Weekend Warriors Top 5 Home Improvement Projects
If youre like most of us you love to watch those home improvement shows on TV, they make it look so easy to change the appearance of your home by doing some simple home improvements. And if youre like most of us and have to work Monday thru Friday any home improvement projects have to be done on the weekend. So for all you weekend warriors here are my top 5 weekend projects:
Bathroom or Kitchen facelift- Im not talking about a major remodel here just a simple facelift can totally change the look of a kitchen or bathroom. Refinishing the kitchen cabinets, new paint and wallpaper, replacing a toilet, or maybe even replacing that old bathroom or kitchen facet can greatly improve and update the look of any home.
Install new lighting- Installing new lighting can not only brighten your home but give a room a totally different look. Whether installing a light kit on a ceiling fan or replacing that old outdated fluorescent light in the kitchen with some of the new kitchen lighting on the market, installing new lighting is a weekend project thats relatively easy and comes with a big return.
Install tile- whether a kitchen floor or backsplash or new tile in the bathroom, installing ceramic tile is easier than you think and is a great weekend project for weekend warriors. Most home improvement stores have everything you need for professional looking results, one tip: Be sure to rent a tile saw, it will save you a lot of time and is well worth the cost.
Changing the color of a room- Color is in! You will be surprised how a splash of color can totally change the look of any room. Many homes have either white or off-white walls but many homeowners have found adding color to a room can brighten and warm up a room and is a great weekend home improvement project for anyone. As with any painting project the time you spend in preparing before actually painting will speak volumes as to the results.
Staining Garage Floor or Patio- This is a great project for weekend warriors. Perhaps you have a garage with oil spots, old paint, and other unidentifiable stains on the floor. Staining your garage floor can bring new life to any garage and look great! Some of the new epoxy products on the market offer numerous color choices and colored flakes that you wont find in most home improvement superstores and will give your garage a unique and customized look.
Being a weekend warrior when it comes to home improvement projects can be fun and rewarding. Be sure to do your research about the best products and techniques before starting any home improvement project, but dont be scared to try something you have never done before. There is an abundance of information and how-to books on just about any project you decide to tackle, so go ahead and conquer that weekend project.
Tricks Make Lighter Home Without Having Renovation
Photo by michaelkmak 
Jealous to see the modern houses in Bali or other exotic area that gets a lot of sunlight during the day.
The house is bright not only convenient, but also makes the room inside was moist. Actually make homes sunlight is not difficult. No need of renovation, only small changes you make.
1. Change the wall paint into matte
Do not select the glossy wall paint. These paints usually reflect light causing glare and the room gets hot. Wall becomes uncomfortable viewing. Choose matte paint or matte wall that reflects light becomes softer.
2. Clean windows
It could be the cause of the lack of sunlight coming into your home is the window that you never clean.
The crust and stains on the windows will block the light so it does not fully illuminate the rooms of your home. Clean windows let the sunlight every week to more freely enter your home.
3. Choose a thin curtain
Avoid dark colored curtains like maroon, very dark green, and brown. Choose pastel colors are so young that allow sunlight to ‘sneak’ entry into your home.
Also, choose a curtain that the material is thinner so it does not cause the house to be memorable gloomy and dark.
4. Prune trees and plants
Even in the most high your page plant shoots only in the form of red is already as high as 1 meter, it could not hurt to cut the plant.
Unwittingly, the cause of the lack of sunlight into the house is you never prune trees that are near a window or terrace of your house.
5. Add a mirror
Hang a mirror on the wall opposite the window. The mirror will reflect the light and pass it to the other corner.
Needless whole room and then you add a mirror, just hanging in one room you want a lighter.
6. Select the painting bright
Although your favorite painting is a painting that is a bit gloomy and dark color displays, should avoid displaying this type of painting.
Painting a dark color absorbs sunlight and reduces light reflection around the room. Choose wall hangings more neutral, such as hand painting children’s work usually use bright colors.
Bay and Bow Windows for Your Toronto Home Replacements
If you are looking for the window designs that will give you the value for your money, look no further. Bay and bow windows are here. They are efficient, and the most important thing is that they are energy efficient.
Though there are a variety of window styles in the market, after going through each design you will find that bow and bay windows are exceptional and an excellent bid for you. Here is a must know info about various window designs.
Our Window Products
We have the top designs tailored to the needs of your home. Let’s look at some of the window styles we have
- European Tilt And Turn Windows
These window designs have been trending since they arrived in Toronto. They are operable in two different ways-from the top or by turning a lever. They offer excellent ventilation for air and security for your loved ones.
- Hung Windows
If you are looking for versatility and quality, then this is the window design for you. Single and double hung windows are perfect styles for veranda and bedrooms. They tilt inwards giving you an excellent air filtration and ventilation.
