Did you know that over half of American homes were built before 1980, according to the US Census Bureau? If you’re living in one of those homes, it may be time for an American home renovation. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an interior designer to spruce up your home. However, you may need some ideas to get started and to have an idea of what contractors you should hire. Read this useful guide to see how American home renovation is yours for the taking.
Create a Hobby Room
Do you have any interesting hobbies you’d like to showcase and develop more? If so, why not create a designated space just for a hobby room? Your hobby room doesn’t have to focus on things that you’re already an expert in. It can be for a combination of things that you’ve already mastered along with activities that you’re willing to try for the first time. For example, do you love music? If so, you may want to consider buying a piano and taking some lessons. Call local piano movers who can fit a beautiful piano in your space. Add a guitar, some drums, and maybe some wind instruments to your space. Invite some friends or family over and see who’s ready to jam on a Friday or Saturday night.
What about art? Have you done a whole bunch of ‘Sip n Paint’ sessions, and now you’re ready to take your inner Picasso to the next level? With the rise of online art classes, having a designated hobby space in your home can make it easier to get a little messy with your paints and display some of your finest work.
Redo Your Bathrooms
Did you know that bathrooms recently surpassed kitchens as the top room to renovate in homes, according to Inman? There are so many bathroom updates you can make during an American home renovation.
Why not start with some color? According to Forbes, a baby blue painted bathroom can yield home sellers an additional $5000 upon a home sale. Plus, your bathroom is the perfect opportunity to bring the spa to your home. Painting it a baby blue color isn’t just great for making a profit, but also to create a mood that is helpful for relaxation.
Call a local plumbing contractor to make updates to your fixtures and pipes. Your bathroom is a room that uses tons of water, sometimes too much of it. According to the EPA, the typical American toilet wastes as much as five gallons of water in every flush. Your plumber can install a dual flush toilet that can help reduce your environmental impact and conserve water. On a dual flush toilet, you have one flush option for liquid waste, such as urine, and a different flush option for solid waste. You can further enhance toilet time and sanitation by adding a bidet.
Install Water Filters
Once you’ve completed your American home renovation, it would be silly for you and your family to drink or bathe in water that was less than pure. That’s why you should add a water filtration system to your home. According to Healthline, people should drink as much as eight glasses of water or more daily. While you can buy bottled water, it’s more economically friendly to avoid using so much plastic and opt for filtered water whenever you can. According to This is Plastics, some plastic items, such as bags, can take up to 100 years to finally disintegrate in a landfill. Having a filtered water system in place can help ensure your home stays as sustainable as possible.
Do you think your home has hard water? Hard water happens when certain water minerals and scales build up in your pipes and fixtures. It can be hard to shower, wash clothes, or wash your hair without feeling a build-up of film or minerals on your skin. Hard water is also hard on your appliances, such as your washing machines and dishwashers. In other words, your water filtration system isn’t just for drinking clean water. It can also soften your water and make it easier to do other essential household duties.
Upgrade Your Lighting
You need a safe electrical grid to support your lighting and any electronics that you use. Call your local electrical installation service to ensure your home grid is safe and doesn’t have any frayed wiring. Frayed wires can be fixed on a spot by an electrician. However, if the problem lingers and isn’t untreated, it can become a fire hazard. Make sure that your electrical grid is up to date and has enough wattage to support any electronics and additional lighting in your home.
When it comes to lighting, your American home renovation should consider many light options. Home lighting now goes beyond having an overhead light. While overhead lighting is still an important feature that you can customize, You should also consider other light installations, such as recessed lights, chandeliers, pendant lights, accent lighting, LED lighting, task lighting, and outdoor lights. If you plan on doing any entertaining in your backyard, an electrician can make the necessary adjustments to ensure that that part of the home can light up the way you need it.
Consider installing motion detector lights so certain areas of the home can automatically light up the minute someone steps into a room. It’s a great security feature that ensures You never have to fidget for a light switch whenever you enter or space. It can also alert you in case an intruder approaches your home.
Have Your Drains Cleaned
Occasionally, clogged drains are part of life. Sometimes, too much hair may go down the drain when you wash your hair. Despite your best efforts, you may accidentally put food down your kitchen sink. Things happen If quick methods such as using hot water and baking soda don’t work, you should call professional plumbing services to handle the situation.
