Home Improvement Articles

Working with the electrical system in your home requires planning ahead, careful work and the proper safety features. Find out what elements you need to take into consideration to ensure a smooth and successful electrical project.

When your painting project is beyond the scope of do-it-yourselfers, hire a professional painting contractor to get the work done right. Be sure to start off your project by hiring the right painter. Once you've chosen them ask whether it's possible buy the paint directly and then plan to do all of the initial preparation you can, including moving furniture and cleaning stains from the walls. These steps will allow you to save money when hiring a painting contractor and help you end up with a top quality painting job.

Patio design involves surveying the lay of your land, considering your tastes and choosing the right materials. Adding conveniences and elements of customization will make this space truly yours, which is exactly what homeowners are looking for.

There are important factors to consider and calculations to make when tackling a plumbing project. Whether you're adding a bathroom and renovating your kitchen or laundry, you'll need to think about the septic, the hot water tank and the plumbing clearances needed. Find out what information you need and who to talk to for your next major plumbing project.

Your kitchen renovation contractor can be the best way to save money on your kitchen remodeling project.

Adding a fireplace to your living space is the best way to create a cozy, comfortable space. To ensure safety when installing a fireplace homeowners will need to call on the services of a professional. For natural gas models, a gas fitter can connect and test the gas lines. With a wood stove, the various clearances and safety features required are often best left to the professional installers. Fireplace inserts may work with a DIY installation, but only if the fire brick is in decent shape and the chimney is accessible and clean. Any way that it is done, installing a fireplace will instantly change your living space and create a homey, warm feeling no matter the weather.

By looking at the air flow in your home, as well as the heating and cooling systems, insulation and lighting you can easily conduct a home energy audit yourself. With these simple tests and inspections, you can discover different ways to reduce energy and save money. Whether through replacements or repairs, many small projects can produce big energy savings.

Installing a skylight can be an intimidating job. With these helpful hints and quick tips, your DIY skylight installation project will go smoother. Avoid those pesky leaks and maintain the strength and stability of your roof and interior home systems. By using the right tools and being careful as you go, this project can result in a tight fitting, attractively framed skylight that will deliver the beauty and warmth of the sun right into your home.

Building a garage is a great investment for your home in terms of value and added convenience. To make sure your addition is well designed and built to last, there are certain steps and considerations you have to tackle. Design your new garage to be a decent size in proportion to your property. Think about adding height to the walls for storage space and whether a single, double or 1 1/2 car garage is best for your home. Attached or detached is another design option to take into account. The construction starts with your building permit and involves everything from the foundation to the walls, roof trusses, exterior finish and shingles. Also, electricity, plumbing, ventilation and insulation are all factors that must be incorporated into the project. DIY garage kits can be purchased if that's your preferred option, but a general contractor can take care of the entire project as well. Decide which avenue will work best for your skill set, time and budget, then look forward to all the benefits of a new garage.

For an ideal place to store overflow and a comfortable place for patio furniture, a breezeway is hard to beat. This roofed passageway between your garage and the side doorway adds value and usable space to your home. With your choice of flooring and attractive pillars, as well as trim, fascia and even walls if the design permits, this home addition will add beauty and character to your home. Be sure to include electricity and consider adding a ceiling fan for air flow. Your breezeway should be built to suit exactly what your family will use the space for - whether that is storage, a covered porch, a pet's room or a mudroom.