Home improvement projects are great. After all, who wouldn’t want to improve the beauty and value of their home every once in a while? The trouble is, updating a home can really put a dent in your bank account. Making an educated and economical decision is everything when it comes to home improvement. Here are seven smart home improvements provided by one of our favorite blogs, the Money Pit:
1) Replace kitchen countertops (Recycled and composite surfaces are available) 2) Remodel your bathroom for comfort and safety 3) Paint! 4) Construct a deck or patio 5) Improve your front yard landscaping 6) Improve your home’s energy efficiency 7) Organize your home
These steps are both easy to do and cost efficient. Each one can be completed for under $1,000. So, whenever you are ready to take your home to the next level, remember these seven tips. Your home will be forever grateful.
When I think of patio covers, I think of a small patch of shade that will be used a few times each summer. Solara’s patio covers do so much more than that, though. The biggest improvement is that you can open and close this cover much like window blinds. Each of the louvers can be angled (via remote control) anywhere from 130 degrees to completely shut at 0 degrees. It is also divided into two sections. While one section is open for grilling, the other can be closed for sitting. Solara’s patio covers are also made of recycled aluminum, making them easy to maintain.
I love the deck at our house. It’s the perfect place for a meal, a book or just chillin’. To keep a deck in shape, you have to spend a little time with it, though. Every year, you should check for damaged boards and be prepared to replace some. The structural supports also need to be checked for signs of insect or animal damage. For the final touch, you need to clean your deck. This includes picking up loose bolts and nails, pressure washing and re-sealing or re-staining. This may sound like a lot, but it is really worth it to keep your deck in prime condition. For more details on deck maintenance, check out "Deck Maintenance: Sealing and Staining."
I have always dreamed of a large, wraparound farmer's porch on my house. My little Cape Cod doesn't have one, so I guess I'll have to keep dreaming for a while longer.
If you have a front—or a back—porch that's not brand-new, you probably need to do a little maintenance. CalFinder, a site for remodeling contractors, also has some useful articles for homeowners. "Fixing up Your Front Porch" offers some good tips for getting your porch in shape for the summer.
I'm not quite the woodworker that Tommy, BobVila.com's My Projects contributor, is but here's something I can handle. 2x4 Basics is a Lancaster, Pa.-based company that sells a system to allow people to build furniture using simple 2x4s. Their first product was an outdoor bench that converted into a picnic table and now they've expanded to include deck chairs, sawhorses, shelving units, sheds and more. Customers are encouraged to get creative and send pictures of their furniture to 2x4 Basics for display in their customer gallery.
I love this article and think you will, too. Money magazine has written a humorous yet sensible piece called "5 Dumbest Renovation Fads." Here they are:
1. The great room craze 2. The kitchen stadium 3. The garage that ate your home 4. Porches in the wrong place 5. Built-in lighting
Not satisfied to just point out what went wrong, the author also provides details on how to re-do each area "the right way."
When you think of building a deck, you don't generally think of using stone. That is, unless you are Mike Copenhaver, a self-declared "brick and stone guy" and operator of the Brick and Stone Guy blog. As you might imagine, the man has a passion for all things brick and stone. It was Mike's home video of his construction of a stone deck that impressed me. The deck is made up of stone tiles that are laid and clipped to the wood joists. The deck itself serves as a walkway that spans a ravine leading to a grand entrance to a magnificent home. Beautiful. I had no idea stone was an option when building a deck.
Besides this project, Mike's blog has lots of photos and discussions of interesting stonework, including this installment of artistic stonework. Give it a look when you get a chance.
