Step by Step Guide to Refinishing your Bathtub

Whether you love do-it-yourself projects or are on a budget and need to do some refurbishing on your own, it`s not hard to refinish a bathtub and you`ll be surprised that you can get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Pretty soon you`ll have a beautiful new tub that will bring new life to your bathroom. It can be a focal point, or you can blend the tub with paint, tile, linens and d?cor that tie the entire room together seamlessly.

Materials:

Abrasive tub cleaner
Paint
Epoxy
Abrasive cleaning pad
Paintbrush
Paint roller
400 to 600 grit wet sandpaper

Step 1

Before doing anything else, you need to clean your tub. Remove any non-slip materials with degreaser. Use a scrubber to thoroughly wash the tub and remove all debris, dirt and other items. Don`t worry about scratching the tub because you won`t be able to tell once your refurbishing project is finished. Rinse the cleaning fluids from the tub once you`re finished so that your paint has a prime surface to adhere to.

Step 2

Sand the tub using 400 to 600 grit wet sandpaper. This serves a couple of purposes. It gets rid of any leftover cleaner on the surface and it gives the new coating a solid place to stick. Make sure you get wet sandpaper because it`s much easier to wash away as you work.

Step 3

Mix the new paint for the tub with epoxy. Make sure the two are very well combined. Look for a kit that makes it easy to combine the correct ratio of paint to epoxy so you don`t damage your tub or have to start the project over. A kit is also a great way to make sure you buy the proper type of paint so you don`t mistakenly end up with something that doesn’t hold up well to contact with water. These kits come in several sizes, allowing you to get just as much product as you need to get the job done.

Step 4

Use a paintbrush to apply the paint to the surface of the tub. Paint in one direction only and apply several thin coats rather than one thick one. Allow an hour or so of drying time between each coat.

Step 5

Use a coordinating color of caulk and apply an even line around the tub, making sure to get the corners. Smooth the caulk as you go to get an even looking appearance. Wait a day or two before using the tub to be sure the paint and caulk is completely dried.

Tips and Tricks

Before getting started with your bathtub refinishing project, it`s a good idea to protect the other surfaces in your bathroom so you don`t have damage or costly repairs to deal with. Put a drop cloth over the toilet and the floor surrounding your tub. That way, if caulk or cleaner splashes or drips, clean-up is easy and you won`t mistakenly ruin something else. Remove all towels, rugs and wall art from the bathroom as well. This will keep them out of the way and protect them from damage.

Once you`re done with the tub refinishing, replace the bathroom essentials, or shop for new items to go with your new and beautiful bathtub. Shop online or in stores for new linens, wall art and decor items that will make your bathroom look stunning in no time. Consider a new color combination, such as gray and yellow, blue and coral or white and gray to give your bathroom an elegant and classy look. All of these choices look great with a bright white bathtub.

Announcing the Launch of Our New Website Design

After months of preparation, dedication and hard work to prepare for this exciting day, FlooringSupplyShop is delighted to officially announce the launch our newly designed website. The new site launched on Oct 20th, 2013, and is located at the same address: www.flooringsupplyshop.com
That’s right folks, we took a dose of our own medicine.

At FlooringSupplyShop.com our goal for the new website is to provide our visitors with an extremely user friendly website. The new innovative site will offer more functionality and easier navigation with more in-depth information about our DIY home improvement products.

The new site is completely fluid, fully responsive and fits all types of browser resolutions. It also has a touch-friendly mobile navigation menu.

So, whether you are “just looking” or you are seeking more specific details about a one of our Ready to Tile Benches to use or maybe seeking more information regarding the difference option building your own shower, we are here to help you learn more as we strive to give the most updated information and offer great learning tools for different types of guests that visit our site.

When you have a few minutes, please review our new site. You will feel the commitment, the passion, and dedication of everyone in the FlooringSupplyShop family. We would appreciate your thoughts on how our efforts have resonated with you.

We hope you like our new website. If you experience any problems using it or if you have any suggestions, please contact us at contact@flooringsupplyshop.com

Tips for Increasing Property and Home Value for Resale

Quick Improvement Tips for Increasing Property and Home Value for Resale

Your house is not free from the hazards of everyday life. From my work in Hamptons Real Estate, I’ve seen it all: Water damage, chipping paint, mold, decay, pests and more. And as seasons change from warm to cold and vice versa, many aspects of your home are affected congruently. For those looking to move and/or upgrade, it’s become cumbersome to attempt to make everything more appealing, yet deal with the hassle of finding new real estate.

