Home improvement was popularized on television in 1979 with the premiere of This Old House starring Bob Vila on PBS. Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete co-host the nationally syndicated The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show. Turning marginal areas into livable spaces such as turning basements into recrooms, home theaters, or home offices – or attics into spare bedrooms. Concrete and masonry repairs to the foundation and chimney. At the very end of the show, after Tim deposits the large branch into the sink, he turns the tap to let the water run. At the core of the series was husband and wife squaring off against each other.
- Add a gorgeous shiplap accent wall in any space for $50 or less by trimming down plywood into planks, then attaching the boards to your wall using construction adhesive and nails.
- Consider installing a skylight in the kitchen, bathroom, or hallway where other natural light is limited.
- Adding a conservatory is, on average, the most lucrative – just make sure it doesn’t eat up too much of your garden.
- When it comes to projects that will give you a great return when you sell your home, look no further than a minor bathroom remodel.
- Sand and refinish hardwood floors with a lighter stain.
Calling a contractor to repair or improve every single thing gets expensive fast. What if there were a way to know what they know about home improvement? Here are 17 of the best time and money-saving home improvement and care hacks that only a contractor would know about. Good levels of insulation can make room interiors more comfortable as well as dramatically reduce your energy bills – by up to as much as 90 percent. A relatively small investment can pay back quickly, and add to the value of your home when you choose to sell.
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It should take less than an hour to replace the current fixture, to the tune of about $100 for installation. Blue is as calming as the sky, silver reflects light, jewel tones are bravely bold — and just might work. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox.
Paint the Front Door
This means that you could add in a central air unit, move the location of a door, or change the types of windows you have. Our remodeling experts will help you choose from a wide selection of doors that fit the look and feel of your home. We only install the highest quality doors and back it up with 103 years’ reputation in the business. Taking down a wall between the kitchen, living room, or dining room can expand your entertaining area, and make the footprint feel larger while you’re not actually adding square footage. However, to remove a wall safely, it needs to be non-load-bearing, meaning a wall that isn’t integral to the structure of your home.
Hang a Medicine Cabinet
Stand on the kerb and appraise your house like you’re seeing it for the first time – is there peeling paint or cracked gutters? If the answer’s yes, it’s time whip out the paint and ladder. Stripping and staining cabinets will give your space a major facelift. Sealing cabinets with polyurethane will also increase durability.
Your foundation already has a big job to do holding up the house. The quantity of water in a small rainfall event is surprisingly massive. A common DIY home-improvement mistake, especially when finishing a basement, is making access to essential plumbing valves difficult. When you remodel, leave space or an access door to the main water valve, exterior spigot valves, water heater valves and any others your home may have. It’s probably less expensive and certainly more convenient to install a backyard shed or hire a handyperson to create access to hidden places in your house than renting space long-term. Home appliances and home mechanical systems are expensive enough.