Installing a wall to wall carpet can be a big job. Usually you would hire someone who is trained and experienced in these matters to handle a job like this. However in today’s rough economical times it could prove more financially sound to take this task on for your own.

Those who feel they are inclined enough to perform such a task should remember the following the points. The first thing is to measure the room you want to lay the carpet. Make sure all pre-existing carpets and carpet cushions are removed. Take a few moments to walk the perimeter of the room and down the middle to check for squeaks in the floor boards if you have a wooden floor.

Once you have the carpet installed and fitted in the room, tack it down against the tack strip. At this point people think they are usually done but this is however not the case. Just a few small details left to perform and then you are done. Use a power stretcher to stretch out the rug and make it nice and compressed. A power stretcher has two points. A cotton head that is designed to loop pile the carpet and then a pinhead that is designed to cut the carpet into smaller places. This is usually mandated by the CRI to avoid losing the warranty. These stretchers can be rented from any industrial rental center.

Trim any excess of the carpet that may result from this after the stretching and tacking. Always vacuum your newly installed carpet. After all this if you want just a little something extra with your cleaning you can always use a professional carpet cleaning, just a nice chemical wash to clean that carpet right up. It may sound like a lot of work but it can save you a lot of money doing it on your own.

Rivendell Carpets offer carpet suppliers bristol and Carpet supplier Bristol

DIY Carpet Installation is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

A feature wall can bring a splash of colour and light into your home. Utilised correctly, this method of interior design can also make a room seem more spacious or draw the eye to a piece of art. Despite these great qualities, a poorly-executed feature wall could also serve as an eyesore. Knowing precisely how to prepare and paint your wall is essential to achieving a good result. Follow these steps to make your project a success!

Clean the Wall

Using a sponge and some oil-free floor cleaner, wash the wall you intend to paint. Don’t neglect the areas near the floor or up by the ceiling, and remove any outlet covers during this stage as well. After scrubbing it down, you will want to rinse it at least twice using a clean rag and plain water. You do not want any residue to remain. Allow the wall to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.

With wide painter’s tape, create very exact edges at both the baseboard (if any) and the ceiling. Lay out some high-gauge plastic sheeting on the floor and secure it with tape. If you have baseboards, tape the sheeting directly below the first line of tape to stop drips. Should you have no baseboards, tape the plastic to the floor right next to the wall. Be very careful not to bump your head into the wall or touch the wall while you do this. The oils from your hands or hair can impede the paint from adhering or create a dull spot.

Prepare Yourself and Your Work Space

Painting can be disastrous to your clothing, so change into your oldest clothes. You will also want to confine any pups or kitties you have to another area. Make sure anyone else who lives in the home knows not to enter your work space. If you’ll be painting over or next to a door, place a sign on the opposite side advising others not to open it.

Gather Your Tools

Once you’re ready to paint, gather your supplies. Set up the ladder and make sure the safety locks are engaged. Make sure you have paper towels at the ready in case there is a spill, and open a window to provide ventilation. If you’re reusing brushes or rollers, inspect them to be sure they aren’t stiff and that no flakes of paint remain from previous projects.

Paint the Surface

Using even, steady strokes, cover the wall with paint. You don’t want the layer to be too thick, as this will cause running and dripping. If the colour is uneven, you may need to do a second coat. If any brush hairs get on the paint, simply pluck them off with a paper towel and repaint the smudged area.

Clean Up

As soon as you’re satisfied with the paint job, clean your brushes or rollers and put away the ladder. Then, allow the wall to dry. Once the paint has set, you can carefully peel away the tape. Don’t wait too long to do this, especially if you used latex paint. You can replace the outlet covers the next day.

Your feature wall is now complete! Hang up some artwork or leave it blank for a bold statement. You can also use the same color in some decorative throws or a rug elsewhere in the room to tie it all together.

Roger Demarques is a professional interior design adviser and expert in transforming the look of a living room with simple, cost-effective methods. He only uses the best enamel paint where appropriate to ensure that his work lasts. He recommends that you should be prepared to invest in better quality products when re-decorating your home for a better finish and sharp look.

