Posts in Category: Home Renovations

Five Renovations to add Style to a Rental Property

Five Renovations to add Style to a Rental Property

Don’t let the limitations of your rental agreement limit your sense of style. Just because you don’t own your place doesn’t mean that you can’t make it your own. Here are a few ways to personalize your space while still respecting the rules of your lease. For HVAC Companies looking to do marketing, check out HVAC Marketing.

1. Paint : In most cases, a landlord is fine with you painting, as long as you are willing to paint it back to a neutral color when you are ready to move out. “What better way to show your style than through the use of color? An added benefit is the highly custom nature of their solutions.

2. Invest in Artwork : It doesn’t matter where you live or how often you move, artwork can always be taken with you, making it a great investment for years to come. Because there is a wide variety of art available, it is also a great way to show off your unique style.

3. Buy Universal Furniture : There is no point in spending a lot of money on furniture that will only work in your current space. Instead of purchasing an oversized sectional, try opting for a couch and chairs or one of the new modular couches that can easily be rearranged in a different home.

4. Accessorize : “Tie the theme of a room together with fun and stylish accessories. You can buy items here and there when you have some extra room in your budget and they can be changed out as your style or the seasons change.” – Treasured Spaces – Home Remodeling Minneapolis

5. Make the Most of What You Have : Sure, you can’t change the carpet, tile, cabinets, or fixtures in your rental property. You can however, make the most of what you have by choosing towels and accessories that maximize their potential. By embracing that which you can not change and incorporating some of the things that you love within them, you may find that rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens, which have more limitations than others, can fit right in with the rest of your place.

Use Plastic Fencing

Fences have been used for a very long time to protect land and property. They serve to delineate a territory, keep livestock or pets inside, and give us some security and privacy. Fences also have served as a kind of decoration as time went on. Traditionally, fences have always been made of wood or iron – serving us well over the years. Of course with modern technology, more durable and lighter alternatives are available – as with plastic or vinyl fencing.

Plastic Fencing Materials

Plastic fencing is made from a durable kind of vinyl that enables it to stand up against extremes of weather. Although it is made of plastic, it is surprisingly sturdy and strong making it dependable. Plastic fencing is also more uniform to look at, as it is machine made. It is also relatively light compared to wood and iron, making it easier to install as long as you have the proper tools.

Plastic FenceAlthough putting up plastic fencing is not yet cheaper than the conventional wood and iron fencing, maintenance costs are almost nil as plastic does not decay making it a better investment over time. It usually lasts three times longer than wooden or iron fencing. Also, vinyl fencing will not rust as iron fences do, and it won’t rot as wooden fences do. And there will never be a need for repainting. This is why most of these espresso coffee makers come with a lifetime warranty.

Different Styles to Choose

There are several styles to choose from – along several colors and patterns for selection. Privacy plastic fencing is also available and is made from solid vinyl panels up to six feet tall topped with a decorative panel on top. You can also choose a plastic picket fence commonly used for boundaries. You can even order vinyl ranch fencing for those really large properties to keep your horses and livestock in.

There are also several ornamental plastic fences to choose from. All of the above are engineered for durability and strength, providing long lasting value and performance. All of them are virtually maintenance free.

It’s been said that good fences make good neighbors. It is also true that getting plastic fencing may be the better choice and the better investment in the long run than traditional iron or wood fencing. Go surf the Internet to give you a better idea of all the designs and styles available for plastic fencing. You also should be able to find some pretty great deals by shopping for your fencing online, instead of just going to your local home and garden store.

Glass Door Refrigerators – Get It for Your Home

Glass Door Refrigerators – Get It for Your Home

With more better-performing refrigerator models in the market today sometimes it’s difficult for consumers to draw the line and differentiate what refrigerator model is best fit for a commercial setting and what refrigerator model can complement a home kitchen setting. Any refrigerator review can tell you that there are home appliance refrigerator units that are designed to professionally offer you food preservation solutions.

“On the other hand, there are also commercial fridges that are now redesigned to be made available in a home setting. The glass door refrigerator design for instance can now be purchased to furnish a home kitchen.”

