Category Archives: Exterior
It’s Easy to Install an Exterior Door
If you want to learn how to install an exterior door than you should stay right where you are. Installing an exterior door is not very hard at all, but it can be a bit time consuming especially if it is your first time. The easiest way to put in an exterior door is by buying a door that comes with the frame.
Let’s take a look at how a door functions so that you will have a better understanding of all of the different components that are attached to the door and why they are important.
A door is held up by various door hardware such as door hinges and the door hinge is connected to the frame and the door with hinge pins. There is going to be a door knob or door handle, door lockset, and other various door hardware that you might add to your exterior door to increase the look of it.
Generally an exterior door is going to be 32” and 36” in width, and 6”8 or taller in height. These are the standard sizes that give us the necessary width that we need to fit most of our furniture and appliances through.
Okay now let’s take a look a t how you can easily install an exterior door.
First you are going to need to remove the molding from around the door so that you can expose the nails. Now once the molding is removed you will take your sawzall and begin cutting the nails around the door. Doing this is going to remove the entire door frame. It’s always a good idea for you to install an exterior door, or even an interior door with two people. You will be able to do it alone, but it’s a lot easier when you have some help.
Once you have removed the old door you can now begin installing the new door in the opening. It’s very important that you make sure that the door is level before you begin nailing the door jamb into place.
And this is basically all there is to installing an exterior door with the frame. There are many online how to websites that will be complete with pictures to make this process much easier for you to follow along with.
Before you begin removing your existing door it’s a good idea to ensure that you have all of the necessary tools, and the right size door before you start. There is nothing worse than having to leave in the middle of this project.
Ten Ways to Improve Your Home’s Value
No matter how new your home may be there are always improvements that can be made whether for necessity or sheer desire to better your homes’ appearance for your own satisfaction.
When mortgage rates are high purchasing a new home may not be economically feasible. However, remodeling your current home may reduce your urge to sell the home or until selling is more practical.
By determining a project budget, researching ways to do as many improvements yourself and shop around for fairly priced materials you will notice that some or all of your planned projects aren’t as financially devastating as you may have thought.
If money is no object when remodeling your home, it is still encouraged to do research to be certain that your chosen contractor is highly knowledgeable and seasoned in his or her specialty of remodeling. Research will also make you better aware of what going rates are for materials and labor so that you don’t fall victim to being taken advantage of by a contractor.
The list is nearly unlimited when conjuring up projects that can be done to improve a home. Projects range from changing a room’s paint color up to extravagant room additions. Below are 10 of many ways a home can be transformed by an experienced do-it-yourselfer to improve a home’s appearance and value.
1.) Modify paint colors
2.) Upgrade to tile
3.) Install wood window shutters
4.) Open the floor plan
5.) Update plumbing and electrical fixtures, cabinet and door hardware
6.) Replace old windows and doors
7.) Add switches, outlets and light fixture openings
8.) Remove undesirable ceiling textures
9.) Create sufficient built in storage areas
10). Refinish wood floors and cabinetry
Paint
Painting a room is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to improve the appearance of a home’s interior.
Interior walls that are painted undesirable colors well outside of the neutral color family may be used as a way to negotiate price due to so many rooms needing to be repainted lighter, neutral colors.
Exterior paint colors tend to weigh more on the value and curb appeal of a home when selling. Not every homeowner wants to paint the exterior of their new home right away due to the sheer size of the project.
Painting interior walls can be quite time consuming and bothersome for a homeowner. Many may consider painting the exterior a much more tedious, dutiful task due to needing long extension ladders, removal and replacement of storm doors and windows, and having to climb on roofs in some cases.
Tile
There are so many new flooring products that have come available over the years. Research shows that installing floor tile rather than linoleum in high traffic or damp areas is much more appealing and valuable to homeowners and potential home buyers.
Homeowners who have never installed or researched tile installation tend to think it will be too difficult to do themselves. This may ring true for those who just aren’t proficient at tackling new do-it-yourself tasks outside of the very basics like painting or spackling holes. However, if you are up for the new experience and can gain access to the necessary tile tools, you may be pleasantly surprised that tiling isn’t as hard as you may have thought.
You could potentially save yourself several hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars by tiling floors and back splashes yourself.
