Tag: renovate

Making sense of renovating your home

Making sense of renovating your homecredit

It’s not always easy renovating your home, because not only is it a heavily creative task that you need to focus on, but also a goal that requires real organisational effort. The logistical plans you must put in place can help make this process a success or a continual effort that seems to always require updating and fixing.

For this reason, making sense of renovating your home is perhaps the best place to start; this involves planning. If a room is having its flooring replaced, odds are, you won’t be able to use it. This means that your children may have to share a bedroom for a week while you renovate and make the space liveable. Such considerations are quite obvious, but are worth planning for to see just what the best options are. And you may also need to adapt your home a little.

For instance, traditional and modern carpets require specialist care and installation respectively. And it’s best if the room is clear so any professionals can do their job properly. So always try to accommodate anyone who needs to work in your home.

From there, shaping your entire organisational flow is also important. When will the tradesmen be able to work on your room, and when can they get in the materials? Working in tandem with your hired services in this way can be tremendously helpful.

Let’s consider some other baseline tips to help you make a success of your home renovation goals:

Storage iconcredit

Storing items until you’re ready

Storing items until you’re ready to bring them back into your home can be a real benefit, and can prevent you from having to lock off other rooms with stored items while you finish. With the best storage services, you can keep your valued property under lock & key and 24/7 external surveillance, ensuring that when you’re ready to add the finishing touches in your home, you can do so comfortably.

Furniture icons

Orienting & moving furniture

Orienting and moving furniture around the space can help open up certain segments of renovation potential, like allowing electricians room to rewire a few sockets or to redirect the cabling. Furthermore, taking the time to reorient the furniture before you begin can help you see if your new design will make the most of the space, giving you more room to walk. Perhaps you can even find flaws in your current plans, such as realising that a headboard against the window means that it will block out natural light. With that in mind, you can more readily consider your plans going forward.

Action plan icon

Considering ‘layers’ of application

Considering the layers of application you may plan for can help you avoid nasty issues or logistical problems when trying to renovate. For instance, this can help you move furniture properly after you’ve wired up all the fixtures in the room and make sure that cables will reach sockets, or it’ll help you more easily hang the wall decorations without having to clamber on furniture to put it up after the furniture has been placed for good. Furthermore, you may find that the paint sample doesn’t reflect light well in the day, and only after figuring that out can you decide on your feature wall design. Layering, in terms of how you test your creativity and execute it can be very worthwhile and will potentially aid you in a better end result.

With this advice, we hope you can make more sense out of renovating your home.

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Must-have tools for renovating your home in 2021

Must-have tools for renovating your home in 2021

When you decide to renovate your home, it often feels like there are a million & one tasks that need attention, all at the same time. We sympathise; we’ve been in that precise situation ourselves on a few occasions!

When in this position, you naturally want to ensure that you’re doing the best job as possible, which often requires specific tools. None more so than if you’re undertaking somewhat specific jobs. The last thing you want is to encounter obstacles further down the line, due to being unprepared.

Fear not, we’re here to help! We’ve set out a short list below, detailing some of the must-have tools for renovating your home and what they’re used for in each case. Read on for inspiration, budding builders.

Illustration of a brown ladder against a purple wall

Ladders

This may seem like a glaringly obvious suggestion, but we feel it’s worth mentioning all the same. The worst nightmare when renovating or undertaking any job like this is to find that you need to reach something inaccessible and don’t have the means of doing so safely.

Whilst we can recognise that some jobs can be done without the need for a ladder, it’s always best to have one to hand anyway, to minimise the risk of injury when stretching. Whether you opt for a small stepladder or have one that can extend out to a taller level, the choice is entirely yours. Whatever makes you feel comfortable, and whatever brings value to the job that you’re tackling.

Illustration of a red drill

Drills and associated components

Naturally, many construction tasks require drilling into various parts of your property, so it’s another must-have tool when renovating your home. Not to mention, additional parts are also required to complete jobs like these, including the likes of drill bits & attachments and cowling kits.

If you’re unfamiliar with what these are, they’re provided by businesses like Tool Smart WA. They can protect you from any debris, dust and foreign bodies when drilling to fit a down-light or boring into a plasterboard ceiling.

