Summer Home Remodeling Projects

Composite deck & Vinyl Rail

The warmer months are just around the corner and NJ homeowners are beginning to plan their home remodeling projects for the summer months. For many homeowners it is about making their home more efficient, more usable or to give it more functional. Others want to maximize indoor or outdoor spaces or install a pool or backyard deck. Many are already planning exactly what type of remodeling they want to do this summer while others are still looking for some good ideas. Here are some useful summer home remodeling projects that will maximize your outdoor space.

When to Paint your Home

Painted interior

Exterior house painting needs to be done during a period of time when the weather is going to be dry enough for the wood to be dry before the project begins. After the surface is painted, it needs adequate time to dry as well.  Most people have the idea that summer is the best season to paint, but it is not always the best time to paint a home’s exterior. What time of year is the best to paint your house will depend largely on the region in which you live and the climate in the area. There are several factors to consider which can help a homeowner know what time of year is the best to complete exterior painting.

Temperatures

Most of the manufacturers of paint suggest temperature minimums and maximums which allow for the best paint job. These temperature limits have changed over the years as paints have progressed. As a general rule, the temperature needs to be no lower than about 40 degrees before paint is applied. However, there are some brands that say their paints can be applied to a surface when the temperature is as low as 35 degrees. In some regions, the temperature can be as high as 104 degrees during the afternoon and then drop down as low as 42 at night. Paint should not be applied during the seasons when the temperatures have this large of a fluctuation all in one day. Choose a season in your region that the temperature does not fluctuate too much in a day. In the New Jersey area the average low temperature in October is about 45 degrees and in November it is about 38. So in the northeast region November is probably the cut off for exterior painting.

Exterior Siding Versus Exterior Painting

Siding on a Home

When a homeowner considers different exterior home remodeling projects there can be quite a few options to think about. Many times larger exterior remodeling projects will come down to either siding or painting. Either of these options can provide a brand new, fresh look for the NJ home’s exterior; and they both have the potential of increasing the resell value and the aesthetic value of the home. Some homeowners may find this a difficult decision to make since each method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It is very important for homeowners to carefully consider both options and determine which one best meets their needs as well as their budget.

How to Increase Curb Appeal

Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is a very important aspect of a Phoenix home. The aesthetic appearance of the exterior of the home is the first thing a visitor will see and you only get one chance to make a good first impression. The curb appeal can have a direct influence on whether or not a home is seen as desirable for purchasing. Whether a home is being put back up on the market or a homeowner just wants to improve the look of the home’s exterior some relatively inexpensive home remodeling projects can improve the home’s curb appeal.

Bedroom Design Trends

Red Paint

When it comes to interior design in the bedroom, there are many new trends showing up. In the hectic world that we live in, it is nice to know that at the end of the day our sanctuary is waiting to provide us a place to relax, unwind and regroup to face another day. Sometimes the bedroom’s interior design mimics the fashion world as trends come and go. Colors, patterns and textures that are in for fashion designers are the same types of trends that begin to surface in the world of interior design. Here are just a few of the modern trends that are appearing in bedroom design.

The Eclectic Style

The blending together of styles and periods lends itself to the eclectic style. Many designers are bringing together various styles to create a unique setting for the bedroom. This may mean a sleek modern dresser topped off with an elegant Venetian mirror. Sitting nearby might be a Louis XVI chair. The bedroom design of today is quite a bit different from the traditional look. Furnishings may not match perfectly but instead may be mixed up a little bit to develop the eclectic style. This trend allows a lot of room for personality to be mixed in. And one of the biggest benefits is that if you get tired of the interior design, you can switch out pieces since everything does not have to match.

Modern Interior Design Tips

 

Interior Painting

Modern interior design has a very clean, minimalistic appearance. Some tend to assume that it is very easy design work because of the use of simple patterns. But it can be very difficult to find just the right balance in the use of functional elements to achieve the modern style. Interior design can sometimes be harder to implement. The trouble comes when we imagine a really good idea, and then try to make it actually happen. Once you get started you realize that there are lots of different aspects to interior design. There are a few tips that can help take some of the confusion out of the process.

How to Increase my Home’s Value

Deck

Obtaining a property appraisal is an important step in purchasing or selling a home. Getting an inaccurate appraisal can mean the house sits on the market for a lot longer.  And the property appraisal definitely influences whether or not you can get a mortgage approved. An appraiser will give a home value based on other comparable houses, plumbing, electrical fixtures, curb appeal and the overall condition of the property. There are some home remodeling projects that can help increase the value of your home. It is important to know what types of improvements will actually increase the value of the home.

Bedroom Painting Tips

Elegant Bedroom

Your bedroom is your personal retreat, a haven in your own home. This is the one area of the house that you will see every single day. It’s the first thing you will see in the morning and the last thing you see at night before retiring. No matter what type of interior design is used, painting is going to be important. Interior painting can be one of the least expensive home remodeling projects, especially if you do it yourself.

What Color to Paint?

Perhaps the most important decision will be the color choice used in the bedroom. This can be tricky in this room since it serves dual purposes. It’s important that you create a place to relax, however you will also want something that will help you get moving in the mornings. Color schemes should be kind of mid stream as you do not want something that is too dark and oppressive. Remember when you are considering the interior design, that you can be creative. Give yourself some leeway; look at lots of colors without discarding any up front. Once you narrow it down to a few colors that will work well with the décor, get a few samples to see what works best with the available lighting. Relax and enjoy the process, the very worst that can happen would be if you didn’t like the color once you’ve finished. In that case you could simply repaint it.

Bathroom Painting Tips

Bathroom Painting

Perhaps the most difficult room in the house to choose paint for is the bathroom. This area of the house has its own unique challenges. One reason it is challenging is that the room is generally one of the smallest rooms which can eliminate some choices for interior painting. Larger bathrooms, it may not matter as much; but the paint color is definitely influenced by the size of the bathroom. Another consideration that must be made when painting or doing any bathroom remodeling at all, is that you want a color scheme that works well, but the paint must also provide adequate protection against the high moisture that will occur. Here are a few bathroom painting tips to help you work through the process.

Top Exterior Paint Colors

Neutral Paint Colors

The whole exterior design of a home can be changed simply by using a new exterior paint color in your next home remodeling project. Color trends change over time and yet there are some colors that remain standards in exterior home design. Color schemes can change according to the neighborhood, home design, homeowner’s preference or just the current trends. Colors for exterior painting can also change according to whether or not the house is to be appraised and put back on the market. Here are some of the most used color trends in exterior design today.