The Best Ways to Update Your Home This Year
Everybody wants to convert their homes into their dream residences by making a few updates. However, upgrading your home is no mean feat. What’s more, it comes with a substantial financial impact that you should beware of before embarking on the project. Whether you are remodeling your recently purchased home or your old home, upgrading your home can improve the quality of your life.
A combination of practical updates can protect your home, making it more efficient. It also allows you to personalize your lifestyle. Worth mentioning is that sometimes upgrading your home can be a big commitment. However, the result is always a functional, comfortable, and stylish home. Numerous exterior and interior upgrades add value to your daily life. Before starting your home renovation project, check local building standards and code requirements to ensure maximum compliance and safety. Here are some of the best ways to update your home.
When Should you Replace Appliances?
When your appliance starts malfunctioning, you’ll need to determine whether to hire house appliance repair services or replace it. If you can afford a new machine, you may consider an energy-efficient appliance that will help you lower your energy costs. However, if you are on a budget, repairing it would be one of the best ways to update your home, especially if the problem is minor. If you choose to repair your appliance, start by obtaining an estimate for your repair project. However, if your repair works cost over 50% of the price of acquiring a new appliance, then buying a new one would be one of the best ways to update your home. While home appliance repair can be costly, purchasing a new model can be worthwhile, even when your old one is working well. As technology advances, more energy-efficient appliances are emerging. Replacing your old appliance can help you cut down your energy bills. Home appliances can malfunction anytime. As a result, knowing the signs to watch out for before they crash is critical. Here is what to look out for in various appliances.
Refrigerator and Range
There are various indications that your fridge is about to break down. For instance, is it producing more noise than usual? Is food going bad faster than expected? In this case, you may want to start saving for a new one. If the back of your fridge is scorching, consider replacing it. If your refrigerator has excess frost, replacing it would be among the best ways to update your home. The most significant sign that the range is malfunctioning is when it takes longer to reach the right temperature than usual or when it doesn’t heat. However, there are other things to watch out for. Broken knobs, a faulty control panel, or a cracked cooktop are sufficient reasons to replace your range.
Dishwasher and Microwave Oven
A dishwasher is designed to clean and dry your dishes, eliminating the need to do it manually. Suppose your dishwasher stops functioning as it should. You can repair it if the problem is minor. However, replacing the dishwasher is one of the best ways to update your home. Other reasons for replacing your dishwasher include; when the door doesn’t close properly, if you notice rust in the dishwasher, or if there are cracks from the inside. If your dishwasher is leaking water or if water is not draining, you should consider purchasing a new appliance. Whether you have a countertop or an inbuilt microwave model, it’s important to know that it won’t last forever. If your microwave starts having a burning smell or sparking, suppose the door doesn’t close or seal properly, consider replacing it. Watch out for the keypad as well. If you can’t press the buttons or if they stick, you should invest in a new microwave.
Things to Know When you Add a New Deck to Your Home
Suppose you’re considering adding an outdoor space in your home where you can hold parties, relax, or do your exercises. Building a deck can be one of the best ways to update your home in practical and stylish ways. While some decks are made of wood, others are made of plastic or fiberglass. If you don’t know what to choose between both materials, your local deck service provider should help you make an informed decision. Decks are usually an extension of a home and are ideal for uneven or sloped areas. It’s important to clean your deck at least twice annually thoroughly. One of the best ways to update your home is to clean after the pollen season in late spring and after trees shed their leaves in late fall. If your deck is made of PVC, composite, or plastic material, avoid power washing it. Ensure fiberglass deck repairs are done by a professional. Inspect your deck for loose nails, split wood, cracking paint, and rot. Repaint your painted deck annually and reseal a wooden deck bi-annually to guarantee longevity.
Re-Do Your Kitchen
While kitchen makeovers are some of the best ways to update your home, they can be costly. However, you can still re-do your kitchen on a budget. One of the best ways to do so is by remodeling your cabinets instead of replacing them. New cabinets can be expensive, mainly if you want customized pieces for your space. There are numerous cost-effective ways of renovating your existing cabinets. For example, repainting your kitchen cabinets is a compelling upgrade method. Before painting, you must sand and prime your cabinets which can be time-consuming based on the number of cabinets you have. Besides finishing your cabinets, you can opt to update the hardware.
Sometimes, you need modern handles and knobs to give your existing cabinets a fresh look. While refacing is one of the best ways to update your home, it can be costlier than repainting. Refacing incorporates a new veneer on the exterior of your cabinet boxes, replacing drawer fronts and doors. Executing this process on your own can be difficult. To do it successfully, hire a professional. Not only do they have the expertise to complete the project appropriately, but they also have the relevant tools for the task. Instead of renovating your new cabinets or replacing them, you may install open shelving. Shelves are cost-friendly, and you can choose a theme that matches your kitchen style, creating an airy space in your kitchen.
