4 Questions to Consider Before You Tear Down the Walls
Homeowners embark on do it yourself projects everyday. Sometimes, a problem presents itself that must be repaired immediately, such as a leak. Sometimes, the homeowner wishes to improve the salability of his home and undertakes larger projects, such as an addition to the home or remodeling the kitchen. Then there are those who wish to improve or update the look of their home. Whether it’s an immediate need or a major undertaking, there are many questions to ask yourself prior to initiating any project on your own. Yes, you can save yourself a lot of money by doing your own home improvements, but any project, large or small, requires some pre-planning. The bigger the project, the more planning is involved. After all, you don’t want your project to end up costing twice as much as necessary because you didn’t thoroughly plan for any potential complications.
Whether you’re installing cabinets, building a deck or adding crown molding throughout your home, a comprehensive plan will benefit the homeowner prior to initiating the project. Below are some questions and considerations for the homeowner to ask before tearing down those walls or visiting the local home improvement center.
What is your plan?
What do you hope to accomplish? Are you remodeling or adding a room? Or is it a simple problem that needs attended to immediately? How much do you need or want to spend? Your plan should begin with setting some priorities. Break the project down and rate the importance of each aspect. Decide on expense and speed. Does your project require the best quality or can you cut some corners? For example, do you have to use plaster ornamentation or can you substitute polyurethane? Do you want it done yesterday or is it something with which you should take your time?
Try to determine what your costs will be. Do some homework ahead of time. Obtain bids from contractors and other professionals. This will give you a better idea for what the project entails, whether or not you plan on completing some or all of the work yourself. I like to obtain at least three random bids for any work that I have done. Also, visit the home improvement stores for an idea of the costs for material and other necessities. After doing the research you may decide that the task is too large for you. In any case, you now know how much the job will set you back financially.
Look at setting yourself a timetable for completion of your project. Most projects will end up requiring at least twice as much time as you anticipate. Make allowances for setbacks, for delayed deliveries, for extra work you encounter along the way to completing your original project.
Is this a DIY project?
Be realistic about your do it your self skills. If the undertaking is beyond your abilities, seek professional help. Maybe you need a plumber or an electrician. Are you qualified to handle any unforeseen problems which could develop? Do you know what those potential difficulties are? If you planned ahead, you should have an idea of where you might need to seek assistance for completing some part of your home improvement project. For example, if you are remodeling your kitchen and you are qualified to put in the cabinets, but you cannot rewire the electrical lines. Then you would plan for an electrician to come in and complete this aspect of the job. Also, some cities or counties require professionals to do some types of work. For example, in the Fort Lauderdale area, a homeowner may replace the roof, but only the pitched part. If you have any part of your roof that is flat, it must be repaired only by a licensed professional. This is another aspect where doing your homework can save you time and money in the long run.
Should you hire a professional?
If you do decide that your home improvement job is beyond your abilities or if the job will require a professional, then investigate thoroughly. The news is full of stories of people being scammed by unethical contractors or just folks pretending to be a contractor. Get some recommendations from your family and friends. This is also where those bids you obtained will come in handy. Be wary of those bids that are extremely high or extremely low. Chances are that you are either paying too much or perhaps you will get what you paid for in the case of a lowball figure. Ask for references from the contractor.
Do you need a building permit?
You will need to check with your city or county to obtain any required permits depending on the type of work. Find out what work your city requires a professional to complete. Find out about requirements for zoning. Some work will be governed by zoning or setback restrictions. This aspect of home improvement can take some time. Apply in advance of the job so that you have the permit before your projected date to begin the project.
You have plenty to consider regarding your DIY project. Remember, this can be fun, if you are prepared. Always remember the end result. Since you have planned for problems all along the way, nothing should come out of left field to bowl you over. Revel in the sense of accomplishment when your project, no matter how large or how small, is completed. Good luck!
Patricia Tomaskovic is the President of GoCeilingMedallion, where our goal is to provide you with the best selection of high quality ceiling products, tools, supplies and ideas for your do it yourself project. Drop by today and check out our current specials.
Trend-setting Across America: The New Medieval Architecture
Corbels, or decorative brackets, are one of the most versatile decorative ornaments that can be used to enhance the architectural beauty of any room . Corbels are growing in popularity and can be used just about anywhere. By definition, a corbel is an architectural bracket or projection from a wall. They often support a cornice, or moldings, an arch, or some other type of overhang.
In Medieval architecture, a corbel was the name given to a piece of stone which jutted out from the wall whose purpose was to support any weight lying on top of it. Corbels are made from wood, plaster, marble, stone and polyurethane. Corbels are used interiorly as well as on a home’s exterior. Decorative corbels can be used to adorn cabinets, furniture, pilasters, and door panels or as brackets for shelves and mantels.
While Romanesque corbels were often plain in appearance, occasionally they were also carved into heads of humans, animals and other patterns. Sometimes they were carved into imaginary beasts. Structures built during the Early English period were frequently decorated with elaborately carved corbels.
Corbels occasionally end with a point that looks like it is growing into the wall or forming a knot. These are many times bolstered by angels and other figures. In later periods, carved foliage and other ornamentation was adopted.
Common in Medieval architecture, corbelling, a technique where rows of corbels support a parapet (or battlement), later became a decorative feature without the defensive openings between the corbels.
Today, decorating with architectural corbels has been adopted by homeowners, interior decorators, builders, millworkers and furniture designers. Use corbels with crown molding to add flair and style to any home restoration project. Create lasting impressions and beautiful architectural designs that reflect anyone’s personal style. Decorative brackets are great accents to use on furniture, walls, as art, or even on the exterior of a home. They truly are setting trends across America!
Copyright 2006.
Ceiling Medallions, Crown Molding, and Ceiling Domes: 3 Ways to Add Elegance and Beauty to Any Room
Look up at your ceiling. What do you see up there? Probably nothing much, right? Ceilings are an often neglected area of the room when it comes time to redecorate (or repair). Yet, there are so many things that you can do that are inexpensive, but which provide the simple elegance that speaks to your style. Choose decorative ceiling medallions, crown molding, ceiling domes, rosettes, or panel molding, just to name a few. Three of my favorite ways to accent a ceiling: ceiling medallions, ceiling domes, and crown molding.
One of the easiest and least time-consuming projects is the installation of a ceiling medallion. Although in the past they were made from plaster, today these decorative ornaments are made of lightweight polyurethane foam. This makes them so much easier to handle. Ceiling medallions are used to draw attention to chandeliers and light fixtures, or you can use them to enhance crown molding. They can be combined with a rosette and used to decorate an otherwise plain ceiling. You can use these architectural ornaments as wall decorations. Use several small ones in the hallway. Ceiling medallions are versatile and come in many styles and sizes. They can be painted to match any room. Ceiling medallions are one of the most popular architectural details.
Ceiling domes are similar to ceiling medallions in that they can transform any room into a work of art. However, they are larger and actually recessed into the ceiling, necessitating that they be planned for at the time of construction. Ceiling domes effectively enhance a foyer, dining room, living room, or even the bathroom.
Crown molding, also referred to as crown moulding, or cornice, is probably THE most important architectural element used to define any interior space. Most of today’s interior designers agree that every room benefits from the use of crown molding treatment. Crown molding smoothes the transition from wall to ceiling and does so much to define the architectural style of a room. The size and style of crown molding used may vary widely, from a simple cove in a farmhouse kitchen to a large built-up cornice in a grand entry.
These are just a few of the architectural designs and accents you can use to enhance the overall experience of all who enter into your home. For more exciting examples of decorative ideas visit GoCeilingMedallion now.Just don’t forget the ceiling!