As you prepare to leave your humble home for a new house you need to spruce up the old place to make it appealing to buyers. What can you do to quickly and affordably improve your home for resale?

First off, you need to remember that focusing on the outside is just as important as focusing on the inside. First impressions are everything, so if you can impress someone the instant they see the outside, you’ll already have a good start. You may not believe it, but a new coat of paint can do wonders for a home. It’s as if that fresh coat of paint revitalizes the house and really grabs the eye from the outside. Having a freshly cut, healthy lawn can also greatly improve your standing with buyers. If you have the means, landscaping is even better. Some lovely plants, shrubs, trees and even a garden can really liven up your yard and add some personality and color.

A more costly option, but a great one, is a carport. Carports are cheaper to install than garages, but serve the same general purpose. Carports can greatly increase the value of your home as long as the carport is permanently installed.

The interior is the place many sellers dread to fix up for resale. Many homeowners can walk through their house and list off everything they either need or want to do to whatever room they see. Fixing up the interior of your home doesn’t need to be a nightmare. It just requires some cleaning and some key improvements.

To start off, we’ll go back to an old favorite. Painting the interior of your home can have just as big of an impact as it does on the outside. It makes every room seem fresh and new and appeals very well to new buyers.

Another very simple trick is to replace all your old wall outlets. If the old ones are two-prong, buy three-prong outlets, and try to gather a handful that will match the style of your current wallpaper and/or paint. You can always buy regular wood grain and paint them later on! When you’re doing a walk through with a potential buyer, you can point this out.

If you have carpet that is old, stained, torn or worn out, consider getting new carpeting. Remember, though, if you do decide to get new carpets get them after you have painted and the paint has dried. There is no point in getting new carpeting if it’s only going to get marred by paint stains.

As for any tiled or hardwood floors, if the tiling is dingy, stained, or discolored, you should also consider replacing that as well. Where carpeting might have to be installed by professionals, tiling can be done on your own. If you don’t feel comfortable doing any of the cutting or measurements, you may need to call professionals. As for hardwood floors, you’re probably better off giving them a good cleaning instead of trying to replace them.

You’d be amazed what some cleaning, a good coat of paint and some elbow grease can do for the resale value of your home. Remember that you’re not only fixing up your home to sell it, you’re fixing it up so someone else can enjoy your home just as much as you have.

Article provided by Hamptons Real Estate

Windows Not Just a Piece of Glass

It’s early in the morning and you’ve just opened the curtains to bring in the bright new day. Or perhaps the snow is falling softly outside as you snuggle up with a cup of hot cocoa at your window seat and take in the view. Windows have been around for hundreds of years, and while their basic purpose has not changed, they have gone from being a necessary “hole in the wall” to a significant element of design.

What is the definition of a Window? According to Webster’s dictionary, a window is an opening, usually framed and spanned with glass, built into a wall for light and air. We still use windows for this fundamental purpose. Properly placed windows can provide cross ventilation and eliminate the need for artificial lighting during the day. Most people have at one time or another been in a dark, dreary room that simply needed the light of a window. Current national code requires that the glazed area of the windows (that is the glass itself) equal 8% or more of the square footage of a room.

Windows can range widely in style and cost. If you prefer contemporary styling, you may choose to go with a casement style window (a unit that either cranks out to the left or to the right). A more traditional style is the double hung unit (a unit that slides up and down). Other styles include horizontal sliders, awnings, and transom windows. A window manufacturer can provide detailed descriptions of the various styles available. The styles are as plentiful as the prices are varied. Of course, you can mix and match units. For example: in your kitchen you may desire a casement unit above the sink because they are easier to open reaching over the counter; however, adjacent to the kitchen, in a gazebo shaped breakfast area, there is no reason you should not consider using double-hung units.

Let’s take a closer look at the two most popular units, the casement and double hung window. There are pro’s and con’s to both. The casement offers full ventilation when opened where the double-hung only gives about half. However, if you have a group of casements units overlooking your deck or patio, be aware that casements take up exterior living space. So be careful at parties; open casements can be very painful when walked into. Probably the best part of double-hung units is many new models tilt in for easier cleaning, where as the casement does not offer a similar feature.

