Marc Roy - Home Improvement Blog

Got grand designs on your home? Remember to add value

Home improvements create a more appealing living environment and can add value to your house. If you have a list of home improvements to tackle, how do you decide where to start? It depends on the difference your chosen project will make to living conditions, but also the potential value you can add you your property. Any additional space will instantly boost the appeal of your home so cost the job up to ensure the value added justifies the cost of the work involved.

Think about the space you have, the space you wish to create and the work and costs involved. Side extensions don’t offer much additional floor space but they can make a big difference to how you use your space. It’s a cheaper option than adding a big rear extension if the extra space is sufficient. A conservatory is also a more affordable way to add an extra room whilst adding value.

When it comes to planning permission, look at what home improvements other properties on your street have had. This will give you an idea of what it is possible to get planning permission for. Be careful not to over-develop. Check local house prices to find out how much value an extra bedroom will add to your home and ensure your home improvements don’t exceed the value of properties in your area. Get the right balance – building an extension at the expense of your garden can actually prove detrimental in terms of value because decent outdoor space is a desirable feature for potential homeowners.

If your current budget won’t stretch to major renovations, remember that basic DIY and maintenance can also add value to your property. Don’t under-estimate the skill or time involved for each home improvement project. It pays to know your DIY limits and recognise when it’s time to call on the experts. Done properly, home improvements can add real value to your property but bad work can have a negative impact on the value of your home and could also incur significant costs to correct.

So before you embark on your home improvements, take this fun interactive DIY quiz to see which of your skills need brushing up.

Buying a home as an investment – Home improvement ideas which could make you money

By Marc

Overview

For many middle class people, homes are their most important and largest investments. However, many people simply do not treat their homes as an investment. First of all, when buying a home it is important to start viewing the purchase an investment on the front end. Taking this view point will help add value in later years. For many people, buying a large home that has a couple areas of improvement is the sweet spot for adding the most value. When going to sell the home, professionally handcrafted kitchens and fitted bathrooms are the two most important rooms and these are prime locations to upgrade.

Kitchens

There is a saying in real estate that kitchens sell the homes. One of the biggest improvement that can be completed in a kitchen is upgrading the counter space with a granite top. Not only do granite tops make the kitchen look much nicer, but the tops are also more convenient because both hot and cold pots and pans can be placed on them without hurting the area. One issue with the granite tops is the price. Upgrading a normal sized kitchen with these granite tops will be at least five thousand pounds, and in many cases much more. When treating a home as an investment, any upgrade that is completed needs to be thought of as an investment in the home. If putting in granite counter tops for ten thousand pounds will make the home sell for fifteen thousand pounds more, than it is a wise decision. You can search online or locally for a n expert to create a handmade kitchen that meets your needs.

Bathrooms

Any focal point when looking at a home to buy or sell is the bathrooms. One of the most cost effective ways to upgrade a bathroom is to put in real stone floors in all of the bathrooms. For an average sized bathroom, this will only run about five hundred pounds per bathroom and this will really upgrade the look and feel of a bathroom. You can find a variety of bathroom fitters and plumbers at Better Home Solutions – an online directory of trades people that are individually hand picked by home improvement experts.

In addition to upgrading the stone floors, putting in upgraded sinks is another great cost effective way to change the look and feel of a bathroom. For less than a thousand pounds, all of the sinks in a bathroom can be changed out for ones that are nicer and go along with the theme of the bathroom. Overall, any investment that is made in the home must be thought of ahead of time, and the earlier this is done in the buying process the better.

Everything You Need To Know About Carpenters

By Marc

Are you planning to renovate your house? Or do you want to have an additional room for the family? Either way, hiring a professional carpenter can do that and more. We all know that carpenters are the ones who construct a house or establishment. But, aside from that, what else do we know?