How to Paint a Feature Wall in Your Home is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Painting your home is a great way to make it feel personal and cozy for its occupants. A challenge many people face is choosing the right colors for the space. While you want everything to blend together well, it can be tough choosing the exact shade for the walls. Considering a few different things will help you find paint that dries evenly and looks great with your current furniture and decorations. Take care to consider a few things, below, will help you paint your walls a color that meets your needs and coordinates well. Everything from the existing furniture to the size of space needs to be considered before you choose a color, so it is helpful to be patient.

One of the most crucial things to consider when considering painting a room is the size of the room. In rooms that have challenging square footage, you should avoid dark colors since it can make the room look cramped. Choosing light colors will help you open up the room and help everything flow together fluidly. Even bright colors can look great in smaller rooms, but it is important to avoid busy patterns or any dark shades.

Taking a look at the furniture and decorations in a room can be very helpful when trying to choose the right paint shade. If a lot of the pieces in your home are white, you should choose a different color for the walls to avoid a room that matches too much. Using complementing colors and avoiding any clashing or jarring color pairs can help you make the room look great. Even if you think certain colors wouldn’t work, you should try to select different paint swatches to preview the combination as a backdrop for your current furniture. You may be surprised at some of the blends. If you’re trying to save money on your project, you may want to seek discount paint that is available. You may find fun colors that you would have normally avoided.

Applying a new shade of paint to the rooms of your home can make a huge difference in their appearance. A colorful shade can turn a stark room into a welcoming place for the residents and guests to enjoy. In order to find the right color, you should consider picking up sample paint for sale and trying different shades on the wall. Comparing what you discover will help make you make the right decision for your home. The type of furniture, size of the rooms and cost can make a big difference in the paint you choose in the end.

This article was written by Sara Woods, a writer for Coupon Croc. Shopping for decor, furniture, and other household items? Find Argos discounts on Coupon Croc and save when you do your shopping online.

Paint Your Way into Low-Cost Redecorating is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Cleaning your gutters can extend the longevity of your house and prevent many issues later down the road.  This task is not complicated, but every home owner should have their gutters cleaned once in the spring and once in the fall.  You don’t want to wait until the damage is done at the risk of not having your gutters cleaned.  This job does require the use of a ladder so if you are not comfortable with heights call an affordable professional service.  Don’t risk your safety to save a little bit of money.

• A step ladder
• A tool belt or pouch
• A bucket and bucket hanger
• Gutter sealant
• Paint matching the color of your gutters and paint brush
• Small garden shovel or trowel
• Garden house and spray attachment
• Garden gloves and latex gloves

So let’s get started.

1. First you need to prepare to clean your gutters.  Adjust the step ladder on flat and stable ground.  Avoid using off-level surfaces so the ladder doesn’t tilt or fall.  Avoid power lines.  Safely strap a tool pouch around yourself and secure the trowel, gutter sealant, and any other tools you may use.
2. Use the garden trowel to carefully remove any debris laying in the gutters.  If needed, remove any extra debris by hand.  Wet debris in your gutters may soak your hands, leaving an awful stench.  Use latex gloves under the garden gloves to keep any fluids off of your hands.
3. After you have clean gutters that are debris free, use the garden hose to flush any sludge or missed material from your gutters down the spouts.
4. If any water seeps from the seams of the gutter, wait until all materials have dried and apply a bead of gutter sealant to all seams.
5. If the gutters have any blemishes or rust spots, now would be a good time to do some paint touch ups.  It’s never fun to break out the ladder later on.

Watch for gutter clogs.  If water can not run freely from the gutters then they will spill over the edge causing damage to your foundation and driveway over time.  If you have standing water or a clog then I would recommend calling a professional service.  But this is still a problem anyone can fix at home.

For gutter clogs:

1. Locate the gutter spouts.  If the gutter spout drains in to the sewer system you may need to remove the bottom piece of the spouting and some of the bands holding the gutter in place.  Simply remove any screws that hold the gutter in place and gently tug to remove any pieces.
2. Turn your garden hose on to the “jet” stream setting of your hose attachment and gently feed it through the bottom of the gutter up towards the top.
3. If the garden hose does not remove the debris then use a plumbing snake.
4. When the clog is removed and water is flowing freely through the sprout then reassemble all spouting pieces taking care to make sure everything is fastened well.

