75 Home Improvement Tips

Equipping your fireplace with glass doors blocks heated and cooled air from escaping and amplifies the fire’s heat, which in turn reduces energy costs. Closing the damper when the fireplace is not in use will help keep cold out of your home and add to heating efficiency. Having your fireplace and chimney professionally cleaned will also improve fireplace efficiency. A cheery front-door color and a touch of landscaping can do wonders for your home’s curb appeal and make a lasting impression on guests. Dress the door with new hardware, and add potted plants near the entrance. Consider installing outdoor lighting to enhance your home’s architecture and illuminate the walkway.

These loans are only available from some local authorities, so you should contact your local authority to check whether the scheme operates in your area. Some outlet centers have flooring stores, where you can sometimes find great deals on older styles that have been discontinued, Matke says. If an upgrade absolutely isn’t in the budget, then look to have your carpeting and hardwoods professionally cleaned.

• It focused on Tim Taylor, a former tool salesman turned TV host, and his family.
• Refinishing takes about a day and $200 to DIY, and once you sand down the floors, you can refinish them with a brighter stain to lighten up the room.
• Position the screw eyes so that you slightly compress the weatherstrip when you latch the hatch.
• Typically, you’ll not only make back what you spend, but double your money – and then some.

Each garage is unique to the home, and storage needs are unique to each homeowner, so custom shelves make the most of your space. When it comes to projects that will give you a great return when you sell your home, look no further than a minor bathroom remodel. Give your bathroom vanity a makeover, replace the toilet and faucet if needed, update the shower head for a better shower experience and re-caulk the bathroom tub. After sealing the attic bypasses, push the insulation back into place with an old broom handle or a stick as you back out of the attic. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self-sticking foam weatherstrip. You may have to add new wood stops to provide a better surface for the weatherstrip and enough room for hook-and-eye fasteners.

So, How Much Can I Really Make?

Anderson measures demand based on searches for home improvement service projects on Porch.com. In the last three months, the company has tracked 330 million U.S. Google searches for home improvement work — that’s up almost 50% from the same period last year. Gardening is the type of home improvement up the most, but the projects range all over the home, inside and out.

You’ll need to add some windows and a staircase, too, which can rob you of space elsewhere. Perhaps fitting a new kitchen or bathroom, or creating extra living space? For most of us, renovation means modernising our home, adding more “functionality” to it or increasing its value. Usually, we’re more preoccupied with finishes and fittings than the things we can’t see.

Please comment on Facebook or call the show – you can say whatever you like – it’s your dime. These days “home improvement” spans a gamut of possibilities. We call it “Home” not “House” improvement for a reason.

Not every clogged drain or drippy faucet needs professional plumbing help. With a few inexpensive tools, an informational article or two and a little patience, you’ll be surprised how simple some of the fixes really are. If you’re on a budget that won’t currently allow pursuing a home remodel, but you’re still in need of a change, changing a few light fixtures could save the day. Modern lighting is relatively inexpensive, and you can put it anywhere with the advent of things like LED rope lighting. Spend a few hundred dollars on lighting instead of many thousands on tearing the place apart and putting it back together. Beautifully highlight a coffered ceiling with colorful paint, and keep the trim white for a bold visual effect.

Replace a Torn Window Screen

Choose a low-flow showerhead and you’ll get virtually the same sensation of water flow while saving money on your water bill. If your showerhead flow is already low (and shouldn’t be), check to see if hard-water deposits are clogging the holes. Many new showerheads provide more options for control—multiple spray styles, pivoting angles, temperature settings—and they’re more efficient. Try replacing your showerhead with a newer model so you can achieve a spa-worthy bathing experience in the comfort of your home. For a pro look, curtains should puddle slightly or just kiss the floor. Not brave enough to go totally open with your cabinetry?

In their latest HGTV series, Drew and Jonathan Scott help celebrities like Brad Pitt and Melissa McCarthy surprise their loved ones with amazing home renovations. This show had millions of viewers everywhere daydreaming of downsizing their homes. This mother-daughter duo has taken the world of home renovation by storm with their super popular HGTV show. Their ability to remodel rundown homes into jaw-dropping works of art is unmatched.

Instead, for the interior walls of your small home, opt for cool colors that give rooms an open and airy look. “It actually makes the house feel bigger,” Monaghan explains. Neutrals are always a good idea for walls, but cool-toned neutrals in a small home makes walls look further away than they are, visually expanding the square footage of a space. First of all my best wishes go out to the folks who stop and read my stuff. The Mighty House radio show has been a labor of love for over a decade (another number I should know… but I don’t… it’s been longer than that). If you are a listener or a viewer over this amazing internet thing, Your feedback is what keeps us going.