For instance, depending on the going rate for tile labor in a chosen state or city, excluding material costs
you can expect to spend $6 – $15 per square foot of tile to be installed when hiring a professional.
Floor Plan
Open floor plans help make the interior of a home appear larger than what it is. Aside from the open appearance having an open floor plan also adds possibilities when decorating, arranging furniture and when entertaining large amounts of guests.
There are a few things that can be done to open up a floor plan without costing thousands of dollars.
One way for a do-it-yourself homeowner to open up rooms throughout the home is by widening doorways
that do not require doors such as kitchens, dining rooms and kitchens.
You may not want or need to go to the extent of knocking down entire walls, but you may find it very appealing to simply widen walk ways 6 to 12 inches. Keep in mind that no matter how little you widen an opening, always be sure to extend the header above the opening to give adequate support over the opening.
Before attempting to open up a room or floor plan, be sure to consult with a contractor who is highly knowledgeable in framing and architecture of homes to help assure no structural problems arise later on.
Plumbing and Electrical
Updating plumbing, electrical fixtures, and hardware throughout the home are tasks that rank high with do-it-yourselfers due to the ease of completion in comparison to larger home improvement projects.
If you have basic plumbing and electrical skills, you have the potential to give your home a mini makeover. In just one or two weekends you could possibly replace all cabinet and door hardware, bathroom faucet and shower fixtures, outdated light fixtures, switches and outlets throughout the home.
Windows and Doors
Replacing old, inefficient windows isn’t only for aesthetic reasons but also to raise the home’s heating and cooling efficiency rating. Aluminum framed windows and sliding doors have the lowest efficiency rating of all windows and doors, especially if they are constructed with only single pane glass.
Well made double and triple pane vinyl or wood windows tend to be a bit pricey for the windows themselves. However, if you are able to replace windows yourself you will have the choice of replacing just a couple at a time rather than all at once. In the long run, you will not only feel more comfortable in your own due to higher efficiency, you will also see a decrease in your heating and cooling bills.
Receptacles
Not all homes, old or new, have a sufficient amount of outlets or ceiling lights throughout. Lack of outlets and ceiling fixtures can be quite an inconvenience for homeowners. Luckily, this is another issue that an experienced do-it-yourselfer can tackle on their own in many cases.
With basic electrical knowledge and experience it is fairly easy to run 12 or 14 gauge wire to and from an existing power source. Adding outlets, ceiling fixtures and 3 way light switches throughout a home will add a great amount of accessibility when using lamps, small appliances and the luxury of turning on 1 light from 2 or more locations.
Ceiling Textures
Popcorn texture was extremely popular years ago, but is rapidly loosing its appeal amongst homeowners now. On the other hand, “knock down” texture is the highly sought after for many homeowners, much more appealing than flat or popcorn textured ceilings.
Although you don’t need to be a professional to remove or add ceiling texture, it does take quite a bit of patience and preparation to do it properly. With the proper tools and materials it is possible for a homeowner to remove hard to paint, undesirable popcorn texture to either make way for a flat ceiling surface or prepare to spray a more updated knock down texture.
Storage
Storage space or lack thereof has been and always will be a key factor when updating or selling a home. When there isn’t enough adequate storage space throughout a home there tends to be a build up of unnecessary clutter where there doesn’t need to be.
With basic carpentry skills and planning, shelves can be added to most any closet, garage walls or ceilings. For the more experienced do-it-yourself homeowner, installing or building built-in cabinets throughout areas where storage space is needed will not only become home for non décor items but
also very appealing to the eye.
Floors and Cabinetry
All too often homeowners tend to think that old, scratched wood floors or cabinets simply need be replaced due to the poorly maintained finish. However, finish is one of the aspects of wood that can be fixed and made to look like new or close to it.
Before figuring out how many several thousands of dollars it will cost to replace wood floors and cabinetry check the quality and integrity of the wood itself underneath the scuffed paint or stain finish.
If there aren’t numerous broken or cracked pieces of wood throughout, consider sanding the surfaces down to bare wood, then apply fresh paint or stain to bring back the floor and cabinet beauty.
When tackling your own improvement projects as opposed to hiring a professional you could see potential savings of 2, 5, even an upwards of 50 thousand dollars, depending on the size of the remodeling project.
