Painting a room is perhaps the cheapest home improvement you can carry out. A fresh coat of paint in a different shade or texture can completely transform a room for minimal cost. If your walls are not in the best condition and you don’t have time to re-plaster them before painting, consider hanging wallpaper instead, to avoid drawing attention to the damage.
It may be necessary for you to give a porch a fresh coat of paint. If you do, take care to use a high-quality exterior paint. Choose a paint similar to the old one; do not apply an oil-based paint over a water based-one or the other way around. Oil based paint is right for trim but not right for a deck because it is too slick in wet conditions.
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.
To see a return on your home improvement project, consider converting existing space into a new living environment for your family. Making an attic into a bedroom or finishing off your basement will earn you extra money when reselling your home because you are utilizing something that is already available to create a desirable feature.
When you need to replace a lock, you can opt to replace the entire assembly, or you can just replace the cylinder. The is the part that actually locks the door. This is also the part that is replaced for security reasons, such as when you lose a key. If you want the door to look better or want added security, just go ahead and replace the whole unit.
Avoid hiring an architect for minor home improvements and small renovations. Check your local building codes; in most areas architects are unnecessary for jobs below a certain size. Working with a competent contractor on these small-scale projects makes an architect unnecessary. When an architect is unnecessary and not required by local ordinances, save yourself some money by working without one.
For the budget-minded homeowner working on a plumbing home improvement project, plastic PVC piping makes an entirely suitable substitute for expensive copper piping. PVC has been extensively tested and used for years without danger or failure. It is easy to work with and highly durable. The money saved by using PVC can be applied to more visible, usable home improvements.
It is not always easy to find a balance between doing an improvement that shows your tastes but doesn’t cost the earth, while still proving to be a positive investment in the property. However, the hints and tips in the above article should provide you with enough creative fodder to devise ingenious ways of satisfying both the interior designer and the financier in you.
