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house tips

6 Tips to Carry out a Smooth DIY Home Improvement Project

October 17, 2022
Chloe Taylor
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The satisfaction of tearing down warped drywall or expanding a too-tight closet is hard to top. But accomplishing a do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement project on your own is a different story. It takes a lot of patience, a heavy dollop of motivation, and, most importantly, a solid game plan.

A lot can go haywire if you don’t plan and prep properly, from picking the wrong tools for the job to not ordering enough tile when you’re revamping your kitchen backsplash. (Trust us, we’ve been there.)

To help you avoid a total DIY disaster, we chatted with home improvement experts to get their best tips on carrying out a smooth home improvement project. Read on for their helpful hints—and get ready to take your space to the next level.

Move the Unwanted Out of the Way

Home renovations mean caked-on dust, piles of debris, and a lot of trip hazards. Top that with a cluttered work zone; you’ve got a recipe for injury.

The first step in preparing for any home improvement project is to clear the area of as much clutter as possible. It includes removing furniture, knick-knacks, pictures from the walls—anything that will get in the way or become a potential safety hazard.

But where to store all that stuff? The perfect place to keep all your valuables safe is in a storage unit in your region. For instance, if you are in Grande Prairie, approach a storage facility to ensure your belongings are kept in a safe space. So, check out Grande Prairie storage units and carry out the DIY project without worry. 

Ensure to label everything, so you know where it goes when moving back in.

Evaluate and Re-evaluate Your Plans

You might have a clear vision of your dream kitchen in your head, but that doesn’t mean it will fit in your space. And that new island might look good in the catalog, but it might be too big for your kitchen.

Before you start any demo, it’s important to take measurements of your space and create a floor plan. It will help you determine what changes you can and cannot make.

Budgeting is another no-brainer when it comes to home improvement projects. Determine the precise amount you can realistically afford to spend on your project, and then consider financing options. Home remodeling or repair loans are available for those who qualify.

You should also always have a contingency fund for unplanned expenses—you never know when you’ll run into an issue or make a mistake. Having to halt your project in the middle because you can’t afford to fix an error will only add more frustration (and costs) in the long run.

Load Your Arsenal with the Right Tools

You were able to get away with using a butter knife to remove the old caulk around your bathtub. But chances are, you will require more than that for your home improvement project. Make a list of all the tools and materials you’ll need for your project, and then purchase them or rent them ahead of time.

Some essentials to have on hand include:

  • A toolbox 
  • An impact driver (if you’re working with screws)
  • A saw (hand or power)
  • Cordless clamps (great for holding pieces together while you work)
  • Cordless vacuum (to clean up as you go)

Depending on the project you’re working on, you may also need more specialized tools. For example, if you’re tiling your bathroom, you’ll need a tile cutter. And if you’re painting your kitchen cabinets, you’ll need a sprayer.

Most importantly, research before you start the project to know which tools you need and how to use them. 

Don’t Take the Media’s Word for It

Just because you watched it on HGTV doesn’t mean it will work in your home. That new design trend may look great on a TV show, but it might not be practical for your lifestyle. Similarly, gutting the entire bathroom for a new masterpiece all by yourself isn’t as simplistic as the pros make it look.

There’s always some level of misguidance when watching home improvement shows. The takeaway should be inspiration instead of a how-to guide. So, set realistic goals and accept what you can’t do before starting your project.

You’ll soon realize that hiring a professional for certain tasks is worth it to save yourself the headache—and, sometimes, the hospital bill. Anything that involves gas or plumbing should be left to the professionals. Also, don’t mess with your roof unless you want your insurance rates to go up.

Be Careful with Permits

You might get away with a little bit of a demo without a permit, but most home improvement projects will require one. Depending on the work you’re doing, you may need the following:

  • Building permit – covers most structural work like adding a room or deck
  • Electrical permit – crucial for any electrical work, including outlets and fixtures
  • Plumbing permit – needed for anything that involves the gas lines or water lines

If you’re unsure whether you will need a permit, your best bet is to contact your city or county planning department. They’ll be able to tell you which permits are required for your project.

Not pulling the proper permits can result in some hefty fines—and could even get you arrested. Usually, a general contractor will take care of pulling the necessary permits for you. But it’s always good to know what’s going on.