The duties and responsibilities of carpenters are not limited to building structures and frameworks. As a matter of fact, we found that professional carpenters at Eastwood’s Carpentry in Leicestershire are trained and skilled to do various tasks which include the following:

Prepare the blueprint or layout for the house or establishment.
Select and prepare the materials that are needed in order to construct the project.
Carpenters know how to utilize different materials such as drywall, fiberglass, wood, plastic and more.
Construct stairways, bespoke furniture, and mantles.
Carpenters are capable of working with prefabricated buildings and structures.
Move or install machinery.
Inspect or replace broken and damaged fixtures and frameworks.
Remodel the whole house or establishment.

Three Types of Carpenters

If you’re planning to hire a carpenter, it is important to classify your needs first. In this manner, it will be easier for you to determine which among the three types of carpenter are worth hiring for the project.

Residential carpenters are the type who specializes in residential homes, townhouses, condominiums, and apartments. Residential carpenters are capable of constructing interior walls, stairways, and drywalls. Most of the residential carpenters are trained to install tile floors, carpet, and wood floors.
Industrial carpenters work in industrial settings. They are capable of building scaffolding and creating or setting the forms for pouring cement or concrete. Industrial carpenters also work in constructing tunnel bracing, underground partition, passageways, and mines.
Commercial carpenters work by remodeling commercial offices and establishments such as hotels, schools, hospitals, shopping malls, bookstores, and more. The large majority of commercial carpenters are capable of doing the usual tasks of residential carpenters.

[Read more…]

Cool ideas of what you can do with a small place

By Marc

If you are looking for inspiration on how to make the best use of your small room, then you might be overwhelmed by the amount of ideas which are out there. There are lots of practical solutions, to organise spare equipment which you have in your home, or if you need to have somewhere for visitors to stay, but also need to use your small space as other functions. Here are some cool ideas for your small space.

As more and more people are working from home then it is not surprising that there are so many office ideas out there to consider, when deciding how to get the most benefit from your small space. There are a number of office units cropping up these days, and lots of companies will design and make an office for you, in a creative way, which will compliment your room as well as being the most productive use of space. If you want to keep costs down then office furniture, which you assemble yourself, can be bought easily at big low cost furniture stores, or if you are a DIY expert then to build and fit a desk onto a wall is a relatively easy task, and you can find instructions online, and the materials you need at local DIY shops.

Day beds are fantastic in a small space, in the fact that they are duel purpose. The fact that day beds are one of Bedstar’s biggest sellers says that people are thinking creatively as to how make there small spaces as multipurpose as possible, due to the fact that day beds are not used as spare guest beds, but also as a seating area. Day beds can either come in metal or wood, but Bedstar find that their metal frames are the most popular. Some brands come with a trundle bed, which is stored underneath, and has pull out legs so that it can be made into a double bed for guests. The wooden day beds can be painted into any colour, or finish, so if you are a DIY enthusiast then you create a piece of furniture which will perfectly fit your décor. Instead of a trundle bed, an alternative are storage drawers, which fit perfectly underneath your day bed, and are also a fantastic use of space.

There are so many options when considering shelving and creative shelving for small spaces can really add a lot to your room. Shelving comes in many different formats. Open shelving lets you creatively display books, pictures, plants, and ornaments. This can be done in a way which makes a statement to the room, adding a uniqueness. Shelving can be added anywhere in a room, with people putting shelves higher up in small rooms. If you want to store clothing or equipment which you necessarily do not want to display, then there are lots of ideas for shelving with doors and drawers, converting any small space into storage. Simple shelving can be constructed fairly easily, if you want ‘do it yourself,’ with shelve packs available a many local furniture and DIY stores.

4 Bedroom Designs Based on Personality

By Marc

No matter what kind of life you lead, you want a bedroom that reflects your personality. Try using this guide to choose decorating ideas that match who you are so you can feel comfortable in your home’s most restful room. Here are 4 bedroom designs based on your personality, whatever it may be.