The cowling kit slots onto your existing drill and can save the job of cleaning up after yourself once you’ve completed the job.

Silhouette illustration of a variety of hammers

Hammers

Another seemingly obvious tool suggestion, but one that includes a variety of versions. Along with standard hammers that we’re used to seeing both in person and in the media, there are other, more specialised hammers, which are used for particular jobs when renovating.

A Japanese cat’s paw is an example of a specific hammer and is specially used to remove nails from wood easily and effectively. This would come in handy when wanting to recycle timber beams or floorboards or to safely remove a wall within your property without any nails potentially causing harm to yourself and others in the vicinity.

While these are but some of the many must-have tools for renovating, we’re confident that they’ll make a drastic difference to the progress of your renovations. Ensuring that you’re as prepared as possible for your building project can make certain that you’ll complete the job in good time!

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5 points to consider when converting your garage

5 points to consider when converting your garage | H is for Home

If you’re beginning to outgrow your current home, upping sticks and moving to a larger house isn’t your only option. Instead of relocating, perhaps you should consider converting your garage into something more useful than a haphazard storage area. It’s an often underused space that could be transformed successfully into a spare bedroom, gym, home office, art, creative studio or laundry room.

Carpeted floor with knitted footstool

Flooring

The original floor of your garage is most likely going to be a basic poured concrete which is cold, hard and not necessarily the most attractive. The decision you make about new flooring will largely depend on your budget and whether you plan on laying it yourself or getting professionals in to do the job. If you’re confident with your DIY skills, engineered wood flooring or carpet with underlay are warm and good-looking options.

Underfloor heating

Heating

Typically, heating wouldn’t have been a consideration when a garage was constructed; the space may not have been included when your home’s central heating was installed. If you’re planning a major refit when converting your garage, installing underfloor heating would be a sensible option. If that seems like too disruptive a task, modern electric radiators that simply plug into a wall socket can be an economical alternative, costing mere pennies per hour to run.

Home gym equipment

Storage

No matter what you plan to use your garage conversion for, you’ll probably need some quantity of shelving and cupboard space. If you’re creating a laundry room, you’ll want somewhere to store and conceal your iron, ironing board, cleaning products and freshly laundered items. Every home office will need strong and practical shelves for keeping books, files and paperwork in order. A home gym comes with lots of equipment that needs a place to live; skipping ropes, weights, exercise mats and the like. To avoid them becoming tripping hazards, storing them in cupboards or lockers will keep them, and you, safe. If you’ll be storing precious or high-value items, ensure that any garage door repair work has been carried out beforehand.

Warm pendant lighting

Lighting

Lighting is the aspect that will ultimately set the mood and atmosphere of your new space; you don’t want to get it wrong. The usual lighting you find in a garage is those harsh fluorescent tube lights. In your new scheme, will you need bright, directional task lighting for craft working? Maybe you want warm up-lighting for a relaxed and chilled vibe. Lighting can be introduced into the room by using ceiling pendant lights, floor standing standard lamps or desk/table lamps with adjustable shades.

Working from home

Furniture

This will be where you add the finishing touches to your new garage conversion. The primary use of the space will determine the items that will be needed the most. If the plan is for it to be a workspace, you will need a desk or worktop space, filing cabinet and comfortable seating. If it’s going to be a chill out room, a comfy sofa and slouchy bean bags will be top of your shopping list.

And finally, don’t forget those last little decorative details such as wall art, soft furnishings such as curtains & cushions, pottery & glassware and a selection of house plants.

Your old garage, which used to be nothing more than a dumping ground, can be transformed into a beautiful and beneficial space.

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Essential considerations for a seamless home renovation

Essential considerations for a seamless home renovation | H is for Home

Are you putting your stamp on a new home or have you decided to revamp or modernise an existing property? Home renovation projects can be incredibly exciting, but they can also be stressful and time-consuming. If you’re preparing to start making plans, here are some essential considerations for a seamless home renovation.

