Are you planning to renovate your home soon? If so, then you’ve probably quickly learned that it can involve a lot. From the planning to executing the project, it’s no joke. Lucky for you, these home renovation resources and tips can help you have a much smoother experience. Let’s explore them in detail.
1. Research Some Different Home Foundation Experts
When you need any type of work done on your home’s foundation, always enlist the services of an expert. Even a seemingly minor mistake can result in a whole host of issues for the rest of your home. The question is, ”How do you find the best foundation repair service in your area?”
You can start by using word of mouth, one of the oldest but still among the most effective ways of finding trustworthy repair companies. Talk to some of your neighbors as well as friends who live in your area as one of your home renovation resources. While soil properties tend to vary widely, those living in your neighborhood have likely experienced the same problems you are.
Ask if they’ve had to deal with such issues before and who they hired to help them sort it out. Would they hire them again and recommend their services to a fellow homeowner? Take notes using your phone or the traditional pen and paper then move to step two.
If you don’t find success with this approach, you can always take your search online. Look for online reviews to learn more about a specific professional. While they can be great resources, take what you see with a grain of salt.
2. Discuss Your Roofing Concerns With Professionals
Your roof is one of your home’s most essential components. Occasionally, it needs inspections, maintenance, repairs, and in some cases, replacement. It’s generally advisable to leave all of your roofing jobs, major or minor, to roofing professionals. In case you’re curious to know why this is the case, here are some good reasons.
The thing with dealing with a reliable and seasoned roofing contractor as part of your home renovation resources is you get access to someone who’s spent many years honing their craft. There’s a ton of information available nowadays regarding roofing projects. So as you do your research, roofing work may start to seem like its not complicated.
However, there’s a difference between knowing what to do and doing it. When everything’s said and done, you can’t compare what you can do to the experience of roofers. These professionals will ensure your project progresses efficiently and meets the highest standards.
3. Assess Your Home’s Insulation
If your home is over 20 years old and you can’t remember the last time you had a professional inspect your attic or insulation, you’ll be wise to schedule a home inspection. Insufficient insulation is among the top issues that come up during routine inspections. Plus such an old home will likely have other issues that the previous owners didn’t pay attention to during yearly maintenance checks.
That said, there are some signs that can tell you your insulation needs replacement from insulation contractors even before a professional home inspection. For example, your attic may provide all the information you need to determine the state of the insulation in your house. You want to ensure it covers the floor and walls of the attic without leaving any holes or gaps.
Another sign of insulation issues is temperature fluctuations throughout the home. When working properly, you should enjoy consistent temperatures that align with the thermostat setting in every room. However, there are other issues that could be to blame.
4. Repair Your HVAC System Regularly
Ensuring timely HVAC repairs will offer you a number of benefits as a homeowner. For one, it will extend the lifespan of your system. When you fail to resolve issues as they arise, they’ll worsen over time, resulting in more significant damage. By arranging repairs with an HVAC repair company in a timely manner as you put together your home renovation resources, you can ensure that the system runs as efficiently as it’s meant to and minimize needless wear and strain on its components. This keeps you from having to replace your system prematurely, safeguarding your investment.
A well maintained HVAC system that’s up to date on repairs will also allow you to enjoy lower monthly electricity bills. Even if you think an issue is minor, it may cause the system to work harder than it needs to, wasting energy. Performing prompt repairs when issues arise will minimize the likelihood of breakdowns in the future, which is good news for your wallet.
Besides that, regular repairs will ensure optimal comfort for you and anyone else living in your home. The exterior exhaust fan is an example of a component that can better explain this point. If its not working correctly, you’ll likely notice you’re not getting the cooling levels you want. In such a case, an HVAC technician will address the underlying issue to ensure it vents warm air outside. The result is a better and more even distribution of cool air throughout your home.
5. Install New Countertops
Most bathrooms and home kitchens have countertops. So as you put together your list of home renovation resources, you may wonder if you need to install new ones. There are several reasons why you may want to switch your current kitchen and bathroom countertops with newer modern ones, but the most justifiable is that the counters are already damaged.
A crack on your stone countertop may not seem like a big deal, but it’s more than just a visual imperfection. It can be a hazardous sharp edge that’s waiting to catch onto skin or clothing with every pass. Your idea of a dream kitchen definitely doesn’t include cracked counter tile or countertops, or eroding counter edges. If you can spot cracks on your counter surfaces, the most effective solution is to invest in brand-new unblemished installations.
If you’re rebuilding the cabinetry, you’ll also likely have to get replacement counters. Stone countertops are precisely cut to match the shape and size of your cabinet-tops. So as long as you’re changing the design and shape of your cabinets, you’ll also need to modify the shape of the countertops you need. Whether you want to integrate a gap, move the stove, or totally revamp your kitchen, you’ll probably need new countertops.