4. You Have a Laid-back Personality

Key design elements: soft, comfortable, mellow

If you have a laid-back personality, you want to choose bedroom designs that emphasize your mellow nature. If you lived in the St. Louis area, for example, you’d look for soft sheets, thick pillows, and fluffy carpets from St Louis carpet companies.

Since you’re really laid-back, you probably don’t spend a lot of time organizing your clothes. That’s fine. Instead of buying expensive furniture to organize your outfits, spend money on a nice stereo. That way, you can listen to cool tunes while you relax in bed with your pets and a good book.

3. You Have an Obsessive Compulsive Personality

Key design elements: organization

You don’t have to have an OCD diagnosis to know that you want things neat and orderly at all times. If you have a bit of an obsessive compulsive personality, you’ll want a bedroom design that helps you keep everything organized. Look for drawers that include baskets so you can separate white from colored socks. Buy organizational items for your closet so you can prevent wrinkles.

You should also get a small dust-buster for your bedroom. Not that you’d ever eat crackers in bed, but it’s good to have a vacuum nearby for when you spot dust bunnies. [Read more…]

Make Your Steel Building More Energy-Efficient by Topping it with Cool Roof

By Marc

Energy efficiency is one of the key features of steel buildings. This is part of the reason they became a popular code-approved solution for constructing structurally sound buildings, ranging from agricultural and industrial applications to commercial and residential use.

There are many ways steel buildings exemplify their energy-saving quality. To start with, their production takes up little energy and uses recycled water which also makes them a green solution. Also, since their components are lightweight they are very easy to transport, requiring lesser deliveries, equating to reduction in fuel usage and less carbon emissions. Once built, they create a watertight envelope and they also allow for the installation of continuous insulation and ventilation. These things, of course, help prevent leak penetration and better air circulation indoors, thereby reducing too much reliance on HVAC use.

If you own a steel building, it is likely that you are aware of your structures energy-saving capabilities. And by now, you are surely enjoying the benefit of reduced monthly energy costs. But, why stop there when you can further improve such excellent quality of your building by topping it off with a cool roof? SHS Roofing professionals say, “Roofs are also very expensive, usually costing thousands of dollars. Roofs should last at least a few decades, if not more. This makes selecting the right roofing product of the utmost importance.”

Cool roof in brief

Basically, a cool roof is a covering system that works just like a mirror. That is, instead of absorbing the heat coming from the sun, it simply reflects it back into the space, thereby keeping the temperature of the roof surface lower and thus reducing the amount of heat that is transferred indoors. The coolness level of a roof is largely determined by two properties: solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Both factors are gauged on a scale of zero to one, with one having the highest reflective or emissive quality. [Read more…]

A homeowners guide to concrete driveway maintenance

By Marc

Concrete is a great choice for a driveway. It may be more expensive but it is worth the investment: it is durable, works well for warm climates and offers more options when it comes to aesthetics (you can choose from a selection of several finishes, colors and patterns). It lasts longer too and you can enjoy it for decades!

If you opt for a concrete driveway and you wish to have it for as long as possible, you need to know how to properly maintain it. Here are some tips to help you with concrete driveway maintenance.

Cleaning and Stain Removal

Proper maintenance starts with cleaning. Cleaning your concrete driveway occasionally is a must to keep it in good shape. Know that exposure to the elements and any debris can compromise the quality of the concrete, so you need to take time to clean your driveway.

How often should you clean? Frequency of cleaning will depend on two things: weather and vehicle traffic. The latter is a more important consideration as it contributes to the staining of the concrete. Know that as durable as concrete is, it is porous and easily absorbs fluids. This is why you need to take care of stains as soon as possible. Of course, tire tracks can also be a problem. Hence, if you have more vehicle traffic, you will need to clean the driveway more often. [Read more…]

Buyer beware: Signs that a home may have foundation problems

By Marc

Home-buyers often make a lengthy list of must-haves and deal-breakers for their realtor when they start their search for a new home. Hand-chiseled hardwood floors, slab granite, outdoor space and roomy open floor plans are popular today. One thing that rarely shows up on that list is a solid, properly built and well-maintained foundation. But most builders and real estate experts would agree that the foundation is perhaps the most important feature in every home.

