Before breaking ground on your remodeling project, consider a few key issues to be sure the project is a wise investment, according to the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.
– Keep up with the Joneses. Look at other homes in the neighborhood. A new deck may not be a sound investment if yours is the first on the block. On the other hand, it would be wise to add a deck if everyone else has one.
– Spend wisely. Kitchens and bathrooms are the best places to spend your remodeling dollars, but don’t neglect the rest of the house. Make sure the entire house is updated to an acceptable level first.
– Consider your stay. If you plan to be in the house just a few years, go with a topical solution. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to add value is through a fresh coat of paint. Changing kitchen counters or putting up wainscoting also can boost resale value.
– Match it up. Consult a design-build firm or architect before taking on a major project so the look and feel blends with the rest of the house.
– Make it nice, but not too nice. You may want the best house on the block, but the return diminishes if it’s the most expensive in the neighborhood. Avoid too much customization; otherwise, potential buyers won’t be able to envision the home suiting their needs.
Power down the electric bill
The sweltering temperatures this month have air conditioners working overtime and electricity bills soaring. Here are tips from the Washington-based Alliance to Save Energy on how to cut home energy bills:
– Tune up of your air conditioner and clean and replace filters monthly.
– A programmable thermostat that lowers the temperature in the house when no one is home can reduce cooling bills by up to 10 percent.
– Close blinds or shades on south- and west-facing windows during the day.
– Putting in the recommended amount of insulation can reduce cooling costs by up to 20 percent. Plus, it’s a project that may be eligible for a federal tax credit.
– Switch to cold water washing of laundry and save up to $63 a year.
– Replacing four 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 23-watt fluorescent bulbs that last 10 times longer can save $190 over the life of the bulbs.
A smoother path to painting
Spray painting with an aerosol can is a snap, right? All you have to do is shake the can, take off the cap, aim it and hold down the button. Not so fast. Before you start, you should know there is a right and wrong way to spray.
If you’re painting a flat surface, start with the side nearest to you and work your way toward the opposite end with a smooth stroke and a steady sweeping motion that overlaps the pass made just before it. You’ll notice that “overspray” settles ahead of you, which is good because you can cover it up as you go. If you were to work in the reverse, spray would settle all over your smooth, just-painted finish–leaving a pebbly texture in its wake. So, cover it as you go and “finish up” like a painting pro.
Repairing concrete
A hole or crack in a concrete step or walk not only looks bad, it can be a trip hazard. And the longer you ignore the damage, the more the surface will continue to deteriorate. Luckily, patching concrete is a project that even a beginner do-it-yourselfer can do, with the right equipment and products.
Expect to spend about $70 to fix a good-size concrete crack. You’ll need a pourable crack filler, backer rod and concrete patching material.
Before you begin, remove loose material from the damaged area and rinse it thoroughly with a power washer. Then let the area dry. Use a crack-filler caulk to fill holes, applying it in a continuous bead. For larger cracks, first use a cold chisel to open the area more, so the patching material will have more surface to bond with. If the hole is deeper than 1/2 inch, use backer rods to fill the depression. Then apply a self-leveling concrete-patching material according to the manufacturer’s directions.