House plans, drill, screws and wall plugs

Setting a budget

The cost of renovation work can range from hundreds to millions of pounds, depending on the size of the property and the scale of the project. Before you set any ideas in stone or turn your attention to choosing wall colours, tiles or flooring, set a budget. Do some research, think about how much you want to spend and consider the ceiling value of your property. You want to create a stunning home but you also want to add value. If you spend too much, you might find that there’s a gap between the total cost and the value of your home.

Some types of projects add more than others, but it’s always wise to be wary of the risks involved with overspending. Once you have an idea of what you want to do, it’s advisable to meet with estate agents or valuers to discuss the difference the plans you have will make. Your budget will be affected by a host of factors including labour charges, the materials you use, whether you need a ceiling replacement, new plaster, damp repair and the quality of the finish.

All renovation projects have the potential to go over budget, so it’s useful to have a contingency fund available. When establishing a budget, you may need to think about additional costs you might incur including finding somewhere to stay if you have to move out while the work is completed, for example. Always ensure you add the total cost of each individual job or purchase. If you miss out extras like VAT, this will mean that your planned spend will be much lower than the actual total.

Mood board on a wall

Looking for inspiration

There are endless possibilities when it comes to planning a new kitchen, adding an extension or creating a master suite in the attic. Even if you think you know exactly what you want, it’s a useful exercise to visit showrooms and interior stores and to flick through home magazines, read blogs and explore online galleries. You can take ideas and elements from different properties and mix and match trends to design something unique that looks incredible and works on a practical level for your family. It’s also worth discussing plans with experienced architects and reputable building firms, as you might find that they can elevate a basic plan and conjure up a host of innovative ideas based on what you want. Take your time to go through the details and make sure you’re 100% happy with the plans before you proceed.

Man drawing plans

Planning in advance

Carrying out extensive work to a property requires careful planning. Every stage and phase of the development should be planned in advance, and you should have an insight into what is happening and when you can expect to be able to start enjoying your new home. Before you sign any contracts or make any payments, call several firms to get quotes, read reviews and testimonials and ask neighbours, friends, relatives and colleagues for recommendations. Once you have some written quotes in front of you, compare them and look for the company that offers the best value, rather than the lowest price. Bear in mind that you might need planning permission to get started, depending on the nature of the project. If this is the case, you’ll need to factor in the time it takes to apply and await a decision and any added costs.

There are several practical considerations to bear in mind when renovating your home. One is undertaking work yourself. In many cases, home-owners leave everything to building companies and architects, but if you’re keen to save money and accelerate progress, or you want to roll your sleeves up and get involved, there may be some jobs you can tackle. Clearing rooms, stripping wallpaper, ripping out kitchen units and painting walls are good examples of suitable DIY tasks. If you’re going to end up with a lot of junk or rubbish, ring around for the best value skip bin hire and see if you can call in favours from friends and family members.

Another issue you may have to figure out is where you’re going to live while the main jobs are completed. If you’re replacing your kitchen or reconfiguring the entire ground floor, it might not be possible to live on-site. You could ask relatives to put you up for a short period of time or get a hotel room, or you could look into a short-term property let if you’re expecting the build to take several weeks or months. Weigh up the options and think about which one will suit you and your family best.

House in mid-renovation

Adding personality

This is the most enjoyable aspect of the project for most home-owners. Once you’ve set a budget, liaised with experts and figured out layouts and structural changes, you can focus on personalising your home and showcasing your style and flair. The finishing touches can make all the difference, so think carefully about colourways, furniture choices and fixtures and fittings. Consider how you’re going to use each room and how you want the space to look and feel. Maximise natural light and take advantage of views of your garden or rolling hills, crashing waves or verdant fields in the background. Large windows and bi-fold doors are ideal for bringing the outdoors in and flooding living spaces with light. You can inject colour, carry themes and showcase your personality using accessories such as wall art, soft furnishings, plants & flowers and lighting.

Embarking upon a home renovation project is an exhilarating proposition, but it can also be daunting. To ensure a seamless transition, set a budget at the outset, conduct through research, choose reputable builders and architecture firms, plan meticulously and add personality. Planning ahead can save time, effort and money and it can also make the process much less stressful.

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