Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Add a Room to Your Attic
A great way to improve the value and enjoyability of your home is to add a room to your attic. Whether you go with a simple bedroom design or go for the full bathroom as well, you will definitely be glad that you made the decision to increase your home by one room. This is a hip new home improvement idea that is returning around 85% on your investment regularly.
Transform Your Space. Many homeowners will use their attic space as a simple storage area for things they don't want. What a waste of prime space! Sell those old items in a garage sale and get rid of them. Then contact a qualified contractor to discuss plans for your new attic room. Not only will you be getting rid of unwanted items, but you will be gaining a new living area. Consider giving those items to charity!
Figure Out a Plan The thing next step in this project is to determine what type of room you want this to be. Many people say build it first and then use it second. But it really helps to know beforehand what you are going to do with this new space for the contractor to plan correctly. A bedroom. An office. Or perhaps a play room. There are limitless possibilities.
Find the Right Help The process of choosing a contractor to help you build your new attic room can be confusing. Start with a list of contractors that you put together through positive referrals from satisfied neighbors. Then call each contractor on your list and ask serious questions about their experience and prices. Call their references and check them thoroughly. Also, make sure they are licensed and bonded.
Choose Your Design The last step in the project is to decorate the interior of you new room. Go with something simple or ornate. The choice is yours. Make it a part of the house design, or give it a whole new spin. There are also interior design professionals that will help you give your new attic room the right look.
Transform Your Space. Many homeowners will use their attic space as a simple storage area for things they don't want. What a waste of prime space! Sell those old items in a garage sale and get rid of them. Then contact a qualified contractor to discuss plans for your new attic room. Not only will you be getting rid of unwanted items, but you will be gaining a new living area. Consider giving those items to charity!
Figure Out a Plan The thing next step in this project is to determine what type of room you want this to be. Many people say build it first and then use it second. But it really helps to know beforehand what you are going to do with this new space for the contractor to plan correctly. A bedroom. An office. Or perhaps a play room. There are limitless possibilities.
Find the Right Help The process of choosing a contractor to help you build your new attic room can be confusing. Start with a list of contractors that you put together through positive referrals from satisfied neighbors. Then call each contractor on your list and ask serious questions about their experience and prices. Call their references and check them thoroughly. Also, make sure they are licensed and bonded.
Choose Your Design The last step in the project is to decorate the interior of you new room. Go with something simple or ornate. The choice is yours. Make it a part of the house design, or give it a whole new spin. There are also interior design professionals that will help you give your new attic room the right look.
Painting a Room is Harder than You Think
I'm a new homeowner and I'm going to try and save a few dollars by painting the interior of my home myself. I've seen it done by my parents and on television, but I've never painted a room on my own. My folks are in Michigan, so that leaves me to fend for myself. I'm sure there's a right way and wrong way to do this. What do you think?
What You Need. All of these items can be obtained from a local hardware store or paint center. To complete this project, you'll need: a broad, flat paint brush; a small, angled paint brush; some large, thick drop cloths; a bucket; a couple of rolls of painter's tape; a roller brush with an extension pole; a roller tray; and, of course, paint.
Where to Start. The first step is to remove all of the furniture from the room. Or, if that's not practical, you can pull it all to the center and cover it with a drop cloth. Then cover all of your floors with drop cloths. Remove the switch and electrical plates from the walls. Using the painter's tape, cover all trims, electrical outlets, door knobs and jams, and window frames to keep them paint free.
So What's Next? If you're walls have an existing coat of paint and the color is heavier than off-white, you should definitely consider painting over the old coat with a primer. The primer mutes the old color and prepares the wall to better handle the application of the new coat.
Why a W? You should start painting around the edges first. Using your small, angled brush, begin painting a two-inch strip around the ceiling, down the walls, and along the baseboards. Then, using your roller, begin painting a large W on the wall, and follow it on out. Up to the left, down to the right, up to the right, and down to the left, and so on until you have covered the entire wall.
What You Need. All of these items can be obtained from a local hardware store or paint center. To complete this project, you'll need: a broad, flat paint brush; a small, angled paint brush; some large, thick drop cloths; a bucket; a couple of rolls of painter's tape; a roller brush with an extension pole; a roller tray; and, of course, paint.
Where to Start. The first step is to remove all of the furniture from the room. Or, if that's not practical, you can pull it all to the center and cover it with a drop cloth. Then cover all of your floors with drop cloths. Remove the switch and electrical plates from the walls. Using the painter's tape, cover all trims, electrical outlets, door knobs and jams, and window frames to keep them paint free.
So What's Next? If you're walls have an existing coat of paint and the color is heavier than off-white, you should definitely consider painting over the old coat with a primer. The primer mutes the old color and prepares the wall to better handle the application of the new coat.
Why a W? You should start painting around the edges first. Using your small, angled brush, begin painting a two-inch strip around the ceiling, down the walls, and along the baseboards. Then, using your roller, begin painting a large W on the wall, and follow it on out. Up to the left, down to the right, up to the right, and down to the left, and so on until you have covered the entire wall.