If your gutters have standing water it’s best to call a professional service to rehang the gutter.  The gutter should drop down a quarter inch every ten feet.  Performing this job on your own can be difficult and it’s recommended to use a professional service.  While they are at your house you can discuss gutter covers, filters, or screens as a more permanent solution.

Congratulations!  You now have clean gutters that you did by yourself!

Guest writer Olger Fallas is an experienced house painter in Maplewood New Jersey. He has over 10 years of experience in interior and exterior residential painting as well as commercial industrial painting. His company is committed to providing the highest quality service at the most affordable price. Their motto is: “We don’t cut corners, we paint them!”

How to Save Money by Cleaning Your Own Gutters is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Home improvement is vital in ensuring that the asset which is your home remains in pristine condition – while increasing in value. If you are relatively new to the property market then indulging in a bit of DIY is certainly a must. Home improvement ranges from minor adjustments in certain rooms, to complete new sections of a home. It should not only be done once there is a problem, but instead an owner should use it to prevent problems, as well as to add comfort and convenience. Not all of us are builders or artisans though, which can make this more of a chore than anything else. That is why we have compiled a list of home improvement tips for you to follow as you embark on this journey:

• Choose projects wisely:

There are so many people who spend a fortune adding more cupboard space to rooms unnecessarily. Why? The answer is simple – pure laziness. If your storage space is at its limit, simply do some spring cleaning and throw out the stuff that has been lying at the back of the closet for years. Everybody loves more cupboards, and yes, it can add value – but wouldn’t you prefer spending your money on something that has more of a reward?

• Shop around:

Unfortunately, most home improvement doesn’t come at a set price. You discuss what you want done, and then you are quoted for the materials or the entire setup. When you are clueless regarding the prices and labour involved, it is easy to get ripped off. The best way to avoid this is to either go through a recommendation, or get numerous quotes on the exact same job. That way you have numbers to work with, and don’t forget – always negotiate.

• Progress according to budget:

Plan your improvement, and if your budget is limited, do it in stages. Think about if you were to build a nice spacious wood plastic composite (WPC) deck in the garden. You could start by laying the foundation. Then, after letting your account fill up once again, you can add a fancy railing, or even kit out the area with lighting. This way, you still get to enjoy the benefits without falling into debt.

• Research:

Find out what improvements will provide the best rewards when it comes to selling the property. It is a good idea to start with those, so that you are guaranteed an improved price, instead of wasting all your money on meaningless additions.

Jason Acar writes for various websites on a wide range of topics. He did some writings about decking and eco decking recently.

Home Improvement Tips For 2011 is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Have you often thought of sprucing up your property, but don’t know where to start? Decorating doesn’t have to take a long time or cost a fortune. There are plenty of items in your local DIY store that don’t cost much, but will help improve the look of your house and add to its value.

Painting a room is the easiest way to give it a makeover.  You can get a set of paintbrushes, or a tray and roller, for £10 or less. And you don’t have to spend a fortune on paint either – use tins left over from the last time you decorated or buy pre-mixed colours at a knock-down price.

If tiles in the kitchen or bathroom are looking a bit grubby, buy some grout cleaner to freshen them up. This costs from as little as £5, and there’s no need to spend extra on a special brush – an old scrubbing brush will work just as well. After a bit of scrubbing, the tiles will look good as new.

If your kitchen is looking dated but you can’t afford to replace it, just buy new handles for the cupboard doors and drawers. This is a great way to give your kitchen a subtle makeover. If you have a bit more money, and time, to spare you could paint the doors with cupboard paint first.

Houses with a lot of storage space are invariably worth more. And the rooms where extra storage is most sought after are bedrooms and living rooms. Make the most of a dead corner by putting up some shelves (from just £3 each) to hold books, paperwork or trinkets.

If your little ones are enthusiastic artists, and have drawn on the walls in their bedroom, snap up some sugar soap to clean up their scribbles. This costs from around £4 and, diluted, works wonders on dirty walls. And if the kids made the mess then they can help clean it up!

Lighting is one of the most important elements in any house, and good lighting can make a small, dark room look cosier. But there’s no need to buy expensive chandeliers or chrome fittings. Instead, buy some cheap globe bulbs and paper shades as these will give the brightest glow.

