Kitchen Backsplash Review Blog

I’m building/remodeling what could be a potential dream home and we’re taking in construction bids. I am not very sure though of my choices…

Home improvement experts…I need help!

kitchen – tile is the best but most expensive, vinyl is a good second choice, avoid lineoleum squares and any form of carpet like the plague, wood floors in the kitchen is also suspect as liquids can seep into the grooves between boards

dining – I would go with the listings above, however many people have wooden floors in the dining room, this is a personal choice

bathrooms – see kitchen

family – carpet is perfect for this room – it muffles noises and warms the floor in cold weather, they do make wooden floors now with radiant heat which is a great choice (just pricey), if you love the idea of wooden floors in your family room, consider getting a large area rug

saw a home improvement show where they painted a laminate counter top to look like granite.there werent any directions on how to do this on the shows web site,and the you tube vidoes I have watched arent very clear as to what type of primer,paint etcetra.do you have any links to good instructional videos ? any horror stories or reccomendations ?
thankyou tim

A few years ago my wife and I painted a kithen countertop wuth melamine paint. No primer needed and it adheres very well. You can also get one or more colors to dab in. Use one as your base coat and use a sea sponge to dab the other colors while your base coat is still wet. As an alternative try scrunching a plastic bag to dab colors on. One precaution however. Make sure you have adequate ventilation. You may need to leave the house for a few hours afterwards while it dries. The fumes are somewhat toxic.

I own a home in new jersey. So far, we have new kitchen appliances, new floors in the entire downstairs(laminate kitchen, and wood dining and living rooms). new washer and dryer, and a new bathtub ( for my disabled wife, easy access. ) What is an average expected roi percentage?

evry different type of improvement has different avg returns – some are 50%, some are 100% (increase in home value) – appliances are NOT improvements.

why would you care if you are staying in teh house?

new floors don’t add much, since it’s just replacing what was there and the bathtub alone without a full bathroom remodel is very minimal also
I seriously doubt you added hardly added any "resale" value to the house and 10 yrs from now – those things will mean nothing – appliances will be nearing replacement age again and floors will then be 10 yrs old

most of that money spent was barely above regular maintenance and repair, not improvement

Are you a homeowner? More importantly, are you a homeowner who would like to have your kitchen remodeled? Whether you are looking for a change or looking to redo a poor quality kitchen, you may seriously be thinking about kitchen remodeling. Once you have officially decided that you would like to have your kitchen remodeled, you will need to decide how that remodeling will occur. When it comes to kitchen remodeling, you can remodel your own kitchen or hire a professional to do it for you.

With kitchen remodeling, one of the most popular remodeling methods is self remodeling. Self remodeling is when a homeowner decides to do their own remodeling themselves, without professional assistance. If you are tying to decide whether or not you should do you own kitchen remodeling, it may be a good idea to examine the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. You will find that there are a number of advantages to doing your own kitchen remodeling, but you will also find that there are a number of disadvantages as well.

One of the most common reasons why homeowners choose to do their own kitchen remodeling is because of the cost. When it comes to hiring a professional contractor, the cost will vary, but it is sometimes quite high. That cost often does not include the cost of supplies and materials; however, if it does you will easily be able to notice because the overall cost will be high. If you are able perform your own kitchen remodeling repairs, you may be able to save yourself a fairly large amount of money. One of the reasons for that is the fact that you only have to pay for your supplies and materials. If you are looking for a low-cost way to remodel your kitchen, self remodeling may be the way to go.

