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From Hut to House: A 5-Step Guide to Home Renovation

June 30, 2016adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelinghome improvement, home maintenance, home remodeling, home renovation, home repairsLeave a comment

Without a doubt, home renovation is an exciting and potentially enjoyable experience whether your abode is 20 years old or a hundred. The big problem is that the typical homeowner often doesn’t know where to focus their energy to achieve the best outcomes. If you’re embarking down the renovation path, you can’t go wrong with these surefire remodeling ideas.

Repair & Revamp the Pipes

Even seemingly minor plumbing problems can result in major fiascoes down the road. Have a qualified plumber assess the health of your home’s plumbing and recommend long-term fixes to any problems that are found. While you’re at it, you might want to install a tank-less heating setup or a recirculating water pump.

Have Your HVAC Modernized

At a minimum, any home renovation should include a thorough overhaul of the existing HVAC infrastructure. Professionals, like those at HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric, know that even if your HVAC engine is up to snuff, a little restorative maintenance and duct cleaning is highly recommended. If you have an older house, switching from an inefficient boiler to a natural gas furnace is worth consideration.

Give the Floors a Refresh

Few interior improvements turn a house into a home as fast as a floor makeover. The most popular flooring renovation is switching to hardwood. Even DIY amateurs can slap down some oak or maple in place of vinyl and achieve a stellar look. Likewise, installing tile doesn’t take much effort and delivers unbelievable ROI.

Improve Thermal Efficiency

From Arizona to the frozen north of Maine, it’s important to create a nearly impermeable barrier between the inside and the outside. Putting better insulation into exterior walls and underneath rafters in the attic is a good way to start. Installing highly efficient double-paned windows will seriously cut down on HVAC-related energy bills immediately.

Upgrade Roofing & Siding

Making your home’s outer skin be all that it can be is both aesthetically pleasing and practical. If you have an asphalt shingle roof, it might make sense to consider a durable metal roof instead. Rather than PVC siding, you might want to switch to stained red cedar for a classier look and better pest repulsion.

Most home improvement neophytes succumb to what’s known as “option paralysis” when planning out their renovations. Obviously, you’ll have to make some hard choices when it comes to what you should work on and how much you should spend. Regardless of the circumstances, these renovations will work with any remodeling scheme.

Use Glass Balustrades for Safety and Enhanced Appearance of Your Space

June 29, 2016adminhome improvement, home remodelingglass balastrading, home improvement, home remodeling1 Comment

Glass balustrading is a perfect and ideal choice if you desire to accomplish that flawless indoor or outdoor appearance. It is the versatility of glass that makes it the most distinctive and convenient material. It can be utilized in many applications ranging from indoor to outdoor balustrading. Glass balustrades are often used in many commercial buildings like hotels, hospitals, malls, and much other kind of organizations. Also, no other material can substitute glass to enhance your home’s comprehensive look.

Why Glass Balustrades are an Excellent Choice:

Glass balustrading is a superb choice for a number of reasons. Some of the main ones are listed below:

Minimal maintenance and Durable: Glass does not require maintenance. Since they do not undergo corrosion, there is no need of painting or other kind of sustenance. It is easy to clean.

Economical: As they do not involve any maintenance price, they are cost-efficient.

Safe to use: They do not break easily because materials used for glass balustrading are usually very thick and tempered. Even if it does break in very rare cases, it does not break into harmful sharp pieces.

Energy efficiency: By installing glass balustrades, you can have free light supplement in your space.

Visibility: As we all know, glass is a transparent material, hence it does not block the view. So it is the most preferable material to install in entertaining areas like garden, swimming pool, etc.

Aesthetic appearance: Glass balustrading gives rich and delightful look to your space.

No extra preparations required to arrange the site.

Incorporates additional values and prestige to your space.

Glass balustrades can be widely classified into two categories; balustrades that are dependent on posts and balustrades that are reliant on Structure. The former ones depend vertical posts for their power and support. This is more conventionally used balustrading, whereas in structural glass balustrading, the strength of the glass is dependent on its structure itself. Glass balustrades provide a strong blockade, which makes glass balustrades a safest substitute to many other kinds of balustrades. Irrespective of the occupied space, they provide sufficient light and air to keep the home beautiful. Balustrades come in frame-less and semi frame-less options.

