home sectionhome sectionIf you live in a mobile or manufactured home, you may be wondering what those long vertical plastic strips are going up and down your walls. Those strips, better known as battens, are seam covers that are installed to cover up unsightly divisions between the sections of wall in your home. You may want to remove these battens and seal your walls to give them a more natural look.
Split-level house design dates to at least the 1930s but zoomed into popularity in the housing boom after World War II. Nearly every subdivision or tract development in that era included at least one split-level design, which always included a garage. Many split styles offered two-car garages, placed beside one house level and under a second. Other split versions had a ground-level garage with a double-story house beside it and entries from the garage to both levels. The garage offers a handy area to add living space by remodeling it into a room.
Add value and convenience to any home by installing a new bathroom on an upper floor. Setting the plumbing for a new bathroom requires you to connect supply water pipes and drainpipes to existing systems. Once the new plumbing is in place, you can add fixtures and furniture to complete the room.
Adding a sunporch or bedroom makes more room in your house, but it also necessitates expansion of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, system, even if the system consists of only a heat pump. If the only expansion necessary is adding ducts to the system, often a homeowner with a pair of gloves, safety glasses and a few specialized tools can complete the assembly. To maintain the balance of your system, however, an HVAC engineer should design the size, run and placement of your new ductwork.
There are many prefabricated options for basement bulkhead doors, but wood doors are durable and can last many years with good care. The dimensions of the door are not critical, and the construction is unsophisticated. It must only be large enough to cover the bulkhead. After the door is built, you can install it with a prefabricated base. Alternatively, frame out the top of the bulkhead with lumber, fasten the lumber frame with concrete screws or bolts and install the door hinges on the frame.
Designing a basement egress door may require removal of several feet of rocks or soil. Over time, you want to keep the door area and house foundation free from moisture. Sloping the yard a specific way to keep rain from entering the stairwell might require input from an excavation expert. Digging deeply or moving just a small amount of dirt requires extreme care to protect concrete footings and block walls. Be prepared to do some hand digging to prepare the door area in most cases, so you can avoid any cracks during construction.
Putting a bathroom in a room over the garage is a step- and time-saver. With a vaulted ceiling, it’s a good idea to create an elegant design because even a small bath can be stylish. Review home design books and bath remodeling magazines to get ideas before your start. A bathroom should last for many years, so you want to make choices that will please you for a decade or more.
Removing drip marks on bathroom walls requires the right tools and a little good, old-fashioned elbow grease. Remove drip marks on the bathroom walls with help from a maintenance professional in this free video clip.
Basement support beams, pillars or poles run vertically from the floor to the ceiling and provide the essential support for your home. However, they stand out in the space and interrupt the flow of a finished basement. Depending on personal preference, you can make a wooden box cover to go around the post and paint it your desired shade, or cover it with a wooden or vinyl wrap cover.
Weight-bearing walls are essential supports in any structure, and removing them -- even in part -- can be pretty dicey. Weight-bearing, or load-bearing, walls can be removed in part or in whole, but homeowners have to provide proper bracing and support for the ceiling while the renovation is being done. If weight-bearing walls are removed or altered improperly, your structure could collapse. Great damage will result if your unsupported ceiling caves in, and this may even be dangerous if people or animals are below.
A finished basement floor transforms the otherwise unused space into one that’s livable, and creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. A basement floating slab floor is not essentially a floor at all, but poured concrete that sits on underlying soil. A concrete slab floor does not leave much choice in terms of finishing, since you cannot glue or nail anything to it. An easy solution to the problem is to lay floating flooring planks over it. These laminated planks feature tongue and groove edges that easily lock together to create a seamless assembly over the surface.
Craftsman houses were commonly constructed in the early 1900s and their open floor plans made them appealing to home owners of the period. The ceilings often have beams and numerous windows to take advantage of natural sunlight. Remodeling a Craftsman house helps to make the home more modern, if you have the budget for it but choose your renovations carefully, so you don't lose the function or charm of the original design.
