3 Keys to a Successful Bathroom Remodeling Project

Bathroom remodeling is a popular home improvement project for both new and existing homebuyers. One of the most common reasons for undertaking a bathroom-remodeling project is for a change. The fact is a fashionable bathroom is one of the most attractive enrichments you can make to your home and a wonderful way for you to add value to it — and lots of pleasure to your life.

Plan Your Bathroom Remodeling Project.

Now the first thing you will need to do is plan how your bathroom remodeling is going to take place. Never forget the saying: Fail to plan and you plan to fail. The two most important things regarding bathroom remodeling are planning properly and shopping wisely in order to keep you project within your budget. Your new bathroom must be tailored to your requirements and the plan must depend on you budget and your needs.

A detailed plan is a must for any bathroom-remodeling project, so make sure you start by drawing a floor plan of your bathroom from above and a plan of each wall — then on you go!

A good place to start with bathroom remodeling is to think how your current bathroom is not meeting your needs and wants. Then, a smart thing to do is to tour other bathrooms to get a bunch of good ideas. Undertaking a bathroom renovation project can be daunting, but if you’ve got a plan and a budget, you are certainly on your way to success.

Establish An Approximate Budget.

When remodeling a bathroom, a fundamental and necessary part involves establishing an approximate budget. You - and your budget - will decide how far you want to go in terms of your bathroom-remodeling project. The costs can vary widely depending on your needs, your wants and your budget.

Always stay focused on costs: keep in mind that a good half of your budget is going to go towards finish materials. Bathroom remodeling can end up being pretty expensive so make sure you are choosing the right bathroom contractor for your new project and your approximate budget.

The good news is that bathroom remodeling is fun and can be done with a lot less money than other rooms. And if you cannot afford the services of a professional decorator, using the Internet to learn about the latest trends in bathroom remodeling is a good free alternative.

Treat Your Home As An Investment.

Be a savvy homeowner and treat your home as a real estate investment. It’s important, as your home ages, to maintain and improve your largest and most valuable investment. When it comes to recouping your remodeling investment, a bathroom-remodeling project almost always pays back 90% or more of their costs. And it is very possible to get a 100 % return on your bathroom remodeling investment. As an investment, bathroom remodeling ranks high because the resale value of your house later on is much higher. Choosing to remodel a part of the home that has such a high investment return is a sure winner.

In summary, bathroom remodeling is one of the most important improvements you can make to your home. It can be a daunting task for any homeowner, but if it is well planned it will be lost of fun and as budget-friendly as you choose. One of the many benefits of bathroom remodeling is the possibility to maximize the value of your home. And if you are thinking about selling, bathroom remodeling is truly among the highest return on investment in the home improvement area.

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Refinishing Hardwood Floors On A Budget

If your hardwood floors are in dire need of refinishing, get a few estimates from professionals. You may be surprised at the figures. You’ll want to sit down when they tell you it will cost you $1200 to have your living room redone. You could carpet over it for less, but doesn’t carpeting over beautiful hardwood floors seem, well, wrong?

Contrary to what you may have heard, the finish doesn’t take days and days to dry. It’s quite simple actually. Go to your favorite local home improvement store, Lowe’s, Menard’s, Home Depot or other. Rent a sander. You’ll need a drum sander, a belt sander or both. They will explain to you how to use the machine and tell you what kind of sand paper to purchase. They will also tell you what kind of stain and finish to get. Make sure you also pick up some dust masks because you will have saw dust everywhere.

The sanders are very easy to use. They’re a bit on the loud side. The key is to keep it moving at all times. Do not stop or you will get a divot in your wood. Think of it like a clothes iron. You need to keep it moving or you will burn your clothes. Same deal with the sander. It creates a lot of heat and you will burn or dent your floors if you hesitate in one place too long.

You will feel like a Zamboni driver smoothing out your surface. Word of caution, you do need to maintain control of the machine at all times. It is self propelled, like a lawn mower or a basset hound on a leash. When you power it up, hold on to the machine tightly. Don’t be afraid of it and after a few passes, you’ll start to even have fun.

Redoing your floors is like redoing your fingernails. First you need to remove the old finish, basecoat, color, and top coat. You may opt to forgo the color (stain) and just use the nature color of the wood. You will still need to apply a finish to it.

There are basically two types of floor finishes: one is oil-based and the other is water-based polyurethane. Oil-based is available in a satin, semi-gloss or gloss finish. Satin works well on floors because it hides small flaws and lets the natural beauty of the wood show without a bright shine. Oil-based also produces a warm amber look that gives you the traditional glow of wood floors. Water-based polyurethane dries clear and resists yellowing. Water-based also dries quicker.

Make sure you let each coat thoroughly dry before applying the next; same as you would nail polish. Give your floor at least 24-36 hours before moving furniture back on it. It will continue to harden in the first couple of weeks.

Don’t be overwhelmed. Instead of looking at refinishing your hardwood floors as a humungous job, look at it as giving your room a manicure, one step at a time. You’ll also save yourself as much as $1,000 by doing it yourself.

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