Provides attractive and sparking look:

Glass balustrading offers a striking appearance whether you install them indoor or in outdoor space. You will spot them in staircases, balconies, rails, and pool fencing etc. in hotels, offices, resorts and homes. They look phenomenal when used for staircases as they give a floating feel. Railings can be installed in staircases, balconies for extra safety. Glass balustrades when used in balconies, provides more open and larger space. Along with providing safety barrier, glass balustrading more attractive and sparking look when used for fencing around the pool.

When you start your glass balustrading project, make sure that the dimensions are marked properly. There are many contractors available out there who are experts in glass balustrade installation. When you think of glass for balustrading, keep in mind that safety is the prime factor that you must, particularly when you use it in your home. Always go for trustworthy, reliable glass companies who are experts and well furnished in setting it up. Your home is your most adored belonging, so you don’t want to compromise with the quality of assets being used there. Do not go for low-priced, low quality glass material as it can be very risky especially if there are kids in your house. Be clever and invest your money in the right hands to make sure that the whole balustrading process is going smoothly. All in all, glass balustrading is an easy to maintain, durable and very safe method to give your home or company an astonishing look. So, with the use of glass balustrading you can increase the safety of your home.

7 Home Renovations That Are Worth of Your Money

June 17, 2016January 3, 2023adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelingbasement renovation, bathroom remodeling, home improvement, home remodeling, home trends, kitchen remodeling, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

Renovation is a difficult, long and often tormenting process that will suck out your time, money and patience, but the truth is that if you do it right it can be very rewarding. If you do it badly, though, it can become a true endless money pit, so pay attention. Some projects will be very helpful if you are trying to sell your house and you want to raise its value, but also if you just want to make life more comfortable for you and other household members. So, here are some revamps you can start considering today.

A Kitchen Revamp

Any real estate agent would tell you that home buyers always look at the kitchen most thoroughly, so if you are putting your house on the market, this is the first thing you should do. Even a minor kitchen remodel can add up to 80 percent of the project’s cost back to the total home value.

Some minor improvements you can do are new cabinet doors, countertops, appliances, faucet, sink, hardware and painting. Even if you are not selling, these remodels will make your staying in the kitchen much more pleasant.

Bathroom Refresh

It is similar like with the kitchen, an ugly bathroom is the buyers’ worst turn off, and it also makes family life more difficult. So, try to refresh it with some simple and low-cost updates, such as replacing the faucets, repainting the vanity cabinets, reglazing the tub, adding a new dramatic mirror, painting, installing a luxuriously looking chandelier and improving the overall lighting.

Repair the Floor

Holes and deep scratches on the floor can look really unappealing. If you were trying to hide them with wall-to-wall carpeting, this is the right time to change your approach. In most occasions there is no need for replacing the entire flooring, all it takes is rubbing fine steel wool for light scratches and lightweight sandpaper, wood filler and varnish combo for deeper scratches. After your floor is like new again, there is no need for carpeting any more. With the wide range of beautiful yet cheap rugs online and in stores, you can find a stylish area rug for each room.

Replace the Windows

Energy-efficiency has become a serious concern for new home-buyers, but that is not the only reason to invest in double or triple glazed windows. Eco-friendly windows can reduce heat loss up to 20 percent, which can significantly reduce your energy bills. New, improved frames can also contribute to the savings and make your house look newer and more beautiful.

Insulate

Another investment that can save you a lot of money, eventually. If your home is already insulated, check for some possible oversights. For example, people often forget insulating the attic, or they leave that for some other time. Luckily, laying the attic insulation is a DIY job par excellence – it does not require a lot of money, and it can be finished in one weekend.

Replace the Plumbing

If you are selling the house, rusty and old plumbing may become someone else’s problem (if the buyer fails to notice them), but if you are still living there, there is a chance that you have drank enough metal to build a small ship. Luckily, re-piping is not as complicated as it used to be. Now, you do not have to tear the walls and you can simply run plastic tubing through your walls.

Basement/Attic Renovation

This can be especially useful if you have small house and you lack some additional space. You can remodel your attic into a new or even a master bedroom and/or turn your basement into a family room, a playing room or a home office.