6. Soften Your Water
The water flowing into your home is known as ”hard” since it has a high concentration of minerals such as magnesium and calcium ions. These minerals solidify into deposits over time, clogging pipes and lowering water pressure. Hardened minerals found in hard water can also cling to boiler elements and other water-heating equipment, causing gradual damage.
Besides that, hard water may leave stains on your favorite fabrics and create difficult-to-clean residue in kitchens and bathrooms. Investing in water softening systems so you can remove minerals from hard water will ensure scale doesn’t accumulate in your pipes. Soft water will help avert needless and expensive plumbing repairs since it is gentler on water systems.
If you notice residue on your kitchen and bathroom surfaces even after cleaning or a slimy film on your shower curtains, you’re likely dealing with a hard water issue. A water softener will extract all the culprits responsible for this residue, leaving your property cleaner than before. Another effect of water with high mineral content that you may not know of is it can cause your skin and hair to become brittle, itchy, and dry. Soft water won’t bring about all this. If you’d prefer a water softener that softens all water other than your drinking water as you look for home renovation resources, consult a professional.
7. Build a New Pool
Picture having a swimming pool right in your backyard. You can just put on your swimming costume at any time of day you wish and jump right in. Plus, the level of privacy you get is unmatched. It doesn’t stop there. There are other benefits of having a swimming pool contractor build an at-home pool for you that you should consider as you look for home renovation resources.
For example, very few things beat the luxury of having a pool where you can chill and have a swim with your family and friends while enjoying your favorite meals and drinks on any day of the week you’d like, especially during summer. This addition will also provide a great way to stay physically active. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that benefits people of all ages.
Adding a pool to your property can also enhance the overall aesthetics. Professional pool installers will incorporate both form and function into the design to ensure it serves your needs for a long time. Consider integrating a water feature or a spa to add to the level of luxury and relaxation.
8. Speak About Concrete Pricing
If there’s one thing you should always do before embarking on any form of construction project, it’s to create a detailed budget before breaking ground. Nothing’s more frustrating than starting a project and then having to put it on hold because you ran out of cash. Concrete prices perplex most people. How much concrete do you need for different types of projects? Which type is best for you?
Can you purchase the concrete by the bag and mix it yourself, or does it need to be delivered in a ready-mix truck? Do you need to stamp or color the concrete? All these affect the cost of concrete, and ultimately your overall project. One of the main factors that will affect the price of concrete you buy, as concrete contractors will tell you, is the type.
Basic concrete mixtures typically consist of water, aggregrate such as sand or gravel and Portland cement. However, different materials can be introduced depending on the concrete’s intended purpose. This process gives it various unique properties like more resistance to water damage and faster or slower drying times. Other things that will affect the process of concrete iis the area you’re working on and labour costs of the actual job.
9. Compare Asphalt Pricing With Concrete
When you talk to paving contractors as you put together your home renovation resources, they’ll tell you that you have two main material options to choose from, asphalt and concrete. So how do these differ in terms of pricing? According to Today’s Homeowner, asphalt is a budget friendly driveway material, costing you about $6 to $9 per square foot. Materials may account for about $2 to $4 per square foot, while labor will likely be in the range of $4 to $5.
For a basic concrete driveway, expect to spend about $8 to $15 per square foot. Here, materials will take between $3 to 7$, and labour about $5 to $8. If you’d like to add a stain or tint, expect to fork out $2 to $5 on top of that. Stamping and engraving wiill add about $16 per square foot.
If you decide to go with asphalt, you may have to part with $3,600 to $5,400 for an average 600-square-foot driveway. If you’re planning to add color, it can shoot up to $7,200. If basic concrete is what you’re after, $4,800 to $9,000 is what you’re probably going to spend.
10. Change Your Locks
The last thing you should have to worry about as a homeowner is your home’s security, especially due to compromised or inferior locks. Strong, reliable locks on your back and front doors will give confidence and not just when you’re out of the house, but also when you’re Netflix and chilling inside or sleep. Think of locks as your last line of defense against unauthorized intruders or burglars.
Unless you’re living in the middle of nowhere, then you probably already know how common home burglaries are throughout the United States. The interesting part is it’s not always a stranger who’s to blame. It can easily be someone you know. Maybe an ex-roommate, previous tenant, or a past lover.
That said, you may still be struggling with the question, ”Do I really need to change my locks?” Well, a number of situations can warrant such a project. For example, if you recently experiienced a break-in, the best thing you can do is assume the worst.
The burglars may have possession of your keys, which isn’t a situation you want to be in. In this case, replacing your locks with the help of professional locksmith services will give you much needed peace of mind. If you recently lost your keys, you may also want to do the same as you consider different home renovation resources.
Renovating your home can be one of the best decisions you ever make in your home ownership journey. However, for a successful project, you need to invest in the right home renovation resources. This read provides some great tips to get you started.
