Posted on

Common Mistakes People Make When Painting Their Old Kitchen Cabinets

When it comes time to refinish kitchen cabinets, many homeowners prefer to take the work on themselves. But unfortunately, those among us who like to personally mount these improvement projects often commit some costly mistakes. The result is a kitchen cabinet that clearly looks like it was refinished by a novice at the task, instead of a skilled professional with years of experience.

So if you have your heart set on painting your old kitchen cabinets yourself, there are some very important mistakes you must avoid. Many DIY’ers don’t consider many of these crucial steps before putting brush to paint and that can make the job twice as difficult to accomplish. Do it right the first time and you’ll have a beautiful new kitchen in no time.

Underestimating the Project

This is probably the biggest mistake that most homeowners commit when they paint their kitchen cabinets. They take a look at their cabinets, make the incorrect assumption that they’re just one small component of the kitchen, and assume they can re-paint it all in a day or two.

Don’t make that mistake. There are multiple steps in the process of painting your old kitchen cabinets correctly, you must devote enough time to the job if you want it to look good. Rushing will result in poor workmanship. Keeping that in mind, allow for a minimum of five days to a week to repaint your kitchen cabinets properly.

Cleaning Thoroughly

Before you do anything to those cabinets, be sure to clean them with a degreaser. Wipe down every inch, because your paint may not fully apply to a door or drawer that has a layer of oil and film on it. The cabinets may look clean but unless they are completely free of grease and other elements that can get on there from normal wear and tear, your paint job will never look right.

Removing the Doors and Drawers

Don’t be lazy. Skipping this step won’t make the job go by faster, what it will do is ensure that you’re doing the job again in just a few months. So forget about cutting corners and carefully remove the doors and pull out the drawers, and above all else, take off all the hardware. That includes the hinges and knobs.

Those of you who think painting over all of it at once will save time are in for a rude awakening when the paint starts to chip and crack along the hardware and the cabinet surfaces. It won’t take long until these things start to show and your newly painted kitchen cabinets start to look old all over again.

Hire an Expert

Sometimes you need to know when the job is just too big to handle yourself. Homeowners planning on doing some cabinet refinishing in Austin, TX may want to, at the very least, have a professional company on standby to call in the event you realize that you’re just not getting the job done right. Finding the right expert can make all the difference between having kitchen cabinets that look like they were done on the cheap and kitchen cabinets that look like they were done right.

Posted on

6 Useful Carpet Cleaning Hacks

Our carpets are everything in our lives. We take all that time to choose the best look, feel, and color for our homes and spend a considerable amount of money to have them installed. So when something gets spilled on those fibers, it can feel like the end of the world. One mess can leave behind a stain that you’ll be forced to look at each and every time you enter the room.

But it doesn’t have to be this way, not if you act fast and pick up spills and messes right when they happen instead of allowing that liquid or substance to remain. The longer it stays on the carpet, the more likely that liquid or substance will soak in and penetrate the fibers. That’s how stains occur.

But not all spills require a carpet cleaning service everett, sometimes all you need to remove carpet stains is a good cleaning hack or two so you can do the job yourself before you call the professionals for an annual cleaning.

With that in mind, here are six useful carpet cleaning hacks you should know:

1. Iron Out Stubborn Stains

The next time you have a stubborn stain that doesn’t want to come out, iron it out. Placing a hot iron on those hard to lift stains may be just the thing you need to give that a carpet a whole new look. Just remember to vacuum thoroughly first as you don’t want surface dirt or dust to get in the way of eradicating that stain entirely.

2. Blot, Never Wipe

The trick to removing a major stain is to get at it as fast as you can. That means blotting at the area with a dry, clean cloth so you can absorb the excess moisture of the spill. Don’t wipe as that can just force the liquid to absorb into the carpet fibers instead of the cloth in your hand.

3. Baking Soda and Essential Oils

When your carpet begins to smell, it’s time to deodorize. But you don’t need to go out and buy costly, abrasive chemicals and artificial scents, you can make your own homemade deodorizer from a mixture of baking soda and essential oils.

