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Most home improvement projects require you to have specific tools. In order to find a stud in your home, you may think you need a stud finder. If you don’t need to find a stud often, though, you may not be able to justify the purchase. There are ways you can find the studs using an old-fashioned way. This requires you to have some basic information on how your wall is constructed. There are many similarities throughout homes when it comes to wall construction.

Windows and doors are typically mounted beside a stud. Also, most light switches and outlets have a stud directly to their left or right. The trim in your home is typically nailed to a stud. Using this base knowledge and the tips below, you should be able to find a stud no time without a stud finder.

Corner Measurements

You can calculate where a stud is in your home by measuring from a corner in the room. Rooms are typically built with studs that are 16 inches on center, so at least one corner will have a stud 16 inches from it. Try knocking on the wall to determine if the side you are on has a stud 16 inches from the corner.

Use the Trim

The trim in your home is attached to the studs. Look closely at your baseboards to see if you can determine where the nails were inserted. Most contractors will paint over the dimples, so you may have to look very closely. When you find a nail hole, or dimple, then you have found a stud. After you look at the first one, you can find the additional studs by measuring in 16 inch increments.

Switches

As stated before, light switches and outlets are mounted on a stud. Tap directly beside the outlet to determine which side has the stud support. Once you find a stud, measure using your 16 inch increments to find the rest of them on the wall.

Conclusion

As you can see, it’s not too difficult to find a stud in your wall without using a stud finder. Save the money you would use to purchase one for further home-improvement renovations.

There are many ways for you to upgrade the exterior of your home. Of course, some cost a lot more than others, but with good planning and a little hard work, you can add some nice updates that look wonderful without breaking the bank. Below are some great inexpensive home updates you can do to your exterior.

1. Clean it Up: cleaning up your home’s exterior and keep it looking that way is one of the lowest cost updates you can do for your home. Spruce up your flowerbeds, clean up debris, power wash your house, trim your bushes and shrubs, and cut the grass. You will be amazed at how good these few things help the look of your home.
2. Painting: painting is an easy way to give your home a fresh look. If the budget is tight, simply paint the trim around your windows and doors to give your home a new look.
3. Landscaping: the majority of home designers agree that your landscaping is the most important part of your home’s exterior. If you are doing renovations, include updating your landscape in the plans. Stand back and look at your home from a distance the you can view the entire yard. Perhaps you have flowers that don’t match your homes color that need to be replaced. Maybe some lighting needs to be added to bring the focus to a certain plant or feature in your yard. Try to see your yard from the perspective of a home buyer rather than as the homeowner.
4. Add Lights: the exterior of your home can be completely transformed by adding lights or updating your current light fixtures. Again, stand back and take a good look at your yard to form your lighting plan. You may simply need to replace old bulbs with ones that are brighter. Proper lighting in your yard can improve your home’s safety and reduce theft.
5. Simple Updates: after the above items have been done, look for other simple updates you can make to the exterior of your home. These may include changing your door handles, replacing your mailbox, or simply replacing your house number to freshen up the look.

There are many things you can do to help the exterior of your home look fresh. Use the items above as a starting place to get your home looking great again.

These landscaping and outdoor design tips come courtesy of experts.

If you have recently bought a home, you may have noticed that it lacks gutters. Looking at the costs associated with installing a full-blown gutter system, you may question if you need gutters in the first place. Below are some reasons you should consider installing gutters on your home.

Erosion Control

If your home was built to code, it sits on a slight slope so water will not sit at the foundation. When rain pours off your roof rather into gutters, it can cause the soil around your home to erode. This will wear down your landscaping and allow the water to sit near your foundation instead of flowing away from it. As the erosion continues over time, the foundation will begin to settle. You may eventually began noticing cracks in the walls and uneven floors.

Gardening

The majority of homeowners have shrubs or flowers up against their home. These plants can serve as a windbreaker against the cold winter winds. Water flowing directly off your roof can wash away those plants. Even if you don’t experience much erosion in the area, your plants could drown from the puddles of water that form. This is especially bad when the snow melts off your roof and drips onto your plants, freezing and potentially killing your evergreens.

Prevent Flooding in Basement

Soil that is saturated with water is very heavy. When the water runs off your roof and pools around the house, a lot of pressure is formed around the foundation. This can cause your basement walls to be pushed in, eventually making them crack. Of course, any cracks that form in your foundation walls become an opening for water to flow in, thus promoting basement flooding. If you live in the area that doesn’t get a lot of rain, the little bit of moisture that does get in your house could create a health hazard as mold begins to grow from the excess moisture.