Remodel the Bathroom
Before starting your bathroom renovation checklist, there are various factors to consider. Evaluating your finances is one of the most important things to do. Remember, every bathroom remodeling project is different. The amount of money you spend on your project varies based on the magnitude of your project, the size of your space, and the materials you use. Before embarking on the project, ask various contractors for an estimate. The total cost of a bathroom renovation project depends on what you need to replace or the accessories you want to adopt. If you are renovating your home on a budget, consider eliminating the extras from your project. Plumbing projects take up a large chunk of your budget. You may want to set aside more money to accommodate arising issues.
Think about how you plan for the bathroom remodel bill. Home equity loans are popular options. Others include personal loans, refinancing, personal savings, borrowing against your life insurance policy, and loans from your retirement plan. After finalizing your budget, monitor your renovation costs to ensure you stay on track. Ensure you and your contractor are accountable to the set budget by tracking budgeted amounts against spending. Remember, the bathroom is always wet. When choosing a bathroom flooring for your project, ensure the material is slip resistant to avoid falling. Wide plaster and small tile lines in your shower create friction, making falling difficult. Numerous cost-effective and beautiful flooring options are ideal for your style needs. If you live in a cold region, install an electric heated floor under the tiles to make the bathroom warm and comfortable throughout the year.
Pave Your Driveway
The basic steps of driveway paving are simple. First, remove the existing surface, grade it, and refinish your driveway. To create a smooth and durable driveway, you must hire a professional to survey your project for underground water lines, gas pipes, and cables to prevent damage to essential utilities. You should then grade the base soil to ensure water flows off to the bottom or sides. That guarantees proper drainage while preventing a heaved or collapsed driveway. The ideal drainage should be ¼ inch for each foot. Suppose the driveway is flat; consider building a small hill at the center to allow water to flow along the sides. Suppose the subsoil is poor. Consider installing new soil before hiring paving companies to execute the asphalt paving.
Spray the subsoil using a sterilizer to bar weeds from growing through the broken asphalt and gravel surface. Use a twin drum roller to compact the subsoil and prevent future settling. Now, cover the topsoil with jagged and coarse rock. You need a thicker tier of broken rock for clay soils than sandy soil. The aggregate size you use when creating asphalt pavement ranges between ½ inch and ¾ inch. A smaller aggregate would be ideal in residential driveways because it produces a polished appearance. Still, the larger the aggregate, the stronger the pavement. The best thickness should be between two and three inches. Use paving stone and concrete to complete the edges. Usually, the asphalt is shaped at a 45-scale angle along the edges. Poor crushed gravel up to ten inches from your driveway supports cars crossing through the 45-scale asphalt edge. After installing the asphalt, you must wait nine months before sealing your driveway. This gives the asphalt sufficient time to cure. Sealers often hamper the curing process.
Hire a Landscaper
Invest in professional tree removal and landscaping services to boost the visual appeal of outdoor living areas. When hiring a firm to assist with landscaping, find a contractor that provides the services you require and one who has a reputation for excellent customer service and quality work. Begin by researching landscapers and tree company firms in your local area. Seek recommendations from family and friends, or do your research online. Ensure the firm you choose specializes in the services you need.
Shortlist multiple companies and choose one that meets your needs best. Read reviews from their previous customers to understand what to expect. You can even ask them to provide references you can talk to. However, nobody is perfect. So, don’t raise your bar of expectations too high. The landscaper you choose should be able to provide proof of a business license or insurance cover. While you may want to cut costs, hiring cheap landscapers is not always ideal. Get a comprehensive written contract before starting the job.
Re-Finish Your Floors
If your floor is old and you want to refinish it, consider hiring a flooring installation expert to assess it and recommend the best solution. Knowing what to expect during the refinishing process is critical. Your flooring professional will need many materials to execute the refinishing process. These include plastic sheeting, orbital or drum sander, wood filler, sandpaper, floor stain, masking tape, mineral spirits, and pencils. The refinishing process starts with preparing the area for the sanding process.
Remove the quarter round or shoe molding around the perimeter. To do so gently, you’ll need to place a molding bar between the trim and floor and pry it off gently. After prepping the room, your flooring expert will start the sanding process. Here, they will need various tools such as the detail sander, random hand-held orbital sander, and a walk-behind sander. After sanding, cleaning, and drying the floor thoroughly, your expert will stain the floor before sealing it.
Worth mentioning is that you can seal your floor with polyurethane without stains and still maintain your floor’s natural color and visual appeal. If you choose this option, you can use water-based or oil-based polyurethane. When using oil-based products, dry stained rags separately or keep them inside a can filled with water. When oils evaporate from stained rags, natural oxidation can trigger a fire. Water-based products are more expensive than their oil-based counterparts. Regardless of your option, your flooring expert will need a good quality brush for the wood applicator and edge work in the core area of your room. After applying the final polyurethane coat, allow it to dry before reinstalling the trim.
Working with professionals is one of the best ways to update your home. Besides having the expertise to complete the task successfully, they have the necessary tools for the job. Talk to us today to schedule an appointment with our experts.