Home Improvement Tips

If you bought your home brand new five, ten or fifteen years ago, you can look around and see that the house that was once in pristine condition can use a little tender loving care. Conversely, if you have just purchased a fixer upper, you know that the house needs A LOT of the same.

When you think of DIY home improvement, you may become filled with dread at the thought that strangers will be infiltrating your home with their hammers, saws, sweat, and just noise in general.

It can be a scary concept, this world of DIY. Your mind is filled with images of nails in your hand, bloody knees, scraped knuckles and disastrous results. 

Many times, a fresh coat of paint, the steam cleaning of tile and carpet, the buffing and refinishing of wood floors and the cleaning of windows is all it takes to give your home the little bit of new it needs. Other times, you want to go big. A new bathtub? How about replacing carpeted flooring with wood, laminate, or porcelain? Maybe even a kitchen overhaul! It doesn't even have to be major.

According to Moving.com, "A minor kitchen remodel will recoup about 81 percent of its cost in average resale value, while a major upscale kitchen remodel will recoup only about 53.5 percent of its cost. The most valuable home improvements in a minor kitchen remodel include modernizing the cabinets and countertops, upgrading to brand new appliances, updating the sink and faucet, and updating the flooring."

The truth is DIY doesn't have to be those things. With all the DIY television shows, home improvement guides and the internet, your resources are unlimited. You can do everything from installing floors, replacing your kitchen cabinets, and even replacing your old exterior door.

And before you start, check out a few of our simple videos that will help you in your DIY journey!

Use Your Tax Refund To Cover Home Remodel Costs

“For true home remodeling, keep it simple by starting in the bathroom. With your tax refund dollars, you can afford new paint, new flooring, fresh grout, new faucets and perhaps even a stylish new vanity. You’ll stay under budget and be proud of the outcome.” according to Kate-Lynn Scheib, Reinvest Your Tax Refund Into Your Home With These Home Improvement Tips.

Update Your Bathroom

While a kitchen remodel can get pricey pretty quickly, there’s a lot of mileage you can get from a bathroom upgrade in the $500 range. Cleaning grout, re-caulking the tub, and replacing an outdated vanity for a granite version can make an outdated bathroom look clean and modern.

HOW TO CALCULATE LINEAR FEET FOR MOULDING

• Stretch a tape measure from one end of your wall to the other. The tape measure should be placed tightly across the wall. Make sure it is in a straight line.

• Write down the length in inches of the wall. If you are installing molding on the bottom and top of the wall, multiply this number by 2.

• Divide the total number of inches by 12 to convert from inches to linear feet. For example, if your wall measured 40 inches in length, and you are installing molding on the top and bottom, 40 x 2 = 80 inches. Divide 80 by 12 to get 6.66 linear feet.

HOW TO INSTALL SPC FLOORING

Utility Knife Straight Edge Measuring Tape

¼" Spacers Pencils Eye Protection

Soft-Faced Rubber Mallet Broom Felt Pads

**You may also need: Jig Saw, Table Saw, Miter Saw, Circular Saw, Hole Saw, Moisture Meter

Check out this informative video tutorial below that will show you a step-by-step process on how to easily install SPC flooring in your home

How To Calculate Square Footage

How To Measure A Door

Surplus Building Materials is another resource that will make your do it yourself project easier. With the high quality products, low prices and top-notch customer service, you’re sure to find the help you need to take on whatever DIY project is in your sight.

We also offer affordable installations. Contact our installation manager Mack for more information at (972) 832-9531.