- Slider Vinyl Windows
These designs of windows are operable by moving the sashes on either side, left or right. We have both single and double sliders with entirely customizable designs.
- Picture Windows
If you need a fixed window that offers exceptional ventilation, picture window maybe the best choice for you to go for! It is effortless and elegant as well.
- Bay Windows
This is for the homeowners who want to create an impression of a larger room. Bay windows Toronto enhance the living space to an extra four inches to give way for more light to penetrate. You can also use the extra space as a store for your books or bags.
- Casement Windows
For the lovers of clear and unhindered view, this window design will serve that purpose correctly. The window opens at a 90-degree angle. The hinges at the side hold them in place.
- Bow Windows
If you need bay window size, but you love to try a different impact, why not consider bow windows? They are curved styles and include 4-5 window panes that open up to any space. They are great window designs regarding ventilation and design.
- Awning Windows
This is a highly versatile design. If versatility is what you are interested in, then awning windows should be your perfect fit for you. They open from the bottom, and they are easy to maintain and good air ventilators.
Our Guarantee
Our happiness comes from knowing that our customers are satisfied and getting the best results from our windows. With over ten years of experience, we offer you quality products at friendly prices, best installations and the best window designs you can get in the region. Our products are also energy efficient and durable.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Home Improvement Financing
The first step to figuring out home improvement financing is to figure out what you even want to do with your home. Are you just going to remodel one room or are you going to install an Olympic sized backyard pool? What kind of budget do you want to put yourself in? After you answer these questions, it’s time to start looking at what options are available to you.
Loans and Options
For small jobs that will only cost a couple of hundred dollars, experts agree that you’re best just paying for it yourself with a credit card, but bigger jobs are more complex.
The first real option available to you would be to look into a home equity loan. With these loans you don’t have to sell your home and as long as it falls within the proper limits, you can write off the interest on your taxes. Unfortunately if you’re not hiring a licensed contractor and you’re opting to do the work on your own, you’re going to have a harder time landing home improvement financing.
Another option that is relatively painless, if the option is available to you, is to take some money out of your company’s 401K plan. The downside to this plan is that if you leave the company you’ll have to pay back the loan in full within five years or pay what can be up to 28% in early withdrawal penalties.
Then there’s the idea for you to borrow from your life insurance for home improvement financing. With this plan, you can borrow up to 96% of your policy and only have to pay the interest which leads to a very low rate for you. It is possible though that taking out a loan such as this will lessen your death benefits however, which means that should you die before the loan if paid off, your family will receive a much smaller payout.
Warnings
In this little article, I have discussed three viable options on how you can pay for your home loan but there are still other options out there for you to look at. I didn’t even talk about stock portfolios or title 1 loans. Make sure you shop around and find out what will works best for you. Always remember to settle the loan first and never go with the lender that a contractor suggests to you because there is no way to know if he is getting a commission from that lender leading you to pay hidden fees until you’re too old to enjoy your remodeled home.
In an ideal world, this would be an easy process where banks would just give home improvement financing without any thought in the world on how and when you’d pay them back and you could enjoy your dream home. Then again, if this were an ideal world that Olympic sized swimming pool would’ve been included in your backyard when you bought the place at no extra charge.
Factors That Has Contributed to The Increasing Popularity of Casement Windows
You might have observed that most new homeowners in Toronto who are replacing their windows are choosing casement windows for their new replacement. This unique design of window has gained immense popularity among the constructors over the past few years.
Among many styles of windows, this design of window was not being preferred by many homeowners. The question is; what has contributed to the increase of interest on casement windows among the homeowners in Toronto. Here are some tips to ponder.
- The Simplicity
One admired characteristic about the casement windows is their ease of operation and their artistic design. Windows are consist of two sashes that are hinged to the frame on the left and right. There is a lock at the center to ensure securing of the sashes if need be. The sashes can tilt in or out. Many homeowners prefer sashes that swig in.
In a practical approach, the hinged windows are less prone to sticking as is evident in the sashes that move down and up. Operating them also doesn’t need the application of much energy. Therefore it is a good option for the people who are aging. Similarly, it is also advantageous to the younger people who don’t want to spend their time tugging up and down the sticking sashes.
- The Decorative Aspect
Casement windows, though simple, have a significant effect on the appearance of the entire home. They completely change the look of your old home. It all depends on the kind of glass you choose. On choosing the right glass, opt for stained glass, but you can also consider etched glass.
If you want a traditional look, don’t underestimate the effect of criss-cross bands that gives your home a farmhouse appeal. Depending on the style of your house, any of these options will add a fresh look and still give you a beautiful view when both sashes are open.
- Energy Efficient Addition
Casement windows Toronto is one of the best energy efficient designs you can get in the market. It is a go for choice for most Toronto homeowners. They are consist of a tight seal that hinders seepage of air between the sashes. Thanks to these tight sashes, heating, and cooling of your home are effective, and you will not need much energy to do so.