In addition to saving money, self remodeling is also preferred by homeowners because it enables them repair or remodel their kitchen anyway that they see fit. If you hire a professional contractor to remodel your kitchen for you, they will be using your ideas and suggestions; however, last minute changes are sometimes frowned upon and they may even cost you money. If you are doing your own kitchen remodeling, you will not have this problem. You can change your mind about any aspect of your remodeling project at anytime, rarely with any consequences.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to doing your own kitchen repairs. Although it is nice to save money and be able to have complete control over your kitchen remodeling project, you will find that it often takes a lot of time to do your own kitchen remodeling. Professional contractors are not only good at what they do, but they are also experienced. That is one of the reasons why they are able to complete most of their jobs in no time at all. If you do not have any home improvement or remodeling experience, the job could take you twice as long, if not longer, to complete. If you are limited on the amount of time that you have available or if you have a deadline, you may find it difficult or impossible to do your own kitchen repairs.

In addition to the time it takes, when deciding whether or not you should do your own remodeling, it is important to consider the damage that can be done. It is no secret that it isn’t always easy to remodel anything, let alone a kitchen. The difficultly will all depend on which areas of your kitchen you plan on remodeling. If you do not have home improvement or remodeling experience, you need to be careful with how you approach the situation. A quality remodeling project is likely to increase the value of your home, but a poor one may reduce the value of it. That is something many homeowners do not realize or even think about it.

As you can see, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to doing your own kitchen remodeling. In addition to the above mentioned factors, it is also important to take the size of your project into consideration. If you are only doing a small project, such as replacing your kitchen sink, it may be a good idea to take the time to familiarize yourself with the process instead of automatically making the decision to pay a professional.

Carl Hoffman
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/should-you-do-your-own-kitchen-remodeling-191350.html

My wife and I are debating between new windows, a finished basement and an updated kitchen. Which of these will most enhance the value of our home for resell. Any cost estimates would be greatly appreciated as well.

Its depends on how old your house is, if it’s a bit newer, windows or a newer kitchen may not help increase the value,
If you have a Brady Bunch kitchen that’s where your best value will be gained, but also one of the biggest expenses to update.
Paint most of the time is the easiest and cheapest do-it-yourself updates.

The variety of kitchen designs is so broad that home improvement projects for kitchens can improve their overall atmosphere and appearance by the simple addition of kitchen cabinets and other furniture. First though, it is imperative to plan your designs and project first to make sure the final result is what you really want. It is vital to consider everything before making a final design decision, and consider all the different design ideas available. Initially you can draw ideas from the many home improvement television shows or magazines, the Internet, or even go to some home and garden exhibitions or shows to get some idea of what is available and the general costs. If you exercise your creativity you can ultimately formulate a unique design from nothing, making your kitchen truly personal and greatly improve your property simultaneously.

To begin with, you should account for certain factors when searching for the right kitchen design for you. Start with evaluating your budget requirements and make yourself stay within that budget as best as you can. The best way to do this is to make sure that the design you choose can be achieved through the budget you have set for the project. Another way is to consider the common theme that you have currently for your home as the one for your new kitchen, but this is only a choice, not a necessity. You should also take into consideration family size and the numbers of people that will probably utilise your kitchen. For example, bigger families or those with younger children may need to consider a different design type than couples or single people.

The next step is to plan the equipment and item purchases you will need to do your home renovation and create that dream design for the kitchen. Money can be saved easily and the best way to do that is to shop online, whereby you can save a lot using discounts and deals on things like cabinet doors, furniture, cabinets and other items. Consumer choice is best online, so you improve the chances of locating the design you want and the means to implement it. By re-designing your kitchen you will have a refreshed room that is a pleasurable workspace, a delightful relaxation spot, and will add to your home’s value should you consider selling it as some point.

Jack Blacksmith
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/kitchen-cabinets-save-money-with-kitchen-designs-110664.html

I want to get the kitchen cabinets repainted (bright & airy .. removing the original paint and repaint again). Does anyone know how I go about getting this done through a professional? I mean, would a handyman do this job or a painter or home improvement services?

