Rehabbing Interiors: Laying Down Vinyl Tiles Part 2
No comments yetThe first part of this article on laying down vinyl tiles started with a little introduction about the rehabbing interiors job. It ended with the room being divided into four quadrants by intersecting wall-to-wall chalk lines. Now, the room is ready to be tiled and the steps will be discussed in Part 2.
Laying down vinyl tiles must be done one quadrant at a time. Lay the first piece with its corners guided by the intersecting lines. Start from the center and lay the next pieces, following the lines. Then start filling in. If you are using peel-and-stick, or the self-adhesive type of vinyl tiles, simply peel the paper backing and carefully lay it down. If you’re using the glue-down tiles, or the conventional types, read the instruction in the glue bottle. Usually, it will need a few moments to let the glue work on the floor before the tiles are laid on it. Covering areas near the wall or parts of the floor where you will need to do cutting must be done last.
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Rehabbing Bathrooms With Bathtubs
No comments yetOne way to rehab bathrooms is to install a new bathtub. Why waste your time trying to clean the old tub when you can just purchase a new one. Remember, while saving money is important in rehabbing houses, you must also ensure that your prospective buyers will love the house. Buyers always love new bathtubs. Here is a short guide to rehabbing bathrooms with bathtubs.
You can basically choose from two kinds of tubs: the first is the conventional tub and the second is the whirlpool tub. The second comes with a therapeutic hydro-massage. Of course, this type of tub is expensive and is not quite advisable for a rehabbing project. However, you should consider installing a whirlpool tub if the house you are improving is located in a relatively plush area. If you also managed to save a lot from other areas of the house, you can use the excess budget to buy this very attractive feature.
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Rehabbing Interiors: Laying Down Vinyl Tiles Part 1
No comments yetVinyl tiles are no longer as popular as before for rehabbing interiors. However, they are still a popular choice when it comes to rooms where carpets are “dangerous” options. Many rehabbers still use vinyl flooring today for laundry rooms, baths, foyers, and of course, mudrooms. When it comes to rooms where water can spill and spoil the flooring, this material is a perfect solution. Here is a guide on laying down vinyl tiles for flooring.
These tiles, usually measuring 12×12 inches, are what we could call “diced linoleum.” Because of they are small pieces, they are easier to install and are less bulky to transport. They also gained popularity because of the checked effect, where the floor can look like a chessboard by using contrasting colors of tiles. With scores of available textures, colors, and designs, rehabbing floors with vinyl tiles is a good idea, especially when the room needs some variety and life.
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Rehabbing Bathrooms With Low-Flow Showers
No comments yetOne of the most important rooms you must work on when rehabbing houses are bathrooms. Rehabbing bathrooms with fashionable fixtures will impress prospective buyers and convince them to buy the house. Impress them further with a new low-flow shower in the bathroom. Because these high-tech showers save a lot of water, your buyer will surely thank you for installing them.
Compared to conventional shower heads, low-flow showers release less water. However, users will still enjoy that feeling of bathing under a “rain” of water, thanks to these fixtures’ special engineering. These showers control water flow, droplet size, and stream.
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Rehabbing Exteriors: Buying a Grill for the Outdoor Kitchen
No comments yetBuying a grill for the outdoor kitchen is sometimes necessary when rehabbing exteriors. That’s understandable as barbecues and outdoor parties are part of the American culture, and having a grill is thus considered a necessity by many home owners. You can significantly increase the price of the property you are rehabbing and its appeal to prospective buyers by including this piece of cooking equipment in the package.
As in purchase, the price is one of the main considerations you must make. Grills range from the simple and basic $80 to the elaborate and high-tech $4,000. As is the philosophy used by rehabbers, kitchen appliances need not be top of the line. As long as they are new and functional, they will do the trick. What you lack in brand, you can make up with presentation.
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Using Ladders Safely When Rehabbing Houses
No comments yetIt is inevitable for rehabbers to use ladders when improving homes. To reach the roof or when installing a new fluorescent lamp, a ladder is a very useful tool. However, it can also be dangerous. In a 2007 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission survey, more than 532,000 people were reported to have sustained injuries related to ladders. Don’t raise that number and read these tips on using ladders safely when rehabbing houses.
The first thing you must do is properly inspect the ladder. If you are buying a new one, choose the material that will suit your need. Fiberglass ladders are expensive but are good investments for rehabbers. They are durable compared to wood and do not conduct electricity like aluminum.
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Rehabbing Interiors: Install a Stair Runner Part 2
No comments yetRehabbing interiors with carpeted stairs is a good way to wow prospective buyers. Stair runners give off a feel of luxury and class, and home owners will be delighted with this house improvement project. This article will teach you the rest of the steps in installing a stair runner on straight stairs.
The Part 1 article left off at the installation of carpet pads. Remember, the pad must be clipped around 3 inches if you are using the waterfall method to hide it. After wrapping all treads and nosing with carpet pad, proceed with laying down the carpet. The runners must be pre-measured to be long enough to cover all treads. Pre-measurement is important in rehabbing interiors, and should thus be a standard operating procedure in other projects.
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Rehabbing Interiors: Installing a Stair Runner Part 1
No comments yetStairs, especially modest, traditional ones, can be pretty boring. They can ruin the lively mood of the living room with a repetitive piling of straight and plain steps. When this happens, chances are buyers will notice it and that’s a turnoff. When rehabbing interiors, you can always brighten things up with some carpet. Learn how to install a stair runner on straight stairs in this article.
There are two ways to do this. The first installation option is the waterfall method. Imagine how water will run from the highest step down to lowest. That’s how the carpet will run on the stairs as well. It will “fall” off the edge of the nosing down to the corner of the lower tread. The other method is the upholstered. In this method, the carpet will be stapled on the bottom of the nosing, covering everything in its path. This will appear “seamless” on the side but will require a longer carpet.
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Making Advance Payments to Rehabbing Contractors
No comments yetRehabbing houses is making sure things are done right and fast. However, many greenhorn rehabbers are torn whether they need to give the contractor advance payments. After all, contractors need money to start the project, right? Not all the time. For a change, this article will discuss the psychological demands of the business, one of which is learning about making advance payments to rehabbing contractors (RCs).
To determine the answer, perhaps rehabbers need to do some evaluation. It is important that you know the benefits and dangers of giving money upfront to RCs. Among the benefits of this system is work offloading. As an investor, you have other jobs to do apart from the actual improvement of the property. If you decide to give cash in advance to your RC, you will lessen your obligations.
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Rehabbing Interiors: Knowing Electrical Outlets
2 comments so far (is that a lot?)Knowing electrical outlets is crucial when rehabbing interiors, or even house exteriors. These small outlets are battered from everyday use but they are usually neglected by homeowners. Usually, when an electrical outlet does not work, it is just shunned by homeowners. So expect to find busted outlets in old and distressed properties.
These fixtures are also known as electrical receptacles. These wall plugs, where appliances are plugged in to gain access to power, come in several types. The most common type you’ll find when rehabbing interiors is the conventional duplex receptacle. Houses with a standard 120-volt electrical system use this type of outlet. They are recognizable through their two slots – one is narrow and the other is slightly wider. The narrow one is the hot slot while the wide is neutral. You’ll also see a grounding hole, which is an arched slot, at the bottom of the two slots.
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