4. Vinegar and Water

Old carpets can look new again by making a homemade stain remover from equal parts vinegar and water. Mix them together and spray on those dark, hard stains in your carpet. Let sit for a few minutes and then blot.

5. Shaving Cream

Sounds strange but carpeting in beige, white, yellow and other pastels can benefit from using shaving cream to remove tough stains. Just rub and allow it to sit for a few minutes. The best part is that it works on just about any stain made from dirt, grime, and normal foot traffic wear and tear.

6. Use a Carpet Brush

Most homeowners don’t think to own a carpet brush, but it’s really one of the most useful carpet cleaning tools you can have at your disposal. This type of brush can get those ground in contaminants that fall past the surface of the fibers, making your carpet cleaner and healthier to walk and live on.

Posted on

5 Great Cleaning Tips For The Cleanest Windows Ever

Everyone struggles with clean windows. No matter how hard you try, it seems like streaks and water spots are an inevitability. Still, when it comes to finding a way to clean your windows without leaving a lot of ugly streaks behind, there are a few methods that are better than others. The type of cleaner you use is important, as is the actual style of cleaning. Before your plan to replace your old, dirty windows with the best window installation in Raleigh, here are a few cleaning tips to help you achieve that flawless shine.

1. Use Natural Products

While it might be tempting to blitz your window with some serious glass cleaner, it’s actually best to be gentle when treating your window. Using a natural cleaner, such as a mix of vinegar and hot water, will do a great job of removing hard water spots while leaving a clean finish. Even a bit of dish detergent diluted with water will do the job. The trick is not to use too much or too little product. Using too much will leave a soapy film, while using too little won’t do enough to get the dirt and streaks off of your window glass.

2. Squeegee

You might want to simply wipe down your windows with an old dishrag, the best way to ensure a clean window is to use a squeegee tool to wipe with gentle, even strokes. This won’t just help protect your window from scrapes caused by over-abrasive rags and dishcloths, it will help you clean your window without simply moving the dirt around.

3. Wipe Down, Not Across

Using a squeegee will help guide you in the right direction: That is, up and down rather than side to side. By wiping in a vertical direction, you’ll be able to avoid streaks from dirty water dripping down the sides of your windows. You’ll also be able to get into those hard-to-reach corners more easily. Many homeowners neglect these corners and end up with only semi-clean windows as a result. Don’t make the mistake of going through the trouble of cleaning your window only to end up with filthy corners and staining.

4. Don’t Air Dry

While using the right tools will help you avoid streaks, you also don’t want to leave your window to dry off on its own. The great thing about a squeegee is that it dries while it cleans, leaving your window streak-free on the way down. However, even if you use the right methods and tools, you can still end up with dripping on the bottom of your windowpane if you don’t soak up the excess with a microfiber cloth rather than leaving it to dry on its own.

5. Clean on a Gray Day

Worried about under-cleaning your window? We’ve all been there. The best way to keep your window clean is to only approach the task on a gray day when you can actually see your progress. Cleaning on a day that’s too sunny will trick you into thinking your window is fully streak-free when it could actually use another wipe down.

Posted on

5 Questions You Should Ask Your Window Installation Contractor

If you’ve just purchased brand new windows from Renewal by Andersen windows Eugene, you don’t want to waste any time getting them installed. Waiting too long could quickly undo all the work your new windows are there to do by letting in too much cold air and moisture. That’s why you need to minimize the time gap between choosing windows and installing them. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should be hasty when it comes to choosing the right contractor for the job. Before you hire someone, you should have total faith that they’ll do the job right. If you ask the right questions, you’ll be able to figure out whether your choice of contractor is truly the best fit. If you’re getting new windows installed, don’t take any chances. Here are a few questions to ask to make sure you’re trusting the right people.

