Comments (0) Today’s blog post is from our friends at ConsumerReports.org detailing the five home repairs not to ignore, check it out!
http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/418/5-home-repairs-not-to-ignore/
Challenging economic times may have you tabling major home projects like doing a major kitchen overhaul or adding a swimming pool, but that doesn’t mean that you should forego smaller, budget-friendly upgrades. There are many things you can have done that can really improve the look and the livability of your home, for mere hundreds, rather than thousands, of dollars.
“Smaller projects can give homeowners immediate gratification. In just a few hours, we can paint your front door or update the hardware in your kitchen and suddenly your house has a fresh new look,” says Andy Bell, President and CEO of Handyman Matters. We asked Handyman Matters’ Bell to give us the top 20 projects he recommends for homeowners who want to protect their investment in their homes without breaking the bank. Before hiring someone to tackle anything on the list, he cautions homeowners to make sure that the business is reputable, offers a materials and labor guarantee and uses craftsmen who are experienced and trained to do the job you’re asking for.
15 More budget-friendly ideas:
The professional craftsmen of Handyman Matters have expertise in thousands of home repair and home improvement projects. To find a location near you visit, www.HandymanMatters.com.
Looking to sell your home? The professionals at Handyman Matters have combined their expertise and created this list of helpful things to do in order to prepare your home to sell.
You know that moving into a new home can be one of life’s biggest stressors – the packing, the paperwork, the unpacking, finding the nearest coffee shop … even though numbers are down, 35.2 million Americans changed residences in 2008, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet there are many ways to make your new house feel like home sooner than later.
One of the easier and inexpensive ways to create your own sense of space is to bring items from your previous residence to your new home, but adapt them for a different or a new use in the process. This has come to be known as “adaptive re-use.”
This “adaptive re-use” can be something as simple as placing a coffee table or end table that previously was a part of your living room in the old location into the family room in your new dwelling.
On a slightly more involved level, you can use the fabric from a window treatment in your original home to upholster the dining room chairs in the new place.
Adaptive re-use also involves using items from local design consignment shops or thrift stores. Shops such as these often carry high-quality, gently-used items, available at a fraction of their original cost. Not only are you finding affordable ways to claim your new space as your own, but you are doing so in a “green,” ecologically responsible way.
There’s a subtle “comfort level” that comes with bringing items from your previous residence; it helps ease the psychological stress you and your family may not even realize has begun affecting you as you settle into a new and unfamiliar place.
There’s an additional concept called “biophilic design,” which recognizes the inherent need of humans to interact and affiliate with nature. This helps individuals to maintain optimum health and well-being. Bring a bit of the outdoors inside; don’t neglect a good view you may have to the outdoors. In fact, find a way to accentuate it, perhaps by placing a couch or chair near a window that affords a comforting look at your favorite section of yard or garden.
This may seem overwhelming, but making your house feel like a home sooner rather than later will help you enjoy time in your new home instead of worrying about it. Your local Handyman Matters can help you hang pictures, mirrors, paint or anything else to make your new house feel like a home. Contact Handyman Matters today to start enjoying your home, click here to find a location near you or call 866-FIX-MY-HOME (866-349-6946).
Ceramic tile has held a hallowed place in bathroom renovations for generations. Durable, easy to clean, and available in a wide range of color, format and design, tile just makes sense in a bath. But some enterprising designers and homeowners are finding a new spot in the home where tile not only works well, but can take center stage – the master bedroom.
Homeowners are choosing to incorporate ceramic tiles into master bedrooms for many of the same reasons the material has been popular in bathrooms and kitchens:
So how can you use tile in your master bedroom? Here are some ideas from the professionals at Handyman Matters:
Creating a headboard
Fabric, wood or metal headboards can make a powerful design statement, and solidify a bed’s stance as the centerpiece of a room. Ceramic tile, now available in large formats and in designs that mimic the look of other materials, is a sensible, cost-effective and healthier alternative to some popular headboard materials. Creating a fabric headboard, for example, can be a costly, time-consuming process, yet you can get virtually the same look with ceramic tile made to look like fabric. And this is fabric that won’t harbor germs and microbes.
General design touches
If you love the look of wainscoting, wood paneling or bead board, but prefer a more durable, hypoallergenic material, ceramic tile can offer the same look without the disadvantages of wood decorator touches. Some manufacturers produce tiles that look like wood design elements.
Extending the life of a paint job
Paint is one of the easiest things to change in a room and can be one of the most difficult to clean and preserve. One way to extend the life of a paint job is to tile walls to the level of the chair rail – the portion of the walls that gets the most exposure to unsightly dirt, dings and scuffs. While some paints may require special cleaning solvents to remove dirt without damaging the finish, tile requires nothing more than hot water and some elbow grease.
Creating cohesion between rooms
In master suites with large, open floor plans, using tile in the bedroom portion of the suite can help create a seamless transition between the sleeping and bathing areas. Or it can help create cohesion between indoor and outdoor spaces – tile is one of the few interior design materials that can flow from inside to out.
Achieving a look with added durability
You may love the look of hardwood, but know that wood doesn’t hold up well in rooms where it’s exposed to a lot of moisture on a daily basis – such as in a bathroom – or to a lot of wear and tear, such as in a bedroom. While wood that’s exposed to water will eventually warp and wear, ceramic tile designed to look like prized hardwoods will stand up to moisture and water – even if the bathtub overflows. And ceramic tile that looks like wood will never develop the “worn path” appearance of wood that bears heavy foot traffic.
