Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Home improvement isn't easy, particularly if you are a newbie. Still, it is something you will have to deal with as a homeowner. If you have contemplated making home improvements but don't know where to start, you have come to the right place.



Make sure you take before and after photos of any work or improvements you do to your home. You may like to look back on all the hard work and changes when it feels like the project as a whole will never be done. Keep pictures on your computer or have them printed for a scrapbook.



Take the time to find the studs before you start the install project for your new cabinets. This can be done easily with a stud finder and marked with a nail that will be behind the new cabinets anyway and not able to be seen. The studs are the only sturdy place you have to attach something to a wall.











Protect yourself when you change the blades in your utility knife. While changing the blade, wrap tape around the old blade before tossing it in the trash. By doing this, the sharp edges of the blade will be covered. When taking out the trash, or packing down the trash, the sharp edges will not be able to hurt anyone with the tape wrapped around them.



Make your house energy efficient by using weather stripping for your doors and windows. This helps to seal your home from hot and cold, improving your comfort level as well. Also, this helps to reduce drafts for a better living environment.



It is not unusual for chair caning to sag. There's an easy trick you can use to tighten up chair caning without expending a lot of effort. Simply soak the bottom of the cane chair seat with water. A sponge is useful for this purpose. Use warm water. Allow the caning to dry overnight. Keep doing this until your caning is fixed.



A good way to get ideas on home improvement can be to look around in a hardware store. Hardware stores will often have plans that can be used to get new ideas for improving ones home. They will also have the needed materials for whatever project one chooses to take on.



If your home was built in the seventies or earlier, chances are good that it was built with only a very thin layer of insulation throughout the entire structure. Ideally, the layer should be approximately 27 centimeters or 10.5 inches thick. By increasing the thickness of insulation to the recommended four to six inches, you could easily save a couple of hundred dollars per year.



Prep before you paint. Painting the rooms in your home can provide a new face lift for a little bit of nothing if you are prepared. Don't try to do it all in one day or weekend. Be prepared before you start. Have all of the necessary tools on hand.



If you plan on painting your inside walls, ceiling, or door a dark color, tin the white primer close to the color you plan on using. You can find tints at most hardware stores for most types of paints. Tinting the primer will save you a coat or two of painting.



If you love the look of wall murals, but can't commit to the high prices and logistical problems, try using decorative wall adhesives to create a focal area or dress up a small space. These decals, which are available online and in please click the following article , can be applied in a single day and are designed to last for years. When or if you move, the decals can be easily removed without damaging the walls.



Be sure you have proper tools for the jobs you wish to do. It is fairly common to have a variety of household tools, but if you run out of painter's tape, your living room may not come out as pristine as you hoped. Keep a stock on items you may need, and always pick up more when needed.



If part of your home improvement entails repainting a door, there are two methods you may utilize to do this. Sometimes, the easiest way to paint a door is to remove it from its hinges and paint it on sawhorses which have been placed on a drop cloth. You can also choose not to remove the door and just paint it in place over a drop cloth. Use a high-quality paint brush and brush in line with the wood's grain.



Do you find yourself bothered by excessive heat and glare in your home? Tinting your windows can be a big help. This is a simple project almost anyone can do. You'll also spend less money to cool your home in the summer.



If you are buying a new bathtub, be sure to sit in the tub and lie back in it to be click web page 's the right size and shape for you before purchasing it. Also, take good measurements of your bathroom space to be sure the tub will fit in the space you have.



Making a pond on your property can be a home improvement project that will beautify the outside of your home. Not only can it make a great place to put a picnic table, but you can enjoy nature and even fish out of your pond, provided you make it big enough.



To remove gunk, grease and grime from your garbage disposal, add a handful of ice cubes, and a quartered lemon before turning it on. The ground ice will scrape the disposal clean, and the acid in the lemon will help to remove greasy build-up, keeping your disposal in good working order.



With the housing market still being so depressed, it can seem like a waste of money to even do any remodeling on your home. But the truth of the matter is that buyers are still expecting a certain level of updates in the homes that they purchase. Following these tips will ensure that you have what buyers want.




<img src="http://hr.vanderbilt.edu/images/AttendanceChart-NoShading.PNG" />