1. Do You Carry Insurance?

If you’re having a hard time figuring out who’s trustworthy and who isn’t, the best way to open the conversation is by asking about insurance. When a worker is insured and certified, you have a much better chance of ending up with a job you’re satisfied with, or at least one that can be tailored to your specific needs. When a contractor isn’t insured, you won’t just be on the hook for any damage incurred by your property during installation, you’ll also have to pay for your worker’s medical bills should anything happen to him during the job. While this might seem unlikely, you can never be too careful. It’s best not to play around with this, especially if you need windows installed on higher-up floors of your property.

2. Do You Have References?

The best way to tell whether someone’s work lives up to your standards is to see a few examples firsthand. While this might seem less important for a smaller job like window installation, it’s still necessary to check references to make sure your contractor has a clean track record. If they have a history of installing windows incorrectly or doing a poor job, it could mean problems for your home. Many leaky windows leading to rot and mold cause danger due to improper installation. You want to avoid paying someone for a sloppy job at all costs. Checking references doesn’t have to take forever, just call up a few past customers to get their take and find out if they’re satisfied with the work.

3. Do You Have Residential Experience?

While many contractors do a great job at installing windows in commercial residences, the same workers might not be the best pick for a residential job. Not only will you be using different dimensions and materials, you’ll be expecting different things from a contractor. For instance, just because someone is used to doing large-scale jobs for enormous companies doesn’t mean that their talent will easily translate to a smaller-scale appointment. Always ask whether your contractor is comfortable doing residential work before hiring them.

4. Are You Licensed or Credentialed?

If you’re trying to hire contractors in the area, one of the things you always want to ask about is certification. Many states require contractors to be licensed in order to work. Others, however, don’t require this. You always want to make sure any worker you hire is at least credentialed before you hire them. This will ensure that you don’t run into any trouble later on, either with your state’s specific contractor laws or with the work itself. If you’re hiring someone who’s attached to a company, you’ll be able to check credentials easily. It may be more difficult if you’re hiring an independent contractor or a freelancer. Always make sure that whatever you do, you hire someone with a strong history of legal, quality work.

5. Does Your Work Come With a Warranty?

Not all installation jobs turn out perfectly. Just as you need a warranty from a car’s manufacturer, you need a warranty from any large-scale home improvement job you commission. This is to help you avoid paying for fixes that could have been avoided in the first place. In the case of a poor or improper window installation, this could also help you avoid having to pay for any resulting damage to your home if you’re experiencing drafts or air leaks. You can also use your warranty to get your money back in the case of a poor job or a problem with the installation. Nobody wants to pay double for a job that should have been done right in the first place. That’s why you should always remember to protect your purchase by asking about a workmanship warranty.

Posted on

Benefits Of Power Washing Your Driveway

You might have a perfect, pristine-looking home, but how much thought do you give to your driveway? Even though it might seem like a silly thing to clean an outdoor area that gets so much tire traffic, keeping your driveway regularly cleaned and maintained with concrete power washing can actually help your vehicles stay in great condition. It can also help minimize danger during bad weather. If you know how to use the pressure washer required for the job, it won’t be hard to add this to your outdoor maintenance routine. Even if you don’t, you can easily hire someone to do it. If you’re trying to keep a clean, safe outdoor area, here’s why you should consider pressure washing your driveway.

Weed Growth

Even a thick layer of concrete isn’t impermeable to cracking. If you’ve had your property for a long time, your driveway is bound to experience a few cracks at some point. The cracks themselves can be fixed fairly easily. The problem comes when you try to ignore the dirt building up inside them. This will encourage weed growth and make it much harder for you to clean your driveway properly in the long run. Weeds are never fun to deal with, and pressure washing your concrete can help totally prevent this issue.

Property Maintenance and Value

Having a driveway is enough to boost property value on its own. Having a well-maintained driveway is an even better pull for potential buyers. However, if you let your driveway get too dirty, you’re going to have a hard time getting it into good shape when the time comes to sell. Even if you’re not intending to move in the near future, it’s in your best interest to protect the value of your house by cleaning your driveway every so often and keeping it safe for car and foot traffic.

