 Photo by Collov Home Design on Unsplash We've gotten more than acquainted with COVID-19's "social remodeling" booklet, and setting up our crunch-time makeshift home offices was no easy task. The word "REMOTE" has been and will continue to be The Word that defines this curious era. Some of us love it, some of us dread it; the truth is, home offices are here to stay for most of us. So, if someone is to tell you: "It's going to be a long ride" (another emphasis on "long") with an all-knowing, wise whisper, what's your game plan? We say, let's figure out a way for you and your business to thrive. Here are seven home office remodeling tips for a productive space. #homeoffice #workingfromhome #homeimprovementtips #homereno Easy steps to improve your home office Photo by Magnet.me on Unsplash "Create a workplace that will inspire you." Most of us can fall asleep pretty much anywhere when the feeling of exhaustion runs over us. Closing your eyes is easy. But, what about working? Are kids having a slumber party? No biggie. Is your neighbor overindulging in personifying the "I want to break free" video with their new leaf blower? You'll wait it out. Your "zoom" meeting is about to begin, but you can't find the documents you prepared this morning? Is the concept of staring at a wall more inspiring and tempting than actually getting some work done? It's time to get that home office a makeover. Stat. Avoiding interruptions Photo by JP Lockwood on Unsplash "Don't let family interrupt important meetings" You could be the biggest death metal fan, and still, you're probably going to suffer from being subjected to distracting noise during working hours. 95% of us have selective "hyperacusis" and "misophonia" (noise sensitivity disorders) when we're expected to be focused and productive. Is your roommate's breakfast your worst enemy? Are you a bit less fond of your children when they barge in halfway through your conference call presentation? We've all been there. A set of doors will set you free. It's all about acoustics. This bonus room renovation tip will cost you nothing: by simply using weatherstrips on your door frame, you can expect your workspace to be almost entirely soundproof. If you don't have that extra room, noise-canceling headphones could be your second best option. Good home office lighting is important for eye healthThe eyes may be the window to our souls, but they're also what brings food to our table. Our beautiful retinas are the primary tool for all the diverse job descriptions out there. Investing in some fine lighting will make your eyes happy as a clam, and your overall motivation stimulated in all the right ways. Setting the perfect atmosphere (while accounting for all the health factors) isn't heavy on the pocket and can be executed just by popping by the first Ikea in your neighborhood. Floor lamps and desk lamps, combined with natural lighting, reduce headaches and eye strain and boost your endorphin levels. Our eyes crave soft, natural-like light, so pamper your new office with some lampshades. A comfortable and healthy place to work Photo by ergonofis on Unsplash "Good home office ergonomics will help your back" These boots are made for walking, but your back isn't made for sitting, that's for sure. Our skeletal system was actually cut out for labor, not for sitting hours and hours on end. Scoliosis, kyphosis, sciatic nerve pain, carpal tunnel syndrome - the chair that we sit on and work from can be detrimental to our physical health down the road. So, the fancy term that saves the day and one of the seven home office remodeling tips for a productive space is ergonomics! We might be adults, but do we even know how to sit correctly?
Relocating your home officeIs your house getting a bit too crowded? Does it feel impossible to get through your working day without feeling overstimulated by things happening around the house? Maybe it's time to rethink your office location. If you're using your living room or your bedroom as an office, it might be time to go big and surprise yourself. Do you own a shed? Or maybe a garage that gifts you with goosebumps? Yes! It doesn't take much to transform a Jigsaw sequel-looking garage into a swan. First step: make it functional. And build from there. Reducing clutter in your home office "Decluttering your home office will make you more productive" Is it of any sentimental value? Do you really think that pile will come in handy one day? If the answer is no, into the trash bin it goes. Decluttering is essential in keeping that business mojo flowing. Treat your new office with new filing cabinets and shelves. Organizing your cable origami with cable boxes and clips might do wonders in decreasing the overall sense of chaos. Bringing some outdoors insideOur eyes love it; our brains love it. If your home office overlooks your spring-improved garden, you're probably going to pass on this one. Having a plant makes all the difference when you're working from home. Just a tiny succulent (I'd recommend "Crassula Ovata," also known as the "Money Tree") provides you with a tiny escape every time you need it. A plant never disappoints.  Photo by Jan Baborák on Unsplash Finding the right colour for your home officeIt all depends on the personality type; there is no such thing as a universally pleasant color. You might find purple soothing for your work ambiance, and your co-worker might cry themselves to sleep. As a general rule, white isn't the best color for your office (unless it's toned down with plenty of natural materials and green). Shades of blue and green (from pastel to deep hues) tend to be the most soothing for the majority. If you're a lively, bold type, you might want to try an accent wall. Try to avoid dark tones - dark gray, black, and brown are no friends to productivity and imagination. It's springtime; go light. The right background colour can be important to make you stand out in those Zoom calls. You don't want to be lost in the background! It doesn't take much to create a new working space at homeAll you need is some free time and a small investment. Changing your office's appearance can change how you feel about your work and yourself. Always for the better. We hope you find our seven home office remodeling tips for a productive space helpful. Let's get to work! AuthorCai Farmer works as a consultant and a blogger for zippyshellcolumbus.com. He is a DIY enthusiast with a bachelor's degree in interior design. When he's not working on a project in his garage, you can find him wandering with his dog, Chicken. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.