Before you decide for any one of these projects, you should set up a budget and be aware what you are dealing with. Remember to always increase the total sum for a certain amount of money, because with renovating it never goes quite as you have planned.

Guest Post By:

Chloe is an art historian, recreational ballet dancer and a contributor at smoothdecorator.com. She is passionate about photography, dance and music. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world with her husband and take stunning photographs of beautiful places. She also enjoys learning and writing about home design, since she is crazy about aesthetics. You can find Chloe on FB, Twitter, and G+.

How to Make the Most Out of Your Small Bathroom

May 18, 2016adminBathroom Remodeling, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelingbathroom remodeling, home improvement, home remodeling, home trends, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

They say good things come in small packages. This is often true for well decorated and functional bathrooms. What you need to ask yourself is: Is this true for my bathroom? There are many different tricks of making your small bathroom appear bigger, either through some illusions or by compromising with yourself and downsizing some elements. Here are some of the best ways of enlarging your bathroom on the budget and making it more comfortable.

Soft Color Schemes

Colors are the best way of playing tricks. If you use too dark colors, the space becomes smaller and tighter, but if you opt for soft, neutral and pastel hues your bathroom will open up. Repaint the walls in some soft hues of pink, beige, blue or green, but if you still want some details to pop and refresh your bathroom, add some bold colored towels, shelves, hooks and other accessories.

Ditch the Big Sink

Big vanity sinks, with lots of compartments, sure look great and can offer plenty of storage, but in the small bathroom these only close up the space. You should think twice before choosing the sink, and in order to save up some space and visually enlarge the bathroom you should opt for pedestal or wall-mounted sinks. Both of these alternatives can look gorgeous if you choose the right design, and according to experienced plumber from Guildford, these are much easier to maintain and can easily be installed in corners of your bathroom.

Big Mirrors

Another handy illusion of creating a bigger space is done with mirrors. It is logical that your bathroom will have a mirror, but for a better illusion you will need a big one. For a wider look of the space, you should buy a mirror as big as possible and it should be flat. Additionally, you can choose a framed mirror and introduce more depth in your bathroom.

Opt for Smaller Fixtures

Generally, you cannot place something that is huge into a small place. And even though a bathtub can fit into your bathroom, think about it first. Do you really need it? Also, big sinks that look like bathtubs are elegant and spacious, but once again, you probably do not need all that sink space. So, choose your fixtures wisely; if you do not spend too much time in the bathroom, than you will probably be satisfied with just a comfy shower, small sink and a toilet. Use the rest of the space for other appliances and decorations that will open up the space and make your bathroom more enjoyable and clean.

Hang Spice Racks

Placing bulky storage in a small bathroom can only cause clutter. To open up the space you should find alternative storages, such as spice racks, for example. These narrow but useful racks are suitable for storing practically anything in your bathroom. You can hang a couple of them besides the shower and store all the lotions and shampoos; you can place them above the sink and always have your hair and beauty products at hand; or even place them in cabinets for clearing more clutter out of the bathroom surfaces. Possibilities are endless with these handy racks, and you can even color code or decorate them to fit the rest of the design.

You do not have to feel claustrophobic as soon as you enter your bathroom. Make it airy and spacious with these simple tricks, and you will enjoy your daily routines and grooming even more.

Home Improvement: 7 Home Renovations to Consider for this Summer

May 14, 2016adminhome improvement, home remodeling, Summer TipsDIY projects, home improvement, home remodeling, remodeling tips, summerLeave a comment

Some renovations can be completed year-round. Others are more affordable or convenient if you do them in the right season. Here are just a few ideas for great summertime home remodeling projects.

1. Light-Colored Roof

Heat is absorbed through dark colors, and this includes your roof. Warmer temperatures can travel right through your exterior walls and into your home. Replace your black tiles with white ones to reflect sunlight and keep your bricks from overheating.

2. Different Windows

If you’re tired of the morning light always hitting your windows in a blinding way, consider a shopping trip to somewhere like the Fischer Window and Door Store. New frames or glass might be just what you need to stop the glare. As a bonus, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh breezes from non-rusty, non-sticking windows.

3. New Driveway

It can be tricky to lay asphalt in the winter when everything is icy and frozen. If you want to repair or replace your driveway, do so during the summer months when the weather won’t be working against you.

