Home Improvement - Doing It Right The First Time

Everybody is on a budget which often means that we cut corners just to save a buck or two. More often than not these shortcuts can end up costing us much more than it was worth to begin with and nowhere is this more true than in the home improvement industry.

Builders, plumbers, electricians and other household industries have developed a very bad reputation over the years for delivering less than the best service. However, I don't believe that all of them are entirely to blame and that homeowners often turn on these tradesmen as a result of their own frugality.

My Grandfather always used to say "If you buy cheap, you get cheap." This does not necessarily mean that you need to opt for the most expensive home improvement products and services. Neither does it mean that you will be getting the best when you pay the most.

There is a happy medium where you will find fair quotations for good reliable labor as well as the products you need for your home improvement. There are also ways in which you can take control of your home improvement needs to make sure it is done right the first time.

Word of mouth is still the best way to market a good product so make sure that you choose household products that are well known and have a good reputation in the industry. Be sure to ask any tradesmen for any references they may have and check on those references to ensure that they are fair.

Be sure to check up on those references in person. In other words show up at jobs previously listed by the tradesmen, checkout the quality of their work and ask questions such as whether the project was completed on time and whether the relevant tradesman was professional and courteous in his or her dealings.

If you can't find reliable references take a walk around your neighborhood and find properties that have recently been renovated and look in good shape. Pop a note into the postbox and ask if the homeowner would be willing to contact you with the name and contact information for their contractor. You will be surprised how often people are willing to forward details of a job well done.

Don't just accept the first quote that you are given. Compare at least three quotes and make sure to take into account any guarantees for products and labor as well as value added services that may be included in the quote. For example, if you are buying carpeting find out if the installation is included in the quote.

Last but by no means least, don't attempt any home improvements yourself if you don't know what you are doing. This is especially important for the plumbing and electrical in your home but can have just as many disastrous consequences for a building project.

Take control of your own home improvement and make sure that everything is done right the first time.

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What To Know When Choosing Interior Doors

One thing that many people overlook when remodeling their home is their interior doors. Doors do more than offer privacy; they also offer another way to incorporate design elements into your home's interior. The following article can be used as a guideline to use when choosing new interior doors. Continue reading to learn how to choose interior doors.

Solid Core Or Hollow Doors

When you visit your local home improvement store, you may notice that interior doors come in a variety of style and colors. You may also notice that prices can vary greatly from door to door. One of the main reasons for the differences in price is the type of door it is. Solid core doors are made from solid wood; thus they are more expensive. Hollow doors use thin pieces of wood making them less expensive.

Paint Grade Interior Doors Versus Stain Grade Doors

Door come in two qualities: stain grade interior doors and paint grade doors. Stain grade interior doors are made of wood and can be stained. Paint grade doors are generally made from medium density fiberboard. For this reason, paint grade doors are less expensive than stain grade doors.

Door Slabs Or Pre-hung Doors

While browsing through your home improvement store, you may notice that some doors are extremely cheap. Most doors that are really inexpensive are door slabs. With this type of door you must hang it from your existing door frame. This type of door can be more difficult to hang; however, with a little preparation it can easily be accomplished by the majority of homeowners. Pre-hung doors include the framing and trim. These doors are easily installed by removing your current door and nailing the new pre-hung door in the opening.

Door Styles

There are numerous door styles to choose from. Whether you want a traditional look or a contemporary look, you can find it at your local home improvement store. One of the more common door styles is the panel door. A panel door consists of several square panels, generally either six equally spaced squares.

How Does Your Door Swing?

One thing that most people do not think of when purchasing a door is how the door swings. How a door swings is based on where the door knob and hinges are located. Doors can be either left handed or right handed. To figure out which one you need stand on the inside of your door and look at your doorknob. If the doorknob is on the right as it swings toward you, then you need a right handed door. If on the other hand, it's on the left, you will need a left handed door.

As this article has shown, there are many things to consider when choosing your interior doors. Follow the advice located above to help ensure you choose the best options the next time you purchase new doors for your home. You can give your home a new and improved look by doing nothing more than changing out your existing interior doors.

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