Glass Door Fridge for Commercial Use

The glass door refrigerator is much better known to be a commercial fridge because it is primarily what it’s made for in the first place – to be useful and functional in a business or commercial setting like a hotel, supermarket, department store or even in a convenience store.

However, this high value of functionality eventually interest also home owners as well that appliance manufacturers are now starting to redesign their refrigerators to be more fitting in a home setting. That’s why, when you survey the current refrigeration market today, you can find home refrigerators that are somewhat reflective of the glass door refrigerator design.

So you will find more and more glass door refrigerators pop up in supermarkets and restaurants near you. Depending on how popular it becomes and the price range, they may even spread through homes quicker than that.

Glass Door Fridge Design

The glass door refrigerator profile is easily characterized by its most distinctive feature – the glass door front panel. In commercial set-ups, such feature emphasizes easy access to the contents of the refrigerator but for a glass door refrigerator that’s made precisely for a home setting the unit can be seen as a home decorative accent as well with such exterior design quality. It is for the reason why glass door refrigerators are easy to be redesigned to fit into the comforts of your own home.

Glass fridge doors are adding new and more advanced designs every day, keep your eyes open to keep up with them. You will very likely begin seeing them in retail stores sooner than you expect. So if you are interested, explore the many designs of the glass door refrigerators and get it to furnish your home.

Picking the Right Kitchen Counter Material for Your Needs

The kitchen counter is one of the most well used surfaces other than the floor of course. The decision on which material you will use for your counter should be carefully considered. We will discuss a few options of what materials are available and some of their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an educated decision about what material will work best for you.

Ever Consider Corian?

Corian is a solid surface countertop similar to the butcher block worktop. Because this counter is made out of a solid material it is very durable. The surface is even scratch and heat resistant. This means that if you accidentally put a hot pan on the surface without using a trivet then you won’t scorch the material. When surfaces are scratch resistant that means that you can use more abrasive cleaners like baking soda to clean up the stains without worrying about damaging the surface. Corian is custom made to fit your countertop requirements and measurements. The great thing about having a material factory made for you is that it will be in one piece which makes it easier to install. The only real downside to this type of countertop is that it is moderately pricey so many homes will skip this option for a more affordable one like laminate.

Granite Countertop

Laminate Countertops

Laminate is a material that is made up of a thin piece of veneer that is glued to the top of a thick slab of particle board. This is one of the most varied types of material that anyone can use for their countertop. Best kitchen faucet comes in such a wide range of colors and designs you are sure to find on that fits the theme of your kitchen. You could get laminate that has wood accents or one of the many different multi-colored designs. Laminate counters typically come in pieces that must be spliced together which makes installation a little more involved than with the corian material. Laminate is also very easy to clean. Nothing is needed outside of an all purpose disinfectant and a sponge. All the options and a great price tag make this one of the most popular counter tops that is for sale.

The Beauty of Granite

If you are going for beauty and elegance in the kitchen then you want a granite countertop. Granite countertops are made up of solid rock that has a sealed surface. The surface needs to be sealed because it is porous. This means that it has tiny holes all over that are great places for liquid to soak into and bacteria to grow in. The seal will also be weakened as the counter ages. Resealing the counter surface is not cheap and couple this with an already high price tag makes this the most expensive countertop material you can buy. For your money you get an extremely durable surface. This counter will not chip or break as readily as the other types will and it is more heat resistant than the previous materials.

Every household will have countertops. How much that counter gets used is really up to the preference of the homeowner. Do you want something that looks nice enough to pull up some counter stools and eat right on it or do you want something that is cost effective as well as functional?

Improve Your Home – Affordable DIY Methods

You find yourself visualizing what it might be like to relocate into a new home. If you see a furniture shop, do you wish that you had new furnishings in your living room? Publications about houses and furniture catalogues are doorways to a dreamworld where you live a celebrity lifestyle.

Perhaps that existence will never be for you, but with a little resourcefulness, you can upgrade the look of your house with a very small budget. You are merely limited by your creativity and determination to do things yourself.