The kind of glass you choose for casement windows is also of much importance. We recommend you use triple or double gazed glass. They are useful in reducing transference of temperature via the glass. When you stand near the closed window, you will notice there is no any cold spot in winter or hot spot during the summer.
Are you going to market to shop for the new windows for replacements? Casement windows is a choice you will not wish to miss its benefits.
Replacement Windows Barrie Shopping Tips
There are many reasons why homeowners consider purchasing new windows Barrie for their homes. Some choose new windows to improve the appeal of their homes while others pick new windows for protection purposes.
You can improve the living experience of your home through ways such as furnishing, interior decorations, and painting. Many people don’t think about window replacements to enhance their living experience. However, new windows Barrie replacements can bring a lot of benefits to your home. Learn more here about the benefits offered by different window designs.
- Types of Replacement Windows Barrie:
- Casement windows
These are the most energy efficient windows. They are operable from a hinge and by a crank that is situated at the base. The crank makes the window remain held and prevent air seepage into the room.
- Double-Hung Windows
These have sashes at the lower panel of the glass that usually opens from the bottom by way of sliding the lower panel up. The one limitation with these windows is that with time, the seal becomes flimsy and prone to air seepage.
- Sliding Windows
Sliding windows look like double hung windows. They are operated by opening one top side. They have the same limitations as the double hung windows. They are effortless to operate and cheap.
- Energy Efficiency Windows
After choosing the best windows we want to install, we should concentrate on how efficient those windows will be. Just because they are expensive doesn’t mean they are energy efficient.
Opt for the window rating with R-value of 3 rating. Note that the higher the rating, the better window is concerning energy efficiency.
- Preventing Air Drafts
This is another critical factor to consider when selecting widows Barrie. The U-factor is a measure of how well the new windows prevent air seepage. Windows with U-factor of less than 0.35 are considered ideal and proficient.
The glass part also impacts the overall efficiency. Single-paned glass does not offer much protection, and it doesn’t perform well in energy saving. However, they are inexpensive and generally used in the original construction of new houses.
- Cost of New Windows
The overall cost of Barrie windows majorly affects the final decision of most homeowners. The decision is reached by considering the number of windows that need replacement and the style of the windows to be installed in your home.
Considering to hire a window replacement professional will give you a correct fit for the new windows while preventing air seepage as well as break-ins. New windows are significant components of any home as they help to improve the curb appeal, increase privacy, and most importantly, reduce the energy bills and retain the required heat in your house during the cold winter.
Decorate Your House With Best Furnishing Products
There are many entities that can be used to decorate your home and at the same time serve as elements of utility. A Blind is a panel that consists of horizontal slats that are made of several kinds of fabrics. These include plastic, metal as well as another rigid and light material. These Blinds can be used in place of Curtains and other kinds of Shades as these can be swapped in between opened and closed states. These positions of the slats can be easily adjusted by using a controllable rope that makes these slats overlap or separate out depending upon the requirement.
Roman Blinds are some elite versions of Window Blinds and these have no intermediate gap in between their slats and are made up of fabric. These can be raised or lowered and for the same reason do not get occupied with dust in between the slats. These are highly adorable and can be used to have a clear view of space outside the window.
Vertical Blinds are also some admirable variants and these consist of several slats that are vertical and therefore add a different flavor to the architecture of blind. These are tied together at movable junctions by a thread that controls the movements of these. You can swap in an out to have a closed or open view. Roller Blinds are another variant that are used to customize the movement of the incorporated slats as these can be rolled as a whole up and down. These are also controlled by a single thread that can be modulated using a thread which is vertically linked to the fabric.
Outdoor Blinds and Patio Blinds are some popular variants that are used to make the home look more spacious. Awnings are commonly used overhang that can be used in the exterior of homes. These are used to cover the entrance of a place by getting attached to the walls of that place. These are made up of aluminum sheets, wood or some stiff fabric. Folding Arm Awnings are customizable variants that can be expanded or compressed back depending upon the weather condition or requirement. A Shutters is a kind of window covering which is stable and fixed unlike Blinds. These consist of a set of vertical stile that holds together an array of horizontal rails.
Louvre Shutters are a variant of this category itself and this consists of solid panels that can be fixed or operable which are mounted inside this frame. These can be made up of several materials which include fabric or wooden depending upon the utility. Plantation Shutter is a shutter that has operable and manipulative louver and has a considerable size of the Louvre blade.
Therefore, these are highly preferred due to their flexibility and can be set in accordance with the weather and wind flow. Timber Shutters and Roller Shutters are some of the elite variants of this category that can be used for a number of reasons. These are used for putting a control over the amount of sunlight that enters through it and at the same time provides privacy. These also enhance and add starts to the aesthetic beauty of a building. These can be placed both at the interior as well as exterior of the building.