Spring-Cleaning Tips for Your Cluttered Garage

Winter is nearly over, and that means it’s time for spring-cleaning. Even if the rest of your house is in good shape — save for a little dusting, because that is one job we’ll be doing forever — your garage probably needs a little bit of TLC. We get it. For most of us, the garage becomes a catch-all for everything that won’t fit in the rest of the house. Here are some quick and easy spring-cleaning tips to help you transform your garage from a storage shed into a functional room.

Start With Four Piles

Believe it or not, 57 percent of people with a garage attached to their home can’t park their car in it. They don’t have the room! Clutter is a big problem for most of us. We hang on to everything, swearing we’ll fix that broken blender later, or that we might need that massive box of half-dead Christmas lights for something in the future. The first step you need to take in your cleaning efforts is to create four piles: keep, store, sell and toss.

Once you have a place for each pile, start sorting everything in your garage into one of these four areas. Tools and items you use daily go into the keep pile. Seasonal stuff, like winter clothing and holiday decorations, go in the store pile. Anything that is still in good working order but you don’t need or want anymore can go into the sell pile for your next garage sale. Trash can go straight into a bag or can, so you can drag it to the curb on your next scheduled garbage day.

This step will cut down the amount of stuff you need to sort through by half, at least, depending on the ratio of junk to useful things in the garage.

Figure out Why You Want Your Garage

Once you’ve sorted through all the junk cluttering up the garage, figure out what you want to do with it. Are you going to park your car there, or use it as a craft or hobby room? Maybe you want to turn it into a rec room, with a pool or ping-pong table. Whatever your plans, now’s the time to figure them out, because your next steps will depend on the result you’re trying to achieve.

Plan Your Storage

Once you’ve got everything sorted out, you’re going to need to start thinking about storage. Shelves, cabinets and even overhead storage are all options, depending on your needs.

Store seasonal stuff first, since you’ll only need those items for a few months out of the year. If you’ve got an attic with garage access, this is the perfect place to store it. If your garage or attic isn’t climate-controlled, be careful with storing seasonal clothing. At the very minimum, you’ll need to throw a few mothballs in each box to keep your sweaters and jackets safe from hungry moth mouths.

Clear out everything in your garage and take a close look at the empty room. Where can you put storage where it won’t interfere with your other plans? If you’re going to work on your car or turn the garage into a hobby room, a workbench with storage for tools might be a good investment.

Keep Your Garage Tidy Year-Round

Once you’ve spent time deep-cleaning your garage, the last thing you want to do is let it get cluttered again. Make sure everything stays in its designated place, and that if you buy anything new, you put it away before it has a chance to become clutter. Spring-cleaning your garage, especially if you’ve been using it as a catch-all, is a big project — but once you get it emptied, it’s much easier to maintain.

The post Spring-Cleaning Tips for Your Cluttered Garage appeared first on Homey Improvements.

from Homey Improvements https://homeyimprovements.com/spring-cleaning-tips-for-your-cluttered-garage/

Home Plumbing Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners

Two years after buying my new home, I awoke one morning and went to clean the kitty litter located in an alcove closet in the downstairs bathroom. Suddenly, I heard gurgling akin to a rapidly boiling soup pot coming from the toilet behind me. Seconds later, the lid lifted as a foul-smelling black goo spewed forth from the bowl like something out of “The Amityville Horror,” ruining rugs and towels while causing me panic.

The Great Toilet Disaster marked my first plumbing emergency as a homeowner, and it could have been averted had I paid attention to routine maintenance. As a new homeowner, learn from my mistake to minimize your own risk of plumbing woes. Preventative maintenance is key, as plumbing issues can cause some of the most pricey home repairs. Conducting regular inspections can fix little problems before they cost you thousands.

Monthly

1. Leaks: Leaks can cause serious water damage and provide breeding grounds for black mold. Check pipes monthly by inspecting underneath each sink. Drips or moisture indicate a possible leak. Also inspect interior walls for damp spots.
2. Drainage: Poor drainage indicates a clog. Pour a gallon of water down each sink and bathtub drain. Snake any slow-moving drains.
3. Faucets: Turn on all faucets and run them for a minute or two at full blast. Water should not escape from anywhere but the spigot.
4. Irrigation lines: Those with irrigation systems should check them monthly for leaks and clogs. Turn on the system 20 to 30 minutes prior to visually inspecting all parts.
5. Water heater: Check settings on your water heater monthly. The ideal temperature to keep your water heater at is 120 degrees, although families with young children should set it even lower to avoid potential burns.

