Tag: painting

10 Ways to Keep Your Calm in 2021

December 28, 2020

To say that 2020 was a stressful year might be an understatement. According to recent studies, almost a third of Americans and Canadians say they experienced high levels of stress during the year. For a more laid-back 2021, try these home design tips to let go of your worries. 1. Let the light shine in.Dark or dimly-lit spaces in your home can negatively impact your mood. Letting in more sunshine can boost your emotions and help you unwind after a long day. Sunlight is especially important during the shorter days of winter, which can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Plus, Vitamin D is key for your immune system and natural lighting can increase your focus and take the strain off your eyes when reading or looking at screens. 2. Get your green thumb in gear. Whether they’re fresh, dried or even faux, incorporating plants and flowers in your home can have a calming effect. It’s been found that greenery can significantly lower your stress levels. Their leaves also act as a natural humidifier that enhances your indoor air quality. If you don’t have enough sunny spots, there’s lots of plants that will be fine in lower lighting. 3. Better bedding,

Spend Your Gift Card on These Home Improvement Tools

January 17, 2020

If you still have a gift card from the holidays burning a hole in your wallet, we’re here to give you some ideas to spend it on. Here are some of the best home improvement tools you wouldn’t think to buy for yourself, but won’t know how you lived without. Bosch Laser Distance MeasurerMiles ahead of your traditional tape measure, we love this pocket-sized tool for its accuracy and 165-foot range. It’s especially useful for contractors who bid by the square foot, or anyone who needs to quickly and accurately determine (to 1/16th inch) the size of a room. You can also sync it with a variety of Bosch measuring apps via Bluetooth, which makes this a must-have for us. WORX Universal Gutter Cleaning KitThinking ahead to warmer weather, why not spring for a tool that makes the most odious household chore, gutter cleaning, just a little easier? This gutter cleaning kit is designed to keep you on the ground, with a tube system that extends up to 11 feet. It fits most standard gas or electric leaf blowers so you can blast that gutter-clogging debris into next week. It works best on dry leaves but depending on the power

Removing Wallpaper Made Easy

September 10, 2019

If your home is plastered with outdated wall coverings, you might hesitate to make the upgrades that you want. After all, wallpaper is notoriously difficult to remove (picture hours and hours of steaming, scraping, peeling, grunting, etc.), life’s too short, and you’ve got better things to do. There’s good news though—removing that ugly wallpaper is easier than you think with the right tools, so you can get your project done without breaking a sweat. Here’s what you need to do. First, start with the right tools.Depending on the type of wallpaper you’re dealing with, how long it’s been on the wall and how it was originally applied, the tools you’ll need to remove wallpaper fast and easy will vary. Here’s a breakdown of everything you might need: Follow with the right technique.Before you know which technique will work for your situation, you’ll have to do a little test. If you’re using a steamer, saturate one panel of wallpaper, wait 10 minutes or so and lift an edge with your razor scraper. If it comes up easily, that means the last guy prepped the surface correctly when he applied the wallpaper—lucky you! Continue with soaking the wallpaper and lifting with your

Mildew-Proof Your Bathroom in 6 Easy Steps

March 1, 2019

Whether your bathroom is old or new, big or small, mildew can set in and make it a less pleasant place to be. Here’s what you can do to mildew-proof your bathroom so the stuff doesn’t have a chance to take over. First, here’s a quick rundown of the top causes for mildew: Leaks. Moisture can seep into a bathroom from sources we can’t see, like pipes behind drywall or cracks in grout. Since mildew loves darkness and dampness, it’ll continue to thrive in these places, making it even more difficult to get rid of once you discover it. A shower that doesn’t get cleaned regularly. It’s a pain to scrub your shower, but it’s worth keeping up with the chore if you want to extend the life of your entire bathroom. Tiles can collect soap and body oil after every use, and over time, these residues can combine with humidity to lead to mold and mildew. Clogged drains. Soap, hair and other debris naturally lead to a clogged drain from time to time. If you notice your shower draining more slowly than usual, it’s important to grab the Drano right away. Clogs that aren’t attended to quickly will lead

Find the Best Painter’s Tape for Your Projects

February 19, 2019

Painter’s tape. It’s such a small, insignificant item, especially when you’re caught up in choosing primers, paint colors and rollers. But when you stop and think about it, painter’s tape could mean the difference between a sloppy DIY job and a professional-quality look. Maybe it’s finally about time we paid it more attention. Here’s all you need to know about choosing the best variety of tape for your next project. What is Painter’s Tape Anyway? While painter’s tape looks similar to regular masking tape, it’s really quite different. For one, it’s a bit thicker than your run-of-the-mill masking tape. That means it tears less easily and won’t leave pesky remnants on surfaces. High-quality painter’s tape also absorbs moisture to prevent any color bleeding onto surfaces you don’t want to paint. How to Choose the Best Painter’s Tape for the Job There are a few key things to consider when choosing the best painter’s tape: Job DurationThis may be the single most important thing to take into account when choosing the right painter’s tape for your project. No matter which type of tape you use, the adhesion won’t last forever. In fact, adhesion usually lasts between seven and sixty days. You’ll

