Tag Archives: home improvement

Hiring a Handyman

Lately we have been contemplating hiring a handyman to help us with some of the many projects around and outside our home. These are projects that are tough to prioritize into our project list for a couple of reasons. They are either of a non-emergency nature, they aren’t enjoyable to do and therefore get put off, they were started but not finished, or they just aren’t on my husband’s list to do, even though I would like to have them done. If you are thinking of hiring a handyman or handywoman to get some of your projects done, you should … Continue reading →

Home Projects in the Heat

Warm weather doesn’t mean that you have to put an end to home improvement projects, but the heat can certainly affect anything you are doing yourself, from quality to safety. Here are some guidelines to working in the summer. While it may not be the most pleasant job in the heat, summer is the perfect time for resealing a driveway. In the Fall or spring you might have to contend with pollen or leaf debris, and the winter is too cold for this project. Painting can be iffy in the summer. Hight humidity will increase the time that your paint … Continue reading →

Consider Hiring Yard Maintenance for the Summer

While the average single parent is definitely on a budget, we also have time management issues to contend with. In the summer months, our time is often really stretched with work and household responsibilities and spending time with our children who are off school for the summer. Instead of spending your precious time trying to keep the grass mowed and the flowers watered, it might be time to consider hiring some temporary yard maintenance for the summer months. You may have never thought of yourself as the kind of person who would have “a gardener” but there is a difference … Continue reading →

The Well-Stocked Toolbox

If you perform your own home repair or do it yourself (DIY) projects then a well-stocked toolbox is a must. The nice thing about having a toolbox is that you can build it up as needed, depending on your level of skill and the size and types of projects you do. Whether you simply want to hang a few pictures or whether you want to rewire some cable, having the right tools always makes the job easier. Here is a guide to the basic tools you should have. Make sure that you don’t purchase cheap tools, or you will pay … Continue reading →

What to Do with Old Windows

Reusing what you have is usually a sure bet to save money. Some things have obvious reuses, such as paper bags from the grocery store, while others may be a bit obscure, such as what to do with a bunch of leftover allen wrenches. One item that keeps coming up in reuse questions is the old window. This may be the year that we replace our old drafty single pane windows with insulating double pane ones. Just throwing the windows away could cost us two times. The first is the cost to dispose of the windows, either through the window … Continue reading →

Easy Porch Updates

A porch is just a must have for the summer. The porch can be a quiet place to escape and listen to the sounds of summer, a cool place to relax when the temperature indoor is soaring, and a place of conversation as the neighbors stop by to chat or while you entertain. The porch can even be romantic when you enjoy a candlelit dinner for two. Today, my husband is cleaning out the back porch from the dust and clutter it accumulated over the winter. A good power washing will do wonders, as will rubbing the outdoor furniture with … Continue reading →

Increase Your Kitchen’s Value for Under $100!

Improving your home makes a lot of sense. Your home is not only the place you live, but chances are, it is also your biggest investment. While you might think that economically this isn’t the best time to make home improvements, the fact is that you can increase the value of your home by spending just a few dollars. In fact, the following ideas will all cost you less than $100, while increasing your home’s value for much more than that. At that price, how could you not improve your home? Still not convinced? Consider that all of these ideas … Continue reading →

Shutters Can Be More than Window Dressing

Back in the 19th century, shutters provided homeowners with a means of protection from the elements. From rain to wind and from sun to snow, shutters were a necessary part of a house. In the intervening time between then and now, shutters evolved into more of a decorative and visual role instead of a sturdy functional one. Shutters some in many different styles and designs and most of them are simply painted and then attached flat on either side of a window. Shutters can be more than window dressing. In fact, these days with everyone conscious of a growing problem … Continue reading →

Should You Hire an Architect 2?

When you are considering a remodel of a room or an addition to your home, it might be a good idea to hire an architect. After all, unless you have experience, you wouldn’t consider designing your own car or even your own formal dress. Yet, many people plunge ahead into projects on their own because they believe that a professional architect would cost far too much to justify one as an expense. In the last article, we talked about the following things to consider when deciding whether or not to hire an architect: The size and scope of your project … Continue reading →

Should You Hire an Architect?

When you are considering a remodel of a room or an addition to your home, it might be a good idea to hire an architect. After all, unless you have experience, you wouldn’t consider designing your own car or even your own formal dress. Yet, many people plunge ahead into projects on their own because they believe that a professional architect would cost far too much to justify one as an expense. Recently, we saw a home that had an addition on it. While the extra space was a nice addition, it was obvious that the addition did not take … Continue reading →