Protect Your Siding

When it rains, the water carries particles such as asphalt, dirt, and leaves down your siding. This can leave stains on your siding. Over time, your home will look dirty and your curb appeal will be impacted negatively. If the rainwater flows down the siding enough, it can begin to make the wood rot. This is not only unattractive, but it becomes an open invitation for pests in your home. It can also affect the integrity of your home structure, a problem that can be quite expensive to fix.

Conclusion

Gutters should be installed on any home, new or old, to help protect your investment long-term. Installing gutters is not a difficult task, as the video below shows.

When considering the best material for your home, one of the most important things to consider is window choices for your home. There are many different types of glass windows on the market and choosing the right one can enhance the value of your home. Here are a few types of windows that may interest you when you’re choosing the windows to enhance the beauty of your home.

 

 

Glazing comes in many styles. Single pane windows or double panes of windows, for example, can add a touch of class and warmth to any room in your home. Glass windows with a glazing edge are also a good choice because they are easier to clean than older glass windows. These types of windows often have a raised lip over the frame to help prevent dust from entering the glass. Some companies also offer a chrome frame, which adds a modern appeal to any home. Glass Repair Logan can assist you in choosing the right frame for when installing new windows or glass repair needs

One of the most common glass choices for windows is a glass repair. Windows that have been in an accident or have damage to the glass, such as broken glass, may need some glass repair. A reputable company can quickly repair the glass, thus preventing further damage to your window. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, a simple glass repair can make your windows look like new.

Many people don’t realize that glass can be used in other areas besides windows. You can get glass shower doors and sliding glass patio doors. These glass products add an element of elegance and comfort to your home. Another product that is gaining popularity is wood siding, which can provide the beauty and weather protection of vinyl, while providing a sturdy barrier against the elements. Wood siding is available in many different styles, which allows it to match other wood features in your home, such as flooring.

Although there are several options for glass that you can use on your home, one of the best window choices for your home is a glazed glass panel. Glazed panels are heat-resistant and durable. They also are very easy to maintain and keep clean, which eliminates the need for frequent cleaning. The cost of this type of glass is a bit higher than other types of glass, but compared to the costs of replacing broken glass, the price is definitely worth it.

Regardless of which type of glass you choose for your windows, you can rest assured knowing your home will be protected. With the right type of glass, you can insure your home and its occupants are protected from the elements. Your investment in protecting your home with glass repair and glazing should be a great choice, as well as a good investment in your home.

When shopping for a house, you do not always have the option of getting exactly what you want. It may be too expensive or it may not exist in your preferred location, so you find yourself taking the best that exists. This may mean working with modular home manufacturers to design the best option in your ideal area. The modular homes manufacturers can create something to suit your taste and needs. Regardless of whether you have your house built or if you find something that is previously owned, you will need to make the best of it and create a cozy environment. When it comes time to furnish the space, there are a few rules you can follow that will create a cozy, attractive space that works for you.

The first thing you can do to turn a small space into something livable is to have realistic goals. Do not try to fill a space with pieces you love just because you like them when they do not fit. Measure your space and be sure you bring these measurements whenever you are shopping for furniture.

Buying furniture one piece at a time allows you to create a space that makes sense and looks right. While you may want a giant couch or big screen television, it is not realistic to squeeze it into a small room. Furniture pieces are made that fit perfectly into smaller space. You can be creative with seating options by using chairs and love seats instead of traditional spaces, or by eliminating unnecessary items like a coffee table or large armoires.

A great way to make a small space work is to use multi-purpose pieces. Instead of using just a table, choose a table that is good for storage or seating too. You can even choose a material made of glass for a classy look and if it happens you found out some faulty on it you can ask for service to take a look of the matter and apply necessary action to fix it. A great piece of space saving furniture is the storage ottoman. When needed, it can be used for seating, but on the regular basis, you can place a tray on it and you have a small table. If it is hollow, it can also be used for storage. Look for pieces like this that have multiple purposes in one item.

When normally focusing on furniture shopping you might focus on comfort or the style of the furniture only. Instead of keeping your options so limited, consider your space and make your decisions first due to size. Find something that fits, and then that is comfortable, and finally, that is in a style you like. Finally, keep your mind opened to creative solutions. You may not be able to get exactly what you want. The important thing is that you can fit your pieces into your space and still move comfortably and feel uncluttered. Move furniture around in the space and find a configuration that you love.