For random drain clogs, you need to call a professional plumber. It could be a sign of an underlying problem that only a professional can deal with. Trying to fix this solution by using harsh chemicals will make things worse for your newly renovated home, as well as the environment. Those drain cleaning chemicals you buy over the counter can eat through your pipes and eventually seep through your septic tank. When that happens, you can end up contaminating your local water supply. If you have well water on your property, that water source may be the first one affected.
Another advantage of professionally draining your clogs during an American home renovation is you become aware of problems in your septic tank. Your home drainage system may back up due to a septic tank that’s beginning to fill up. Experts recommend septic tank pumping every three to five years. So if there appears to be a problem with your drainage, it may be time to schedule that pumping.
Update Your Garage
Don’t make the mistake of avoiding your garage doing your American home renovation. Your garage takes up as much as 30% of the visible exterior of your property. Start by making any necessary garage door repairs. Having a safe garage door isn’t just important for your car but for anyone who walks through your garage. If your garage door comes down at any time, that could severely hurt someone. It could also damage your car or someone else.
Plus, a garage door installation may be necessary for improved aesthetics. If you’ve made so many updates to your exterior, such as the siding, new roofing, and landscaping, you need a garage door that fits that additional beauty. Garage doors come in many options in terms of materials and style. Install a wooden garage door that resembles a barn door. Opt for a metal garage door with intricate designs. If you want a transparent garage door that shows off your new sports cars, fiberglass is an option.
In addition to your main garage door, you may want to install a screen. A garage screen door allows you to open the door but still enjoy fresh air, sun, and wave to your neighbors while avoiding being eaten alive by bugs.
Get Your Driveway Repaired
Now that you’ve taken care of your garage door, you can handle the driveway. Your driveway plays a huge role in your curb appeal. Anybody would be impressed if they approach your property only to be greeted by a smooth, beautifully paved path leading to your garage door. According to some real estate experts, a well-paved driveway has often been the final deal breaker in selling a home.
While cement is a strong material, asphalt driveways are often more popular, and with good reason. For one thing, when you install asphalt driveways during your American home renovation, the driveway surface won’t be out of commission for too long. The paving can dry in as little as a day, so you can avoid parking your car on the street for too long. Keeping your driveway paved also reduces any liability issues. It can properly seal up any cracks and holes that someone can trip over or that can destroy a tire.
Add a Hot Tub
Your American home renovation is a perfect opportunity to make your home as comfortable as possible. In addition to creating a spa-like environment in your bathrooms, you can also add a hot tub on your property.
There are many reasons to contact local hot tub dealers. Taking a nice long soak in your hot tub is great to help you improve your sleep, relax muscles, burn calories, and achieve better cardiovascular health, according to Healthline. It only takes about 15 to 30 minutes to get the benefits of being in a hot tub. Depending on the size of the hot tub, you could use it just for yourself or have some friends and family over for some hot tub therapy.
Install Insulation
Professional home insulation services are a must if you want to keep a comfortable home. When you turn on your AC in the summer, you expect to have a cool home. When winter hits, your heater should be able to properly heat your home and make it nice and cozy. Even if you have a functioning HVAC system that can heat or cool your home properly, poor insulation will waste that air as well as your money.
There are different insulation options for your property. However, according to Bob Vila, spray foam insulation is the best to use due to its durability and success in proper insulation. So, let local installers work their magic to prevent air leaks from escaping in and out of your home. It could also help prevent water leaks as well.
Repair Your Roof
Speaking of water leaks, having a well-maintained roof is a must for the structural integrity and safety of your house. When your roof has vulnerabilities such as cracks and holes, it’s easy for moisture to seep in from rain, snow, hail, and more. A local roofing company can do a thorough inspection to check if your existing roof has such vulnerabilities and make necessary repairs.
However, your American home renovation may be a good time to install a new roof. You have several options when it comes to roofing. Asphalt telling is popular in American homes thanks to its ease of installation and variation in style. When it comes to metal roofing, not only do you have several types of metal to consider, but you’ll also have a roof that can last as long as 70 years with good maintenance, according to Bob Vila. If you live in an arid climate, ceramic tiling may be for you due to its beauty and ability to handle extreme heat.
As you can see, an American home renovation provides many options to upgrade your home. While this list is extensive, there are even more ways you can build the home of your dreams. So have fun updating your home, and don’t hesitate to install that hot tub!