Houses in warmer climates sometimes don't have heating systems because they stay naturally warm throughout the year. While this is more efficient from an electrical standpoint, it puts you in a bind if the temperature unexpectedly drops. Installing a furnace is usually the most viable long-term solution for unheated homes, but this may not be cost-effective in the near future and should be done professionally. It is also not an option if you rent or otherwise share the home. Other options exist if you need to add heat to the second floor of an unheated home, but multiple devices are…
Adding an archway between rooms lends grace and openness. The process is easier if you already have a doorway in place and simply need the arch. But if you have to open up the wall -- if it’s not load bearing or needed to keep the house standing -- when that’s done, you proceed the same way. It’s not difficult to make your own archway once you develop a cardboard template. You’ll tackle this project with more confidence if you have some carpentry and drywall experience.
Basement vent pipes either pump air into a room or pull air out. These vents need to be finished by covering them for aesthetic reasons and to control the circulating air. Vents are usually located in the walls or on the ceilings, so special covers are needed. Floor vent covers slip into the vent and stay in position but this type of cover will slide right out of the vent if it isn't secured properly. Use the right tools to cover the vent so it stays safely in position.
The basement staircase sometimes has two walls all the way down the staircase. One way to open up a basement staircase is to remove one of the walls. This allows you to see into the basement as soon as you step on the stairs. Usually the staircase is against the side of an exterior wall on one side with a non-load-bearing wall on the opposite side. Before tearing out the wall, though, it is a good idea to have a building inspector check to ensure the wall you are removing is not a load-bearing one.
Finishing a basement is often the dream of homeowners who have an older, unfinished building. These basements add a significant amount of living space to the home. However, you need to factor in regional considerations when renovating. In Georgia, the hot, humid climate can play a role in the finishings you choose. Durable, moisture-resistant supplies are needed. Before you begin renovating, make sure your foundation is strong and doesn't need major repairs. Look for large cracks or flaws in the concrete and consult a professional when in doubt.
A rounded ceiling to wall corner is called a fillet. A special inside corner bead is installed prior to finishing the drywall to create the curve. Drywall joint compound is applied and then sanded smooth before painting. You can remove the inside corner bead or fillet, but you will have to redo the wall-to-ceiling joint with standard drywall tape and joint compound if you prefer the sharp, right-angle corner that most people are used to.
Family rooms are casual living spaces where loved ones gather to spend time together. Whether they're watching a movie, playing a game or engaging in conversation, a family can enjoy each other's company in this room. Converting an enclosed sun porch into a family room can transform a seldom-used space into a room filled with family fun. Develop a floor plan and layout your furniture prior to remodeling your sun porch to create an organized, functional and aesthetically pleasing family room.
The benefits of limestone walls in your basement are plentiful -- including its durability, natural bacterial resistance and ease of maintenance. However, limestone is a naturally porous material that requires sealant finish to prevent moisture damage. Limestone sealant is the ideal option if you want to finish your basement without altering the appearance of the natural stone. It’s possible to seal your limestone walls without the need for expensive tools or professional assistance.
Small closets can present the biggest problems when you are trying to keep your items organized. The limited space can be dark with hard-to-reach shelves and only a single rod for hanging clothes. If you are creative, you can turn your closet into a functional area making use of vertical as well as horizontal space. Invest as much thought in planning your small closet as you did when designing the main rooms of the house. Determine what your primary needs are and configure a layout that will allow for optimal organization of your belongings.
Vents that connect the interior of a house to the exterior can function as unintentional areas of heat loss. For vents that are being used, this is unavoidable. You can reduce unnecessary heat loss by removing old vents and covering over them on the outside surface of your home. After removing a vent covering from a brick wall, you can fill in the space where the vent was to counteract heat loss and make the wall look better.
Ventilation and fresh air are important components of a healthy home. Ironically, the more tight and energy efficient houses become, the more risk there is that interior ventilation will be insufficient and unhealthy air will accumulate in the home. If you are installing a new ventilation system in your house to increase the amount of fresh air, you may want to remove old ceiling ventilation at the same time.
The channels that make up the framework of a suspended ceiling are supported in the middle of the room by a series of wires that extend from the ceiling joists down to the channels. When you remove the suspended ceiling, these wires will be left hanging out of the old ceiling that is above the removed suspended ceiling. With a bit of effort and drywall spackle, you can put these wires out of sight and out of mind.