Safety

You might not imagine that a dirty driveway is a huge safety hazard. However, if your driveway starts cracking and growing weeds, it will become uneven and difficult to drive over. This will result in damage to your car in the long run. Even if you have a 4 wheel drive, you don’t want to subject your vehicle to continued stress, especially if it could be easily avoided with just a bit of yearly maintenance. There are other, broader concerns as well. Imagine trying to drive over a cracked, bumpy driveway that’s gotten completely iced over after a snowfall or icy rainfall in winter. The best way to avoid a precarious situation such as this is to put in the time to blast the dirt and weeds off your driveway at the start of the winter season.

Staining

Concrete isn’t just vulnerable to cracks. Staining is also a problem to consider. While it might not impact your safety, it won’t do you any favors. In addition to potentially lowering the value of your property, stains will also become harder to erase the longer you let them go unchecked. A simple power washing session will help you keep stains and spots at bay.

Posted on

Six essential tools to keep your windows clean

Cleaning your windows inside and out a couple of times a year will make a huge difference to your home. You don’t need to be a professional to get the desired result, but you will need some essential tools.

First things first

Start by preparing the cleaning solution. You can easily make your own home-made mixture by adding some washing-up liquid to a bucket of warm water. Cleaning solutions can also be purchased from your local hardware shop or DIY outlet. Avoid using too much detergent, as this will make it harder to get a smear- and streak-free finish.

Always start at the top of the window and work your way down. Sometimes a snake-like movement will be needed to really remove the grime; in addition, you may need to remove dust and cobwebs before you get started with the soap.

The squeegee

The next essential tool is the squeegee. Start from the top again and remember to get into all those tight corners, applying a regular pressure to start removing your soap solution. Your squeegee will have a tendency to leave unwanted vertical lines, so you will need to overlap each stroke. Having a sponge handy is useful so that you can clean the blade of excess liquid.

Safety

You may be tempted to avoid the expense of an extendable pole for upstairs windows by leaning out of the windows and doing the job from inside; however, you should avoid doing this at all costs. Poles do not have to cost the earth and you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labours without breaking your neck. Some extension poles can be connected to a hose, which makes doing exteriors considerably easier.

Alternatives

If it becomes obvious that your windows have had their day, you can replace them through a specialist such as https://www.keanewindows.ie/windows-dublin/.

Searching for windows Dublin or other parts of Ireland will almost certainly bring up a solution to the problem.

Finishing off

Once the glass is clean, all that is left is the final polish. A chamois leather is great for this, will last for years, and will improve with age; alternatively, an old newspaper is equally effective. Avoid rags, which will leave lint everywhere and you will need to start all over again.

 

Posted on

How to Spruce Up Your House for Sale

Preparing a house for sale is not for the faint of heart. Funny thing is, many sellers live with or ignore the little details about their house. Unfortunately, buyers notice them. If there is something wrong, even a tiny bit of dust collected over the window sill, they will think that the seller hasn’t maintained the place well or the construction quality is poor. So, let us get to some of the tips to make your home look salable to buyers.

Talking about window sill, it is one of the elements in the house prospect buyers are likely to approach to get a glance at the view outside. So, windows and doors need to be cleaned before putting that house on the market. But what a chore that can be! It certainly is, so clear the dust, replace torn draperies and wash blinds. Closet is another area where you might want to pay attention before opening that house for critics. Closets, if they are overfilled with items that ought to be in the garage, can be a big turn-off for prospects. Additionally, full closets make the house look smaller than it is.

If the buyers are stepping right into the living room, then this room should be as attractive as possible. This means clean floor, matching furniture, well-placed curtains and nothing to hide. An area rug placed on a bad patch in the corner of this room may seem harmless, but for the buyers as well as the sale term, it is an irrevocable mistake. You might want to replace the carpet or tiles if they are dirty or damaged, because this is one area which will serve as a mirror image for the rest of the house.

