Once you cut it to size and put it in place, it’s installed. It’s an ideal solution for covering surfaces such as painted concrete, to which adhesives don’t adhere well. If it’s time to replace your dated mantel, choose one with enough depth to let you display pictures or other decorations. If you buy a ready-made mantel, don’t be afraid to paint it or add moldings. A simple fireplace makeover can begin with items you already have in your home. Shop your existing inventory of accessories and display a few on your mantel for a quick, no-cost refresh.
The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances. Replacing your carpet means tossing out all of the old floor covering. Save several scraps of carpet, whatever kind, for use on the top of sawhorses, as a creeper mat for working on the car, to pad your knees while fixing your plumbing or use as drop cloths. It’s probably less expensive and certainly more convenient to install a backyard shed or hire a handyperson to create access to hidden places in your house than renting space long-term.
- Consider building corner shelves in the bathroom or small built-in shelves for that neglected nook.
- Loose-lay sheet vinyl is unique because it doesn’t require adhesive.
- I tried a lot of other service companies and none hold a candle to House Doctor…
- Modern lighting is relatively inexpensive, and you can put it anywhere with the advent of things like LED rope lighting.
- For good looks, paper the back of the cabinet with adhesive shelf liner.
Dirty or clogged gutters allow water to spill over the edges and possibly too close to the foundation, which could create problems even if the landscaping slopes away from the house as it should. Home improvement is much easier when you are well-informed. Learn about home improvement, home safety and home maintenance. Update these often-overlooked interior elements with form and function.
Create extra storage in a snap with kits for bookcases, shelving, or cabinetry that you assemble yourself. Try a combination of open shelving and cabinets for a mix of storage and display space. Arrange wall-mount shelves above a desktop framed by cabinets or file drawers to fashion a home office or a kid’s homework station. With flagstone or cement pavers, you can easily make an outdoor patio in a weekend, no mortar required. Add potted plants and outdoor seating, such as a bistro set or an eclectic mix of colorful chairs, to create a quaint backyard escape.
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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.
Up Next: An Honest Day’s Labors
This home by Frances Merrill offers some great inspiration. You might also be able to find local grants to help with things like insulating your home from Simple Energy Advice. Reasonable and practical, given the age of your home and the condition it’s in. For example, if your home need serious repairs, it might not be practical to do the work you need. If your home is in need of repair, your landlord might have to do the repairs you need. Not sure what he’s going on about, so instead, head to Blackwater to meet with Sadie to start the next quest, An Honest Day’s Labors.
If you, or someone that you live with, are disabled, you might be able to get a disabled facilities grant for adaptations or providing facilities for the disabled person. By law, these rules must not discriminate against you because of your age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. In addition, a local authority might have policies which don’t allow other types of discrimination such as discrimination against older people. A local authority can offer different types of help with home improvements. It will have its own rules about the types of help it will offer, and about the conditions you must meet in order to qualify for help.
“A lot more people are focusing on their family, their homes, you know, the stuff in our immediate vicinity. People’s bubbles have shrunk.” “Demand for outdoor living products is surging,” says Nancy Musselwhite, a building materials industry analyst for Principia Consulting. “Homeowners sheltering in place during peak COVID regulations developed a renewed interest in their backyards, really, as an extension of their home.” Whether it’s a conservatory or another kind of conversion, adding more space to your home will dramatically increase a property’s value. Just make sure the style and shape of your extension fits in with the rest of your house. Our remodeling experts will help you choose from a wide selection of doors that fit the look and feel of your home.
The main scheme is a home energy efficiency scheme known as the Energy Company Obligation , provided by the government. You’ll have to pay the SMI loan back, but usually only when you sell your home or give it to someone else. Find out if you can get SMI and what to think about before you apply. If you’re disabled, a local authority must provide application forms in a form you can use, for example, in large print. A local authority can have its own application forms for help, and its own rules about what you have to do to apply for help.
In addition to the amount of cash you can gain, getting a cash-out refinance can come with other benefits, too. Some jumbo products may not be available to first time home buyers. You can subtract your current loan balance from the appraised property value to determine how much equity you have in your home. And a lot of home improvement happens right before and right after a sale. She projects that home improvement spending will grow 17% this year nationally, partly driven by inflation.