Sheetrock is also known as plasterboard, wallboard or drywall. The region where you live will most likely determine what it is called. Sheetrock could become damaged by water leaking from the ceiling or a flooded basement. Wet sheetrock in a damp basement has the potential of becoming a breeding place for mold. After the first sheetrock panel is removed, the rest of the job should be much faster. Removing sheetrock isn’t a difficult job but it could produce dust.
Skim coating a basement floor is the first step required before you can install any further flooring, or even paint the existing surface. A skim coat is concrete-based and spreads over the floor to fill in any depressions and low spots. After the skim coat dries, the basement floor is level and ready for the final flooring application. Homeowners can skim coat a basement themselves, although the process is a bit messy.
Sand texture is never difficult to identify -- it feels like it has sand in it, and it does. While textures cover imperfections in the wall or ceiling underneath, a look can become outdated. Sand texture on the ceiling, in particular, grows dingy as it catches the dust and dirt that inevitably drifts by. While removal isn't difficult, it is very messy and time consuming. How you approach your ceiling depends on if it's a sand-textured paint or sand-drywall mud.
If you’re the sort of person who sees every challenge as an opportunity to do something original, opening yourself up to practical tips for finishing your basement on the cheap is going to be quite the adventure for you. Start with a realistic budget – no pie in the sky grid that includes cash earmarked for essentials, please. Next, set reasonable deadlines for each improvement so you can celebrate mini-goals as you get to the finish line.
Recessed cabinets are cabinets that use space within wall cavities or between floor joists as storage, expanding the storage space available within a room. Most recessed cabinets lie flush with the surface that they’re installed into, creating a shallow storage area within, though some will protrude slightly if installed into a wall to add a bit more room within. Removing the cabinets isn’t a difficult process, with most cabinets held into place with a few screws. The entire procedure can be completed usually in less than a half-hour, leaving the recess and opening behind to do with as you wish.
Finishing a basement usually requires obtaining specific permits to do the job legally. As part of the process, the permit application must include information that verifies that the basement windows meet specific size requirements. Sometimes this means widening an existing window or installing a new one.
Wood paneling is a functional and aesthetic element in home design. Interior wood walls help a living space feel warm, comfortable and earthy. However, sun exposure can fade and dry out wood paneling over time. If you have interior wood paneling and need to repair the effects of sunlight on the surface of the walls, restoration is possible.
A properly finished wall along your basement stairs helps connect the basement and first level in a manner that flows. The unevenness of the wall along the stairs often creates a challenge, but this can be handled with precise measurements. You can finish the wall next to your stairs in the basement with the right supplies and tools to achieve a smooth transition from the basement floor to the room you enter at the top of the stairs.
Garages are roomy, so if you’re not using all that space, convert it into a living area. For example, large families might benefit from a hangout room somewhat isolated from the main area of the house, which will allow noisy kids to enjoy themselves without disturbing the rest of the household.
A ceiling may be covered with furring strips as a result of plaster that has been knocked off, or as a remnant of someone else's renovation. If you are planning to install a new drywall ceiling attached to the ceiling joists, you will need to remove all of the furring strips to provide a solid connection between the drywall and the joists. Removing furring strips is time consuming but not difficult.
Noise from a basement can trickle upstairs, and noise from people walking in the house is often heard down in the basement. It's possible to soundproof basements, and some homeowners hire contractors to install soundproof installation between the drywall. Rather than spend money to soundproof and reduce noise, consider a few do-it-yourself techniques.
Whether you want to replace old ceiling insulation with new insulation or remove insulation damaged by water or rodent infestation, prepare for a messy project. Among other factors, insulation depends on loft to maintain its R-value, or its ability to reduce the transmission of heat. You’ll need protective gear and old clothing to keep the irritating fiberglass insulation fibers out of your eyes and lungs and off your skin.
If you are looking for additional space in your home, look no further than the basement as a possibility. Any basement project would be enhanced by a bathroom. Not only would your family benefit from having a bathroom and toilet on that level, but additional bathrooms in a home add to its resale value as well.