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 Ground has to be excavated to level the house site for foundations, for basements, pools, and to install services such as water pipes, storm water pipes, electrical cables and sewer (wastewater) pipes. Sometimes, in the case of basements and sewer and storm water pipes these excavations are deep. See Levelling an area for your house Different ground conditions impact excavations for your homeRemember when you were a child playing on a sandy beach. High up on the beach where the sand was dry if you dug a hole it filled up with sand as quickly as you removed it. The sides of the hole kept falling in. Closer to the sea the sand was wetter so you could dig a hole fairly deep and the sides stood up vertically. But as the sand dried out the sides of the excavation started to fall in. Of course, as soon as you stood near the edge of the excavation the sides collapsed and you fell into the hole. When you tried to dig a hole right at the edge of the sea where the waves were, the excavation filled with water and the sides of the hole fell in immediately they were wet. Now there’s a huge variety of different ground conditions which you could encounter on your building site. These could range from solid rock, rock that is heavily fragmented, ground containing boulders, hard well compacted ground, loose ground, and sand. Excavating in hard solid rock it’s possible to have vertical sides to the excavation and the sides won’t fall in. Excavating in sand will often have a similar result to what you encountered on the beach, and the sides usually won’t stay vertical for long, and usually only up to a depth of half a metre (eighteen inches). Harder ground could stand vertically for a couple of metres (six foot), but the sides can collapse if water enters the excavation – water running into the excavation will erode the sides, and water sitting in the bottom of the excavation will saturate the ground on the sides eating into the ground, eventually causing it to collapse.  How big will your excavations be?Of course ground that collapses into the excavation results in the excavation becoming larger, and it also requires the ground to be cleaned out of the excavation again, which is time consuming. But if the excavation is more than a metre and a half deep (four-and-a half feet) and somebody is working in the excavation then they could be injured by the falling debris and even buried alive. Unfortunately there are frequent reports of construction workers being killed when the sides of trenches collapsed on them burying them. #constructionsafety Therefore by law (note: check your local safety requirements), and for practical purposes, the sides of all excavations (other than in solid rock) cannot have vertical sides more than one and a half metres (four-and-a half feet). Above that, the ground must be battered back (sloped) to about a thirty or forty-five degree slope, or the sides of the excavation should be in steps or benches (see sketch below). Of course where there’s only sand the sides of the excavation can’t be vertical and will probably be at a forty-five degree slope from the base of the excavation. What this means is that the excavation at the top surface ends up being much wider than it has to be at the bottom of the hole. Imagine a three metre (nine foot) deep trench that is six hundred millimetres (two foot) wide at the bottom. In sand the excavation could be over six metres (eighteen foot) wide at the top, or in hard ground the excavation could be three metres (nine foot) wide. Not only must this extra material be excavated, but once the pipe is installed, or the wall built, this material must be put back, and compacted properly. What this means is that excavating a three metre (nine foot) deep basement isn’t going to cost 50% more than excavating a two metre (six foot) deep basement, it’s probably going to be double the cost. And, excavating a three metre (nine foot) deep trench could cost three or four times the cost of excavating a two metre (six foot) deep trench.  But remember, as discussed when you were on the beach and you stood on the edge of your excavation the sides collapsed, so we have the same on our construction sites where excavations next to roads or below building foundations could easily collapse because of the extra weight on the sides of the excavation from the vehicles and the building. Of course making excavations wider to accommodate the depth is often not an option, there simply isn’t the space. In these cases the sides of the excavations have to be held back. For trenches this could involve shoring the sides with timbers or special structures, or even sinking caissons (rigid boxes of timber, steal or concrete, strong enough to hold the ground back) into the ground and excavating the ground out between the walls of the caisson (see photo below). Deep basements, or basements excavated in sand may require walls to be constructed from continuous steel sheet piles or concrete piles which are driven into the ground first. This establishes an enclosed space around the outside of the basement, and the ground can then be excavated from within this enclosed area (see photo below). When the basement is excavated the basement walls can be constructed against this ring of piles. #excavation #constructionexcavation
Separating good ground from poor groundWhenever excavating care should be taken to separate the good material which is suitable to use for backfilling from unsuitable material. Invariably the ground varies the deeper we excavate. The upper layer could be topsoil and contain vegetation Below the topsoil could be several layers of ground. Some material could be unsuitable for backfilling and may have to be disposed of. Some material could be okay for filling layers deeper down, while the best material should be kept for filling the uppermost layers of trenches and against walls.  Allowing working space in excavationsWhen excavating for foundations or basements. it’s often necessary to make the excavation larger than needed so that there’s space in which to work and to construct the foundation or wall. The working space required usually varies between six hundred and one thousand millimetres (two to three foot). The area excavated for working space must be filled with ground which is compacted when the wall is complete. If the concrete is to be cast against the sides of the ground or soil then the excavation should be done as neatly and accurately as possible. If the excavation is larger than it should be then more concrete will be required to fill the space of the extra ground removed. If the excavation is too small then the foundation or wall won’t fit and excess ground must be removed to make the excavation the correct size. This will create delays and additional costs.  