Give Equal Importance to Your House’s Exterior

The house’s exterior is just as crucial as the inside—maybe even more so. That’s because it’s the first thing people see when they pull up to your house. If the outside is in disrepair, it can negatively impact your home’s curb appeal—and, ultimately, your home’s value.

So, don’t neglect your house’s exterior when planning your home improvement projects. If your siding is cracked or faded, replace it. If your gutters are falling off, fix them. And if your front door looks a little worse for wear, give it a fresh coat of paint.

Landscaping is also a significant way to improve your home’s curb appeal. Something as simple as trimming your hedges or planting some flowers can make a big difference.

 

Conclusion

Home renovations are exciting. The fresh coat of paint, the new countertops, and the updated appliances add to a brand-new home without the price tag. So, it’s natural (and justified) for you to be tempted to start your project by jumping right in and tearing everything out, but trust us—that’s not the best idea. Research all the aspects of your project, make a plan, gather your supplies, and then—and only then—should you start working. And always remember to take safety precautions.

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Why Self-Storage the Perfectly Clever Solution to Your Moving Woes?

January 18, 2022
Chloe Taylor
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Having to move is one of the most exciting yet exhausting parts of adulthood. Moving can be exciting for many reasons – a better location, more affordable rent, moving in with a partner – but one thing remains the same: it’s not fun dealing with all your stuff. Many people don’t even realize how many items they have accumulated until they start packing them up.

If you try to move everything yourself, you might throw out your back, but if you hire a removal company, you’ll have to pay through the nose for trucks and moving services. Whether you’re shifting into your new place now or selling your current residence so you can afford a new one, investing in a self-storage unit is a perfect solution. 

In this guide, we have accumulated a list of reasons why self-storage units make excellent moving resources. 

It Makes Your Home Look More Spacious

Before moving into a new place, most people need to sell their current home or find a tenant to take over the lease. The problem is that potential buyers can’t get an idea of the space if the rooms contain every piece of furniture and decoration you’ve. Millions of people across the country utilize the option to use self storage for freeing up the space in their homes before moving.

Moving some items to self-storage has the added benefit of splitting up your moving responsibilities. Not storing your non-essentials immediately will allow you to stagger the moving process. Rather than taking everything with you on moving day, you can take only the essentials and return for the less important items later when you are more energized.

Decorating Your New Place Becomes Easier

Nobody wants to decorate their new home interior in the same manner as their old one unless they have sentimental attachments to the old way. New home demands new interior designs. However, people often dump all their unneeded clutter in the middle of their living room when they move, making it difficult to rearrange everything in a new fashion. A larger space allows you to come up with more creative interior design ideas. 

Therefore, self-storage is a good option to store all of your unnecessary items, such as paintings, vases, rugs, etc., which can end up cluttering the house and consuming your newly found space. Unpacking your new house with care and dedication is the best way to give it the attention it deserves.

Makes Moving to New Cites Less Scary

Many people move to an entirely new city or country because of work or education. Getting used to the new streets, public transportation system, jobs, and social circles is hard enough. But, managing all your belongings adds an extra level of stress. Thankfully, self-storage units can avoid this extra stress. 

You can leave your excess belongings behind in a secure storage unit. The majority of self-storage facilities are paired with insurance to provide you with peace of mind. If you’re only moving temporarily, or the place you’re moving into comes pre-furnished, there is no need to trouble yourself by transporting too many items. 

Put them in self-storage and enjoy the new chapter of your life hassle-free. If you plan to use long-term storage, make sure you purchase protective packaging to help preserve your items.

Keeps You Prepared for the Worst

It is true that no plan will survive contact with the enemy, and moving to a new place is no different. Miscommunications between removal companies, mortgage problems, and tenancy contract mix-ups are just some of the problems that can occur on moving day. In the event that something goes wrong, you can always find a hotel or a friend to stay with for a couple of days, but you can’t take all your belongings with you. With your things stored in a self-storage unit, you can quickly adapt to a bad situation and save a lot of money and hassle in the process. Having a plan is better than standing on the corner of the street with no plan as a moving service continues to charge you by the hour.