Many homes have basement stairways that use rough board railings for minimum safety requirements. When updating your house, it is a good idea to replace the rough boards with a secure and attractive half wall, particularly if you are finishing off the basement around the area of the stairway. A half wall is fairly simple to construct and the finished appearance is a significant improvement over rough boards.
A finished basement can add living space to your home and can add value to the house when it is time to sell. A basement can provide an area for an additional bedroom for guests, a playroom for the kids, or an office workspace. Creative homeowners can set up a home theater, wine bar or “man cave” in the basement. If you decide to finish the basement yourself, planning is the key.
When renovating a room in the basement, you may not know exactly how to finish it. Many of the finishing touches are the same as any other room in the house, but you also need to consider the unique characteristics of basement rooms. Low light, higher moisture, cooler temperatures and small spaces are all factors when finishing the room. Keep these in mind when installing the final touches for a basement room that is warm, dry and comfortable year-round.
Walls require certain techniques and materials to create a finished appearance. The walls running along your basement stairway are no exception, although they may be more difficult to reach. Finishing the walls above the stairs provides a smooth transition between your first floor and your basement floor. Uneven surfaces, such as stairways, can pose a risk of falls, especially when using basic ladders and scaffolding. Special ladders made for use on stairs can help minimize the risk of danger when finishing walls above stairways.
If you use a boiler or furnace as a heat source for your home's central heating system, you need to consider proper ventilation for the appliance. Boilers and other combustion appliances produce potentially toxic byproducts that can put your family at health risk and cause corrosion and structural damage to your home. If you are planning on installing a boiler in a finished basement, proper ventilation requires several considerations.
Whether your use your finished basement for entertaining, family leisure or as in-law or guest quarters, the addition of a kitchenette eliminates constant trips up and downstairs and makes your finished basement into a self-contained oasis. As wonderful a convenience as a basement kitchenette is, however, you may need to consider it an investment in your lifestyle rather than one that's likely to return a profit when you sell your home. How much return you can expect depends on many variables, including your local market conditions.
A ranch houses also are known as the Western ranch, the American ranch and the California rambler. It is typically one story with deep-set eaves and a low-pitched roof. The layout is usually narrow and long with large windows and sliding glass doors that lead to an outdoor patio. Ranch houses often have open-concept interior spaces and a brick or wood exterior. Remodeling plans may include interior and exterior alterations.
Nickel and chrome are two different types of metal finishes. Although similar at first glance, they actually differ slightly in sheen and color. Both nickel and chrome finishes can be polished to a high shine, a dull glow or to a much more muted appearance. They are most often used on light fixtures and household hardware such as faucets and knobs, and can be used over brass.
Finishing a basement usually includes paneling your basement foundation walls to cover the masonry surface. While most of the time you’d want to make your paneling permanent, you may want to be able to remove the basement wall when you need access to the surface beneath, or to utilities that may run through the wall cavity, such as wiring or pipes. With the aid of a couple of strips of Velcro, you can create a removable wall section that fits perfectly between any permanent wall panels and is easily removed to access the foundation walls.
Remodeling a basement often means taking out existing, non-load bearing walls. If they are standard walls made from drywall and 2-by-4 wood studs, the job can be done easily with just a hammer and some powerful swings. Removing the floor plate, though, is a bit harder. The plate can be nailed, screwed or bolted into the floor, and with or without anchor sleeves.
Thin brick, or brick veneer, is a facing meant to make a structure look like it is made of brick. In reality, brick veneer is not in any way structural; it is cosmetic. The actual structure of a brick veneer house -- whether wood or concrete -- can be found under the veneer. The depth of brick veneer varies, and so replacing it necessitates removing a section of the veneer to determine the correct replacement size.
Removing an aluminum frame from brick, whether it's for a door or window, is a challenge that you could face when updating your home. Removing the aluminum frame requires that the frame be exposed so all of the trim on all sides of the frame need to be out of the way before you can get down to business.
Over many years, your brick stoop will absorb moisture from rain and snow. In freezing weather, the water in the mortar will freeze. You can prevent further damage to your brick stoop by removing old mortar and replacing it with new mortar -- a process called repointing. If you wait too long, this continued freezing and thawing may cause the bricks to crack. Refacing the stoop by replacing damaged brick is the only way to fix this problem.
