Build-It-Yourself
When you talk about curb appeal and changing the exterior of your home, usually simple things like landscaping, fencing, and walkways come to mind. However, have you ever thought about what it would take to dramatically change the exterior facade of your home? Well, I have, and I'd like to share a series of posts on what it would take to do just that.
As I was looking at other homes whose exteriors I covet for inspiration for an exterior renovation of my own home (there's a great slideshow from Better Homes & Gardens here), I noticed one strong, unfailing trend ... brick exteriors, usually painted. I found this development kind of depressing because my 112 year old house has vinyl siding -- and after a damaged piece of it had to be removed, my dreams of their being some other material underneath were quickly dashed.
When you talk about curb appeal and changing the exterior of your home, usually simple things like landscaping, fencing, and walkways come to mind. However, have you ever thought about what it would take to dramatically change the exterior facade of your home? Well, I have, and I'd like to share a series of posts on what it would take to do just that.
After reading the Forbes list of the 10 must-haves for new homes, I began to think about how I could incorporate some of those attributes into my own home. Even though my house is 112 years old, that doesn't mean it can't hold a flame to the newer, cookie-cutter homes, and I'd like to make sure it's a real competitor when we go to sell it.
The one "must have" that kept popping up in the back of my head was the preference for some exterior materials over some others. Out were vinyl and stucco siding (my house has vinyl) and in are brick and stone. And I kept wondering, how on earth can I, just a lowly homeowner and renovator, make that work in my favor?
A perfect project for spring, building a planter box for your patio is simple and easy. Customize it to the shape and size you need and compliment your backyard landscape.
Wooden Planter Boxes
For a rustic or sleek look, use wood to build a planter. It's possible to make almost any shape, but boxes in a square or rectangle are the easiest.
Work with deck boards or 2x6 lumber - the entire box shape including base and side can be assembled with these dimensions. A rim or lip can be built with planed 2x6 or you can switch up to 2x4 or 1x6.
Once you've built the box shape, remember to account for drainage and also soil retention. Line the box with heavy duty plastic or landscape fabric stapled into the inside. Poke or punch holes through the liner.
The beauty of a path is that it directs you (obviously). But a well built and properly designed path can do so much more for your home.
Pavestone is the perfect material to use for your walkway. These handy, pre-formed cement pavers can give you the look of anything from flagstone to contemporary geometric shapes. They're also usually more economical than the real deal.
Pick colors to match your landscape, shapes to startle or simply blend in and textures of all kinds.
Follow these tips for laying your pavestones.
The beauty and strength of a concrete countertop can be yours with planning, some basic materials and a little patience. Create a beautiful, unique piece of art for your kitchen or bathroom with a DIY concrete countertop.
Start With the Template
A lot of the work in making concrete countertops happens in the planning stage. Make sure you make an exact template of your countertop - use cardboard or something with the same strength and flexibility.
Make your measurements twice and be sure to account for all fixtures and drains.
According to the Craft & Hobby Association, March is National Craft Month. And "crafting" is a great way to DIY some of the finer aspects of your home.
Many different stores such as Joann, Michael's, and Hobby Lobby are hosting free events, classes, and workshops at their stores, and there are a great deal of sales to be had. But you might find yourself wondering, what does this have to do with your home?
Easy. Everything!
Crafting doesn't have to be your grandma's knitting or your kids' Play-Doh creations. It's the best way to tip-toe yourself into DIY land without requiring much skill, costing too much money, or leaving a giant hole in a wall (ideally).
Spotted over at IKEA Hacker, I love Melanie's bench-coffee table contraption. Melanie used an Ikea office bench (in zebra), a Flort remote control pocket and u-shaped tables made from plywood.
Here's how she did it:
For the U-shaped red tables, I went to the hardware store with the measurements of the zebra bench. There, I had sets of plywood cut in the exact right size, bought metal brackets, Spax screws and red acrylic paint - and built those U-shapes at home in an afternoon.
Now those little tables can be removed from or repositioned on the zebra bench - and each table has the exact size for a laptop or an A4 paper plus some room for a cup or a glass.
As a part of my project-planning build-up, I research my idea to death. My degree is in Sociology (a very research-heavy field), so I get sort of a twisted enjoyment out of searching out information, comparing sources and methods, and divising my own conclusions about the subject at hand. This is no more true than when dealing with my home renovations.
And while the internet is obviously one of the quickest, easiest, and most expansive research tools there is, you have to proceed with caution. Just because a website says adding to existing plumbing is as easy as 1-2-3, doesn't mean really anything without the experience to back it up.
So here are a few tips on properly researching your next DIY project:
1. Check your information
Is the site you're looking at a well-respected site (like the one you're reading here)? Or is it just a Yahoo Questions page where any Joe Schmo can throw in their five cents? Make sure that when you're pulling from the Internet that some sort of expert or tradesperson is at least consulted on the project you're looking at.
Sometimes ready-to-assemble furniture is a nightmare. And by sometimes, I mean most of the time. Even for a moderately experienced DIYer like myself, identifying parts, trying to understand diagrams and figuring out where the heck part "g" is can be a total hassle.
After a recent battle with a Target TV stand (which took over four hours for me to assemble), I've decided to share some of my idiot-proof tips that I wish I'd thought of before I got started.
1. Make Space
Don't try and put together a piece right where you plan on putting it. Work on assembling something in an area where you can lay out all the pieces on the ground so that everything is visible. I'd also pick a room that you can walk away from in the inevitable moment when you'll need a breather.
2. Take Inventory
Check to see that every piece of the puzzle is there. Nothing is worse than making progress in the building and realizing you're short on a very important nut or bolt. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me and I've had to live with a lopsided pieced together item that's waiting for a missing part to arrive.
For whatever reason, you may find out that your home needs better accessibility. Stairs are difficult and dangerous when you're in a wheelchair. Tackle the problem yourself by building a simple wooden ramp up to the entrance way.
Wood is much cheaper and more convenient than a poured concrete ramp. A wooden ramp can be removed easily or adapted if the situation changes. The frame, surface and railing on a wooden ramp are also easy to build in no time.