Pipes in rockUsually storm water and wastewater pipes (see Wastewater pipes and home construction)can’t be placed directly on rock or hard ground and require a layer of soft sand 50 to 150millimetres (2 to 6 inches) thick under them. This allows for the pipes to be placed at the correct height and it means that the pipe is supported evenly along its length without lumps and bumps of rock which could damage the pipe. ConclusionDigging a hole for house foundations, or to install pipes and cables to your new home may seem easy. But it can be dangerous when the excavation exceeds 1.5m (4 feet) deep ( trench collapses are often fatal). Not excavating the right size may mean that you have to get the excavator back to enlarge the hole. Digging too big results in extra costs. Mixing good quality ground with poor ground will result in everything being thrown away and you may have to get in new good material to fill in trenches when pipes are installed and to fill against the foundations - all at additional costs. #homeconstruction #homeconstructiontips Other useful articles: Clearing way for your new home Understanding plumbing when planning a new home or renovation.  This is an extract from the author's book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home'. © 2022 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses? Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  Photo by immo RENOVATION on Unsplash Ideas to bring new life to your home"From a thorough declutter to refreshing the look of your home, we got it all covered." As the snow starts to melt, the ground warms, and nature comes back to life, we know that spring has arrived. And when seeing so much rejuvenation, it’s understandable to get the urge to renew something about your home. However, after passing through a long sedentary winter, you might have trouble knowing where to start with your renovation. As a result, we thought of some simple home improvement ideas that you can try out in your home this spring. From a thorough declutter to refreshing the look of your home, we got it all covered. So let us see how you can use these spring renovation ideas to freshen up your home this season. #springrenovationideas #homeimprovementideas Letting light into your home"Increase the amount of natural light in your home" After months of long nights and limited sunlight, you and your home need extra light. As a result, one of the first things you should do is increase the amount of light in your home. Start by keeping the drapes and blinds open or perhaps taking them down till the summer. If there is too much light in a room, you can replace thick and dark curtains with lighter ones. Choose curtains made of light yet light-filtering fabrics, such as linen or cotton. That way, you can control how much light enters the room and balance it so that it doesn't become bothersome. At the same time, if you don’t have enough windows in your home, now could be the perfect time to add more. Additional windows can not only let more natural light in but will also make your home look more beautiful. And if you ever think of selling your home in the future, those added windows could help you increase the value of your home.  Photo by Ksenia Chernaya from Pexels "Installing more windows in your home will help you light it and refresh it more efficiently" Let your home breathe After ensuring that your home has enough natural light, you must also provide it with enough air. As a result, open the windows and refresh the air in each room. Even if the air is still chilly, ventilating the rooms will kick out the stale air and allergens that gathered over the winter. Also, leaving the windows open for one hour each day will make your home smell fresh and springy. In addition to ventilating the rooms by opening the windows, you can also have the HVAC system checked. You probably used it throughout the winter, and you should ensure that it is in perfect running condition for the summer. Therefore, check all the air filters, clean them, or change them if needed. Also, if the unit is old, you could use this opportunity to change it and add a newer system. Smart thermostats, for example, are available in current HVAC systems and allow you to control the temperature in your home much better. New HVAC systems are also usually more energy efficient - helping to lower your power bill which will offset some of the costs for the new HVAC. In addition, you can access the system through an app on your smartphone. That way, you can heat or cool your home while still on the road on your way home. Declutter and organize your home"Create more space for the things you use" Your home is getting enough air and light now, but it might miss space. In that case, you might have a problem with clutter. As a result, now is a great time to do some spring cleaning and get rid of all the unnecessary stuff you gathered. To begin with, go through your home and see what is causing clutter. Look in every corner, drawer, and closet and observe what items you haven't used in a while. Donate the clothes you don't wear, throw out outdated food and toiletries, and store items you rarely use. For instance, you can rent a storage unit and place your valuable and fragile items like glassware and seasonal ornaments there. But, you must ensure that your things arrive at the storage unit undamaged by carefully packaging them. Use plenty of cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and packing paper to ensure the safety of sensitive pieces during transport and storage. After you get all the unnecessary items out of the way, you can estimate how much space you have or additionally need. That is when you can use another one of the spring renovation ideas that can help you freshen up your home, which is adding more shelves. Place shelves on empty walls, above the furniture, and even in your closets if needed. That way, you will have more room for items that crowd your drawers, work desk, or cupboards, and you can keep everything organized.  