Final Thoughts

In order to avoid the monumental stress that comes with moving, this article intends to make things easier for everyone planning a move. The reasons we have mentioned above are enough to tell you why self-storage is used by millions across the country. Storage units are an investment that not just helps you with the moving woes, but also comes in handy for various reasons. With a storage facility at your disposal, you can get peace of mind, facilitate the moving process easier, and can use it as a contingency plan just in case anything goes wrong. So if by chance you’re facing any of these problems, now is the time to get a storage unit! 

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Got A Clogged Drain at Home? Here Are 5 Easy Ways to Fix It

November 15, 2021
Chloe Taylor
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An effective drainage system is crucial in any household, irrespective of the frequency of waste removal. Whether it’s your kitchen line or bathroom drains, for smooth and easy operations, you need to make sure your drain lines don’t get clogged. Having a solid drainage system also helps with future plumbing flexibility and lower maintenance costs in general. 

To avoid sewer system issues on a larger scale, we need to ensure that our immediate drains are not clogged. However, they do, pretty easily as well. Instead of letting it out of hand, take quick steps to make it manageable in no time. Here are five simple ways to help you tackle a clogged drain issue.

Get Immediate Help

A drain crisis never happens at a convenient time. You never know when you will turn that flush handle to eliminate waste and be greeted by overflowing sewer water. Or when your kitchen sink will start overflowing, leaving you with a pool of water around your feet. What did you do, and what went wrong? A crisis like this requires immediate help and it`s one of the 5 signs you need to call a plumber. It is always a good idea to keep the contact information of plumbers handy. However, if you cannot get immediate plumbing assistance in your neighborhood, look up online services on the internet. Household and plumbing services are often based in different states, but their professionals are readily available throughout the country.

For instance, you can get emergency plumbing Irvine Ca assistance anywhere in the country by simply visiting their website and requesting help. Once the company sends their professionals for help, save their number for future use. 

DIY hacks are the cheaper alternative

DIY hacks are homemade techniques to unclog drains. You will find a list of these hacks all over the internet that will make your drain functional in no time. 

The baking soda, salt, and vinegar/hot water hack is the most common one. Simply pour a mixture of half a cup of baking soda, a teaspoon of salt and a whole cup of vinegar or hot water altogether on top of the drain. Let it sit atop the gunk for some time. It usually takes about 8 hours for the concoction to break down and sift the matter into small, more manageable bits. Afterward, you can use a hose or pipe to wash away the gunk. However, make sure the water pressure is high enough. 

Drain lids or filters go a long way

Drain lids come in all shapes and sizes and are also cheaply available in a wide range of materials (plastic, metal, rubber). It’s ideal for all types of needs, including kitchens and bathrooms. The tops or sides of all drain lids have minor gaps and openings that easily let water and other liquids pass through. Further, these gaps prevent solid waste, such as bones and tea bags in a kitchen, from entering the drain and clogging it. 

One of the best things about these containers is that they are easy to clean. All you need to do is lift the side tabs and unscrew the lid. Dispose of the waste in a garbage can, wash the lid and screw it back on. 

Use the traditional drain chemicals and plungers

You can choose from various drain openers and chemicals readily available on the market to suit your drain opening needs. However, make sure that the cleaner should be drain-friendly. Check for the cleaners with a low to mild harshness so that they won’t cause any further harm. 

Mild alkali-based drain openers are recommended for ease of use, as they decompose the matter as they sit atop it. Conversely, if a very harsh method is used, it may corrode the plastic piping underneath, requiring it to be replaced at a great expense. 

A plunger is another tool that is readily available in almost all restrooms and kitchens. This tool works by generating air pressure over the drain. If the suction cups around it repeatedly retract, they create a sort of vacuum. As a result, the back pressure from the water pushes gunk and waste upwards and out of the drain.

Install a P-Trap

Another branch of modern plumbing is the P-Trap or a specific piping order. The piping looks like a P facing downwards, which traps the water and any waste left inside. It is also helpful for catching any valuables that may have fallen into the drain. Using water pressure, the P-Trap creates a thorough flow that goes directly to the sewage line. Usually, the P trap is wide enough to get rid of all the clogging with water pressure. However, if this is not the case, a professional can clean it out.