Improve Your Home – Affordable DIY Methods

One thing relatively simple you might do right away is repaint the walls. Simply transforming the color of your wall space will give your house a totally new look. Plus the smell of fresh paint finishes the effect. In addition to fresh paint, a bit of wallpaper will work for jazzing up a room. You don’t have to do much; maybe just a wall or edging pieces, which you could easily handle by yourself.

Every aspect up to now could be achieved by yourself. Using lighting effects in your house is the next best thing to consider for giving your home a whole new feel. Every room can be enhanced with the right lighting, so don’t ignore the power of a lamp. Unless of course you have a contemporary scheme of design, forget about halogen lighting. Just make sure to work with great excellent tools when creating these changes.

One more fashionable touch for any space could be easy-to-install wall sconces. It is possible to alter the style and feel of your house simply through the introduction of some new accessories. Decorators often search for creative and ingenious components; do this yourself, and cheaply, with things like hand-painted silk fabrics or pillows, and Tibetan singing bowls.

Dining Room Designs

Position on your dining room table, or a coffee table, a stylish centerpiece that could be candles, a glass fruit bowl, or fresh flowers. Works of art and other hangings enable you to create a completely new, different look. Have a great time looking for bluing kits; rummage through thrift stores and search in discounts shops to get deals in the things you want.

Unwinding into new, solid yet comfortable upholstery is a tonic – try to find something that doesn’t exceed your budget. You can find good deals on tables, lights, couches, entertainment centers, and much more, by just knowing where to look. Used items are available at flea markets, consignment stores, estate sales, and quite a few thrift stores.

An unnoticed place by a number of people is going on the internet to places such as online furniture stores. With smaller running costs, you can get some good deals on the net. Remember, also, that just like painting a wall, an existing sofa can be rejuvenated with a new home-sewn cover.

Choosing the Right Flooring for your Bathroom

Choosing the right flooring for your bathroom can also create the most of what can sometimes be a small space. Whether you are thinking of updating your space, defining a theme or even designing that dream bathroom, the flooring you choose will end up setting the tone for your entire bathroom. When the time comes and you want to sell your house, bathrooms have also been considered one of the many crucial factors.

When you are deciding what flooring you want for your bathroom, it is always important to choose a moisture resistant material, as you can guarantee the floor will get wet on a daily basis. We have broken down a series of moisture resistant flooring and also outlined their pro’s and con’s, this should help you make the right choice when updating your bathroom flooring.

Ceramic Tiles

Tile FlooringCeramic tiles are one of the most popular choices when it comes to bathrooms; this is due to their durability, resistance to damp, and also its ease of cleaning. If you do consider going with ceramic tiles, you may also want to consider going for one that has a slip resistant surface for the bathrooms safety. You might also want to consider getting an area rug for when you step out of the bath or shower.

Laminate Flooring

This flooring can be designed to resemble ceramic tiles, but it is a lot more forgiving should someone fall. It also has the added bonus of being far cheaper than ceramic tiles, it is also easy to clean and maintain. Another benefit to laminate flooring is that it can be installed by you, laminate can also be installed over most existing flooring or over a concrete subfloor, and this will also save you time and energy when it comes to the installation process. It is also a floating floor; this means that there is no glue or nails used because the pieces float on top of the existing floor.

Cork Flooring

Wood FlooringThis flooring is often overlooked as a flooring option but it does have many advantages. There is a natural chemical in cork that is called suberin. This has been scientifically proven to repel any insects, bacteria and mould; these are also factors that are very important when it comes to bathroom flooring. Cork flooring is also resilient to pressure, when its compressed it will return to its original size. For those who are eco minded, cork is an eco friendly option as it is a renewable resource.

Vinyl flooring

The most popular material when it comes to bathroom flooring is vinyl. This is because it is completely waterproof and even major spills aren’t an issue. Vinyl also comes in many different colours and textures which helps make that perfect look you might be aiming for.

Ideas About Laminate Flooring

If you are looking for a simple, stylish and inexpensive way of giving your bedroom a little touch of class then laminate flooring is your most likely your way to go. There are many reasons as to why many people have decided to use this type of flooring over carpets, tiles and other means of flooring.