Quarterly

1. Turn on/off irrigation according to climate: Most states north of the Mason-Dixon line turn on irrigation systems in late May to early June and back off again in mid-September. Those in warmer climates may use some irrigation all year but should nevertheless turn the frequency of watering down in cooler weather.
2. Search for any drafts: Most people winterize their homes by checking doors and windows for cracks, but outside plumbing lines may also let cold air in. Check outside water fixtures, and caulk up any cracks.
3. Check the toilet bowl for leaks: A toilet that won’t stop running often indicates nothing more than the chain bob inside the tank slipping off. However, if the tank looks fine inside, your toilet may have sediment or leaves caught in the line, so call a plumber before (like me) you end up needing to buy new bathroom rugs.
4. Inspect certain appliances: You should inspect your washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator and any other water-using appliances. Replace any cracked tubes or lines. Mold anywhere inside appliances indicates a leak, so if you cannot find the source on your own, call in a professional.
5. Clean out gutters: Twice per year, clean all the leaves and other debris from your outdoor gutters. Additionally, inspect gutters after powerful storms, and remove any clumps of blown materials.

Yearly

1. Flush your hot water tank: Once per year, flush your hot water heater free of sediment. Water flowing from spigots turning cold sooner than usual indicates that sediment is eating up room for hot water.
2. Check for rust: Visually inspect all visible pipes in the home. Call in a plumbing professional if you find discoloration and rust, as this issue indicates that pipes hidden in walls may also need repair or replacement.
3. Check for mold: Sniff around all fixtures and under sinks. Should you see or smell mold, clean it with a water and bleach solution.
4. Clean shower heads: Sediment can build up in shower heads, making skin itchy and decreasing water flow. Take apart the shower head and clean all components.
5. Call in the pros: Those on sewer should schedule an annual camera inspection of their line (as I learned the hard way). Plumbers use a special camera to seek out and remove leaves, paper towels or tree roots, preventing them from creating backflow.

Managing Plumbing Emergencies

Performing routine maintenance should prevent many plumbing headaches, but emergencies still sometimes occur. Perform a plumbing check as part of your home inspection, and establish a relationship with a trustworthy local plumber so that you aren’t left scrambling to find someone should an emergency occur.

Those in cold climates should heat their entire homes instead of only certain rooms to prevent pipes from freezing. If financial factors require heating only a few areas, rotate which ones you use. Insulate pipes as much as possible before temperatures drop below zero.

Those living in condos or townhouses may share an outside sewer line with one or two neighbors. Find out who they are, and take turns paying for the annual sewer inspection.

Protecting Your Investment

For many people, their home represents their biggest investment. Protect your home and your money by keeping up with routine plumbing maintenance tasks. You’ll save sweet moolah this way and avoid big messes and huge headaches.

The post Home Plumbing Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners appeared first on Homey Improvements.

from Homey Improvements https://homeyimprovements.com/home-plumbing-maintenance-checklist-for-new-homeowners/

How to Add Value to Your Home

With the housing market looking extremely unpredictable thanks to Brexit, it’s unlikely that many buyers or sellers are going to put much stock in spikes and dips until the dust settles. That said, if you want to squeeze as much value out of your home when the time comes, then these tips are for you.

Kerb appeal

When people talk about adding value to domestic properties, the term ‘kerb appeal’ gets thrown around a lot. What is kerb appeal, you ask? Well, put simply, kerb appeal is how attractive your home looks from the street. Everyone knows just how important first impressions are and boosting your home’s kerb appeal is all about capitalising on them.

There are numerous ways in which you can boost your home’s kerb appeal, here are some popular ones:

• A new front door is an excellent way to smarten up the front of your home, particularly if you go for a nice composite one. And, if that seems like a daunting task, even installing a nice new brushed aluminium door handle will improve the first impression your home gives.
• Freshening up the front of your home with a lick of paint is a surefire way to make your house look more appealing to passersby. You don’t necessarily need to worry about the other sides – unless the contrast is glaringly obvious, that is.
• Clean up any clutter on the drive. This is a very quick win for anyone looking to boost their home’s kerb appeal. Whether you need to tidy up some renegade toys or your drive needs a quick sweep – this one’s a no-brainer!

New windows

If you’re looking to improve the look of your home as well as its thermal efficiency, then some new windows are a great choice. You’ll save money on your heating bills, which buyers will definitely appreciate, and the clean, new look is bound to catch their eye.

A home office

Given that working from home is becoming the norm in many professions, for some, the idea of a home office isn’t just enticing – it’s essential. Whether you can simply rework a currently defunct room, or you have to do something a little more DIY-intensive, a home office could be a great way to tempt prospective buyers to consider your home.

Get round to those repairs you’ve been putting off!

A stitch in time saves nine – and it could also net you some extra cash. Whether the damage is structural or purely cosmetic, it’s definitely worth getting round to fixing some of the issues you’ve been turning a blind eye to before your home goes on the market. If someone who’s viewing your home notices that the house needs a great deal of work done to it post purchase, they will be much less likely to put in an acceptable offer, or worse, put in an offer at all.