When it comes to interior design, sometimes the unexpected makes perfect sense – such as finding creative ways to use ceramic tile in the master bedroom. If you’re contemplating tile installation anywhere in your home, your local Handyman Matters location would be happy to assist you with your remodel. Click here to find a location near you or call 866-FIX-MY-HOME (866-349-6946).
In this episode Founder and CEO, Andy Bell, meets the Thomas Family. They get to see the house that was unsafe for them to live in – now they will have a new house fit for the entire family. Steve Simons of Handyman Matters Virginia is working with an entire team to help this family return to their home in safe conditions.
Summer is a great time for outdoor home improvement projects, but it’s also supposed to be a time to relax and have fun with family and friends. That makes quick-to-do projects that add to the “family fun factor” appealing to homeowners, who also need to spend their limited home improvement dollars wisely.
If you are looking for an easy project that will make an immediate difference in your summertime quality of life, add outdoor lights to your deck or patio. Lighting can turn your outdoor space into an entertaining place and a favorite new spot for hanging out on warm summer evenings.
Deck lighting offers immediate pay-back in terms of style, comfort and safety. The professional craftsmen at Handyman Matters can come to your home and help install outdoor lighting on your deck or patio, in your yard, on your house or wherever you would like.
Recessed lighting along a deck, porch or stairs not only adds a festive and cheery appearance, but provides an increased safety factor, as well. This year, there are many new lighting products available, offering a wide variety of solutions for illuminating your deck and yard to its best effect, and most types are easy to install. Handyman Matter professionals can provide helpful tips, or if this type of do-it-yourself seems too intimidating, call your local Handyman Matters office and they can yield quick results for you.
No matter what type of deck, patio, or back yard arrangement you have, there are lighting opportunities that will best accent your specific set-up. Our craftsmen are experts at outdoor lighting installation, giving decks and porches a quick and impressive facelift while providing a welcoming place for entertaining guests or simply enjoying your back yard on balmy summer evenings.
Check out www.HandymanMatters.com for more information on both lighting and deck and patio remodeling tips. And click here to find a location near you or call 866-FIX-MY-HOME (866-349-6946).
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Most of us start life depending on our parents to take care of us. But as they age, chances are the roles will reverse. And, whether you provide additional help in their own homes – or move aging parents into your home – how do you prepare to meet the new needs of aging adults? Luckily many simple, quick, affordable – and even stylish and savvy – updates can make homes safer and more enjoyable for you, your family and your parents. Here are some tips from Handyman Matters:
De-clutter: Both kids and older adults have reduced reflexes and balance. Spruce up the look of your home – and avoid tripping hazards – by removing clutter and items you no longer use (especially obstacles in walkways).
Safe shower: Showers can be an enjoyable and luxurious part of anyone’s day – if they are safe. While you probably don’t want to renovate the shower, simple additions of bath safety products can make it safer and more enjoyable. Start by adding rubber grips to the bottom of the shower to avoid slick surfaces. Next, take a seat with a comfortable shower chair and enjoy a shower massage with a multi-function hand held showerhead. You might also want to consider adding some grab bars around the shower to ensure entry and exit from the shower are safe.
Save resources, save money: Eco-friendly adjustments not only can make you feel good about preserving natural resources for your family, they can also help lower energy costs (ideal for tight budgets). Simple steps can include replacing standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, insulating doors and windows and swapping faucets and showerheads with new water-saving models.
Handy handles: In the course of a day, you grip many objects – from cups and pens, to door knobs and faucet handles. Swapping out door knobs or faucets with knobs for lever-handle models can make these everyday tasks a bit easier – especially for smaller or arthritic hands.
Get a grip: For any age, stairs are a falling hazard in homes – whether it’s one step or 20. To increase safety, add hand rails or decorative hand grips in high-traffic doorways where there may be a step, such as the garage or front entry.
Let there be light: Did you also know that by age 60 the average person requires 15 times more lighting than when they were 10 years old? Brighten up the home with additional reading lamps in bedrooms and family rooms, under-cabinet task lighting in the kitchen, motion-sensor lights near entrances and nightlights in hallways.
Safe and secure: Your home is your safe haven … so make sure it is protected. In the bathroom where slick surfaces can be falling hazards, add functional – yet fashionable – grab bars. And, in case of unforeseen falls or other home accidents, home security systems can give you peace of mind to know that fire-, medical- or emergency-response is available for you and your loved ones at the touch of a button.
Flat flooring: According to the Home Safety Council, falls are the leading cause (66 percent) of all nonfatal home injuries. To help you – or your loved ones – avoid becoming a statistic, remove throw rugs or ensure that they have a non-slip backing to provide more firm footing.
Low-maintenance lawns: With busy lifestyles, it’s tough to keep up landscaping. Making a few modifications to the yard can help ease the burden. Replace large grassy areas that require frequent mowing with rock gardens or mulch beds. Additionally, choose drought-resistant perennial plants and shrubs to save time and money on watering – and ensure you don’t have to plant new each spring.
Be prepared: Are the washer and dryer in the basement? Are the bedroom and bathroom upstairs? Since stairs can be difficult to navigate for children or aging parents, having all the necessities on one floor is ideal. While it may not be in the budget to move everything to the main floor now, gradually start getting ready by wiring a closet or small room for the laundry – or planning to expand a half bath to a full bath.
With a few minor updates, you can breathe easier knowing your home is safer for your loved ones – both young and old. For more information on safety products and other helpful tips or assistance in “safe-proofing” your home, contact your local Handyman Matters location today. Click here to find a location near you or call 866-FIX-MY-HOME (866-349-6946).
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