Firstly, it’s very simple. Laminate flooring is an aspiring DIY enthusiast’s dream, with its easy to install click joint system that requires not glue to put together. This means that it may only take a few hours to update your bedroom, and not require previous experience in putting down the flooring. This can be a lot easier than having to put down a carpet or other flooring types and also means you have more time to enjoy your new flooring

Laminate Flooring Benefits

Laminate flooring is also very easy to maintain, usually it only requires a simple clean with a mop. The advantage of this is very obvious over traditional carpets, that may leave stains and marks that show up every time you try to clean them. Carpets can have problems with attracting dust mites, as well as losing its original quality over time if not managed properly. With laminate flooring the likelihood of this happening is much lower, it also provides you with much more security when it comes to keeping your room clean and tidy.

This leads on to the durability of the flooring, allowing many of the panels to last for years with fading, wear and tear is less likely with laminate flooring. Providing you keep good care of your flooring, you shouldn’t need to purchase new floor panels, for a very long time. Some companies also provide levels of durability ratings that will show you exactly what type of flooring is recommended for the amount of use it sustains.

Laminate Flooring

Varieties of Laminate Flooring

There is also a wide variety of choices with the many companies and ranges this means you can get the exact style that you desire with minimum fuss. If you’re looking for that perfect style to fit in with your furniture, then there is always something for everybody. Also, because of its diversity, it can be used anywhere in the home, in a variety of rooms and styles.

Laminate flooring is also very cost effective and there are some great deals to be found, that provide quality flooring without breaking the bank. There are many styles, and depending on how luxurious you want the flooring to be, it can also be very good in terms of saving your money.

Many people see laminate flooring also as a good way of keeping a room warm and thus saving on heating bills. This is done by using under floor heating that keeps a room warm and can help with a good night’s sleep, especially in those cold winter nights.

Laminate Flooring is becoming the key choice in many homes for all these reasons, and with all these advantages over traditional carpet it is easy to see why. There are many great deals on laminate flooring out there to be found, and with a vast variety of style, there is surely something out there for everyone.

Renovate your Home with Laminate Floor Underlay

There are several kinds of laminate flooring underlay that exist in the market. Every one of them contains certain features and a number of advantages can be affiliated with it. When you are choosing the underlays, you should consider various features that can be associated with them. One of the primary features which this particular laminate flooring underlay provides you is associated with the idea of cushioning. It is essential to feel the level of comfort at the time you walk on the floor covering and that type of underlays provide you with the cushioning which you simply want.

The 2nd advantage which these laminated flooring offer you is associated with the idea of insulation. For those who are living in a cold country and get the impact of the winter season chill, these laminated flooring have insulator features which give you with all the comfort that you simply want. The warmth of the flooring and also the entire house can often be controlled with the assistance of laminate floors underlay.

While you are living in your home, you can find different types of sounds which develop because of conversation along with other activities. Sometimes you might think the desire to play loud music at your homes. The current and revolutionary Laminate Floors underlay controls the noise levels which may emanate in the home.

Renovate your Home with Laminate Floor Underlay

When you start choosing the underlay for your homes, there are various kinds which can be found in the market and you might want to only opt for the most suitable. You can start your survey with the Duralay Heatflow which is among the best laminate underlays available in the industry. This laminate floors consists of spongy material which provides the essential cushioning to the floor surface. These particular laminated flooring act as best utility elements if the flooring are built out of wood or timber. It is for sale in several roll dimensions and you can acquire them according to the size of the flooring that you would like to select.

The Boardwalk by the Tredaire variety of laminated flooring is regarded as the best versions which you could consider for your houses. These offer you the perfect degree of comfort when using them. These laminated flooring also comprise sponge rubber material that’s made it the best goods that are available. You can acquire these underlays with vapour strips which provides it with moisture proof abilities.

When you want to purchase these laminates, some of the foremost advantages that you found is their online availability. On the net buying reduces the need for going to the retail outlets for that products. The products are available simply with the click of a computer mouse and you could discover the types of flooring as well as product specifications for specific facts about them.