Photo by Tony Smith from Pexels "Shelves are a great way to organize your items." Add a fresh coat of paint to your house Repainting the walls inside and out is a great way to freshen up your home during a spring renovation. It can help you get rid of the stale feeling that your home can get throughout the winter, and you can also use color to make your home feel bigger. Paint your interior walls white, and they will reflect light, making the rooms seem more spacious. If you think that white is hard to keep clean, opt for lighter shades of gray and cream. You may also use orange, yellow, or red to make your rooms appear more joyous and warm if you want to go for a more daring style. In addition, you can use wallpaper to give texture to a room or give it a theme. For the exterior, you can choose to paint the house gray, a warm blue, or a natural shade of green. Pastel colors are also a good choice, with butter yellow, peach orange, or lavender being among the favorites. However, be cautious while selecting a paint color for the house. It should be in harmony with the colors of other homes in your area and with the environment. Update your outdoor space Now that the weather has started warming up, you might want to spend more time outdoors. Therefore, it's time to update your outdoor space and prepare it for family gatherings. First, clean your deck and porch, make necessary repairs, add a waterproof treatment, and repaint the woodwork. Then, clean the yard of debris, cut outgrown branches, and mow the lawn. If you have a garden, pluck out the weeds, remove the mulch, and rake the soil. You can also set up new planters and garden beds and create a composting area. "Create a place where you and your family can enjoy relaxing sunny days outside" Around the house, you can clean the driveway, paths, pool, and gutters. If you have a fence, repair any damage done by water or snow, treat it and repaint it. When you finish cleaning and preparing the outdoor spaces, you can add some furniture to the deck or make an outdoor kitchen, patio, or gazebo. There, you and your family will be able to enjoy many sunny days outside, making barbecues or having picnics.  Photo by Curtis Adams from Pexels "Building an outdoor space where you can spend time with your friends and family can be a good addition this spring." Create a new home this springIf you want to freshen up your home, you can always use some of the spring renovation ideas we suggested. They are simple to implement and can make your house feel and look brand new. In addition, your home will become a springtime haven where you and your guests will love spending time. #homeimprovement #homerenotips AuthorAlissia Brown is a design enthusiast and an NYC Mini Storage consultant. She specializes in home remodeling projects and storage unit advice. Project management, customer service, communications, and event planning are among some of her talents. Alissia spends her free time cooking, traveling, and writing on her blog. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
"These books are packed with useful tips and insights to help make your home renovation project a success" Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  Why do people choose accent walls? The answer is pretty simple - because it attracts your attention and stands out from the rest of the room! If you paint an entire room in the same shade or pattern as the rest of the house, it will look pleasant with that synchronisation. However, if you go with Accent walls, they give your space an exceptional decorative flair that remains missing from other styles. Accent walls add brilliant colours, designs and intrigue to highlight their space. There are also specific tiles called Accent tiles that give you the chance to make your space immensely fashionable with their unique patterns and designs. While creating a custom wall for your home may sound expensive, the latest technological advancements have significantly reduced the cost and effort of setting up such entities. In that light, here are some stylish ways to create an accent wall and customise your space. #accentwalls Painted Wall or Mural Why stop at just a different shade of colour when you can do so much more in the same realm! You can always go for patterns on the paint like spheres, stripes, floral or even murals. If you are a person who highly admires art and wants to include art into the home décor in any way possible, a mural accent wall would definitely be your best foot forward. Note: A mural is simply a piece of artwork directly applied on the wall like wallpaper. 3D Tiles Go a step ahead and opt for longevity and durability by opting for premium quality 3D tiles. With multiple options in every possible tile type or pattern, 3D tiles would be an absolute fit for an accent wall. The best part? 3D tiles can be used on the wall as well as the floor. So if you like a particular design, you can always use that elsewhere in the décor. From minimalist designs and florals or beachy or mountainous patterns, 3D tiles have all. The easy upkeep of the tiles makes it surpass other materials while ensuring that you get those epic 3D effects for years.  Headboard Wall It's time to experiment with your headboard wall that usually gets ignored. However, you can make full use of this underrated method to make your walls more interesting. A great thing about headboard walls is that they allow you to try out patchwork using fabrics that you generally won’t use on plastic or wooden squares. When put on the wall, it makes for an exciting change from the regular and pale wall. Curtains It’s completely understandable if you are in no mood for any major changes in the space. In such cases, you might go ahead with minor but impactful ones, such as the curtains. Instead of going for the plain shades, you can go wild with the colours and designs here! Go the vintage way by trying either single panel, double panel, a liner, valance or even a window treatment set – anything that makes your space stand out. Mirrors Another underrated yet one of the most impactful choices for an accent wall is the mirrors, which dramatically enhance the aesthetic of a room. Instead of having a painted wall or buying wallpaper online, you can go for a full mirror wall as your headboard feature wall of the bedroom. While they could be a bit on the expensive side and challenging to maintain, they are worth every effort and patience!  Colourful Wallpaper Want to try something with your kitchen backsplash? Go for wallpapers! The best part about the backsplash is that you can personalise it the way you want without making it excessive. Make that your little creative accent wall by adding a pop of colour with wallpapers, or add some floating wooden shelves to the party, and you have a great kitchen space you can talk about!  Felt Stickers Children’s rooms are a great space to go creative, especially with their likings. If your child loves space, a superhero, or even a cartoon, you can bring that closer home by using felt stickers to make accent walls. It’s as simple as just peeling and pasting on the wall. And while they are always in demand by children, even adults might fancy them and channel their inner child!  