homeremodeling

Maybe the outside of your house needs a face-lift. There are many different things to do outside the house to give it a face-lift and a refreshing new look.

Installing shutters is one way to make a house look more appealing. They come in many different styles and colors. There are raised panel shutter, louvered shutters, and workable shutters that can actually close to cover the window.

Shutters can be made of vinyl, wood, composite materials, and metal. Mostly what we have used in the past has been vinyl shutters. Make sure you measure your windows carefully to get the right length shutters for each window. Nothing is as sad as having a shutter that is way too short or way to long for your windows.

Maybe your whole house is kind of faded. The paint is peeling and really needs to be touched up or re-painted altogether. Vinyl siding is a great way to cover up the old siding and is fairly easily installed. Vinyl siding actually hangs on the nails instead of being nailed tightly. It is made to expand and contract with the changes in temperature throughout the seasons. It is easily cut with scissors made for cutting vinyl siding. It can also be installed most existing types of siding already installed. For best results, if you have a hardboard or prime siding, use foam board underneath, (which also raises the insulation r-value of your walls).

Roofing

Roofing comes in different styles and materials. It is up to you which one to use.
Sheet metal roofing in my opinion is the best to use. It is easily installed, though it should be done by a professional installer. The cost is higher for material but overall the cost is about the same as standard shingles. It comes in a variety of colors and some colors can be custom ordered. The reason it is best to have a professional install it is because there are so many different trim pieces needed to install it correctly. It is also best to have an installer measure your roof because they can get exact measurements for each section of roof on your house. They can also be sure and order all the different trim pieces needed for proper installation. You can also install sheet metal roofing over your existing shingles. Metal roofing also comes with a forty (40) year warranty.

Shingles come in different colors and styles also. There are tabbed shingles, architectural shingles fibergalass shingles and asphalt shingles. The basic shingles generally have a warranty period of fifteen (15) to twenty (20) years. When replacing shingles you also have to take into consideration the tearing off of the old shingles and taking them to a certified dump site. It is against the law to dump them just anywhere and is punushable by a large fine if you are caught doing so. You also should replace the shingle underlayment (felt) with new.

These are the two most popular type of roofing where I live. Mostly we install sheet metal roofing, but we still do shingles from time to time. It is up to you which you want to use.

Building a deck is a simple project for the most part. Planning is essential as with all home improvement projects. First you must decide on the size of the deck you want to build. Y9u also must decide how much time you would like to spend on it. Small decks can be finished in a weekend usually.

As always, keep the local building codes in mind. If a deck is a certain height above the ground, you have to install railing and ballisters. In the US the height is set at (28) twenty-eight inches. If you go above this height, you must install the railings. Ballisters are to be set nor more than (6) six inches center to center.

The materials you want to use for your deck is also essential. Most of the material we use where I live is treated southern yellow pine lumber. Lately we have been using more of the composite decking materials which is  fabricated from recycled materials.

Draw out your deck on a sheet of paper if you have a design you want, such as an octagonal deck. Even if building an octagonal deck. lay it out like a square deck and cut your corners off to make the extra sides.
Use safety precautions when using power tools. Eye protection is a necessity. Sawdust in your eye is nothing to laugh about. Ear protection is also good to use when cutting lumber.

Measure everything twice and write it down on a piece of paper if you must to remember it. Nothing sucks more than cutting something wrong and having to re-cut it, not to mention that you wasted a perfectly good piece of lumber.

Fireplaces are always a good investment, especially if you live in a cold winter climate. Some things you should think about before installing a fireplace is cost, (traditional wood burning fireplaces are expensive and labor intensive), mess, (traditional fireplaces are also messy), and how much will it be used. Many will have fireplaces in their homes but use them very little. Mostly for a romantic night with their loved one or just when it is needed to warm the house in case electricity or gas goes out. You also have to think about where you will get the wood to burn in your fireplace.

Another alternative is a gas fireplace. They are much simpler to install and less costly than a conventional fireplace. It can be either natural gas or propane. Most will need an outlet close by to work. They also must be installed according to your local codes. A mantel can be made to surround the gas fireplace also, just as with conventional fireplaces. In fact a person can get very creative in creating a mantel for their fireplace.

Last but not least, one can get an insert that slips into a conventional fireplace or one that is free standing. You will still have to obtain the wood for the fireplace. You will still have to build the fireplace almost exactly the same with the freestanding insert as you would with a conventional.

I just had one more idea to hit me. If you are really a tightwad, but would love a fireplace, you can always purchase on of those that uses a light and is made to resemble a fireplace. Of course how romantic a dinner could you have with your girlfriend when she finds out how cheap you are.

Photo courtesy of Joe Pineapples

Tubs and showers are also commonly replaced. There are many different models of tubs. Some like tub and shower enclosures together. They are most commonly used in bathrooms which have minimal space. The normal length of these is sixty (60) inches. These will be the ones kept in stock at your home improvement warehouse. The prices will range depending on the material they are fabricated from and the design of them enclosure itself. Fiberglass units are much less costly. They are very durable though not indestructible.

If changing out a tub shower enclosure, make sure you have the clearance to allow you room to get the enclosure into your bathroom and installed correctly. Some can be bought in two pieces. The two pieces units are more easily installed and handled because of the size and weight.

If you have the space you may want to install the tub and shower separate from one another. It is more costly to do it this way, but the space will be much more user friendly and add more value to your whole house. Tubs come in a variety of models and shapes. You have corner tubs, wall tubs which are the size of the enclosure unit mentioned above. You can buy whirlpool tubs, which have become very popular lately. Big garden tubs which are good for soaking. You can also buy standalone tubs like the old claw-foot tubs.

Maybe you have an old claw-foot tub which has seen better days. You can get it refinished. It can be made to look like brand new. If you don’t have one and would like one of the older tubs, look around salvage yards and locate one. Get it refinished and then install it. Remember, the old claw-foot tubs are very heavy. They weigh around six hundred (600) pounds. Make sure you have lots of help to haul it into the house and also make sure your floor will hold the weight of it when full of water.