Tips to prevent future drain clogging

Preventing future drain clogs is the best method to avoid them in the future. There are numerous ways to accomplish this. It is best to dispose of bulk waste separately, cover drains with drain covers, and periodically check pipes for damage, and, if needed, change to a larger size. Additionally, the homeowner should keep an eye out for any suspicious smells that indicate a clogged drain.

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10 House Cleaning Tricks That Save Time

November 28, 2017
Lillian Connors
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If your home can use a good thorough cleaning but you can’t really afford a professional, don’t worry. There are many cool cleaning tips pros use all the time that will make your cleaning fast and easy.

Remove clutter

The best way to start cleaning your home is to remove the things from counters, desk, coffee tables and shelves. Otherwise, you might be tempted to just clean around them or lift them and put them back on a wet surface. This can leave nasty ring marks and look like you haven’t done anything.

10 House Cleaning Tricks That Save Time

Do as much as you can in one take

It might seem easier, but don’t clean your living room today and leave the bathroom for tomorrow. This method actually takes more time than doing everything in one day. It’s better to do as much as you can in one take, so that you can relax tomorrow in your clean home.

Get organized

You’ll waste a lot of time running around your home to get the tool or cleaner you need. However, if you get a cleaning caddie, you’ll have everything at hand for fast and easy cleaning.

10 House Cleaning Tricks That Save Time

Remove distractions

Your home is full of distractions – from your TV, phone and music to rearranging figurines on the shelves and folding linen. All of these can make a two-hour cleaning job last four hours. So, turn off your electronics and leave detailed projects for another time. Concentrate on cleaning, and only cleaning, until your home is spotless.

Don’t forget the electronics

Many people forget to clean their electronics which either stay dirty, or they remember them in the end. So, turn off your electronics and wipe them with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth and remember never to spray cleaning products on the screen directly.

10 House Cleaning Tricks That Save Time

Invest in good cleaning supplies

If you want your cleaning to be fast and effective, don’t hesitate to invest a bit more money in high-quality cleaners and cleaning supplies. They will do a much better cleaning job, and they usually last longer than cheap cleaners. If you want your children to help you with cleaning, get products that are non-toxic and natural. There are even cleaners you can make yourself with only a few household items and they remove all sorts of stains.

Follow instructions from the label

Many people want to make cleaning easier and faster, so they tend to “overuse” the cleaning products. However, this will only result in greater expenses. So, if you really want to be effective, read the recommendations from the manufacturer, thus avoiding expensive mistakes. The instructions will tell you just how much product you need and where can you use it. Many products today are of better quality and employ more advanced technology, so they are much more effective.

Invest in good cleaning tools

Don’t use cheap knockoffs of professional cleaning tools. Of course, you don’t need industrial-quality tools, but don’t hesitate to invest in tools that are tested and guaranteed to do the job. If you opt for well-made tools they will last you a long time, and will be much more effective than their cheap counterparts. So, throw away that old sponge mop and opt for a terry-covered mop. Also, chuck or recycle your old vacuum in favor of powerful and practical Shark vacuums that are light and easy to handle, yet strong enough to tackle every cleaning job.

10 House Cleaning Tricks That Save Time

Vacuuming tricks

While we’re talking about vacuums, make sure you’re doing a good vacuuming job. The best way to tackle the room is to remove everything from the floors, move furniture and area rugs. Clear floors will allow you to move quickly and efficiently. Another vacuuming piece of advice is to do the dusting before vacuuming. This way you’ll get to pick up all dust particles that fall on the floor during dusting and save some precious time.

Continue with maintenance

Most households need thorough cleaning every two weeks. However, if you do a good maintaining job, some chores can be reduced to once a month!

Who needs expensive professional cleaners with cleaning tips like these? So, roll up your sleeves, grab your cleaning products and tools, and get to work. You’ll be done before you know it and your home will be sparkling clean.

 

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Smooth Decorator is a website dedicated to our little sanctuaries from the hustle and bustle of the outside world – to our homes, sweet homes. We believe that the foundation of a quality life needs to be set right there, in the place where we first dream things up, and that only when we organized our homes can we hope to organize the rest of our everyday existence.

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