Combined Textures With a significant portion of the world moving towards Work From Home, a dedicated space for your work or pleasure becomes an issue. However, you can play smart by adding more than one element to your accent wall that will come in handy for work as well as pastime. You can elevate one side of the wall with either wooden panelling or a mural, or even tile accents while keeping the rest as it is. This gives the impression of two separate rooms in one. Showcase Wall If you passionately love something and feel you can get that on the wall, this is your chance. Love books? You can use vintage book covers on the wall or a sharpie to make a classic accent wall stand out. You can even dedicate an entire wall to framed photographs of your family, friends, and people that matter to you. These aspects make the space more intimate and authentic for a fantastically self-reflective accent wall design. In fact, you can also display any heirlooms like broken plates or bowls that will really add a quirky and vintage vibe to the wall. Accent walls can be your blank canvas to make your own design and art. This is where you can incorporate what you love, your ideas and make the space your own. If you are going for something solid and long-lasting, you can always go for tiles. However, any method works as long as you love it for long! The methods mentioned above give more aesthetics and fewer hassles to the maintenance. What else could you want then! #homeimprovementtips #homeimprovementideas #homedecor AuthorIsha Tandon has worked within the architecture and interior design industry as a flooring consultant expert – specializing in tiles, stones, and terrazzo. She has worked with Orientbell Limited, a leading tile manufacturer in India, as a product development manager in the design team and has recently joined the marketing team as their digital content expert. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
"Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  Photo by M&W Studios from Pexels As we have seen from our articles over the last 3 months there are numerous ideas that can quickly transform your home into the home of your dreams - or certainly make your current house more liveable and appealing while adding more value. Most of the ideas can be created at a modest cost and with little time. They also don't disrupt the household as a major renovation would. Our articles and tips included: Simple home improvement tips, How to make your home feel bigger, creating more storage Simple Ways to Improve Your House Part 1 - Creating More Space and 7 Creative Storage Ideas for Your Home and Creating more space in your home with extra storage. We also discussed Improving your garden adds value and enjoyment to your home. Then our previous article More home improvement ideas In this article we discuss a few more ideas which could easily transform your home. Change carpets and refresh your homeChanging carpets can create a new refreshed look. Always ensure the old underlay is removed, all dirt is cleaned and that any mould is treated before the new carpet is installed. Use a good quality underlay which will help protect the new carpet, assist with insulation and provide the carpet with a more luxurious feel.  Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels "Select colours that are light, but not too light that they’ll show all the dirt" Select colours that are light, but not too light that they’ll show all the dirt. Look for carpets that can be easily cleaned and that are hard wearing. Avoid heavily patterned carpets. Even just purchasing a new large mat can transform a dull or damaged floor. It might not be necessary to take out those floor tiles you don't like, just hide most of them beneath a large rug. In cooler areas you could consider installing underfloor heating beneath the carpet. Always get a professional installer. Curtains, blinds and shuttersNew curtains, blinds or shutters can change a room. Lighter colours can brighten rooms. New window treatments can help insulate the room from temperatures outside and even reduce noise. Choosing Window Coverings for Your Home  Tired of hearing the neighbours or traffic why not do some soundproofingSome houses can be noisy which could be because of:
Maintenance – fixing what’s broken "A lack of maintenance leads to further problems and spoils our enjoyment of the home" Regular maintenance is essential in every home. Unfortunately the lack of maintenance leads to further problems and spoils our enjoyment of the home. Often people look to move from their homes for silly reasons that can easily be fixed. So maintenance could include:
ConclusionHopefully we have inspired you to make changes to your home that will make your house more enjoyable for you and your family. Happy home improvement. We look forward to hearing your stories of successful changes and seeing before and after pictures. Take care and work safely. #homeimprovementtips #homeimprovement #homereno #homeremodel  This is an extract from the author's book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 2 - Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home' © 2022 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author. "Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses? Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  "You don't have to spend a fortune on your home to make it look like a million dollar home" Tired of your current home? Do you know what's bugging you? What would you like to change and improve? Over the last few article we have discussed numerous simple ideas to improve your home Simple home improvement tips. These ideas included How to make your home feel bigger, creating more storage Simple Ways to Improve Your House Part 1 - Creating More Space and 7 Creative Storage Ideas for Your Home and Creating more space in your home with extra storage. We also discussed Improving your garden adds value and enjoyment to your home. In this article we delve into more simple and inexpensive ways that you can improve the enjoyment of your home and the value of your house. Indeed you do not have to spend a fortune on your home to make it look like a million dollar home with some of these tricks. #homeimprovement #homeimprovementtips #homerenovation #homereno Change lights and brighten up your house and even save money "New lights can make a room lighter and brighter" New lights can make a room lighter and brighter, change the look of the room (often making it more modern and newer) and reduce your power bill. Older lights are often less efficient than new lights. In addition, getting rid of dark coverings and shades on lights makes lights brighter, possibly meaning that fewer lights are required. New