8 Inexpensive Home Upgrades You Can Do in a Weekend

February 8, 2019

Looking for an inexpensive way to give your home an upgrade? Try any of these ideas for a new look and feel that won’t break the bank. 1. Replace your light fixtures.Light fixtures are one of those features that can age a space fast. Not only will replacing them give your space an instantly modern look, it can also increase your home’s value. When you go to replace your fixtures, don’t forget about the kitchen and the bathroom! Those areas are often neglected but mean the most to future buyers. 2. Trade in your drawer pulls and hardware.If you’re not quite ready to invest in a full cabinet overhaul, starting with the hardware is a great way to test out a new look. New drawer pulls and knobs are inexpensive and can give even tired or outdated cabinets a whole new look in minutes. 3. Give your mailbox an upgrade.If you have a boring, lackluster mailbox, setting a weekend aside to spruce it up can really pay off in the curb appeal department. You can replace the box itself, give your post a more upscale look using decorative rocks or go full DIY and find a unique tutorial. 4. Invest

How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling

October 26, 2018

Popcorn ceilings are just one of those things. Some of us barely notice them, while others put them in the same category as fake wood paneling when it comes to outdatedness. If you’re of the latter opinion, the good news is that you don’t have to live with your popcorn ceilings forever. While it can be a pretty messy task, you can still remove all that texture with a little DIY know-how. When in doubt, check for asbestos!For any popcorn ceiling installed before 1980, you run the risk of dealing with asbestos, a common cause of lung cancer. You can purchase a testing kit for around $50 and send a small sample of scrapings to a lab for definitive results. Be sure to follow the directions in your kit carefully. Even a small scraping can introduce a good number of (potential) asbestos particles to the air. You can also hire a local professional asbestos testing service. This can be considerably more expensive, but quite a bit more comprehensive since they’ll test multiple areas, air quality and more. If your home was built long before 1980 and you’re not sure of its renovation history, a professional test is well worth it

What is Paint Primer and Do I Need It?

September 19, 2018

When it comes to painting rooms in your home, you want the process to be as fast and easy as possible, which is why a lot of people tend to skip primer. Paint primer is actually one of the most important steps in getting a professional-looking job with less time and effort. We’ll break down what paint primer is, what’s it’s for, when you want to use it and when it’s okay to skip it. What is Paint Primer, Anyway? Paint primer is just what it sounds like—it’s a white-colored base coat that you apply first, before you start in with your expensive latex paint. It “primes” the surface you’re painting, so you get better adherence and coverage in fewer coats. Even though it adds an extra step, paint primer is a great time-saver in most instances and actually makes your paint job more durable, long-lasting and less likely to chip. When You Should Use Paint Primer There are some jobs where paint primer can be optional, but most of the time it’s a good idea. Before you break out the brushes and rollers, see if your job is on this list. When It’s Okay to Skip Paint Primer Call

How to Remove Paint from Wood

August 17, 2018

You found the perfect piece of wood furniture at your local flea market, but you can’t stand the paint job. It’s rough, splotchy and on top of that it’s an ugly color, but don’t give up on it just yet! Removing paint from wood can be painstaking, but it’s definitely worth it for the results. We’ll show you the best tools and techniques to make the process as easy as possible. The Tools You Need Every job is a little bit different, so depending on what item you’re trying to remove paint from, you’ll need a combination of some or all of these items. A Word on Lead Paint If you’re working on an older piece, know that the paint you’re removing may be lead-based, which means no sanding. There’s only one way to know for sure whether you’re dealing with lead paint, and that’s by testing it. You can use an at-home test kit (least expensive), mail a sample out to a lab (a bit more expensive), or hire a professional to come in and perform an X-ray fluorescence test (most expensive by far). If the paint you’re removing contains lead, there are a few things to keep in

How to Paint a Room the Right Way

July 18, 2018

It’s no secret that a fresh coat of paint can transform any room of your home. Something that won’t add to the wow factor? A streaky, uneven job. Learn how to paint a room with these tried and true techniques to get the results you want every time you pick up a roller. Inspect your walls. If your walls have cracks, holes or other imperfections, they’ll need taken care of before you start priming and finally, painting. You can use a lightweight spackling compound and a putty knife to repair them, taking care to remove excess spackle with the putty knife. Allow the area to dry completely before going in with very fine grit sandpaper to smooth the surface over. Clean your walls, especially of dust and debris. Dirty walls can impair paint adhesion and cause uneven application. Once you’ve spackled over any imperfections, you’ll want to thoroughly clean your walls. First, use a floor duster to remove any dust, then wipe the walls with a damp cloth (be sure your cloth won’t leave behind fibers). Now is also a great time to remove everything from your walls, including electrical plates, registers and sconces. Tape everything off. The first thing