Easy Home Improvement Projects

Home improvement projects can liven up your home and some can even give you more living space. Many times, however, these projects consume so much time and require so much effort that most homeowners put them off for as long as possible. That is why we are here to help. There are a number of home improvement projects that you can do quickly on a weekend to spice up your home.

One of the easiest ways to improve the look of your home is by spray painting furniture or hardware. Spray painting door knobs and other fixtures can instantly update the look of your home.

You can also update the look of plain interior doors. If you cannot afford to purchase new doors, you can use paint and trim to give your doors a more unique, modern look.

One last, very simple home improvement projects involves a simple pressure washer. If you do not own a pressure washer, you can rent one very cheaply. Over time, your home’s siding, sidewalks, patio, and deck can become caked in dirt, pollen, and other debris. A pressure washer will allow you to remove this debris, giving your home a cleaner, newer look.

Insulating Your Attic

Properly insulating your attic has many benefits and should be done as soon as possible. The main reason is that proper insulation will keep your energy bills down by keeping in warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer. No matter the season, proper attic insulation will help your home maintain a constant temperature.

Insulation can be installed in multiple forms. A few examples of different insulation types are: blown-in insulation, faced insulation, unfaced insulation, roll insulation, and foam insulation. Each of these types have different features (both positive and negative), so talk to a professional about which insulation may be right for your home.

A poorly insulated attic can also cause damage from moisture. With less insulation, the heat in your attic will easily reach your roof. As snow falls on your roof, the heat can melt the snow and cause ice dams, which can lead to leaks and dry rot.

Not only is proper insulation beneficial for your wallet it is also beneficial for the environment. As you reduce the energy used in your home, power plants will not have to produce as much energy to sustain your home, resulting in less pollution and in cleaner air.

Hiding Objects in Your Yard

Most homeowners want to create a natural, serene escape in their backyard. This can create conflict when things like air conditioning units, pool pumps, and electrical boxes stick out like sore thumbs. However, there are some ways you can hide these objects and make them appear nonexistent. This will give you that natural feeling you are looking for.

One of the best ways to hide objects in your yard is by using hedges. Not only are hedges dense, but they come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are relatively easy to plant. One of the most commonly used hedges is the Sheared Privet. These hedges are so popular because they can be trimmed to basically any height and size. They are also very easy to keep looking neat.

Spruces are common in backyards as well. They are green year-round and are relatively easy to maintain. Since spruces look great and grow taller than hedges, they are usually used for larger objects like poles and sheds. However, make sure you are aware of city requirements. Planting spruces under electrical lines and around electrical equipment can be dangerous, so check with the city before pursuing this course of action.

Hardwoods and Your Home

Hardwoods have become extremely popular in homes. While they have been used for centuries, they have recently made a comeback. Hardwood floors are being used throughout entire homes in place of carpet. Over time, however, hardwoods can become worn and they are expensive to replace. Fortunately, they can be restored. Here are a few steps to restoring your hardwood floors.

To start, take a drum sander and sand the entire floor to strip off the worn-out stain and finish.

Next, use a floor edger. A drum sander cannot sand the hard-to-reach areas, so use a floor edger to sand the areas near walls and in corners.

Set nails and repair holes and cracks in the wood.

Clean up and sand again.

Next, hand scrape the areas that were marked by the floor edger. A floor edger can cause swirly marks in the floor and hand scraping will remove those marks.

Next, lightly sand the floors and buff them.

Clean up the sawdust created from sanding.

Find a stain for your floor and apply it using towels.

Let the stain sit to dry, then apply a shellac.

After the shellac has dried, apply a polyurethane finish.

Install any molding or trim you want on your floor, then reapply the polyurethane.

Losing Power to Your Home

Whether it be randomly during the day or night or during a storm, losing power can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst. In Oklahoma, losing power is most common during severe storms. However, losing power is very unpredictable. For this reason, it is important that you have a plan in place and are prepared for when you lose power. Here are a few things to keep in mind when your home loses power.

Should your home go dark, check your circuit breaker first. Many times, power outages are isolated to your home or a couple of rooms.

If the issue extends to the entire neighborhood or area, you can be prepared. During the wintertime, you should have extra clothes and blankets on hand as well as a way to start a fire. During the summer, it is much easier to just shed layers should the air conditioning shut off.

Have food, water, flashlights, batteries, personal hygiene products, generators, and extra gas on hand. These will allow you to get by and survive for the near future while you adjust to the circumstances.

If you have any further questions regarding easy home improvement projects, you can contact us at 918-404-5996.

Outdoor Creations Roofing is located at 1924 W Albany St, in Broken Arrow Oklahoma.