Weekdays fill up quickly between working, cleaning, cooking, doing the laundry, and accomplishing all of your other family activities. Making time for home improvement can be difficult and your to-do list can quickly add up as you walk around your home taking notes of all of the things you’d like to update.
Luckily, you don’t need ample time or funds to update your home with these simple home improvement projects that will add value to your house and give it a fresh new look. Taking a weekend to accomplish some simple projects around the house will give you extra time, help you save money by not hiring a professional, and allow you to control the timeline and schedule.
These projects won’t take more than a weekend and will make your weekdays easier. Don’t let the tasks on your home improvements to-do list nag at you any longer.
1. Liven Up with a Fresh Coat of Paint
Freshen up your room with a new paint color, or just a fresh coat of paint. Before you begin painting, make sure to dust off any dirt or grime on your walls, then tape around the floorboards and windows, remove electrical sockets and light switch covers, and lay down tarp or old sheets.
Depending on the color of your walls, you may decide to begin painting by using a white primer or purchasing a paint color with primer in it. Be sure to save your cans of paint when you’re finished for any nicks or scratches that may occur down the road.
If you are still in love with your paint color, then instead of re-painting maybe consider adding an accent wall by wallpapering one wall. This can also be done by hanging up new art or adding peel and stick wall decals to bring new life to your walls.
2. How To Easily Replace A Popcorn Ceiling
If it’s your ceiling that needs updated consider removing the 1970’s popcorn ceiling or any other texture. Begin by covering all of your floors, walls and furniture with sheets. Taking down any ceiling fans and light fixtures will also make this process easier by simply removing them and covering any electrical boxes and wires.
Some texture comes off easily without water, but in most cases wetting is best, simply try to remove it without water at first and if that doesn’t work then spray the ceiling with water, let it absorb for 15 minutes, and then carefully scrape away the texture using a wide putty knife.
You can do this in one 4-foot section at a time. It is also important to round off the corners or your putty knife to avoid gouging the ceiling. You can then sand, prime, paint, and enjoy your new ceiling.
Any ceiling installed before 1980 have a possibility for containing asbestos, which can cause lung cancer and many other diseases. So be sure to test a sample of your ceiling before beginning this project and either cover the ceiling with dry wall or consider hiring an asbestos abatement contractor.
3. Brighten Up Your Home with New Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
Replacing fans and light fixtures will bring enjoyment into your home and improve resale value if and when you decide to resell.
To replace your light fixtures, turn off the power, remove the canopy to expose the wiring, and then unscrew the white, black, and copper wire to easily remove the light fixture. Then connect the new fixtures wires and secure the new fixture.
To install a new fan, install a support brace and fan mounting bracket, connect the motor wiring, attach the fan blades and light fixture, and then switch the flip to turn it on.
4. How to Clean the Gutters
Before beginning this project, you’ll want to ensure that you have a sturdy and extendable ladder and a ladder stabilizer to ensure your safety and to prevent damage to the gutters.
You can then start by placing a tarp underneath to catch all of the dead leaves and debris. Next, use a plastic scoop to throw it out onto the tarp and then use a hose to flush out any remaining debris and determine if you have any leaks.
It may also be beneficial to install new gutters if the metal is sagging or leaking. If your gutters are still in good shape, consider installing gutter guards to prevent them from collecting any more debris in the future and to keep them in top shape.
5. DIY Tree Pruning
Pruning your trees allows them to reach their full potential and live longer. By removing the dead branches, you allow the light and air to filter through the entire tree so it continues to grow in a healthy manner without risk of disease.
Safely cut the limbs about ¼ inch from a bud that faces the outside of the plant. This removes the weight from the tree branch and allows them to grow in the direction you choose for the best growth.
To cut the tree limbs you’ll want to use a variety of tools. Pruning shears are best for cutting any small twigs, especially ones at awkward angles. Loppers are best for larger limbs and are mainly used for cutting dead branches. And finally, you’ll want to use a pole pruner that can extend about 15 feet to reach deadwood in any tree on hard-to-reach branches.
In most instances, homeowners are perfectly capable of trimming their own trees, but you should reconsider doing this on your own if it is located near a powerline or if it has large branches that are too heavy to handle.
Getting the Tools to Achieve the Look You Want
To accomplish these tasks, you will want to be well prepared with research on how to properly complete them and ensure you have all of the correct tools. Each of these tasks requires a ladder, and it is more than likely that you’ll need to use a different size ladder to clean your gutters than you will to paint the walls in your living room.
There are ladders to reach every height and every tricky spot you can imagine. Finding the correct ladder for your project is important for your safety. You never want to overextend your reach or the ladder.
It is important to keep this in mind when selecting the ladder that is right for your job, instead of attempting to use a ladder for a project it is not capable of completing. Instead of investing in multiple ladders for each job, consider renting. Renting is especially helpful for jobs that require scaffolding like for painting taller walls and removing texture from high ceilings.
For some people with minimum storage space it can be easier and more cost effective to rent equipment instead of investing in purchasing their own. Wildcat Rental has all the tools, ladders, scaffolding, and knowledge you need to complete whatever home improvement project you choose.
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