Hitchcock & King have over 40 years of experience providing customers with an excellent variety of top quality building supplies, including roofing materials. With eight branches spread across the London region, we’re ideally placed to serve customers throughout the capital. For added convenience, we can also offer prompt same and next day delivery of our building supplies directly to your site. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experts today for advice and enquiries.

The post How to Add Value to Your Home appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/how-to-add-value-to-your-home/

Making Your Conservatory Better with Tech

Your conservatory is a place you can go to relax and enjoy the view of your garden all year
round. When done correctly, it can also potentially add a lot of value onto your property. If
you’re looking to get the most out of this unique space, why not consider enhancing it with
technology? There are a few ways you can add tech to your conservatory to enhance its comfort and design. Here, you’ll discover just some of the tech to consider adding to your conservatory space this year.

Electric windows

If your conservatory features hard-to-reach skylights, electric windows could be a great
option. These allow you to control the window electronically, adding both convenience and a
cool tech factor. You’ll feel like James Bond, well almost, as you push the button and watch
the window open and close.

There’s a lot of different types of electric window openings to choose from, so it’s worth
taking your time to browse through the options available to you before making a final
decision.

Solid roof installation

If you’re looking to add better thermal efficiency into the conservatory, solid roof installation
could be the answer. This type of roof offers great insulation, although it does typically
require planning permission before you can install one. A good idea may be to actually opt
for a combined roofing solution.

Some companies offer what’s known as a living roof, which combines solid roof and glass
construction. The shaded areas this type of roof creates are great for times when you want to
use a laptop or watch TV in the conservatory. If you have the budget, a combined roof
construction would be great for adding a contemporary look while also boosting thermal
efficiency.

Entertainment

Once you’ve upgraded the windows and roof, it’s time to focus on actually enjoying the
conservatory space. These days, you can buy a lot of different types of entertainment systems
to enhance the space. From smart TVs to games consoles and excellent surround sound
systems, you can easily turn the conservatory into an entertainment room.

As you can see, there’s lots of great tech you can add to your conservatory to make it more
comfortable and enjoyable to use. The above are the main types of tech you’ll want to
consider adding. Don’t forget, installing carpets and soundproofing the conservatory can also
help to enhance the space further.

The post Making Your Conservatory Better with Tech appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/making-your-conservatory-better-with-tech/

Do Patio Doors Need Blinds?

Patio doors are brilliant investments, often providing a seamless passage from the back of the home to the garden area. After all, gardening is becoming more popular as a pastime, and patio doors make that therapeutic, quick relief even more appealing and accessible.

Patio doors are also great for letting light into a room, as well as providing wide open views from atop a balcony. Essentially, they’re a big window that can open as a door, and that will always be trendy and add a flare of originality to the home.

With all that said, it’s worth asking what might seem like a bizarre question; do patio doors need blinds?

Blocking the Outside

You could have the very best view in all the land, but every homeowner needs their privacy from time to time. Additionally, what’s a nice view on a sunny day can be spoilt entirely by rain, mist or fog, so it’s obviously not always desirable. The point is, depending on the day and time, people can change their minds about what they want from their patio doors.

This is where blinds are useful, exposing and blocking off the view at will. They’re also not as clunkier or heavy handed as thick, obtrusive curtains, and are more subtly inserted into that space where the outside and inside bleed into one another more fluidly. Consequently, roller blinds from Direct Blinds works best here, with no gaps for anyone to peep through while remaining thin and nimble.

Controlling Lighting

Once again, depending on the weather, different amounts of light will be unleashed upon the house. While some might yank regular curtains across the scene if it’s all too bright, this scenario isn’t entirely ideal. After all, such people would only have two stark choices through using standard curtains; no natural light at all or letting in all the natural light.

Obviously, with blinds there’s more room for customising just how much light comes in through the patio door. You can twist the louvres to accurately control just how much light comes in, enabling you to find that perfect spot. The fabric is also easily moved across the rail if you do decide to commit to just letting it all inside. No matter what you decide to do, the important thing is that you can decide thanks to the blinds!

Duette Blinds

Sleek, stylish, and extremely modern; the Duette blinds achieve everything the vertical blinds can but with a different kind of flare. Dubbed as honeycomb blinds, these slick additions are fitted horizontally but can also be scaled up and down the patio door in their entirety.

The stacks are light and extremely responsive too, meaning there’s no heavy yanking on chains and louvres to get them working. This is because they can be controlled and configured with a paired smartphone app, which is another flare of luxury that can be added to your patio area. In the end, Duette blinds would be an extremely stylish addition to the patio area.