4. Customized Deck

Relax in the sunshine on a brand-new, custom-built deck. It’s the season for it, so contractors and material suppliers should have plenty of deals to choose from, and you can take your time and build it right thanks to the increased number of daylight hours.

5. Sunroom

A sunroom is a great way to enjoy the outdoors without suffering all the bugs and humidity brought on by direct sunlight. Screens and windows can protect you from the worst of it without sacrificing your view outside. What’s more, you can convert your sunroom into a winter room when the weather changes!

6. Solar Power

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on home renovations to be more eco-friendly. All it takes is a few photovoltaic panels on your roof to harness the sunlight of long summer days and improve your home’s sustainability with clean energy.

7. Fresh Landscaping

This is another task that can be almost impossible in cold weather. If you’ve been itching for your yard to thaw so you can mow your grass, plant a garden or sculpt your hedges, now is the time to make your visions a reality.

These are just a few ways to breathe new life into your home during the summer months. Whether you’re planning a full-scale renovation or just a few small changes to stave off the worst of the heat, a new season is a great time for change.

How to Choose Bathroom Fixtures

April 30, 2016adminBathroom Remodeling, DIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelingbathroom remodeling, DIY projects, energy efficient, home improvement, home remodeling, home trends, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

Research shows that people spend an average of one and half years of their lives inside their bathrooms, men and women alike (for different purposes though). Whether it’s showering, grooming or obeying the fickle laws of Mother Nature, we all need our private time inside our restrooms. Which is why it makes sense to invest some time and care into making sure that this most private of all rooms is well equipped to handle one’s needs. Bathroom fixtures are the items that you’ll regularly come into contact with, so it’s best to choose them wisely and carefully integrate them into your design plans. Luckily, most bathrooms only require the following fixtures in order to be fully operational:

Showers

If you’re the kind of person who prefers washing on the go, showers are a great choice. They’re often quite easy to install and don’t usually take up as much space as a bathtub. They also tend to consume less water by virtue of you spending less time inside them. Of course, there are a number of choices you’ll have to make when it comes to your showering experience. Some shower unites deliver water directly through the ceiling or the wall, eliminating showerheads altogether. Others focus on providing you with multiple types of experiences. You no longer only have the option of regulating water temperature, but also its intensity and even color. In this regard some showers are veritable art installations, with lighting and even music that can turn your average showering session into a true treat for the senses. A mélange of the newest designs and hi-tech is truly amazing.

Bathtubs

If you prefer spending your time encased in water rather than sprinkling it over your body, bathtubs can be a wonderful opportunity for rest and relaxation. Just like with showers, there are a myriad bathtub designs to choose from, from alcoves to drop-ins to whirlpool baths. Common building materials include acrylic, composite, gel-coated fiberglass and porcelain. But it’s the additional features that can drastically affect comfort levels. Simply fitting your bathtub with items like foot stops, grab bars and a backrest can make all the difference in the world. Picking the right one isn’t always easy though, so don’t be afraid to consult with a professional before you make your call.

Sinks

The sink is a focal point of the bathroom, yet it often receives the least notice of all main fixtures. Most people simply opt for a china white sink with or without a cabinet underneath, in shapes ranging from rectangular to oval. But there is also the option of going with the more modern-looking glass sink, which can be dropped in and undermounted, or installed with an integrated glass top. Pedestal style sinks can also save up a lot of space inside a bathroom, which is worth considering if you don’t have that much room to begin with. They can also serve as an inspiration for all sorts of innovative design ideas that will enrich your bathroom’s color palette and diversify its look.

Toilets

Toilets are available in a wide array of styles and colors, which can often seem almost maddening at first sight. But, like with all fixtures, it’s a good idea to make your choice based on the comfort level you’d like to experience while also taking into account the overall style of the bathroom itself. A goofy looking toilet might not fit in all that well with a vintage noir aesthetic, for example. You should also think about height. Toilets that are 16 to 18 inches high are most comfortable for adults, but households with children might want to buy ones that are several inches lower than that. Prices can also vary a lot, with many people failing to account for the additional expenses brought on by the installation process. Toilets are quite tricky to install and require a high degree of expertise in working with porcelain. That’s why you should always secure the services of a trustworthy craftsman and ask for his opinion before purchasing the toilet of your dreams.