Stairways and hallways shouldn’t be neglected either. Are they safe to walk around? Does the handrail wobble? Maybe the steps need a new coat of paint or rug replaced. An attractive staircase in the center of the house will easily catch a visitor’s eye. And what about the bedrooms? Again, make sure that all are in usable shape. Maybe the rooms need a furniture rearrangement, and if they are small, showing them empty may be a good move. Now, how about the external factors of the house? Check the house boundary for vegetation and moss build-up. For this, you might want to call a moss removal near Vancouver, WA service and have it removed professionally.

Same goes with the kitchen and the bathroom. If the kitchen is dirty up to the point that the buyer is contemplating of total remodeling when he or she should be enjoying the view, it is a red flag. So, make sure to keep every element in the kitchen, such as cabinets, lighting and countertop free of dirt and clutter. Buyers may not want you to update the entire kitchen, but they will not withstand a dirty and smelly one. You will be relieved that the realty agent suggested not to change anything in this room because different buyers may have different plans when it comes to kitchen remodeling.

Posted on

Fire or Flood: The Homeowner’s Next Steps

Nobody ever wants it to happen, but sometimes things are simply out of our hands. When fire and flooding damage a home it is a personal disaster. The problem could have come from inclement weather, forest fire, a neighborhood fire, a burst pipe, a water main break or any other number of possibilities. The cause is often not preventable, and the damage can be severe. There are certain steps to take in the event of damage to a home whether it is a small or large-scale problem.

Take Pictures

As soon as the area is safe to enter homeowners should begin taking pictures of the damage. It can be tempting to begin the clean-up process immediately, but for insurance purposes getting photo evidence of the damage is more important. Take many pictures of the source of the problem if available. Also photograph any damaged furniture, goods, electronics, appliances, and, most importantly, damage to the interior or exterior of the home.

Call the Insurance Company

The next step is to call the insurance company or agent. They will ask many questions to begin a claim for the damage. They will schedule a time for an insurance assessor to come to the home and take their own pictures. The photos taken immediately after the event may be submitted in most cases, if not it is best to keep the pictures for personal records in the case of a dispute later on.

The insurance company will provide the homeowner with important information about when they anticipate beginning repairing the damage and replace items that were ruined. Each policy is different, and the deductible varies based on the consumer’s individual selection. The company will provide next steps and a general timeline of when to expect repairs and so on. Following the insurance company’s instructions is important for consumers to be able to get the most return on their home insurance coverage as these companies are very particular.

Begin the Restoration Process

Once the insurance company has all of the information that they need to create the claim and assess the damage next comes restoration. Clean up is very important. Fire and flooding damage can have a negative impact on the health on a home’s inhabitants. Mold and smoke can make people seriously ill. It is best to hire a professional service to get the home back to a safe, clean condition before repairs begin. There is more info here.

Home damage from fire and flooding can be severe. After such a traumatic event it can be challenging to know what to do next. Everything can feel overwhelming. The first step when it is safe is to take lots of pictures of the damage. Next, call the insurance company. The last step is to begin the cleaning and restoration process. Insurance companies will vary on the time required to begin repairs. Keeping a cool head and trying to stay focused on each step helps the process go quicker.

Posted on

How to Choose the Best Epoxy For Your Garage Floor

You may resort to ignoring your garage floor; after all, you only park your car here. It’s a poor choice; it all reflects the value of your home. It is part of your home, and it needs to have that excellent look. How do you add that fresh coat of paint on your garage floor? Well, epoxy is your perfect solution. There are so many epoxy products on the market. Getting a suitable one according to your budget isn’t an easy errand. It can be a frustrating experience trying to get the best epoxy coating as you don’t even know how an epoxy product works. Epoxy is a simple solution that you can easily install via a DIY, but if you lack the skills to facilitate a successful endeavor, you can hire a garage floor coating contractor from a website like https://www.armorgarage.com/why-armor-garage-epoxy-floors-are-the-best.html.

