Here are 17 of the best time and money-saving home improvement and care hacks that only a contractor would know about. Aluminum foil is one of those everyday kitchen items that we don’t really give much thought to, but it can be used for a lot more than wrapping leftovers. Whether an art-arranging project went awry or you’re tired of looking at dings around the house, concealing wall blemishes is a weekend-worthy project. With a putty knife and surfacing compound, you can easily repair nail holes and other minor wall imperfections. For larger holes, place an adhesive patch over the area and spread an all-purpose drywall compound over it with a trowel.
We only install the highest quality doors and back it up with 103 years’ reputation in the business. Our Owens Corning roofs come with a manufacturer’s limited lifetime warranty, professional installation supervised by our project managers. Much of this spending was due to hurricanes and tornadoes with repairs heavily concentrated in the southern region of the US. Fully 41 percent of home improvement expenditures in Houston were for disaster repairs, pushing it to the third largest remodeling market in 2019, behind New York and Los Angeles.
- Beautifully highlight a coffered ceiling with colorful paint, and keep the trim white for a bold visual effect.
- Consider installing a skylight in the kitchen, bathroom, or hallway where other natural light is limited.
- Some programs are available nationwide, while others are only available at the state or county level.
- Another PBS series, “Hometime” made its debut after “This Old House,” expanding on some of the tropes that made its predecessor so popular.
- David Bromstad, the winner of season one of “HGTV Design Star,” hosted his own show, “Color Splash,” for eight seasons.
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.
Your rights when you apply for help with home improvements
Check with a tax professional to see how this applies to you and if you’re able to claimrefinance tax deductions. Add a lower interest rate and you’ll come out ahead if your house is worth more. The right home improvements could make your home more appealing to buyers down the line. If you refinance at the right time, you could find yourself in an even better loan than you had before.
Be sure to choose a high-quality paint, which will cost you $30 to $60 a gallon, but is totally worth it. While you have the painting supplies out, brighten trim with a light-colored, high-gloss paint. If two tests give a high reading, consult a radon mitigation contractor . These contractors can professionally test the house and install a mitigation system for reducing radon to a harmless level.
New Lighting Is Cheap and Effective
For more information about your landlord’s responsibility to do repairs, see Repairs in rented housing. Mortgage-to-rent scheme Describes the mortgage-to-rent scheme, which allows people in mortgage difficulty to switch to renting their homes. Contact your local authority to check whether this scheme operates in your area. Norm Abram, a regular fixture on “This Old House,” hosted his own home improvement series, “The New Yankee Workshop,” on PBS for two decades. Occasionally, episodes also include information on how to maintain and restore antique furniture as well as short biographies of notable furniture makers from decades past. Light fixtures for dining areas or pendant lights can be a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on source and style, Norris says.
Ensure the ladder is stable and won’t slip or move before climbing up. Part of the trick in plumbing is to avoid scratching fragile chrome or brushed nickel finishes on faucets or exposed drain parts. Plumbers use smooth-faced pliers and wrenches to achieve perfect results. You can avoid buying special tools for one-time use by wrapping your soft-leather work glove around the fitting and using your standard pliers or pipe wrench over the protective cover. A common DIY home-improvement mistake, especially when finishing a basement, is making access to essential plumbing valves difficult. When you remodel, leave space or an access door to the main water valve, exterior spigot valves, water heater valves and any others your home may have.
Once your house becomes a home, you’re probably more focused on the inside than out. Stand on the kerb and appraise your house like you’re seeing it for the first time – is there peeling paint or cracked gutters? If the answer’s yes, it’s time whip out the paint and ladder. Exceptional energy efficiency and durability, limited manufacturer’s lifetime warranty, expertly measured & installed. Low maintenance, energy efficient with the best warranty in the business.
Simple metallic hardware work best and is guaranteed to look great with any paint color for future cabinet makeovers. For a unique, eclectic look, scour antique shops for hardware pieces. One of the first living walls, window boxes have been a longtime favorite of gardeners.