If you have a large family, chances are that your foyer or front hall is run over with coats, hats, boots, shoes, umbrellas and the like. With many families, the clutter only gets worse when it comes to the winter months when extra pieces of clothing and footwear are needed, but not always. The front hall is the first thing that your visitors see when they come to your home. Why not go through pains to ensure that you give off the best first impression possible by cleaning up your front hall a little bit? It should not be too difficult to do so; pick up a few home organization items like a shoe rack, an Oak coat rack or a Shaker peg rack, and an umbrella basket to catch all of the personal odds and ends that must be shed when your family walks through the front door.

Cherry Coat Racks Can Bring Character to Your Home

One of the best ways to reduce the amount of clutter that litters the first few feet of your home is to invest in a coat rack. Many people feel that coat racks are overrated, but that may not necessarily be the truth. Depending on what your personal style is for your home, coat racks may just be an excellent way of bringing home something a little different from what you are used to. When was the last time that you went into somebody’s home and saw a peg rack in the front hall? Dare to be different and clutter free when it comes to your home, and start with a good Cherry coat rack.

Shoe Racks Can Make All the Difference

A shoe rack can make all the difference when it comes to getting the clutter out of your front hall. There are many different types of shoe racks out there; there are those that have to do with personal style and looking good and there are those that are just for efficiency purposes.

Shoe racks are designed to prevent you from having to walk across the home to put your shoes away, but also add a certain element of style to the home–in most cases. Whether you have high stiletto heels or mud filled shoes to keep off of the carpet, there are plenty of racks out there that can give you a place to store your things without really infringing upon your personal style.

Shoe racks and coat racks can make a huge difference when it comes to home organization. Most people fail to realize what a few simple design elements can do for their décor, and between a good coat rack and a big enough shoe rack, your front hall should be clean and clear in no time at all.

Are you thinking of building automobile storage for your ever-prized possession which is your car? If you’re then you’re in for some exciting and satisfying project venture. Certainly, not everyone has got the same mindset and not all have the courage to proceed with the building project even though one is capable of doing so.

However, there are particular things to consider before one can construct even simply constructed vehicle storage such as a trustworthy carport. These things shouldn’t be neglected or else one will be unable to successfully carry on with the construction project. Listed here are the points to bear in mind before beginning a worthwhile project which includes do-it-yourself construction.

Your Carpentry Knowledge And Skill Level

Are you knowledgeable and also skilled with carpentry? If you are then you have the capacity to build your preferred carport following the design you really want. Because it has a basic design then constructing one will not be inconvenient for any novice carpenter or builder. The challenge occurs when one opts for a complicated design but the good thing about proceeding with a do-it-yourself building project provides a chance to learn more and also practice what you have learned. If you are intending to proceed with the construction together with a skilled builder then it’s definitely an advantageous venture for you. The only thing to remember is how complex or simple your vehicle storage structure depends on the applied knowledge you have regarding carpentry and building construction. Just like the level of skills that arborists in Caboolture Tree Removal have, they are capable of doing tree service with utmost care and knowledge.

The Local Building Code

Certainly, one will be unable to construct and use a building in a particular area if the local building code has been violated. Therefore, remember to consult the local building code locally before continuing with the working stage of the project. Apparently, there are certain limitations regarding the dimensions or measurements of the building to be set up in a particular area. Constructing a building more than the allowed measurement mandated by the building code indicates having to secure a permit. With that being said, it is, therefore, necessary for one to show the carport plans to the local authority concerned and acquire their approval prior to starting the construction period otherwise all the efforts will be ineffective in the event that violations are committed.

The Budget For The Construction Project

Expenditures can indicate the quality of the building to be built. If one will invest in quality materials after that definitely one will have a quality building that can endure challenging weather conditions. In this aspect, you must not be taken lightly. After all, it’s your vehicle that can benefit the building primarily. Certainly, you will not want to stake the condition of your vehicle by choosing to construct a long-lasting carport that can effortlessly acquire damage and is not dependable enough. The advantage of do-it-yourself construction projects is a person will be able to spend to cater to one’s preferences and even in the matter of methods much money that one would like to invest for the project. Though such is the case, you should ask the guidance of skilled builders and professionals to have a successful construction project in the end.