Once you’ve sorted the house out, turn your attention to the garden. For around £4, a small trowel is a useful tool to help keep weeds at bay. If you’ve got a patio rather than flower beds, buy some weedkiller for around £9, or a pressure washer (about £40), to keep the slabs clear of weeds and moss.

None of these items costs more than £50, and it won’t take you long to put them to use. These are improvements you could easily make in a weekend. So if you’re prepared to spend a little money at the DIY store, you could add quite a lot to the value of your house.

The Writer James McHeggins works at JustRemortgages.com Britains website for up to the minute remortgage rates and the best remortgage deals.

The Best Cheap DIY Buys to Help You Add Value to Your House is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Having a home that’s comfortable to be in is important to everyone. When we invite people to visit us, we want them to feel welcome. If you have a home you aren’t proud of or if it feels out of date, you can make changes to make it something you’ll enjoy. Changes can brighten your home and make it feel brand new. This article will provide you some information on how you can redecorate your home.

Painting your home is an easy way to make it look more attractive without having to spend a lot of money. When you go to paint a room, choose colors that will complement your furniture. You want people to feel comfortable in your rooms and not feel jolted because colors clash. If you don’t want to go through the time and effort of painting, you can still accomplish a lot with a simple wall border. Or, you could choose a wallpaper to lighten the mood of your room. You can change the look of your home and save money at the same time.

Put Up New Curtains

New curtains are also a quick and inexpensive way to redecorate your home. No matter what you are looking for, you are sure to find styles and colors that match your personality. You can get lighten your kitchen by using Cafi curtains. Give your living room a new look with bright and cheerful curtains. If you are good at sewing, make your own curtains. That way, you only need to buy the fabric. You can even apply your sewing skills to make a new cover for your sofa using the same type of fabric. Another option to dress up your sofa is to shop around for sofa covers. You can find them in almost any store where you normally shop.

Buy New Candle Holders

An inexpensive way to update your living room is by using candles and candle holders. You can find candles in many different colors and scents. They make your home smell pleasant as well as add a sense of style. Candles can add to the beauty of tables and windowsills. If you have a fireplace, put some candles on the mantel. Be sure when you are getting candle holders that they match the rest of the furnishings and colors of your home. The most popular style of candle holders are made of metal. Candle holders can be appealing to view. Buying candle holders is a frugal way to add to the decorations in your home.

As shown in this article, improving your home décor does not require a lot of time or money. Simply painting a room a refreshing color or adding candles and candle holders can make your home an inviting place. Make the changes gradual. There is no need to do everything all at once. Make one gradual change and see how you like it. If you don’t like it you can always change it for something else. The finished result will be something that you really want.

3 Cost Effective Ways to Make Your Home Attractive is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

If money’s no object, the custom built kitchen could be the missing link to your perfect home. No one wants to see a mirror image of their own living space when going to visit friends or family, and designing your own interior is of course, the best way to guarantee this doesn’t happen.

Hire A Bespoke Kitchen Designer

There are a number of companies who are able to assist you in designing and building your dream kitchen. They should be able to provide you with ideas, inspiration and guidance, but should also, help you transfer your ideas from head to paper and ultimately, build you a kitchen that perfectly embodies your dreams and desires.

The ultimate kitchen isn’t only about looks – it’s also about functionality. If you’ve got money to burn, an American style fridge freezer (with a filtered water system and ice machine of course) can not only help a kitchen look ultra modern and stylish, but also offers the convenience of masses of storage along with cold water and ice on tap.

Don’t Scrimp On The Small Things

Investing in quality fittings, such as high quality taps by Franke taps, can make a huge difference to not only the attractiveness but also again, the practicality of your kitchen. Gone are the days of mixing together a hot and cold tap until the right temperature is found, mixer taps are all the rage and are here to stay. Franke taps are one of the world’s top producers of kitchen fittings including taps, sinks and cooker hoods and are renowned for their commitment to style and quality.

Think Quality Countertops

When splashing out on the perfect kitchen you can afford to put money into buying the best materials for your countertops. Both marble and granite are quite pricey and for good reason; they both look fantastic and are incredibly hard wearing. Granite for example, is as close to indestructible as you can get. It’s completely heat resistant and very difficult to scratch also.