I would use a professional painter to do the job. If you need some referrals, go to your nearest paint store and ask them for some. Once you get a few to give you bids, ask them for references locally. If at all possible, try to go look at the work. Painting cabinets is a very tedious job. It can also be expensive. If it is done properly, it is worth the money. The only way you can be fairly certain that you will be getting what you expect is to do your homework. There are a lot of painters who will tell you they can do a good job. You’ll eliminate a lot of them by seeing what they have done in the past. Some questions to ask a reference would be:

How long ago was the work done? You don’t want to hire someone that only does one or two sets a year.

Did they stay on schedule? Another words, did they start and finish when they said they would?

Did they clean up after they were done?

Was the bid accurate, or were there other costs that the painter neglected to disclose, or simply didn’t anticipate?

Would you recommend the painter or use them again yourself?

If you aren’t satisfied with the answers you receive, keep looking.

Finally, you should never pay money up front. If a contract is used, then both parties interests are protected if it is written well. A customer should never have to pay money up front, and the only way to avoid a job being abandoned or dragged out for a long time is for payment to be made once the work is complete. Any painter who will not agree to this should not be considered.

I am about to get my home renovated and moving ahead for home redesign. I have to work on several different projects like kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms as well. But i would like to also ask the priority of the Home Improvement Projects that should be considered first.

Michigans a big state.. What part of Michigan? I was based if Brighton for 20 years and know some places. Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar..GL

Or does it make sense for a small time home improvement DIY’er to find other routes to improve kitchen-bath

It depends on taste as well. If you can do the job yourself (and I did it many times) it is an excellent way to add substantial value to your property and enjoy something good while using it. I did bathroom floor to ceiling but left the floor as I have original hardwood floorboards. I think it is beautiful and so many others say. In the kitchen I did a partial floor to ceiling in the wet and hot areas. Tiles are fantastic insulators. So in my view tiles are the ultimate answer. Some people don’t want to go that way. To me it make aesthetic and economic sense.

One of the most important rooms in your home is your kitchen, and nowadays it is much more than simply a place to prepare and cook food. Today most people use it for relaxation, eating and entertaining, a major reason why most opt for home improvement and home repair by using kitchen remodeling and utilizing the various options of ideas and designs. Kitchen remodeling lets you get the fresh look you want, and dependent on your budget and personal needs, you will be able to make a marked difference to your special room. Redesigning a kitchen can be a valued form of home improvement that benefits you two ways: you have the pleasure of using it while you live there; and your home’s value increases. Most buyers do put great weight on the kitchen on the list of their most important needs, and so making improvements to your kitchen can increase your home’s salability if you opted to move or sell at some point in the future.

Whatever option you choose for a kitchen, it will be greatly dependent on your personal needs, saving you a fortune in money, especially is your choose to reface your kitchen cabinets and countertops. However, if your kitchen cabinets and furnishings were not salvageable then you would be surprised at the fantastic deals you can choose from in regards to kitchen fixtures, cabinetry and furnishings. You may even choose to make additions, and if you do not presently have one, you could opt to install an island, adding needed workspace, extra storage, and a stylish new look. Whichever option you go for, installing new kitchen furnishings and cabinetry or simply refacing existing ones, you can access some amazing deals and also an excellent range of choices. This will enable you to find the best look for your kitchen. You can choose from a broad selection of finishes as well, meaning that whatever theme or look you want to get for your kitchen, you will avoid all the problems of finding the best answer to that needed look.

Setting up your kitchen with new furnishings and cabinetry can sometimes be expensive, but if you look around in the correct places, you can cut your costs dramatically. One of the best places to begin is on the Internet, letting you access a broad range of super choices, plus good value for your money regarding your kitchen needs, from accessories and furnishings to fixtures and whatever you may want to get your kitchen looking perfect. You should make comparisons between each product and prices first, as you can locate some amazing options from the varied range of both top quality and reputable manufacturers, who endeavor to assist all their customers in achieving the best final look for their revamped kitchens.

Jerry K. Blackburn
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/home-repair-kitchen-cabinets-and-kitchen-renovations-110674.html