or if you are trying to sell. A subtle addition that provides a solution to a simple problem could be the key difference to your success.

Sam Nathan is a freelance writer. His interests include finance, sports, travel and health.

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Tips For Keeping Your Home Tick-Free

by Trish

Ticks are very common pests. They can be found just about anywhere, especially if you live in a woodsy area. If you have pets and they are carrying ticks, then there is a higher likelihood that your home will also have some ticks hiding in the cracks and crevices of the building.

Ticks are pests, but if you consider them harmless, think again. They cause harm not only to your pets but to humans as well. Ticks carry deadly pathogenic organisms that can cause severe diseases in humans. They are carriers of Borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. Ticks are also known to cause Relapsing Fever as well as Colorado Tick Fever. They also cause allergic reactions that, in people with very weak immune system, could be very disastrous.

It is for these reasons that you need to keep your home tick-free. Below are some tips for keeping your home free from ticks.

Check Your Pets for Ticks

Your first-line of defense against a tick infestation is to see to it that your pets are tick-free. Dogs love to play outdoors and cats spend as much time as they can outside the house. Because they love exploring, it will be so easy for them to pick up ticks that crawl on the ground. These ticks can easily crawl off their hosts and invade your home.

To avoid this, you need to give your pets a thorough inspection for ticks. In addition to checking for ticks, you also need to give them regular grooming. Just be careful though when you are picking ticks from their bodies. Make sure that you wear protective gloves and use tweezers, too, to pick them up.

Clean Surroundings

Another way to prevent tick infestation is to maintain a clean home and garden. As mentioned earlier, ticks are can be found even on the ground, waiting for unsuspecting victims that they can hitch a ride on. They are hiding in tall grasses and bushes, and they are hiding in shady places, since they love humidity.

You can minimize tick population by making sure that your home and garden are always clean. See to it that there are no cracks in the foundations that ticks can crawl through, and see to it, too, that the grass is always cut short and the shrubberies are well-maintained so they will not have many hiding places. If you live in a woodsy area, make sure that there is a fence keeping wild animals out of your property. Remember, wild animals are also carriers of ticks as well as other parasitic and pathogenic organisms. You do not want them near your property, so you have to build a fence around your home.

Already Infested with Tick?

If your home is already infested with tick, the best thing that you can do to get rid of them is to call your local pest control company. Ask them if their products are green and organic, so the treatment will not pose any health risks to you and your pet. After the treatment, see to it that you always maintain a clean home and garden and that your pets are always tick-free.

Jennifer Dallman is a guest blogger for pest control blogs where she shares tips and advice to prevent pest infestation. If you have tick problems at home, she recommends you to visit Preventive Pest Control for consultation.

Why There Is Damp In Your Home?

by Trish

Having damp in your property is a serious problem and one that most people underestimate. While it might not seem like the end of the world to have moisture on your windows in the morning, this can actually be a sign of much more severe problems and can lead to a number of other issues. Here we will look at why there might be damp in your home, where it comes from and what you can do about it.

Cold

One of the biggest causes of dampness in the home is cold. While the cold doesn’t actually attract moisture as such, it can cause it to condense in the air thus meaning that a slightly damp atmosphere can become wet walls and windows. In this form the moisture is much more noticeable and much more likely to cause problems – and it can quickly become a vicious cycle too as the moisture on the walls and windows begins to ‘steel’ heat energy from your property in a bid to evaporate.

If you want to reduce moisture in your home then, one of the most important things to do is to make sure that you are using your heating properly and not trying to save money by leaving it off for too long.

Integrity

The integrity of your property can also be the cause of moisture problems, and there are many ways that dampness can get in from outdoors. For instance, if you have a leak or some kind of seepage in any of the walls or ceilings, then this can of course allow water to directly enter your rooms where it can begin to cause damage.

If you have any such problems, then the best thing to do is to use a waterproofing service which will help you to stop such leaks and seepage. Note as well that certain aspects of your property might be making it more likely to develop leaks – for instance a flat roof can encourage water to collect and pool which can then create a lot of weight. Likewise single glazing is less effective at keeping out cold and water.

Steam

Not all the moisture in your property is necessarily coming from outside though – some of it may be coming from indoors and from the way that you are living. If you often have hot baths and showers for instance and don’t then open the windows or run an extractor fan, the steam created can settle all around your property.

Likewise you can also generate steam in a number of other ways – whether that’s boiling the kettle or even just breathing. This is why it’s so important to occasionally open the windows in order to allow your property to ‘air’. As you get some movement in the air you will find it helps to clear moist patches that form in ‘air pockets’, and that it prevents the formation of mould as well.

Make these changes and you should find that you start living in a drier property. If this doesn’t help, add a dehumidifier and consider calling in the experts.

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License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source

Daniel Lorenzo is a freelance writer and blogs about a number of home improvement techniques. He writes on behalf of City Wide Group, a leading waterproofing company and suggests that they are the most reliable companies in the field. He likes to take part in different sports activities like football and rugby.

Bathroom Remodeling Requires A Plan Before Taking Any Actions

How To Update Your Kitchen Without Spending A Fortune?

Improve Your Home With Window Furniture

Tips For Keeping Your Home Tick-Free

Why There Is Damp In Your Home?

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