Sundae does not provide legal, tax, or investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. Please seek the advice of an attorney, tax professional and/or financial advisor for guidance to properly evaluate particular investments and/or strategies. David Bromstad, the winner of season one of “HGTV Design Star,” hosted his own show, “Color Splash,” for eight seasons.
A good optical illusion will get the best of most of us, so why not use tricks of the eye to your advantage? Hanging mirrors in your small home will reflect light, as well as the room itself to make it feel bigger. Small homes come with even smaller nooks and crannies that feel dark, dingy, and end up making the room feel smaller when they’re ignored. Consider building corner shelves in the bathroom or small built-in shelves for that neglected nook. Select affordable brick, concrete, or clay pavers to create a livable patio space. The key to perfecting this DIY project is making sure that the ground is level, then follow Oregon State’s detailed tutorial on how to lay down pavers in your yard.
- If you plan to move soon or take out only a small amount of money, a cash-out refinance may not be the best option.
- So next time you renovate your home, take time to look at what’s behind the walls.
- Products that earn the Energy Star label are independently certified to save energy, save money, and protect the climate.
Adding a conservatory is, on average, the most lucrative – just make sure it doesn’t eat up too much of your garden. Typically, you’ll not only make back what you spend, but double your money – and then some. “In some circumstances the area itself is the kerb appeal – think Wisteria Lane – but with less premium properties, make sure your property is eye-catching and lush. Low maintenance, energy efficient with the best warranty in the business. With our computerized design process, you’ll be able to see the choices of siding on your home before the job starts from the comfort of your home. Good levels of insulation can make room interiors more comfortable as well as dramatically reduce your energy bills – by up to as much as 90 percent.
Radon test kits are available at home centers and hardware stores for about $10. They usually involve setting a collector in your home for a week or so and then sending it to a lab for analysis. (One manufacturer is Pro-Lab and charges $40; includes a postage-paid envelope.) Conduct the test in the lowest livable area.
Home improvements without planning permission
“The process is simple,” says Mike McAllister, owner of Riverside Kitchen Center in Mount Vernon, Washington. “Remove the small flange that holds the existing insert, then replace the insert with your material and add wood or metal stops to keep it in place.” If you’re considering replacing an appliance, replace it with an energy-efficient product.
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You’ll more than make your money back with a loft conversion, too, but it’s not quite as lucrative as other means of extending because of the costs involved. You’ll need to add some windows and a staircase, too, which can rob you of space elsewhere. Perhaps fitting a new kitchen or bathroom, or creating extra living space? For most of us, renovation means modernising our home, adding more “functionality” to it or increasing its value. Usually, we’re more preoccupied with finishes and fittings than the things we can’t see. But the hidden elements of a renovation are well worth our attention.
#7 This Old House
Overhead pot racks can hold your bulky kitchen items right where you need them while making a rustic design statement in your home. Removing the doors only takes an afternoon and a few basic tools. It’ll cost you little to nothing beyond the cost of paint and caulk. If your bathroom is small, chances are it feels even more cramped with an opaque shower door and enclosure. Swap this out for a crystal-clear shower door to open up the room and make it feel bigger.
They can be nearly impossible to hold onto while installing them. Give your fingers a break by rubbing a strong magnet several times over the tool’s shaft to magnetize it and temporarily give it the ability to hold onto tiny screws by itself. An audit simply tells you what you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your house. But, following the advice presented in the audit results can save tons of money on future energy bills. For products to be rated as Energy-Star certified, they have to meet strict high-efficiency standards and don’t cost much more than unrated products. The number of kinds of certified products today is vast.
A cash-out refinance is a low-cost way to make home improvements when you don’t have the money on hand. Refinancing can be a good way to borrow a lot of money at once, which means expensive renovations are in reach and won’t take much from your monthly budget. Taking down a wall between the kitchen, living room, or dining room can expand your entertaining area, and make the footprint feel larger while you’re not actually adding square footage. However, to remove a wall safely, it needs to be non-load-bearing, meaning a wall that isn’t integral to the structure of your home. You can hang a mirror just about anywhere, but it’ll be most effective facing opposite a window to reflect the outdoors and sunlight. When you’re hanging a heavy mirror, be careful to use anchors, cleats, or picture wires to ensure it’s properly installed in the wall.