Bathroom Renovations for a More Modern Design

The concept of modernization is encompassing. As the matter of fact, it goes beyond philosophical thinking as it also governs lifestyle and living of contemporary world. One can see different definitions of modern converted into its physical representation that varies from housing structures to furniture and appliances. This is largely the cause behind most remodeling projects performed in the various parts of the house these days. Although the bathroom is not the most visited area of the house, there is definitely no cause why it must be left behind when it goes about modernizing one’s home. This is something that must be taken into consideration as well when constructing a house.

Bathroom Renovations for a More Modern Design

It is indeed very simple to modernize the bathroom. In fact, doing it may be one of the easiest and stress-free bathroom remodeling projects for anyone. All it takes is to have ample knowledge and fresh information regarding the different bathroom plumbing supplies and how to mount them for the purpose to make the necessary output. It is also a good help to realize that the market today offers a huge range of plumbing fixtures to select from. One does not have to be restricted. It is easy to find bathroom plumbing supplies that suggest sleek and stylish look to easily finish a highly contemporary bathroom at home.

The most common and vital plumbing supplies in the bathroom are the toilet, sink and shower. For the toilet, it might seem like a toilet is just nothing more than a toilet. The reality is that there are actually a lot of variants to choose from when it comes to toilets. There are a number of things to pay attention to when selecting the toilet like the style of the unit itself, its height as well as the shape. Contemporary looking toilets are the best selection at this point since the goal is to modernize the bathroom. The most recommendable selection these days is the ones that come with the appropriate height, which is 2 inches taller than the standard one, for ease in getting on and off the toilet seat.

One of the important parts in a bathroom is the tub. Since it occupies a large part of the said room, it should not go against the modern style of the room in any way. Since a huge choice of variants is available for tubs, finding the one to fit indeed well with one’s bathroom is not a hard thing at all.

With this basic concept concerning contemporary bathroom plumbing supplies, making a bathroom that has the pieces of modern way of life and the look of an upgraded room is not hard at all. It assists to find more tricks about the matter as well before getting it on with the project at hand.

Installing Solid Wood Flooring

Before installing any wood floor you must first make sure the sub-floor is free of loose materials, oil, grease etc and is also clean and dry. Before starting, lay out strips to determine the direction you would prefer to lay the wood, a good idea is to lay them parallel to the longest wall of the room or in the opposite direction to any joists. When the strips are placed down it is possible to arrange the patterns and shades into preferred positions.

The installation method used primarily with solid wood floors is the nail down method although other methods such as, staple down, glue down and free-float can be used. The installation method used depends on the type of sub-floor you currently have. If for example you have a plywood sub-floor, any of the above methods can be used. For a concrete sub-floor the nail and staple down methods are not an option unless a plywood sub-floor is added above the slab and attached with concrete fasteners.

Nailing

When installing solid wood with nails, a gap of at least half an inch should be left between the edge of the flooring and the starting wall, this allows room for expansion. The first row of wood should be nailed down with screw shank flooring nails (finishing nails). By drilling starting holes in the wood it is easier to insert the nails and avoid damaging the wood. A hardwood nailer can be used to nail down those strips not closest to the walls.

Gluing

Gluing directly to concrete floor without a protective moisture barrier is not advised as wood will absorb any moisture present. Glue-down wood floors are installed similar to the way you would lay a flooring tile, with a trowel-spread mastic. The adhesive can be applied wet to the substrate and then immediately placed onto a wet adhesive or the adhesive can be left to turn tacky. It is very important that contact is made between the flooring and sub-floor. It must be remembered that adhesive does not prevent moisture-related damage to wood.

Free Floating

The free-float method is very stable method, which has proved to be very popular over the last couple of years. Instead of installing each plank separately, the boards are glued together, not down therefore “floating” over the permanent flooring. This is suitable for any flooring and is the preferred method to use over underfloor heating. As the floor expands and contracts, gaps are not left between individual units. Elastilon is a perfect accessory for creating floating floors. The wood flooring is stuck onto the underlay but not the sub-floor. At www.realoakfloors.co.uk we provide a range of Elastilon of different thickness and strengths to suit any flooring type.

Solid wood floors are sensitive to moisture and should not be installed below ground level or directly over a concrete slab without a moisture barrier. Before laying a wood floor it is vital to ensure that the entire concrete floor is flat.