Showerheads/Faucets

Finally, the items that disperse water into your bathroom might actually be the most important of all. Just one leaky faucet can lead to over 1,600 gallons of wasted water per year, racking up costs and causing unnecessary damage to the environment. Which is why you should always invest in good quality showerheads and faucets, and go with the eco-friendly, low-flow option whenever possible. Many showerheads, for example, are designed with great care to save water without sacrificing performance or causing a poor showering experience. So, if you have older faucets or showerheads, think about replacing them with newer models that are also much less prone to leakage.

That concludes my short guide on indispensable bathroom fixtures and how to choose the right ones for you. Of course, there are many more accessories you may want to include in order to have a more complete bathroom, from towel rails to soap dispensers and extra storage cabinets. But having your basic fixtures in place will make for a comfortable environment that you can use and enjoy right away.

Which Home Improvement Projects Require a Permit?

April 6, 2016adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelinghome improvement, home remodeling, home repairs, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

So you have decided to remodel your house and have so many ideas on your mind. However, there are so many things to consider, other than money and material. One of those issues is whether or not you will need a permit for your remodeling projects? It seems difficult for homeowners to wrap their heads around the fact that even some smaller home improvement project will require some sort of permit, but in most of the cases that is true. Of course, the requirements for a permit will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but there is some common ground for all the localities.

Projects that Definitely Require a Permit

Regardless of your locality, some projects are so demanding and are changing your home so much, that you will surely need to acquire a permit, should you decide to remodel.

Demolishing a load-bearing wall: Because a load-bearing wall supports the weight of trusses for the roof or the weight of the floor above, demolishing it would imply that you need to provide some alternate method of supporting that weight.
Plumbing and electrical work: Installing or replacing electrical wiring or plumbing always requires a permit, except when it comes to smaller alterations, such as light fixture installations or some repairs.

Window installations: If you are installing windows that are bigger than the ones you previously had, you will need to get a permit for cutting holes for them. This also applies to skylights and new doors. New windows (especially energy-efficient ones) make a great upgrade if you are expecting a larger income from your investment home.
Heating systems: Replacing the water heater and altering ventilation system, ducts and fireplaces almost always requires a permit. You will not need the municipality approval for motor lubrication, equipment cleaning and changing the filters.
Roofing: Pulling a permit for roofing is always necessary, especially when you are repairing an area greater than 500 square feet. If you ever decide to sell, you will need to give that permit to the buyer along with the other documents to make the eventual wholesaling the real estate much easier.
Building an addition: When your house seem too small for you and you decide to build an additional bathroom, extra storage space, a laundry room, etc. before you start with the works, you should always pull a permit.
Garage conversion: When the conversion requires some significant changes, such as wiring, plumbing, heating, cooling and replacing the door, you should check for the permit requirements.
Other structural changes: Other structural renovations for which you should obtain a permit are changes to the porches, balconies, decks and foundation flooring.

Projects that Might Require a Permit

Now, there are some other projects that might require a permit, depending on the location and on their specifics.

Fencing installation or repair: You might need a permit for this project if there are height restrictions in the city. In New York City, for instance, fences over 6 feet high are regulated by the rules of the Department of Buildings.
Demolishing a non-load bearing wall: Even though this project will not make any kind of structural changes, you should check for additional information with your contractor or at your local permitting office.
Cutting down a tree: Although it makes little sense for the city to forbids you from cutting down a tree in your own backyard, but if you property is located at environmentally fragile place (woodlands, wetlands, etc.), you should definitely check for the needed permits.
Other projects that might require a permit are moving a sink, laying in a new roof, putting hard wood flooring, etc.

Sure, with most of these projects, you can ignore the needed permits and hope you will not get caught, but be aware that, if you do get caught, you can end up struggling with fines and penalties.

Why Hire A Professional To Remodel Your Bath?

March 9, 2016adminBathroom Remodeling, Home Improvement Tips, home remodeling, Plumbingbathroom remodeling, home improvement, home remodeling, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

If you have decided to remodel your bathroom, there are lots of decisions that need to be made before going forward. Do you have a specific design for your project and will it work with your current bath? Do you have the skills, knowledge and time to take on a bathroom remodel yourself or should you hire a profession contractor. This article will help you make those difficult decisions and make your bathroom remodeling project go smoothly.