There are many things that can damage a concrete foundation. If a structure is not built properly on the slab, the shifting frame could damage the foundation. As you examine any home you’re considering buying, look for external cracks in the foundation and on the sides of the home. Loose bricks, damage to exterior surfaces and windows that are sagging could be indications that the house is in trouble.

Specific signs

There are some obvious signs that a home has foundation problems and some more subtle indications that a home may be in need of professional foundation repair. A few additional tips to help home-buyers spot those telltale signs are listed below.

Cracking sheetrock. Cracks along the ceiling and wall joints and large vertical cracks in the paint or wallpaper are signs that the walls are shifting. A faulty foundation might be the culprit.

Bowed walls. Walls that have a bow-shaped protrusion meaning they are flatter at the ceiling and floor than in the middle is a sign that a house is settling unevenly, probably due to foundation problems.

Loose paneling and trim. Look for baseboard trim and ceiling molding that is separating from the wall. Loose nails in paneling and broken trim work might be a sign of old age and abuse or a sign that the house is not stable.

Uneven floors. When you tour a home, bring a marble with you and roll it set in the floor. Take note of whether the marble rolls across the room. If so, that means the home has uneven floors that might be a result of foundation problems. [Read more…]

Great Picture Frame Concepts

By Marc

Are you feeling fed up with the wall decorations in your home? Quality picture frames will solve all your issues and using various picture frames on the walls can be described as one of the finest home decorating options. There is a lot of fun involved in selecting picture frames and another important aspect about these types of frames is that they are extremely cost effective. They come in different colours, styles and sizes and a careful selection will enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home at its best. Several materials are being used to make these frames and they include aluminium, hard wood or soft wood and polystyrene.

These types of frames can be used for a variety of purposes and choosing the best one should be done according to your own taste, attitude and budget. When you are searching for a photo frame to keep wedding photographs you will have to select a silver-plated photo frame and for decorating glamorous occasions like wedding anniversaries, different types of metallic frames can be used as well. Budget-conscious people can opt for artistic picture frames created with large matting, surrounding a smaller photo and the additional space available can be used to sign dedications and names. Portrait frames, poster frames and landscape can also be described as cost effective and they can be mounted on the wall or hung from anywhere in the room. [Read more…]

How to decorate your home in a Minimalistic Style

By Marc

The mantra of minimalistic styling is simplicity. Every decor depends on certain features that are essential to the decor. But it is not essential to pack your home with various decorative items in order to give it a distinct look and character. This approach to decoration involves moving out as many items as possible and leaving the basic layout as the main point of attraction. Open floor plans serve as ideal models for this type of design. Minimalistic decoration, when set with functional design, can feature decorative characteristics that accent a space without overpowering it. A few essential features of this type of decor are:

Absence of focal points

One of the main features of minimalistic decor is to avoid any focal point in a room. The decor must be set in a manner so that no particular feature gets highlighted in a room. For instance, if a fireplace exists in your living room, then let it be the point of interest. Nothing should be added to it. The mantle must be given a nude look and must not be loaded with interesting figurines and photos of family members. If you happen to have a simple couch in the room, then placing a few simple pillows on it will make the room interesting in a minimalistic manner. The main thing is that the couch, the fire place and all other features of the room must share an equal level of interest.

Curtains, panels and dividers

Doors are not a highly appreciated thing in a minimalistic decor. A sparse look is always better represented by eliminating the doors altogether and merging the rooms into one singular room. If you want to divide spaces in a home then curtains are a great help. The quality of the fabric depends on your needs. Sheer curtains can be used to demarcate an area while bold color curtains can be used for privacy. In case of bedrooms, a wooden or bamboo divider can be used to separate a room into two halves. [Read more…]