lights don’t have to cost a fortune. Sure, they need a licensed electrician to install. An outlay of a couple of thousand dollars can give all the rooms in your house a new look. Choosing lights for your new home If you add lights which are combined with a ceiling fan you can add additional cooling at a nominal extra cost. Ceiling fans come in a multitude of designs and colours which can add to the style of the house at a modest additional cost. Fitting fans with a remote control doesn’t require additional electrical wiring, only maybe a few extra timber supports in the ceiling. Repaint and give your home a new look "Repainting walls can instantly give your house a new look" Repainting walls can instantly give your house a new look, especially if you select colours which are light and bright. Stay away from dark colours and stick to shades of white or pastel colours – you can always add splashes of vivid or dark accent colours to trims like window and door frames, doors, gutters, metalwork, etc, for impact. Always choose a good quality paint that will wear well and is easily cleanable. You probably don’t want to be repainting walls in your house every couple of years because they’re looking dirty or blotchy. Make sure that the paint you use is suitable for where it will be applied. Some paints are only suitable for internal use, some paint can be more easily wiped clean and other paints shouldn’t be used in wet areas. Surfaces should be properly cleaned and prepared before they’re painted. Even some old roofs can be reinvigorated with a new coat of paint. But always check that the paint is suitable for the roof covering material, that the roof is sound and it is cleaned and dried properly before the paint is applied, and preferably get an expert to apply it – you don’t want to be falling off the roof! For more painting ideas read 20 Front Door Colors to Improve your Home and Add Value. Skirtings finishing your house "Selecting a skirting that matches your home's style and décor can give an added luxurious feel at a small cost." Older houses usually had skirtings to neaten the edge where the walls meet the floors. Skirtings also protect walls from bumps and bashes when brooms and vacuum cleaners are used. Nowadays, many builders leave skirtings off in an attempt to save money, or they use a cheap small skirting. There’re numerous shapes and size of skirtings and selecting one that adds to the architectural design and décor of the room can immediately give the room a more luxurious feel at a small additional cost. The skirtings are available in different types of wood and even PVC. Just a note, it’s good practice to give the back and underside of timber skirtings a coat of paint or varnish before installing to protect the skirting from water ingress. Normally in bathrooms use a tile skirting, or if the walls are tiled then no skirting should be necessary. Wood skirtings are never a good idea in wet areas, especially skirtings of composite wood that will swell and deform when wet. Install new cornices – a small trim makes a difference "Adding a new cornice can make your rooms feel more luxurious for a relatively small cost and they are easy to install." Where the ceiling meets the walls it’s good practice to install a cornice (moulding) which provides a neat edge and hides any difference of movement between the ceiling and the walls. The convention is to use a cove cornice, but there’s a variety of different shapes and sizes of cornice which could match the architectural style of your house. Adding a new cornice can make your rooms feel more luxurious for a relatively small cost and they are easy to install. Coordinate your home improvement ideas and colours Improving your home does not have to come at an enormous expense. These ideas are all simple and economical, yet they can add value to your home. Importantly they don't have to be done all at once. However, it is important to understand what you are trying to achieve. Then ensure you coordinate your ideas and colours so that you have a coordinated finished style - a style that matches the house's architecture and your furniture choices. Equally important is to get the order of the activities right. You might want to leave painting to be one of the last tasks, so that any patches created by moving and installing new lights are painted over. Remember sometimes less is more - so you might avoid intricate and detailed colour schemes, lights, or cornices and ceiling features. In our next article we consider a few more renovation ideas which shouldn't break the bank.  This is an extract from the author's book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 2 - Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home' © 2022 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author. "Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses? Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels "Unlimited home storage space is the dream of many" Unlimited storage space is the dream of many. As your family gets bigger, you need more and more space, which can become an issue very soon. And as more people live in cities now, their homes are getting smaller. This doesn't need to be a problem – you just need to be more creative. Sometimes, we need to come up with unusual solutions to make our homes tidy and organized – and this guide will help you with that. Here are the top 7 creative storage ideas for your home. Use them and make your living space as practical as possible! #homestorage #homeimprovementtips How much home storage space do you really needBefore creating additional storage ……make sure your home contains only the items you use or need and items with actual value. This means you should revise your household and do a serious decluttering session. Get rid of things that eat up space in your home, old or damaged items, outgrown or worn-out clothes, expired food, cosmetics, and more. These items tend to pile up over time, and most households have them. Declutter all the rooms first, so you can see how much space is at your disposal. Then, you can continue to look for creative storage ideas for your home.  "Declutter all the rooms first, so you can see how much space is at your disposal." Store items more efficiently with creative storage ideas for your homePeople often don't see the full potential of their living space until they take on a different perspective. You’re used to having your home a certain way, so it’s difficult to imagine certain areas or items differently. But, it takes some creativity and a different point of view to achieve outstanding results. Let's see some storage ideas you can use to efficiently organize and transform your home.
 Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels
Also, door racks can be used to organize cleaning supplies, create a gift-wrapping station, hang fashion accessories, and more. Using closet doors in this way can prevent these smaller items from making a mess around your house.
 Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels "Dividing two spaces with a bookshelf is one of the creative storage ideas for your home"
 Photo by Cleyder Duque from Pexels Creatively solving your home storage problemsStorage is a common issue in all households. You can avoid the problem by implementing creative storage ideas and regular decluttering sessions. If there is no excess of items you don't need, you will be able to have an organized and tidy home at all times. AuthorDena Courtney is a blogger and a stay-at-home mom. Due to numerous DIY projects, she has experience with home remodeling and organization. She also writes about moving advice at mybrooksmoving.com blog, sharing her moving experiences and lessons learned along the way. Do you want to learn more home improvement and renovation tipsOther Useful Articles Thinking of Renovating Your Home - Consider A Dream Loft Conversion Simple home improvement tips
"Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" (Reader on Amazon.com) Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  Many spaces in your home have a designated purpose. For example, your kitchen is for cooking and your living room is for spending time with family and friends. However, sometimes your home has some extra square footage or an area that doesn't have a designated purpose. This space is generally referred to as a bonus room. A finished bonus room can offer immense real estate value to your home, but bringing this room to life sometimes takes a little inspiration. Whether you’re looking for the perfect nook to read your books or a space to rock out on your guitar, we have some unique bonus room ideas that will help you transform this part of your home into a place that adds value and functionality to your life. Important Tips For Finishing a Bonus RoomBefore you jump in and start renovating, there are a few things that you should know about fixing up a bonus room. First, check with your local permit office to see if your renovation plans meet building code requirements. By contacting the permit office, this will ensure that you’re able to do construction without breaking any rules. After this step, assess your room to see if you need to invest in plumbing, gas, and HVAC. Some bonus rooms like an attic may lack these amenities and you may want to add them to make the space livable. Finally, be aware that if your renovated room has significant remodeling done to it, it may also increase your property tax. Once you check these things off your list, you can get started! Design Ideas for Your Bonus Space
You can also invest in equipment like exercise machines, foam rollers, and hand weights to stock your gym for your favorite workouts. With a gym at home, you’ll never want to take an “off-day.”
 Adding value to your homeA bonus room is basically a blank slate that makes your home feel bigger, so why not create an enjoyable space? With so many options to choose from that cater to you and your family’s at-home needs, the possibilities are endless. Whether it's your first home or forever home, anyone will be impressed when you give them a tour and you’ll gain both intrinsic and financial value from this new space in your home. AuthorLauren McDermott has written for the lifestyle, home, and insurance industries and inspires her readers to pursue their personal goals. She enjoys writing about home decorating, renovation, and the real estate industry. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
"Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" (Reader on Amazon.com) Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  "How long will my remodeling project take?" When people decide to do a renovation project, they get pretty excited to see the end result. That's why one of the first questions they ask contractors is, "How long will this remodeling project take?". Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. That's why the timeline is one of the most dreaded parts of remodeling. However, there is a way to predict the time a certain project will take. Some remodeling steps are universal, and others you can foresee from previous experience. Therefore, if you've decided to throw yourself into a renovation project at home, it's time to learn how to develop a realistic home remodel timeline. This is exactly what we will talk about in today's article. So, let's begin! #homeremodeling #homerenovation #homeimprovement Planning & Budgeting your Home Renovation could take 4-8 weeks "planning the remodeling project is the most important part of the whole process" Believe it or not, planning the remodeling project is the most important part of the whole process. For this project to be entirely successful, you need to plan everything from A to Z. That's why it can take from 4 to 8 weeks to get everything in the correct order before you start the actual work. So, let's talk about the must-do steps of the planning process you'll have to do to develop a realistic home remodel timeline:
 "hire a reliable and trustworthy contractor."