Typically homes increase in value by simply maintaining its current appearance and integrity.
By performing a number of improvement projects you can potentially raise your home’s value by 10 – 20 thousand dollars in just one or two years.
Whatever the task at hand, try not to jump the gun and commit to hiring a remodeling professional. First, assess the issues that need attention and determine if you are capable of performing said projects on your own.
Once you determine whether you can or can not complete the given task, then take the next step by either planning your do-it-yourself project or start contacting licensed remodelers and shop around for the best matched contractor.
Don’t get discouraged if you have a few projects around the home that you wish you could do yourself due to not having the extra money to pay a professional. With adequate research and the advice from friends or family who already possesses the knowhow, give that project a shot yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Buy Wood or Vinyl Window Shutters?
Although wooden shutters have been around for many years longer than that of vinyl, not all homeowners want to use the old time favorite for their home anymore.
There are so many reasons why homeowners choose wood over vinyl shutters and vice versa. A large percentage of homeowners who choose to stick with wooden shutters are due in part to the style and age of their home.
If a homeowner occupies a well kept 20th or even 19th century home, they typically won’t choose vinyl as their homes exterior shutter because they want to stay true to their home’s era.
However, anymore it can be quite hard to tell the difference between wooden and vinyl shutters due to vinyl’s authentic wood grain appearance which makes it hard to tell if it’s wood or vinyl.
As with most things in life, both wood and vinyl shutters have their advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages of vinyl shutters are that they are very durable, hold up to most any extreme weather conditions and vinyl is typically much cheaper than that of their wooden counterparts.
Disadvantages of vinyl shutters, depending on personal preference, vinyl shutters don’t appear quite as attractive as wooden shutters. Vinyl is also not a good choice if a color change in wanted ever so often since vinyl doesn’t hold paint as well as wooden shutters, nor is it stainable.
Wooden shutters too have their downfalls, such as higher price, manufacturing times and greater chances of deterioration than that of vinyl. Not everyone minds paying more for wooden shutters when quality and custom appearance are important factors. However, when dealing with wooden shutters a homeowner should be aware that wood shutters are bound to deteriorate over time.
If the wood shutters are constructed well and made of a quality wood, they should last many, many years, but only if the homeowner maintains proper care of the shutters. Wooden shutters last the longest when properly cleaned and paint every few years, which is something vinyl owners need not worry about since vinyl does not deteriorate like that of natural wood.
Wood being the old time favorite also has advantages that some find to outweigh the perks of vinyl. Wooden shutters, when made with high quality material and craftsmanship, are very durable, they can be painted or stained almost any color imaginable and create an appearance that vinyl can’t quite top.
When it comes to needing 100% custom shutters made, wood may be the only option, depending on the exact size(s) needed. Although vinyl shutters are available in many, many sizes, wooden shutters are available in any size imaginable, even down to a 1/16”.
Be the Envy of your Neighbors by Installing Vinyl Exterior Shutters
So you’ve done it – you have purchased your own home. You have achieved the American dream. But you really can’t call your home “yours” until you put your own personal touches on it. Whether you bought a brand new home, a fixer-upper, or you have landed somewhere in the middle, an inexpensive way to give your home a personal style is to add exterior vinyl shutters.
Vinyl exterior shutters will give your home a more inviting feeling and will make you stand out among your neighbors. Your home will have “curb appeal” and it will give you the feeling of pride you are looking for. And the best part is you don’t even need to call a contractor to install decorative shutters – you can install them yourself in a matter of minutes.
To get started, you first need to decide which style of exterior shutter will look good on your home. There are generally 3 basic styles of shutters to choose from:
1. Louvered shutters
2. Raised panel shutters
3. Board and batten shutters
Louvered shutters are by far the most popular and are indeed what comes to mind when most people think about the term “exterior shutters”. However, it is important to realize that this isn’t the only option.
Louver shutters were originally meant specifically for solar control, as other types of shutters do not allow varying amounts of sunlight to pass through when they are closed. The modern decorative shutters are only meant for aesthetic purposes and do not open or close. Operable shutters are also available, but most people who put shutters on their home now do it for decorative purposes so they opt for the inexpensive exterior vinyl louver shutters.