You can’t be a handyman all time. There will be some things in remodeling that you can manage on your own, but other things like plumbing, addressing construction issues and completing your bathroom remodel in a timely, safe and professional manner may best be left to a professional bathroom remodeling contractor with years of experience like Bruzzese Home Improvements!

Check out the top notch reasons why you should hire a professional when it comes to remodeling your bathroom;

Remodeling Your Bathroom Is Time Consuming: If you are planning to remodel your bathroom yourself, it will be very time consuming so you can plan on giving up your weekend recreational activities and most evenings. Only an expert can give you the remodel service in a complex situation with no interference in your daily schedule. Experts work with mapping out things with their experience that will make their job go as easily and proficiently as expected.

Avoid Future Plumbing Issues: It’s better to hire a pro if you want to be safe and assured that the job is done to specifications. Plumbing is essential in your remodel and it is something that needs to be done by experts to avoid any leakage or stoppage. With every connection required for a bathroom to work such as, sink, shower, tub, various drains; remodeling needs master consideration for good results!

Laying Tiles And Installing Cabinets: If you don’t think you have the expertise to lay tiles, install cabinets, or fix showers or tubs in the bathroom, you may want to consider hiring a pro. When we talk about laying tile, it needs to be cut to fit into small, uneasily shaped corners. To give your corners a clean and tidy look, hiring a pro is a must! Similarly, installing bathroom cabinets properly to store your stuff, is crucial so that it won’t fall in the future and modification are made to your small/big bathrooms.

To Get Maximum Satisfaction: If you are looking for maximum satisfaction, then you must hire Trained experts who are specialized in bathroom remodeling. They are capable to handle every tough situation and can work with you for the best possible remodel. The materials they use are the best available in markets and the techniques used to install them are up-to-date. Go for pros who have years of experience in remodeling. Professionals work and clean the area as well without bothering the customer.

Proper Planning And Designing: When it comes to remodeling the bathroom, planning and designing your project is essential. An experienced bathroom remodeling contractor will draw up a plan and help you design your dream bathroom! They will show you a myriad of design types of layouts and designs of your bathroom and equipment to make a wise pick within your budgets. Remember! Professionals work with full safety and protection.

Things to consider…

Make sure while picking a professional for your bathroom remodel:

You ask for proof of insurance
Make sure your contractors license is up-to-date
Check the companies’ record with the BBB
Ask for references
Ask your friends

In conclusion, make a list of what you want and what you are looking for in order to make a wise decision. Don’t rush. Take your time while picking the perfect pro for your perfect bathroom remodeling service!

Do you have any query or something you want to share, feel free to comment below!

Author Bio: Dan Kogan is owner of NY handyman NYC, one of the leading handyman in New York City, with more than 20 years of experience. He is passionate about all things related to home improvement & bathroom remodeling.

Home Garage: Design Considerations

February 22, 2016adminhome addition, home improvement, home remodelingaddition, home improvement, home remodeling, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

Many people love to imagine how their dream home will look someday. The problem is that by “home” they usually mean “living room”, “kitchen” or “bedroom”. Surely enough, the garage is rarely a place where you bring your friends to, but after some time of navigating your car through a narrow space, not having enough room to put your stuff, you will realize that not giving the garage’s design the same attention you gave to the rest of the house was a big mistake. Let us make sure this never happens by looking at some of the things you can consider while designing the garage.

Put the Things into Perspective

Today, the vast majority of families own 1-2 cars. You have to bear in mind, though, that these numbers are not set in stone, and that you may, at some point, need room for a bike, or even a company vehicle. That does not mean that you will have to build some monstrous garage and satisfy all these needs at once. As for now, you want to make it practical, with enough room to move freely when you are inside, as well as some functional storage units, but you should always leave enough space for possible expansions.

Set up the Perfect Height

While designing a garage, people usually make plans how they can use the available floor space, but fail to notice the importance of the third dimension, which can easily turn out to be a big mistake. You might, for example, start attending truck and machinery auctions and find a vehicle or a piece of equipment which you cannot possibly fit into your garage due to its excessive height. Or you may notice that the storage space is running dangerously low and decide to make a hanging bike rack or install another shelf above the existing ones. If you make your garage just a little bit higher from the get-go, all of these things will be possible.

