Hidden Home Improvement Hacks That Only Contractors Know About

It’s about time.Plug your living room lights into timers so it’s bright when you wake and return home. Season 21 of Ask This Old House brings back Kevin, Tommy, Richard, Jenn, and the crew, as they help homeowners tackle their most challenging home improvement projects. Look for help with repairing or making improvements to your home.

• All of these factors have boosted the home improvement market and may become lasting trends that, in turn, fuel remodeling activity in the US for years to come.
• They can be nearly impossible to hold onto while installing them.
• Many times people will create an opening through a wall between two rooms similar to a large window opening to try to make their home feel more open or bigger.

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They’ll get you the answer or let you know where to find it. If you have a problem with a home equity loan, you should contact the lender first. If you cannot resolve the issue with the lender, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau . Lump sum – This is a one-time, closed-end loan that usually has a fixed interest rate.

Refinancing Requires Closing Costs

Add good acoustic insulation when you renovate, and it’s easier to have peace and quiet in one part of the house when there’s noise in another. Contractors who work on the exterior of your home know not to leave ladder scratches and dents behind. They purchase special ladder bumpers and stabilizers to protect your property. They aren’t expensive, but if you don’t have them, you can save a trip to the store in a pinch by wrapping an old towel or t-shirt around the ladder ends and securing them with painter’s tape.

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. Position the screw eyes so that you slightly compress the weatherstrip when you latch the hatch.

How do I apply for LIHEAP?

“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. British homes tend to be dark, and those with lots of natural light feel larger.

Upgrade Flooring

An interior door’s materials could affect how well it works and how long you can wait before buying a replacement. Or simply upgrade with solid-core doors, which dampen noise far more efficiently than the hollow-core doors common in new construction. Before you choose your sink design, though, consider your needs. You might want to try standing in front of the model you’re considering and acting out your morning routine.