Raised panel shutters are another option. Raised panel shutters tend to stand the test of time a little better than louvered shutters because they do not have as many parts when they are put together. These shutters look better than louvered shutters when placed on a really “busy” surface such as brick, but they also look good on smooth surfaces.
Board and batten shutters give your home more of a rustic look. These shutters are constructed using vertical “boards” that are held together with horizontal “cross battens”. The vertical boards can either be butted (or joined) together or spaced apart. Modern styles also have a diagonal batten joining the other two to form a “Z” shape, similar to the way a barn door looks.
After you have decided on a style, you need to decide on a color. Color samples can be ordered to determine the appropriate color for your home, or alternatively you may wish to choose a neutral color such as black or white or even order shutters made from a paintable plastic so you can paint them to match.
Next, you need to measure your windows so you can determine the proper size of shutters for your home. Vinyl exterior shutters can be custom made, or ordered in stock sizes. Stock sizes are usually cheaper, but for a perfect fit you should consider getting the custom made shutters. Of course, another thing to keep in mind is that you may mix-and-match the standard and custom shutters, provided the standard sized shutters are available in the same style you desire. You should measure every window on your home carefully and write down the measurements. This is important because many homes have shorter windows on the second floor than on the first floor. Sizes of windows can vary drastically even on the same house.
Now it is time to order your shutters. Choose your vendor carefully, as not all of them make shutters in-house. Also, pay careful attention to how long the lead time is for the shutters. Some vendors also offer next-day shipping, but most do not. Try http://www.shuttercontractor.com/.
After you receive your vinyl exterior shutters, you can install them quickly and reletively easy. There are typically 2 mounting options, either using shutter-loks or color coordinated painted screws. Shutter-loks look like a button that protrudes from the shutter surface, and come in the same colors as the shutters. Painted screws are the option that most shutter contractors use because the installation is quicker.
Pay careful attention to the mounting instructions that came with the shutters or you have downloaded from the vendor’s web site. It is important to use the correct mounting pattern or you may void the warranty of the product.
After you have finished installing your exterior vinyl shutters, take a few steps back and look at what you have accomplished! You now have a home you can be proud to call “yours”. Cheers!
Repair or Replace Window Shutters?
There are many factors that come into play when deciding whether to replace exterior window shutters versus repairing them.
For many, budget is a key factor that plays a large role in making home improvement decisions. At first, repairing window shutters appears less expensive than replacing them of wear and damage that has taken over the once new shutter.
First assess the condition of the shutter components for rotting, broken rails and/or side stiles, chipping or peeling paint, warped or missing louvers.
Structural damage to shutters with broken or cracked side stiles, rails and/or louvers indicates the shutter(s) should be replaced. These components are not meant to be repaired, as well as virtually impossible to remove and repair properly due to how high quality shutters are constructed.
Cosmetic repairs, such as cracking or chipped paint can be repaired fairly easily and inexpensively by a do-it-yourself homeowner. Sand the entire shutter thoroughly to remove the loose paint using a wire brush to remove the large of peeling or chipped paint.
Old paint that is not firmly secured to the shutter will eventually raise and crack the new shutter paint.
It is extremely important to prime any bare wood on the shutter to help prevent further cracking or peeling in the future, as well as help protect the wood from absorbing moisture since paint alone does not saturate and seal the wood as primer does.
When staining, be sure to apply at least 2 clear top coats to protect the wood. Applying stain alone will not fully protect the wood. However, it is extremely difficult to achieve a uniform finish.
When attempting to repair existing wooden shutters you will want to have the following items at your disposal, although all may not be needed depending on the extent of repair needed.
1.) Philips and flat head screw drivers
2.) Course and fine sand paper
3.) Hammer
4.) Needle nose pliers
5.) Primer and paint
6.) Paint brushes and/or sprayer
7.) Stain and lacquer
8.) Stainable wood filler
9.) Exterior grade screws and nails
10.) Water resistant glue
11.) Ladder
12.) Wire brush
13.) Safety goggles
If you do not have these tools and materials available, it may be best to take the shutter(s) to a professional for advice on what to do or seek out a reputable exterior shutter company and hire a professional to install them for you.