Whether you are building new, adding on additional space, or renovating a room in your home, the windows you choose should play a major role. When looking at windows for your new project, look carefully at the hardware, is it well manufactured? Plastic hardware may provide a more contemporary look, but also tend to break sooner. Open the windows at the showroom, do they operate easily? Do they offer a good warranty on the unit as a whole? Most manufactures should cover the windows for at least ten years. Check the energy efficiency (insulation value) of the particular units you are interested in. I recommend a minimum insulation value of R-3. Most units nowadays carry an insulation value of at least this, and very often it is higher. Overall, examine the quality of the unit on the interior as well as exterior.

You will find that the cost of windows is quite significant, but you get what you pay for. You want your windows to last 30 to 50 years, therefore they need to be constructed from good quality materials and made to last for long time. If you skimp on quality, you may have problems in as little as 5 years. Depending on the number of windows your project calls for, you should plan to spend approximately 5%-10% of your entire building budget if you are adding on or building a new home. This percentage is higher for smaller renovations.

Windows provide much more than light and air today. A properly designed window can make or break the mood of a room. Today’s windows should be treated as an integral part of the design and NOT JUST A PIECE OF GLASS.

Article provide by
designconnection.com

Get the Right and Balanced Home Improvement

clean white themed living room with a fireplaceclean white themed living room with a fireplace

Home Improvement scenarios have appreciated excellently over the years. The need for balanced home improvement has insured great levels of professionalism in the process. As a house owner you need to make certain considerations before even starting a home improvement process. The time at hand, the budget and the technical specifications play a major role in home improvement procedures. You need to maintain equilibrium in all aspects to ensure that all the criteria are met. So, let us discuss certain key areas and elements that need to be looked into for a balanced home improvement.

The Budget: Undoubtedly, the budget plays a huge role. You must always keep the monetary considerations in mind before you decide on the home improvement process. This helps you get a clear cut perspective on the key areas of your home that need improvement. The budget justification of these areas is also the key. Firstly, you can always specify a gross budget. Then you can specify the vital aspects of home improvement. Lastly, cross check whether the budget fits your home improvement demands. Such thorough analysis will help you eliminate the unwanted home improvement needs that might arise out of random sampling.

Use of Resources: Effective and efficient use of resources is the key. It is important that you know your house well. You must have good knowledge of your household goods and the durability factor involved with them. A reasonable analysis helps you know the actual need for change or make over in all the relevant areas.

Integration of the Elements: Integration of certain elements can bring a sense of uniqueness to the home. A good balance of the elements can help any room feel more inviting. Try wood and houseplants to invoke the feel of earth and air. Plants are especially good because not only do they look nice, they actually improve the quality of the air. Candles are great to bring fire’s warmth into a room, as is a fireplace. And a gorgeous fish aquarium or tabletop fountain provides the soothing energy of water. This is one example that presents a blend of exceptional budgeting and efficient utilization of resources.

Renovation: “Renovate” is the key to any home improvement project. You should always know the longevity of all our home belongings. This helps you judge the span of your home improvement project and the time specification you can have. The thin line that separates the need to renovate and the need to change can make a vital difference to the cost of any home improvement project.

The Exteriors: With all the potential improvements you can make to the interior of your home, it’s easy to neglect the outside. But the outside of your home is the first thing people see. If you live in a wood home, make sure the paint is fresh and un-chipped. Paint the shutters a new color to give your home renewed interest. Flower plantation and tree swings can add a great charm to your garden. Installing a pool or hot tub is also a good idea. Not only will you get the benefits of having your own place to splash around in, your home will be worth more if you ever decide to sell it.

Flooring: The flooring or the baseline of the homes makes a lot of difference. These days you have options to choose from. You can always try the new eco-friendly floor heating options available in the market. These not only keep your floor warm in winters but make sure that the heating is balanced in accordance with the outside temperature. They also serve as the best home improvement tasks when it comes to balancing. The amount of energy saving that they do as being substitute to floor heaters is phenomenal.

I hope these details help you get the right and balanced home improvement.

Tag: Home remodeling

Step by Step Guide to Refinishing your Bathtub

Step by Step Guide to Refinishing your Bathtub

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Tips and Tricks

Announcing the Launch of Our New Website Design

Tips for Increasing Property and Home Value for Resale

Quick Improvement Tips for Increasing Property and Home Value for Resale

Windows Not Just a Piece of Glass

Get the Right and Balanced Home Improvement

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