What To Consider Before Buying

There are very many options; asking yourself the right questions will lead you to the perfect epoxy coating. Consider the following inquires before you settle on one:

  • What equipment did you use to prepare your concrete? It is integral that you prepare the surface appropriately. If you fail to do it the right way, your epoxy coating will not attach well. Mechanical prep is the best way to do it for a long-lasting concrete layer.
  • What is the activity of the area? Are you going to require a coating that is slip resistant? Such will be very important in figuring out the best epoxy to purchase. It will direct you to choose the best thickness as well as application procedure to accommodate your specific environment.
  • Does the floor drain properly? An expert installer will know precisely how to solve this issue to avoid a possible slip
  • When is the area free? Quality epoxy finishes take longer to cure, and this means that they are going to be more robust and more resilient. There are times you might be forced to go for a fast-drying one if you don’t possess sufficient free time.

Which Epoxy Will You Go For?

Waterborne Epoxy Paint is very easy and quick to apply. It is inexpensive but of a less-durable nature when compared to others. Anyone interested in a more straightforward application can go for a waterborne epoxy paint but can increase durability and protection using a multi-coat kit. Secondly, there are high solids epoxies. This one is of a commercial grade as they are highly resistant to chemical spills and abrasion. Their high quality also dictates a higher price. You can improve the strength of a single coat solid epoxy via using polyurethane top coat. On top of the durability, you get a glossing finish.

What is the best epoxy for your garage? Choose a premium multi-coat epoxy system. It is a combination of different classes of epoxy coating to give you the perfect, unmatched quality finish. Such a floor will have a 30 – 40 mm thickness. Choose the best epoxy for your garage that will offer you enough cover that will last for a long time.

Posted on

What to Consider When Buying and Installing a Door for Your Shower

A person may need to install a new door for your shower because they are remodeling. Maybe they want to replace an old door for your shower. Regardless of the reason, a homeowner has many types of shower doors to choose when replacing or installing a door in the bathroom.

What to Consider Prior to Installing a Door for your shower?

An individual wanting to install or replace a door for your shower should always leave it to the professionals. However, it is important to consider some things prior to picking and installing a door for your shower. For example, think about the configuration. The configuration is important to because of how the bathroom walls and surrounding supports are constructed. Thus, a person must know how much weight can be supported with the addition of a new door for your shower.

Types of Doors Available for Showers

The frameless door for your shower is one of the most popular options. It is constructed with one pane of glass. The door pivots out to give the bathroom a modern and clean look. This is just one option. Another option is the frameless shower enclosure. This type of door is for a larger bathroom because it adds a dimension to the space. It does not have a frame. A frameless shower enclosure is available in many designs.

The best of both worlds may be a semi-frameless door for the shower. It does have a frame, but not a complete frame around the door. It usually has thicker glass than other doors and is much higher. A curved shower glass door is another popular option. It also provides a large or small bathroom with a larger look. The glass on the doors is curved and features a frame at the bottom and top of both doors.

Another popular style is the bi-fold door for your shower. This is actually a great option for a bathroom that has very limited space. One type of bathroom that comes to mind is a corner bathroom. The doors have panels that fold inside of a shower. This way a person can use as much space as possible without the door getting in the way.

Also, think about the shower head that will be used in the shower. Pick one that won’t spray water past the shower wall and door for your shower. It’s important to measure too. A professional will measure the door for your shower. However, a homeowner can measure too to understand the type of door needed in the shower.
Lastly, think about ventilation. The amount of ventilation in the bathroom will help avoid mold, moisture and mildew buildup in the bathroom. If either of the three will be a problem, a glass steam room kit may be installed to improve the bathroom’s ventilation.

Picking a Door for your shower for a Bathroom

When picking a shower door, consider many different styles. It is also helpful to contact a bathroom professional for help. They will help you decide the style and type of door that is best suited for a large or small bathroom.