Home Improvement Ain't Just A Show

Having a modem of home improvement sense makes perfect sense. Tim Allen in the popular TV series Home Improvement was constantly showing us what not to do. Taking his example is probably a good idea.

Home Improvement common sense is not so common. Often not following the rules will result in injury or even worse, having to redo the job. While losing a finger is bad, having to repaint the porch every single year could become old after the first coat. Following some safety rules and some home improvement quality rules will save you from both.

Safety is the first thing to think about in home improvement. Eye protection really should be worn at all times. Being strict about it will save a lot of future issues. Even when sanding or painting wear your protective eyewear. One small mishap can result in a looking like a pirate or wearing coke bottle glasses on your face for life.

In addition to eye protection make sure you wear the proper attire. Loose fitting clothing and power tools don't mix. Speaking of mixing, even when dealing with "organic" types of paint or everyday household cleaners, make sure to wear gloves. Even the biodegradable stuff can still irritate skin.

Follow all chemical directions, particularly with glue. You wouldn't use a nail that didn't go all the way through a board, why would you half way glue something? Some glues require a damp surface while others require a clean, dry one. The best way to tell which is best for the job is to read the bottle. Also allow plenty of time for the glue to set up and adhere properly. Glue dry times are not over estimations believe it or not; if the bottle says X amount of time, give the glue that amount of time.

Scrape, sand, clean and then paint. The reason your paint keeps peeling off your home improvement projects year after year is because the last coat you applied didn't adhere to the wood. DUH! Painting over peeling paint is a lot like throwing a clean sheet over a dirty one and wondering why your bed smells like cheese. Yeah that's gross but you won't forget it either I'll bet.

When planning home improvements think practically. Adding a $5,000 sunroom to a $30,000 mobile home might not be the smartest thing you'll do this year. Think practically and make home improvements at first that will save you long term money. Replacing old plumbing before siding is a pretty good idea, the same goes for insulation, weatherproofing and other potentially damaging or money losing repairs. We all want that beautiful home, but making taking care of these things helps ensure that you will start saving money right away. In the long term taking care of these essentials will help pay for the aesthetics.

Whatever you decide to do as a home improvement project, keep it real. Plan and execute in a safe manner. Doing so will help to make sure that you will be able to make your home improvement dreams come true, increasing the value of your home and improving your standard of living. Until next time may all of your cuts be straight.