The post Do Patio Doors Need Blinds? appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/do-patio-doors-need-blinds/

Ways to Make Your House More Valuable

If you’ve come to the decision to sell your home, then no doubt you want to make it as valuable as
possible. Obviously, the more you get from your house, the better, and there’s always little projects you can undertake to get your home into the best shape possible. It’s time to get creative!

However, houses have been selling extremely slowly recently, partly due to the rising costs and younger generations being priced out of the market. Still, this shouldn’t deter you from making your home as
valuable as possible. In the end, the right buyer is out there, even if they’re somewhat harder to find
today.

Therefore, here a few tips and tricks to help you make your house more valuable.

Consult the Experts

Some estate agencies are bonified experts in selling property. They know everything that potential buyers want and expect, and really shape the housing market with their vast quantities of knowledge. Absolutely nothing escapes their notice, which puts them in a prime position for some quality consultation.

If you’re looking to add value to your home, there’s no one better to advise you than agencies like
Andrews, who work tirelessly to minimise your moving stress. They have digital valuation tools to help
you value your property, stay on track with any adjustments, and provide information and advice from
conveyancing services to surveys. In the end, your valuation projects will hit the ground running if you start here.

Room Conversions

While many people are quite happy to add rooms like extensions and conservatories to the mix, this can
be highly expensive. In the latter case, the winter months see conservatories very rarely used, making the
investment questionable in the first instance. In the end, if you’re now selling your home and are
considering adding a room for some added value, hold that train of thought.
Instead, convert an existing room. It’s a far cheaper process, a more creative project for the potential
buyer to view, and leaves room for the new owners to choose whether they’d like to extend the property.
If you can turn a garage into a living room, or merge your kitchen and dining room together, this will give the property a more unique, and thus more appealing, identity.

Use What You Already Have

Many homeowners make the mistake of burying the natural order of things in their property. Still, the
following point is an important one to remember; adding value to a home isn’t always about adding things on, but also about using what you have too.

Some homely adjustments can feel tacked on as an afterthought, a desperate bid to add a bit of ‘umph’ to
the property while instead making it cluttered.

However, the best homes very often speak for themselves, at least at a foundational level. For example, if
you’ve got a view of any kind at the front or back of the property, make sure it’s always on show as they
can add thousands to property value. Also, plan all your rooms economically, relative to the space you
have. Only then will things look organised, appealing, and more valuable, instead of congested and
overstuffed.

The post Ways to Make Your House More Valuable appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/ways-to-make-your-house-more-valuable/

The Benefits of Garage Door Servicing & Maintenance

As a cornerstone of security, convenience and beauty of your home, garage doors need a little TLC to keep them performing well and looking great. Regular maintenance and servicing are the key to restoring the quality of your garage door and avoiding any problems down the line.

 

Is garage door servicing worth it?

The sure answer is, yes! Looking after a valuable element of your property will always be advantageous for its longevity, quality and performance. The benefits of garage and maintenance include:

• Cost-Effective: Ensuring that simple and regular maintenance tasks are carried out on your door a few times a year is much cheaper than needing to replace an entire garage door, should faults be neglected. A bi-annual servicing by a professional is recommended, along with regular visual checks performed by you, the owner, on a regular basis.  

• Enhances the Safety of Your Family and Vehicle: Garage doors are heavy machines with lots of mechanical components keeping them operational. Should a door malfunction at the wrong moment, it has the potential to injure nearby people and animals, as well as your vehicle. Regular maintenance and checks can reduce the likelihood of malfunctions occurring.

• Protects the Security of Your Property: The main function of garage doors is to act as a strong, reliable barrier between the contents of your garage and potential thieves. That’s why you should try not to allow weak spots and potential entry points to go unnoticed, and make sure you catch problems early to avoid break-in risks.

• Avoids DIY and Amateur Mistakes: There is no harm in performing occasional visual checks of your garage door to try and spot issues, but correction of real issues should always be undertaken by a professional – even the most technically-adept DIY enthusiast may worsen the problem, or risk injury to themselves, in an attempt to fix the door.

 

Warning signs that your garage door may need servicing

Is your garage door making a bizarre sound? Perhaps it is a little stiffer, looser or slower than normal? While these signs could see minor, they should never be ignored as they may be signs of garage door deterioration or damage, which could eventually transform into an unsafe situation. Surefire signs that you may need the assistance of a garage door specialist include:

• Unusual noises
• Door closes too quickly or too slowly
• Door will not close completely
• Door will not stay open
• The outside has cracks or gaps in door

Contact a reliable local company like our friends at Doormatic Garage Doors who can inform you of what’s involved in a garage door service, and how they can help diagnose, maintain and repair your garage door.

The post The Benefits of Garage Door Servicing & Maintenance appeared first on UK Home Improvement Blog.

from UK Home Improvement Blog http://www.ukhomeimprovement.co.uk/the-benefits-of-garage-door-servicing-maintenance/