Easy Home Tune Ups

by Kim Kinrade

Every home, nor matter well it is built, needs a tune-up, just like a luxury car. A vehicle with bald tires and scuffs on the paint job not only looks bad but is unsafe and won't get you near the money on a resale compared to a similar one with good cosmetics and rubber.

Houses, unlike most cars, spend their entire lives battling the elements and, on the inside, having the floors hammered by feet and other items. Unless the place is made of pure stainless-steel inside and out there will be some wear.

We all can relate to a grandmother or mother who used to keep one room in the home pristine with plastic covers on the sofa. In most cases only visitors and the church minister were allowed in and the rest of the family could only peer in through the glass-in French doors. These days there are few instances where a house with a family will completely block off a room for guests. There simply isn't enough room. However there are things you can do to refurbish the home without breaking the bank.

Floors

In many homes people take their shoes off before entering. However, this is more for the prevention of the transfer of dirt rather than for preventing wear. The reason floors begin to look shabby is due to traffic, water and sun fading. If the previous owners were smokers or owned pets this could account for a musty smell that occurs in the carpet during days of high humidity.

Hardwood Flooring: Small nick and dings in hardwood floors can easily be fixed by carefully sanding the spots and then painting with a similar coating of urethane. For example, if the finish is satin then uses a satin urethane. For blemishes in larger parts of the floor, or sun fading, it is best to get a professional floor re-finisher. This may cost a bit but then you basically have a brand new floor.

Carpet: If the carpet is worn get rid of it. Carpet is not really appreciated any more because it stores germs, mites and dirt which is, in turn, released into the air during the next vacuuming. As well, carpets never are totally cleaned by either steam or vacuum cleaning so even replacing it with a good laminate will not be expensive and will look good and be a lot healthier.

Laminate: Since laminate flooring is not that expensive - and is not tough to install – you can preplace it with a different type of wood-look, either lighter or darker.

Vinyl Flooring: This is another inexpensive way to clean up a room.As with changing llaminate, try a lighter or darker shade and maybe a different design.

Tile: In the kitchen and bathrooms a great tune-up can be accomplished just by taking out the old grout and putting in a new color. Removing the caulking goes a long way too. Remember to seal the grout after the require time to prevent stains.

Paint: For the exterior hiring a professional painter is one of the ways to get the biggest bank for your home renewing buck. Along with doing a precision job a reputable painting company comes equipped with all the tools for a safe and clean job. Time and clean-up hassles are also saved and the job comes with a warranty, something that a cut-rate company rarely gives.

In addition most painting companies and/or supply stores have a decorator on staff to help with the new color scheme that will tie all your other improvements together. If you choose to do the interior yourself make sure you get some pointers on the best paint to use.

Deck

Nothings adds more to the look and usability of a home than a new deck. This is a renovation that not not only adds to the value of the home but also to the quality of life. The really good part of this reno is that you don't have to build a huge deck to enjoy one. Just start small, 10 feet by 10 feet, and then, later on, you can add on to it. This is only constricted by the land that you have available.

Driveway and Sidewalks

Cracked cement is not only an eyesore but plants begin to grow up in the cracks. To get rid of the plants in a responsible way you can kill them with vinegar or a salt solution. The cracks can be sprayed clean with high-pressure hose and then filled with a crack-filling compound. To get a smooth surface the home stores have epoxy coatings in many textures and colors that can rolled on. The driveway and sidewalks will take on a beautiful glazed surface. This also works around pool decks where you can get a textured compound for a non-slip surface.

Fence

This is simple – paint the fence. If the fence is too far gone consider hiring a fence company to install a vinyl-composite fence for a low-maintenance alternative. This is another expense but you will never have to paint the fence again.

Garage

Clean out the garage and install cabinets. You can get old cabinets for a song from thrift stores or other places where used building equipment is sold. A melamine paint will produce a great, easy-to-clean finish. Then you can store paint and all the other stuff that is often shoved into the garage. For the tools go to a home store and pick up some storage racks. For less than $50 you can all your garden tools off the floor.