Get Creative

You could even consider hiring the talents of a local artist to give your kitchen that final special touch. Artists with a talent for mosaic can transform a plain set of tiling into something that is out of this world, or take glass cabinets into a new dimension with a regal stain-glass design.

Whatever you choose for your new, custom designed kitchen just remember to think quality, quality and more quality. You want this kitchen to last and by investing in quality products such as Franke taps and other well-known brands that are renowned for their flair for design and high quality, you can ensure that your kitchen not only never goes out of style, but also stands the test of time in terms of condition and durability.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of the Kitchen Appliance Centre, experts in fixtures and fittings including Franke taps and sinks.

The No Expense Spared Kitchen – Five Tips For Designing Your Luxury Kitchen is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Are you wanting or needing to sell your present home? Or are you just wanting to make sure you are doing everything you can to insure your home retains as much value as it possibly can? It’s not easy these days, is it? But it is possible. With a little bit of TLC, and by focusing your efforts in all the right places, you can have a home that will be the exception to the rule when it comes to selling quickly and for its true value, or one that you feel confident is going to prove to be the great investment you thought it would be.

Just about everyone knows that in the world of real estate, it’s a buyer’s market. Even with rates starting to hedge upwards a bit, paying 5.5% for a fixed-rate mortgage is a steal. If you don’t believe that, ask someone in their fifties what rate they paid for their first mortgage. I can tell you for us it was (you’d better sit down) 18%! And that was with a 1.5% discount due to the fact that I was a bank employee!

But there’s something else that everyone knows-especially everyone wanting or needing to sell a house. With unemployment being so high, and because there is a record number of homes on the market that are in foreclosure, someone wanting to sell their home has to be playing their ‘a game’ in order to get the job done.

A good thorough cleaning; while that should go without saying, sadly enough real estate agents report that all too often, a sale is missed due to the messy condition of the home. Potential buyers develop the mindset that if the current owner doesn’t care enough to take out the trash, clean the bathroom, or wipe the peanut butter off the handle of the refrigerator, they probably don’t take the time for pest control, heating and cooling maintenance/checks, and such. Remember: clean sells.

Other than cleaning, though there are other ways to spruce things up and make a great first impression. Let’s start with the easy stuff. Paint. You can purchase paint at any large discount retailer or home improvement store for under $20 a gallon-that’s going to add up to approximately $250 for a 1500 square foot house. Painting is something most every home owner can do for themselves, but it’s also something most people looking to buy don’t want to have to do when they move in. So spending the time and money to paint your home’s interior is definitely a step in the right direction. NOTE: Choose light to medium neutral colors. Potential buyers need to be able to envision their furniture and belongings in the house.

Mini blinds are cheap! Dust the best ones, but replace the ones in the kids’ rooms, bathrooms, and kitchen. You don’t have to buy top of the line. Remember-you’re leaving.

Grass seed is another minor expense that will go a long way in drawing people’s attention. Places like Lowe’s or a local garden center sell grass seed starting at around $1 per pound. A pound of grass seed will go a long way in filling in the bare spots in your yard to make it more appealing. Along that same line of thinking, make sure any flower beds are weeded, and hopefully in bloom, the yard is free of debris, and there aren’t leaves waiting to be raked.

Once you’ve accomplished all the easy stuff, there are some investments you can make that will pay off nicely. These include kitchen and/or bathroom updates or remodels, a deck or porch that is in excellent repair, proper insulation, a new roof (or one that is 5 years old or less), energy efficient windows, heating/air, and an exterior that is low-maintenance and in good repair.

If your bathrooms and kitchen are less than 10 years old, you can most likely get by with a fresh coat of paint, new faucets/fixtures, and updated counter or vanity tops. If the flooring is scared, chipped, or you have broken tiles, replace those as well. In the kitchen, flooring counter tops, and fresh looking cabinets with new hardware are the ‘biggies’. Oh, and don’t try to pawn off old inefficient appliances if the prospective owner doesn’t want or need them. You can always sell those to some poor college student.