Choose the Right Doors and Windows

Putting the looks aside, the main thing you should consider before spending any money on doors and windows is the question of the available space. Among different types of garage doors, the canopy ones may be the simplest and the most common solution, but they do need the largest clearance, too. If you are short on space, you should probably opt for sectional or even roller doors. As for the windows, they should allow a lot of natural light and be placed high enough so they are immune to the prying eyes. For increased safety, window bars are always a welcomed addition.

Try Building the Attic

It may occur that, in spite all of your efforts and upgrades, your garage is still not able to fulfill its storage duties. In that case, you should probably opt for building the attic. Not only will you finally be able to move all the seasonal items out of sight, but you’ll also get a very appealing visual upgrade. Why would you have an ordinary garage, when you can turn it into something much livelier, and, if you want to, almost barn-like?

Make the Most out of the Interior

If you want to make room for more than one vehicle, you should avoid placing robust furniture pieces in your garage as much as possible. In addition to this, you can make few inbuilt closets while you are still building the garage, as they will prove to be much less of an obstacle than the regular pieces, and you will also get a safer place to store some of your more expensive tools.

Although it is far from being the most important part of your house, the garage has its own share or perks, and the more effort you put into its design, the list of amenities it has to offer will grow. Take some time to see what upgrades you can have, try using the vertical space as much as possible and your garage will become much more than a place where you just park your car.

Winter Renovations for a More Comfortable Spring Home

January 28, 2016adminhome improvement, home remodeling, Winter TipsDIY projects, home improvement, home remodeling, remodeling tips, winterLeave a comment

When cool winter days arrive, you don’t have to give up on making improvements to your home. There are many projects that are ideally suited to being done in cooler weather, and can provide you with a more comfortable home when spring arrives. While you may think of home renovations as being a summer project, here are a few you can tackle even when the temperatures start to dip lower.

Painting Rooms
If you’re cooped up in the house anyway, you might as well transform the walls within to different colors you love. Break out the paint chips, choose some new shades, and mix up your decorating scheme. You’ll want to crack a window to ventilate the room you’re working in, but you won’t feel too cold once you work up a sweat as you cut in the edges and fill in new shades.

New Flooring
Winter is also an excellent time to install new flooring. Most wood floors need to acclimate to the room they’ll be installed in, so stack the boxes against an interior wall a few days before you start the work. Wood floors and most laminates don’t require any adhesive, so you won’t have to worry about ventilation. Remember that tile floors may feel chilly against your feet in cold climates, but wood floors and high-end vinyl are comfortable throughout the year. They’ll also be easier to clean in every season.

Look to the Backyard
If you want to warm up in style, then consider a Sonoma Backyard heated pool or hot tub. Most companies will offer installations even when the weather is a little chilly, and you’ll love being able to relax in your own hot tub outdoors no matter the weather. You’ll also find this particular addition is a hit when entertaining. If you’ve always ignored your backyard in past winters, then this may be the year to give this space some extra attention.

Window Treatments
If you’re trying to save on energy bills, then your window treatments can make a world of difference. Thick, thermal drapes will effectively block drafts while making any space feel warmer. You can open them during the day to let the warm sunshine in, and close them tightly at night to keep the evening chill away. If you’re feeling trapped in the house by cold temperatures, then you can make this renovation a little interesting by updating your window coverings to match the room.

New Fixtures
From the faucet in your bathroom to the kitchen lights, this is an ideal time to replace old fixtures. You can give the space a fresh new look, and you’ll enjoy your home more throughout the year. Most plumbing and electrical fixtures are replaced in a matter of hours, so it’s an easy weekend project for days when you’d rather not be outside anyway.

Attic Insulation

The last place you want to be on a hot summer day is in the attic, but winter is an ideal time to do some improvements in here. Wear long sleeves and a light jacket to keep insulation off your skin, and this way you won’t have to worry about getting heat stroke. You’ll find your energy bills are lower when the attic is properly covered, and as an added bonus, the savings will continue into the spring and summer months as the insulation prevents exterior heat from migrating into your living space.

When it comes to renovations, timing is everything. One benefit of many projects is that you can get a more attractive price on the labor in the wintertime. This is because most contractors slow down during the winter months, so you may be able to ask for a little discount on professional services.

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