Home Improvement

Top 11 Smart Home Improvements, Plus Costs & ROI

Billions and billions and billions of dollars. That’s what Americans spent on home remodeling projects last year. More like hundreds of billions.

And this year has certainly been following the suit so far! Major home improvements and significant additions to a home are key factors in why that figure is so astronomical! But, if we’re all honest, remodeling is the type of project we all consider doing or want to do.

major-remodel

According to the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI), around 50% of homeowners surveyed in suburban and urban areas say they are willing to remodel their living space, and over two thirds of rural homeowners convey that willingness. While a third of all homeowners consider it easier to just move to a new home than tackle a remodeling project.

People remodel for many reasons, and 75% of us report feeling a major sense of accomplishment as a result of a completed project.

Better functionality and livability, or what we will refer to as the ‘enjoyment factor’, is generally cited as the top reason for why remodel at all. Other factors like knowing better materials are in place, appreciating the beauty of an upgrade and making changes to fit the owner’s feeling of their living space are considerable factors. But it is the joy factor that we wish to emphasize.

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Basement Waterproofing Ideas – Incorporating Finishing Touches

Once you decide to turn your basement into a cozy livable space, the hard part is figuring out how to plan for, prepare, and start the actual basement refinishing and renovation process.

Basements of most homes are dark spaces with awkward layouts, water seepage problems, lack of ventilation, electricity, plumbing, metal beams and many other obstacles that make the idea of finishing a basement seem like a daunting task.

The reality is that with careful planning and a little bit of creativity, you can turn your basement into a comfortable space that will meet your family’s needs.

Our basement waterproofing guide will help you get started and walk you through the important things you need to consider and do to successfully finish your basement.

Waterproof Your Space

basement-waterproofing-inside-view Water leaks and moisture are serious problems that affect all basements.

There are many causes of potential leaks such as the basement’s proximity to the ground, poor landscaping, drainage issues, porous concrete walls that constantly absorb moisture, plumbing leaks, etc. This means that before you start investing your time and money into finishing the basement, you must fix any existing water seepage issues.

The water-proofing system needs to cover the basement’s entire perimeter, including the exterior. Skipping this critical step can lead down the road to disaster where your beautifully finished basement could simply be damaged by moisture, rot, mold, and mildew. Needless to say, you will want to take any reasonable, precautionary measures to avoid this.

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How To Install a Crown Molding – DIY Home Improvement Ideas

Crown molding is one of the trickiest moldings to cut and install. One of the basics rules is that you measure the wall normally from end to end, but you cut the piece up side down, which brings for some a lot of confusion and eventually some wasted pricey material 🙂

crown-moldings

Preparations

1. Take the measurements, and then add 10 percent to the figures for when you make mistakes.

2. Choose the style and finish that you want. Many sizes and shapes are available for you to choose from. Make sure that they match with your personal preferences, the decorations in the room, and the overall color scheme. The finish that you choose should be applied first before you begin cutting and fitting the crown molding.

3. Buy the size that will need the least amount of splices. Splices may be unavoidable in some cases, but the fewer splices there are, the more appealing the end results will be.

Cutting The Corners

1. The first and most difficult part in learning how to install crown molding is cutting the corners. The easiest way to trim the corners is by using a coping saw, since a mitered joint is less tight than a coped joint. If there is any gap in a coped cut, this can be concealed with some caulk.

2. Another tool that you can choose to cut the corners is a power miter saw. Not only is it accurate, it also provides a cleaner cut.

Measuring and Marking the Wall

Take the measurements of the wall for the length of the very first piece of molding. You have to mark the wall so that it shows the bottom edge of the molding.

Cutting the Pieces

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