Windows, heating and air are all important factors in selling your house. They’re important factors even if you don’t want to sell. Their efficiency (or lack of it) can mean several hundred dollars a year in or out of your pocket. There’s no need to try to hide or misrepresent the truth on that either. Anyone can go to the local utility office, supply an address, and learn the average cost per month to heat and cool the particular residence.

For more information on which home improvements pay off and which ones don’t you can visit several web sites including homegain.com, frontdoor.com, and smartmoney.com.

Ok, so now that you know what you should do, you probably want to know what it will cost, and whether or not it is worth it. The cost depends largely on who does the work. I would strongly recommend getting at least 3 bids from independent contractors that can supply you with personal references. Also, ask around the neighborhood, at work, church, or any other group of people you know. Find out who has done work for them and how pleased they were with both the price they paid and the results.

As for whether or not it was worth it, you do the math…in preparation for our upcoming retirement and relocation, we had a crew of two young men who were highly recommended to come in to gut and totally renovate both bathrooms in the house to bring them up to today’s standards, as well as the family room. We also had a much-needed new roof put on by. Our total cost for these improvements was just under $11,000. Following the renovations, we paid for a new appraisal to be done so we would have a better idea of what to ask for the house. We were very up-front with the appraiser, asking him to figure everything on the low end of the scale so we wouldn’t have any unrealistic expectations for selling. Upon comparing the new appraisal with the one we had done two years earlier in order to refinance and drop our rate, our house had increased (yes, increased) in value by a whopping $17,000! That’s quite a return.

While doing everything ‘right’ doesn’t guarantee your house will sell in a matter of mere days, or that it will leave your heirs with plenty in their pockets when you’re gone, you will be able to be confident in the fact that you have done your best. And in the end, doing your best always makes the most dollars and cents.

Darla Nicole is a contributing writer at CreditDonkey.com with over 25 years of experience writing.  Her family and house are important to her and when she’s not writing about cash back credit cards, she’s looking for ways to trim the family budget and save money.

Home Improvement That Makes Dollars and Cents is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling

Once you go solar, you’ll be saving money on your power bills, which will make you more independent from your energy company.  You’ll also be doing something great for the earth.  Sounds great, right? The only problem is that it costs money to get solar panels installed.  Most people know that you’ll get the installation costs paid back in just a few years of energy independence, but that’s a couple of years away, and installation of solar panels isn’t cheap.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

How much it costs depends on the wattage, and this depends on your home’s power needs.  Although it’s impossible to say exactly, for a full-scale solar power set-up for a power hungry home, before any relevant government rebates or the like, you can expect to pay around $20,000 at the very least.  Many homes cost much more than this.  While this price is prohibitive for most people, there are some ways you can save money on solar panels.  Here are some great ways to bring the price down.

Buy A Solar Power Installation Kit

Shop Around For Used Solar Panels

You can buy used solar panels at a fraction of the cost of new ones.  As long as there isn’t any major damage, they work almost as well.  If there is minor damage, like chips or cracks in the glass, this can be easily repaired.  If you choose to buy used, make sure you can look them over before buying.  If they have severe damage to the cells themselves, they won’t be worth the price you pay no matter how low.

Buy Online And Save

Whether buying new or used, you can usually save some money by buying solar panels online from sites like eBay.  The main advantage here is that you can shop around and look for the best deals.  If you buy online, make sure you know exactly what you want.  You might be able to get discounts by getting all of your panels from one dealer.

Get The Rebate

Most US states and many countries offer a rebate from the government for going solar.  These are usually in the form of tax breaks but they can also be awarded in cash.  Governments are doing this in an effort to both clean up the environment, and meet their renewable energy and carbon reduction targets.

Consider Powering Down

Finally, you’ve got the option of only installing part of your home’s energy needs.  You don’t necessarily need your solar panels to supply all of the house’s energy right from the get go.  Even if they only supply part of your power consumption requirements, this will still save you money on your power bill.

For most people, the main impediment to going solar is the cost of buying and installing panels.  So hopefully these money-saving methods will convince some people to take the leap into a solar powered future. After all, if the price is right, then who wouldn’t want to make their home more environmentally and wallet friendly?

Steven Abbott writes for Sun Connect, the Australian solar power specialists.

The solar panel image in this post comes from jurvetson.

How To Get Solar Panels Cheaply is a post from: Cape Cod House Remodeling