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The enjoyment that you and your entire family will receive from taking the time to do a few home improvements to your home is well worth the added expense.

Giving the interior of your home a fresh new coat of paint is sure to brighten the look of any room. Below you will find a list of other top home improvement ideas to give your home a new look that all will enjoy.

Exterior:

Paint the exterior of your home

Restore or build a new deck

Screen in the porch area

Give a new style to your front porch steps

Install the awning you’ve always wanted

Kitchen:

Re-face the cabinet doors

Replace old worn out cabinets

Install a backsplash

Redecorate and change the style of your entire kitchen

Replace old and worn out appliances

Bathroom:

Give your floors a new look with a beautiful accent tile

Update bathroom fixtures

Install a nice new glass block window

Take the old grout out and add some fresh grout

If you’ve had the same style for years, change to a more modern style

Add decorative border paper

Family Room:

Add the warm touch of a stone fireplace

Install hardwood flooring, giving your room a whole new look

Install decorative crown molding and trim

If you are ready to install your stair railing, it doesn’t have to be a job that is intimidating.

Here is a list of Tools and Supplies you will need to accomplish this job.

Tape measure

Wood glue

2’ to 3’ level

Low tack painters tape or masking tape

Chalk line

2 – 2 ½” finish nails

Electronic stud finder

2 ½ X # 10 flat head Philips screws

Pencil

Countersink bit

Safety goggles

Combination pilot hole and countersink bit

Power table saw

Assorted drill bits

Power miter box

Power drill

Wood stain

Wooden plugs to match rail

1 X 4 Lumber for mounting strip (matched with railing piece)

Railing piece

Polyurethane

Follow steps below to install wood railing

1. Measure height you want the banister

2. Use level drawing a vertical line onto the wall going from the front edge of steps up to the height of new rail. You should follow this step at the top and the bottom of staircase

3. Make chalk line in area you want railing to go

4. Use the stud finder to locate studs and mark with pencil

5. Using the table saw, cut mounting to fit the channel underneath railing piece

6. Using the power miter box, cut the mounting strip to length

7. Drill pilot holes where the wall studs are located

8. Make indention into the wood with countersink bit (this ensures screw heads are recessed and not interfering with the rail attachment)

9. Using 2 ½” X # 10 flat head Philips screws attach mounting strip

10. Mask off the wall so you can stain, using the low tack painter’s tape

11. Mark area for screw holes of railing

12. Attach strip of masking tape along top-side of rail (helps protect wood)

13. Using the combination pilot hole and counter sink bit drilling into the new rail, attach railing using flat head Philips screws

14. Cut a short section of railing piece, putting a miter on it

15. Add wood glue to miter cut surface

16. Drill 2 pilot holes, securing the end with two six or eight-penny finish nails

17. Drive the nails just a little below surface

18. Remove tape

For a nice finish, use wooden plugs that match the wood grain of the railing by applying a small spot of wood glue onto the tip of the plugs and pushing them firmly into position

Tools you will need:

Sturdy extension ladder

2 X 10 planks

Roof brackets

Hammer

Tape Measure

2-ft. level and square

Straight-cutting tin snips

3/16-in. masonry bit

Grinder or circular saw

Dry-cut diamond blade (fitted for the circular saw if you choose that tool)

Personal fall arrest system (includes safety harness, lanyard, rope-grab, and roof anchor)

Safety glasses

Roll of self-adhering roofing membrane (ice-and-water barrier)

2 tubes polyurethane caulk

Pkg. 25 drive-in expanding anchors

Bundle of shingles

Pry bar

Plastic shim

Steps to adding your chimney flashing:

1. Set the ladder, roof brackets, and safety harness up
2. Measure chimney
3. Order saddle and flashing parts
4. Carefully remove shingles around the chimney (start above the chimney and work down)
5. Use the pry bar to remove old tar and flashing
6. Lay new shingles up to the bottom of the chimney
7. Seal around chimney with 12-in. wide strips of ice-and-water barrier
8. Lap strips 4 in. up onto the bricks overlapping adjacent strips
9. Lay 36-in. wide strip going around the top of your chimney, sticking it to the roof boards-up to 8 in. onto the backside of the chimney.
10. Lay piece of flashing across bottom of chimney – laying it over top of shingles.
11. Seal sides of chimney with pre-bent pieces of step flashing under each course of shingles
12. Slightly flatten flashing and nail it into place
13. Nail the saddle to roof and seal with additional strips of membrane
14. Add shingles over parts of saddle that rest on roof
15. Cut shingles along the valley, being careful to leave 2 in. of metal exposed
16. Mark and cut grooves in chimney mortar joints (start at the front and mark 3^rd joint from roof-extending around both front corners approx. 6 in.)
17. Mark joints on sides of chimney until you reach the back
18. Mark across back of chimney covering the saddle
19. Using grinder and diamond blade, cut close to brick of lower edge of mortar joint
20. Cut slots approx. 1 in. deep and 1/8 in. wide
21. Wedge flashing in with plastic shim if necessary
22. Fill in grooves with polyurethane caulk

This part of your remodeling project does not have to be a frustrating one. Putting just a little bit of extra effort and time into the planning aspect of your remodeling project can literally mean the success or the failure with the end result. If you will consider a few basic steps when choosing the right remodeling contractor, your project can soon be on its way to becoming a beautiful and successful completion.

• Dreaded planning. Sure it is much more fun to jump knee deep into a project, but if you want a nice end result that you will be proud of for years to come, the complete planning is an essential part of achieving this. Plan the exact areas of your home to be remodeled so you will know the exact type of contractor you will need.
• 90 questions. Interviewing several different contractors can give you a better idea on which one would be best for each individual job. You can also ask them to submit an estimate or bid on the project you are wanting done in this stage of your planning. Write down some specific questions you would like to ask beforehand.
• Don’t take their word for it. It is always best to ask for references on the work they have completed in the past. You don’t want to settle for written references, you will want the advantage of being able to talk to previous clients on projects they have performed.
• Compare. Don’t pick the first contractor you see. There are many who charge astronomical prices, when you can often find contractors who will do an outstanding job for a much more reasonable price.

Choosing the right remodeling contractor will mean a lot fewer headaches in the end.

If you have had the same old drab and outdated looking carpeting for more years than you care to admit, it just might be time for a change. Changing the flooring in any room can drastically change the room’s appearance.

Here are a few ideas to help you give your floors a face-lift.

• Browse through the many styles that are available in a modern and sleek design of carpeting to spruce up the look of any room in your home. Old and worn carpeting will take away from your homes natural beauty, while adding new carpet can bring it back to life again.
• Consider hardwood flooring. There are numerous styles and countless designs that are available in hardwood flooring that can make your home amazingly beautiful, while changing the total look and feel of any room. By adding the touch of an area rug thrown here and there, your home can offer style and coziness in no time.
• If the carpeting you have in your home is not old and worn out, but it just appears to be a little drab, then try adding a few area rugs. No matter what your particular style of décor you prefer, area rugs now come in countless beautiful designs that can add that perfect touch you are looking for. Area rugs have the ability of turning that once drab looking room into a room full of life and pizzazz.

Explore the exciting designs and styles in net carpeting, hardwood flooring, and area rugs, and you will soon see how changing the flooring in any room can drastically change its appearance.

There are a million different avenues for remodeling projects that you could go down, not to mention the amount of money you can pour into these projects when you want to raise the value of your home. However, not all of these avenues will benefit you by increasing its value. There are some key areas that you should pay particular attention to when you want to achieve this beneficial goal.

Here are some tips on how to increase the value of your home.

1. You can never go wrong when you remodel your kitchen area. Consider starting with the replacement of your countertops and use those that are made of natural stone. This is an improvement that can be made that is certain to increase the value. You could also consider enlarging the kitchen area.
2. Make additions to your home. When you build a room onto your existing home, this will greatly increase the value of your home. Adding square footage is always a plus.
3. Remodeling your bathroom. Many homeowners are starting to use the popular Jacuzzi tubs when they are building or remodeling their homes. It is no secret that people tend to spend a lot of time in the bathroom. A larger size bathroom of course will add a higher value, but it will also add more room when you are considering the comfort aspect of the room.
4. Replacing the roof. A new roof that is made of good quality is a great start to achieving your goal and it will definitely add to the beauty of your home.

Before you begin your next remodeling project, it will be wise to keep in mind these tips on how to increase the value of your home.