DIY Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid
Tackling home improvement projects yourself can help you save money, but only if you avoid costly mistakes like these:
Trying to do it ALL yourself. Whether to tackle a project yourself or hire a professional depends largely on your skill set and experience with the type of project at hand. Plenty of projects look easier than they really are. With your home value in mind, carefully weigh the pros and cons of DIY versus bringing in the pros prior to taking on a home renovation.
Under budgeting. Home renovations cost more money than initially anticipated almost every time. Setting aside extra funds to account for budgeting discrepancies or unexpected expenses can prevent your renovation from coming to a halt mid-project. Regardless of how well you plan, unexpected expenses can and will most likely come up.
Jumping in without researching. Do you know where electrical wiring is located? Is that wall you are about to remove load bearing? Do you have all the right hand and power tools to complete the task at hand? Ensuring that you are fully prepared to see a job through from start to finish will help protect the value of your home and save you from unnecessary headaches.
Permit oversights. Depending on the scope of your project, one or more permits may be required for remodeling your home. Checking with local permitting offices prior to starting your project can prevent expensive problems and delays down the line. Obtaining the proper permits is important for safety reasons, insurance coverage as well as the resale of your home.
Sacrificing quality. For any home improvement project, the quality of work should be of utmost importance. Quality materials combined with quality workmanship will typically contribute to a higher home value, while cutting corners on either can lead to lost time and money. Renovations of questionable quality can hurt rather than help home value, and incur additional costs if they have to be professionally redone. Even if the cost is higher up front, doing a renovation right the first time is usually the best long term investment.
About the Author: Maria Polidoro is the Founder of Ace Tool Online. Ace Tool is an authorized distributor for virtually all major power tool manufacturers and houses a full power tool service center. Please visit Ace Tool Online for Milwaukee cordless tools, Amana router bits and saws, Festool router packages and much more. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/diy-home-renovation-mistakes-to-avoid-896325.html
Unravel the Insulation myths!
Myth 1: Loft insulation of 4-5 inches thick is sufficient
Fact: Loft insulation is widely regarded as one of the most effective ways to save energy in the home. The Government recommends a depth of 270mm (10 inches) of insulation in order to get the maximum benefit. Installing the insulation yourself is easy and can be done in two to three hours. It will cost around £250 for an average house and can be purchased from local DIY stores. Products such as Earthwool and Space Combi-Roll are made from recycled glass bottles, so are both environmentally friendly and Earth Blanket and Space Blanket are encapsulated to make them easy to handle. There is an ideal insulation solution for every home – visit www.thinkinsulation.com for help and advice in choosing the perfect product.
Myth 2: Businesses produce most of the carbon emissions so there is little that homeowners can do
Fact: Our homes are one of the biggest culprits for increasing our carbon footprints. If every home in the UK installed the recommended amount of cavity wall and loft insulation CO2 emissions would be cut by 10.8 million tonnes. Nearly half of all the heat lost in an average home is through the roof and walls and is enough to heat around 2.2 million homes a year. If every house in the UK simply had the recommended amount of loft insulation installed, they could each save £155 every year on energy bills – or £3.2 billion as a nation!
Myth 3: Cavity wall insulation is expensive
Fact: Installing cavity wall insulation will save energy, money and help the environment. It’s actually one of the most cost-effective measures that can be taken. For an average house, installing cavity wall insulation will cost around £500, but there are many grants available that can help reduce this . Once the walls have been filled, a saving of about £120 can be made each year on heating bills alone.
Myth 4: Cavity wall insulation involves major building work
Fact: Getting walls insulated couldn’t be easier. It can normally be injected from the outside through small holes drilled in the wall by approved installers. The material is then piped through these holes, filling the cavity to make a perfect match with the existing wall. It’s a simple process and is normally completed within three hours, without damage or mess to the house or garden.
Qonline writes articles on loft insulation and Energy Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/unravel-the-insulation-myths-892606.html