 "Setting up the budget and hiring a contractor is one of the crucial steps of the home remodeling process." Getting all the Building Permits could be 2-4 weeksMany people think that acquiring the necessary building and construction permits for your project takes a few hours. Unfortunately, that can't be further from the truth. Even though your contractor will take care of all the permits, they can't speed up the law. The turnaround will be determined by your location and remodeling plans. Why? Simply, a planning board might need to consider your idea in depth. They can require you to submit remodeling plans and blueprints to ensure that they comply with local construction standards and, in some cases, historic designations. Additionally, no matter who's dealing with the permits - you or your contractor - waiting in line is inevitable. Therefore, if you want to develop a realistic home remodel timeline, you need to set aside 2-4 weeks for getting all the permits. Why you shouldn't start work without all the planning permissions in place Ordering Building Materials takes 2-16 weeks "You can get some material right away, but others might take weeks to get delivered to you." Sure, there are many custom options you can choose for your home. However, custom pieces have a significant lead time before they can be delivered. For example, custom-designed cabinetry can take three to four months to arrive. In addition, there are numerous tile, flooring, and stone materials that can take a long time to reach you. Not to mention it's common to order the wrong material or skimp on it in the first place, so you'll have to wait even more. Unfortunately, many people halt the remodeling process until their materials finally arrive. That's why it's always good to have a contractor by your side. They know how long it takes to get all the materials, so they will know how to plan a remodeling process with a minimum delay time. Purchasing Building Materials For Your Home Building Project #buildingmaterials Demolition of existing walls and structures may take 1-3 weeks "You need to be careful not to damage anything that remains in the house in the process of removing unwanted features" Before you spruce up a place, you need to tear it down. It's called demolition, and it's like creating a blank canvas for your future work. Demolition can entail everything from tearing down the walls to removing electrical wiring, flooring, plumbing, countertops, and window treatments. Practically anything that has to be removed before the construction can begin. While the demolition process is quick itself, it entails more than merely swinging a sledgehammer. It's critical to ensure that the deconstruction reveals no hidden flaws with the house—for example, a foundation fracture, water damage, poor wiring, etc. You also need to be careful not to damage anything in the process. Unfortunately, things like this can all compromise the timeline of your project. Home renovators do you know if your home contains hazardous materials? Construction Time Depends on the project Photo by Monica Silvestre from Pexels "Each renovation project requires a different amount of time." To develop a realistic home remodel timeline, you'll have to factor in the size of this project. You'll have to invest more time if you're remodeling the whole house and not just one room. While you can't determine the exact time of the remodeling project, there are some know ballpark numbers you can work with. So, here is an estimated amount of time you'll spend on specific home remodeling projects:
Get ready, set, remodel "Don't overlook any of the steps in the remodeling process!" While you can't put an exact number of weeks the remodeling project can take, you can estimate the time you'll have to invest. The crucial step of the remodeling process is definitely the planning. Furthermore, you can't overlook the time you'll need for acquiring the permits and getting the material. Unfortunately, this can take more time than you'd want to. Finally, the timetable mostly depends on the size of the project. Therefore, there are many factors you'll have to consider if you want to develop a realistic home remodel timetable. Just make sure not to overlook any of these steps! #howlongdoeshomeremodelingtake #homeimprovementtips #homereno
Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
"Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" (Reader on Amazon.com) Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.  Some people don't like their existing home and yearn to change it, or even move to another house. They sometimes don't even understand what's causing their dislike of their current home. Understanding what's causing the problems with your current home often means that the issue can be fixed, and sometimes without lots of money or effort. In our previous articles we looked at some Simple home improvement tips and we discussed How to make your home feel bigger and Simple Ways to Improve Your House Part 1 - Creating More Space and Creating more space in your home with extra storage In this article we look at improving the outside of your home and easy ways to improve your garden. #homeimprovement #homeimprovementtips #homereno  "Does your garden need help? Small changes can make a big difference." Improve the garden – creating a new outlookImproving gardens can make a difference to your property. This could range from a tidy-up and minimal cost, to a full-on landscape done by experts. Initial easy steps could be:
 "It’s amazing how covering garden beds with wood chips or bark can refresh the garden."
"Make your garden easy care. Most people do not want to be cutting lawn every weekend!"
"A compost heap is an environmental solution to get rid of kitchen waste and garden cuttings, that will create compost for your garden."
Add, or improve, outdoor living areas – enjoy the outdoors "The whole household will enjoy the garden after a good makeover." Improving the outdoor living area could add immensely to your family’s enjoyment as well as adding value to your property. This could include:
 "You do not need a large garden to make a welcoming and enjoyable space." A new garden creates a new homeYou do not need a large garden to make a welcoming and enjoyable space. Nor do you have to spend lots of money or expend huge amounts of energy. Garden projects can even be undertaken in phases as time and money is available. Decide what needs improving. Start with a good clean up and trim back of overgrown vegetation. Plan what you would like. Look for garden ideas in magazines. Visit your local garden centre who will happily give you ideas and suggest plants you could use. Gardening can be enjoyable and rewarding and it does not have to take hours of your weekend. Be sensible and use simple ideas and easy care solutions. Ask advice from experts, or at an extra cost get the experts in to do a complete garden makeover for you. Make more use of your outdoor area. Add value to your home with a great outdoor living area and garden.  This is an extract from the author's book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 2 - Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home' © 2022 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses? Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook. |
AuthorI’m a construction professional, author of several successful construction management books, and a home owner. I’ve made mistakes in construction management, I’ve seen others make mistakes, but importantly I’ve had multiple successful construction projects and I’ve learned from the mistakes. I want to share these lessons and my knowledge with you. Also available from:
Amazon Au, Amazon DE, Amazon ES, Amazon CA, Amazon IT, Amazon FR, Amazon NL, Amazon India and 'An Introduction to Building Houses - Volume 2 Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home'
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