7 Tricks for Better Home Improvement

With a little guidance, tackling home improvement projects can be a simple, affordable, and effective way to increase the value of your property while making it a more pleasant and efficient place to live. Here you will find some useful tips and tricks for choosing and completing your next major project.

1. When you are doing a project that requires screws to be put into drywall, you should use anchors. Anchors reinforce the screw to make a stronger hold, allowing them to hold more weight. Some screws are included with a plastic anchor that is inserted into the wall before the screws, while others have anchors built right into the screw, in the form of a strong metal spiral.
2. One simple home improvement project that will leave your house looking fresh and new is exterior house painting. Choose neutral colors like light blues or subtle greens. Touch up the ceilings in colors like eggshell, white or cream. Top off the look with crown molding and remember that there are kits to help you achieve a professional look even if you have very little experience. Consult local house painters near you for more info.
3. Use wallpaper to decorate a bookcase. A design that is unique but visually pleasing can go a long way. Then you simply fix the wallpaper into the rear of the bookcase, so that it will be visible behind your books. Adding a little bit of edginess to you bookshelf will create a more modern look for not only the bookshelf, but the room that it is in.
4. Always turn off the main water supply before working near pipes in your home. Make sure you know where the shutoff valve is for your water pipes so you don't have a flooding problem once you start the project. Neglecting this step can give you a flood to deal with in addition to your initial plumbing problem.
5. There are two ways to replace or change a lock: replacing the assembly itself, or only the cylinder. The cylinder will keep the lock in place at all times. If you lose keys or want to change locks, it is possible; just replace the cylinder. If you want to boost security, replace the whole lock.
6. It is not a good idea to make any major home renovations when you are about to sell your home. The best thing to work on is the way that the house looks from the outside since a lot of potential buyers will look at the curb appeal as the first sign of whether they like a house or not. Often overlooked, yet vital are working roof gutter systems. If the water isn’t routed away from the siding and foundation, major aesthetic and underlying issues can happen - ruining the curb appeal for any potential buyers.
7. One of the best things you can do to improve the safety and efficiency of your home is to regularly test your breakers by switching them on and off at least once yearly. This clears the breaker contacts of any built-up corrosion and allows them to work more efficiently and safely. If your breakers frequently trip, this may indicate potential safety issues that require an electrician.

Even if you only want to complete a minor project, you will be more successful if you follow the advice in this article. This information is sure to help you as you map out your next project, whether it's for the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, or even your front and back lawn.