Home Improvement Advice

In this fast moving world of the 21st century, we are always forced to do everything in a rush, even eating and sleeping. The normal words of today are “hurry”, “rush”, “fast”, “quick” and “immediately.” In comparison with 20 years ago, today we have to move or work as fast as possible to survive in a competitive environment with creative and innovative ways. Even though modern technology innovations were introduced decades ago, the new technology has not yet given us the opportunity to create new products to reduce the stress of people in everyday life. We are living under constant mental and physical stress, with more and more demands from our current society. There are many consumer products claiming that they will cure stress and make life easy, but it is still hard to find good and innovative products on the market for consumers. From time to time, I wonder why multimillion dollar companies, which have hundreds of research engineers and scientists in their R&D departments, are not creating and producing the new, innovative products for consumers. New product innovation is not complicated to create. By watching how people are using the products, anyone can have an idea of how to improve existing products or create new ones. No products are perfect when they are invented or developed in the first place; therefore any product has room to be improved into a better one.

For example, examining paint related-products, I could not find really innovative or new products for improving paint jobs to make them easy and enjoyable. We are still using the same products and the same methods of doing paint jobs as we did a hundred years ago. (more…)

Kitchen cabinets are one of the most expensive items in home remodelling. Cabinetry costs more than replacing the kitchen furniture in many cases. If you can afford the expense, there are a wide variety of designs and styles available to update your cabinets. You can add extras like a kitchen island, lazy susan, or built-in appliance centers.

If replacing the cabinetry is too expensive for your budget, refacing is a less expensive alternative. Refacing involves replacing only the cabinet doors and exposed wood areas of the cabinets. The insides are left as they are to save money on the job. Painting is the least expensive option and can give the room new life. The job can be easily done over a long weekend with the right preparation.

You will need to decide if you will paint the entire cabinet, inside and out, or just the outside and the doors. To save time, consider leaving the inside of the cabinet alone, you won’t be able to tell the difference.

Preparing the Cabinets

Start by removing all hardware from the cabinets and remove the doors. Mark the doors, so you will remember which door goes on which cabinet. This will save you time and prevent aggravation later. Protect the countertops and floor with drop cloths, old bed sheets or plastic sheeting. These can be taped in place, especially on the floors. If you will be replacing the flooring, paint the cabinets first.

Clean the cabinets thoroughly before painting. This is important. Grease and oils from cooking will prevent the paint from adhering properly. You could end up with an uneven color. A wood cleaner with orange oil works well for breaking down grease residue. Be sure to let the surface dry thoroughly before you begin to apply the primer.

Primer is an important step in the process. It provides a smooth, even surface for the paint to adhere properly. Use a roller for larger areas and a brush for small areas. Be sure to coat all areas, including the underside of the cabinets. Consider using sawhorses for priming and painting the doors, for an easier time and a more even coverage.

Allow the primer to dry thoroughly before you begin to paint. Overnight is generally sufficient for the primer to dry. Apply the paint in thin coats. It’s better to apply a few thin coats than to use one thick coat. Allow twentyfour hours between coats for the paint to dry completely. Sand with a fine grit sandpaper between coats.

When the paint has dried completely, you are ready to put the doors back on and replace the hardware. Consider updating the hardware to match your new look. Door handles and hinges are inexpensive and can make a big difference in the look of the room.

Choosing Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

Don’t skimp on the paint. Use high quality paint that is right for the surface being covered. This will be different for wood or metal cabinets. If you’re not sure, ask for help at the paint store.

In general, you will want to use enamel paint. You have a few choices in the finish. Gloss, semi gloss or satin finishes are most commonly used. The higher the gloss, the stronger the finish and the easier it will be to clean. If you want less shine, consider the semi gloss finish.

Safety When Painting

Be sure to paint in a well ventilated room. Do the job when the weather is warm enough and leave the windows open.

Wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt to protect your skin from the paint. Plastic gloves can be worn to protect the skin on your hands.

Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from paint and fumes.

So, it’s time to paint the exterior of your house. This, of course, is one of the many expensive pains to owning a home and one that homeowners have to endure every 6-8 years, depending on your house and siding.

Here are a few helpful hints to help you through the process.

First, determine if there is any prep work that needs to be done prior to painting. Do you have any rotted siding, window sills, hand railing, or window and door trim? Make sure you take this opportunity to correct this issue prior to painting. Often times paint companies have experience in this field and can provide a quote that includes replacing your siding and trim. However, if your project involves replacing a significant amount of siding you may want to call a siding pro. Make sure the painter or carpenter replacing your siding is using the same style and size you currently have.

Second, decide if you want to take this opportunity to change the color of your house. Updating the color can add new spice to your house. When determining what colors to use make sure that they fit into your neighborhood as well as colors that already exist. For instance you already have a roof, plants, landscaping, a foundation, and a driveway present. These all have colors that need to be taken into consideration when trying to compliment your house to its surroundings. Also note that if you are changing your house’s color your price for painting will go up. You may not be able to get away with just 1 or 2 coats to cover your old color. Each coat will cost more money.

Third, decide if you want your house hand brushed or sprayed. If you leave it to the paint company to decide you will most likely have it sprayed because it is faster and easier. However, if you have an older house, wood siding, or it has been a while since your last painting you may want to consider asking for a quote that includes painting by hand. The hand brushing application will provide a thicker coat and gets the paint deeper into the wood and crevasses, ensuring that you have protection from water penetration. Keep in mind that hand brushing is more time consuming and will cost more money.

Finally, select the paint company to do your exterior work. There is a lot of price variation for large exterior jobs, so shop your job around. However, you shouldn’t always decide based only on price. You need to consider the quality of company and your comfort level with that company. For instance do they ask for a lot of money up front? (they shouldn’t ask for more than one-third of the total price) Do they leave you a professional detailed estimate? (they should) Are they hard to get a hold of on the phone? (if they don’t answer the phone or return messages be careful) Do they have business cards? (if they are running a good business they should) These are all signs to look for to determine whether or not you are getting a professional and someone that will be easy to work with.

Good luck on with your exterior painting project!