Jim's Articles

Interior design and basement advices

Bathroom remodeling and house deco and basement tricks? Renovation can turn into a nightmare if your builders or subcontractors fail to do a good job. Always be suspicious of an estimate or quote that is considerably cheaper than all the others, or someone who is available for work immediately. Ask for references, and speak to their previous clients. The golden rule when refurbishing older buildings with solid walls is to use traditional materials that are compatible with the way they were originally built, i.e. lime-based mortars, renders and plasters, rather than anything containing modern cement. Old buildings with shallow foundations are affected by seasonal ground movement and because cement is very brittle it tends to develop small cracks. This allows rain to penetrate, which then can’t escape. Modern paints applied to walls can also cause trouble by blocking natural evaporation.

Understanding the costs of what you want in a refreshed bathroom is an important start. But add a financial cushion to cover the hiccups that can happen during big remodels, like the contractor coming across outdated wiring or the plumber discovering faulty plumbing. Build a spreadsheet with a budget breakdown, and try to stick to it throughout the remodeling project, sharing it with contractors as well. Before heading to the home improvement store, buy materials from individuals – People often buy too much tile, paint, etc. for their own projects and sell the extra for discounted prices online.

It is possible for the basement to serve multiple functions but if it is a small space, you are better off not having walls. Open concepts are a modern trend that you can effectively use. It is possible to substitute walls with things like different lighting or wall colors. Even a simple idea like a sectional rug can help to demarcate different areas for a different purpose. The good thing about open concepts is that you can also change its purpose with ease. For example, if you do not receive guests often, what might have been the guest room can be a reading room, and when a guest is present the reading couch is transformed into a bed. This idea can be better implemented along with other small basement remodeling ideas that we will see. See even more info on basement Ideas.

The cost of living is a major factor when deciding on buying a home. Energy bills are a major contributing factor to the cost of living. Buyers now take serious notice of the house’s energy consumption before they put in an offer. The lower the energy consumption, the better the request will be. This is a very creative and efficient way of increasing the value of your home. You will need to change these subtle things to get your house tagged as “energy-efficient.” For example, you can add water heating. You can install high-efficiency windows. Even something as simple as replacing your lights with LED lights can do wonders for your house’s overall value. The increase in cost that this improvement can provide is 1-3%.

There are many different options for mold-proofing your bathroom, but you’ll want to have the materials prepared and ready to go to streamline the process. Once you’ve stripped your bathroom down to bare bones, it’s time to re-build from the ground up, and if your bathroom is prone to mold, it may be worthwhile to investigate your mold protection options. For example, blue board is a form of drywall that’s mold resistant and only costs a few dollars more. It may not sound like a big deal, but think about all the moisture your bathroom creates on a daily basis, trapped in such a small space. A fan is a necessity in keeping your bathroom as healthy and mold-free as possible. But what kind should you buy? If you opt for a separate fan and light, your overall cost will be cheaper, but they’ll be trickier to replace. If you decide to go with a combination fan, you’ll be spending more money, but will be choosing the more convenient option.

Ensure your flooring installation staff looks and acts professional. Do you have a first class installation staff? What image does that staff project to customers? Do they look professional? Do they act professionally? Complaints cost the average flooring store 2-4% of annual revenues because the industry tends to embrace a “fix-it-if-they-complain” attitude toward installation. That strategy offers no long term benefit. Better to properly train and support your installation staff. Be proactive and spend that money on training, on inspectors. Customer reviews and feedback are gifts to treasure and acknowledge. Even complaints.

This style of European kitchen cabinets is usually not made up of wood. Formica panels are generally used, which contributes to their streamlined and sleek look. These cabinets are built with innovative technology and uncommon materials and have smooth designs. French Country Style: This particular style of European kitchen cabinets makes for a traditional design with their warm and rich staining. In making them, generally, wood is used that has a knotty and rustic appearance. Find even more info on this website.