10 Surprising DIY Home Renovation Ideas You Can Do on a Budget

10 Surprising DIY Home Renovation Ideas You Can Do on a Budget

The owner of Urban Garage Door Company named Matt Avitua, shared with us via his blog that a DIY home renovation can save you money and help you save money. However, you don’t have to settle for boring, run-of-the-mill projects. There are plenty of creative and exciting DIY home renovation ideas that you can do on a budget.

Install a Backsplash

Backsplashes are an easy and affordable way to add style to your kitchen or bathroom. You can buy peel-and-stick tiles at most hardware stores, which come in various colors and textures.

Paint Your Cabinets

If you need an easy way to give your kitchen or bathroom cabinets a fresh look, try painting them! You’ll need some primer, paint, and brushes or rollers. It’s an inexpensive project with a significant impact.

Update Your Lighting

Lighting can make a massive difference in the look and feel of any room. Look at stylish pendant lights or sconces that you can easily install yourself.

Transform Old Furniture

You don’t have to buy new furniture to update your space. Consider upcycling old pieces with paint and fabric, or use unexpected items like ladders or staircases for storage! Get creative and have fun playing around with different ideas.

Hang Artwork

Artwork is easy to spruce up any room – no matter how small. Find affordable prints online or create your gallery wall from thrift store finds and family photos.

Install Wallpaper

Wallpaper is coming back, and it’s easier than ever to install on your own. Choose from fun patterns to elevate the look of any room in your home.

Replace Hardware

Changing outdated knobs and handles can add a new feel to cabinets and furniture. Look for affordable options at secondhand stores or online retailers.

Create an Accent Wall

Painting just one wall in an unexpected color can change the mood of a room! Consider using bright colors or bold prints for maximum impact without breaking the bank.

Refresh Your Bathroom

Give your bathroom space a mini-makeover with fresh towels, rugs, and accessories. Find affordable items at secondhand stores or online retailers to get the most for your money.

Redo Your Flooring

If you’re brave, try refinishing a wood floor or laying down some new tiles! It’s a great way to transform any room in your home with minimal effort.

DIY home renovation is an easy and budget-friendly way to upgrade your space. With these creative ideas, you can create a beautiful and unique style that’s all your own. Have fun getting started on your projects!

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Construction Ideas for Energy Efficient Homes

Energy consumption should be a significant issue when constructing a home. Your home consumes energy for various purposes, including lighting, heating, powering electronic gadgets, and cooking. Energy costs can be high and unsustainable if you don’t adopt energy efficiency strategies. Therefore, to avoid paying huge electricity bills for your home, you can adopt these ideas for energy-efficient homes;

Use Solar Power

Solar power is one of the renewable sources of energy that is vastly available in many parts of the world. If your area receives sunlight many days, installing solar power is an excellent energy-efficient idea. Solar power is cheap because it is free. You’ll not have to pay monthly electricity bills. 

Energy-Efficient Bulbs

A modern trend in the home construction industry is using energy-efficient bulbs. As the name suggests, energy-efficient bulbs do not consume so much energy because of their high efficiency. Using these bulbs will lower your energy consumption and reduce the amount of waste in terms of heat generated from the bulbs.

Energy-Efficient Electronics

Besides the lighting, your electronic devices also consume significant energy. Whether it is your refrigerator, the television, or the microwave, these devices can cause high energy costs and waste. Luckily, there are energy-efficient electronics available today. Buy these instead of the traditional ones.

Strategic Location of Windows

The position of your house windows is vital in determining the amount of light that comes in. depending on the location of your house vis-à-vis the direction of the sun. You can ensure that the windows capture the most natural light by strategically locating them. And this will reduce the need for using electricity during the day for lighting. 

Final Thoughts

There are many ideas to construct energy-efficient homes. Some are very simple and not costly to implement. You have no reason not to have an energy-efficient home.

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How to Estimate a Construction Project

How to Estimate a Construction Project

After a recent shared conversation with Mr Wynn, the business owner at Texas Grass Company, he goes to share with us some of his thoughts, he shares that a construction project estimate enables you to determine the amount you’re likely to spend on it. Construction projects are complex operations, and experiencing budget overruns is common. It takes time, knowledge, and extensive experience to estimate a construction project accurately. Nevertheless, this article provides tips to help you evaluate a construction project.

Refer to Past Projects

If you happen to question your budget, take a look at the final expense lists of your past projects. In this case, consider the projects you spent money on and find out how much money you ended up paying. And this helps you come up with realistic estimates. You could even have better estimates because they reflect on what you hope you can accomplish.

Consult a Professional

If struggling to develop cost estimates that are realistic and accurate, hiring a professional can help you avoid problems in the future. That’s because an expert can spot problems in your calculations and help you fix them. Hiring professionals can be expensive, but they will do you a lot of good and help you save money to fix future mistakes.

Involve Your Team

Coming up with cost estimates is very tedious, and you should not shy away from consulting your team. They might spot a few expenses you might have left out. Having a realistic and accurate estimate involves getting every cost included to avoid any mistakes in the future or during the process, so kindly talk with your team and involve them.

When developing cost estimates for any construction project, consider a few factors, such as the materials, labor, equipment, and other construction elements. Perhaps, you can list everything you need to build a home and its costs. After that, factor in unexpected expenses for emergencies. With that in mind, you can fine-tune your cost estimation skills.

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A Guide for Keeping Your Construction Project on Budget

A Guide for Keeping Your Construction Project on Budget

 A construction budget helps you manage the funding process for your construction project. Your construction project can’t go on or even start without suitable finances. Money sets the gears of every construction project. That is why the budget is vital. The funding will include all the estimated costs for the materials, labor, and government permits. It will assess the whole project from the beginning to the end. Below are tips on keeping your construction project on budget.

 Budget Realistically

A realistic budget will keep your costs as accurately as possible. You can achieve this with the help of professionals. As a contractor, look at the expenses of your past projects as a starting point. You can also compare them with similar projects you have handled before. Remember to plan and allow for access in case of emergencies you did not foresee.

 Contact a Professional

Contacting a professional is a wise decision when building a house on a tight budget. Although you will spend more by hiring a professional, the expert will ensure the work is done safely with no mistakes. You will not have to do repairs or renovations for a long time, saving your money.

Plan 

Keep in mind what you want at the end of the project. Your plan should include the tasks and milestones your team will need to complete. Working with the project team, including the stakeholders, will ensure everyone is on one page. Always keep an eye on your project information and make the budget as accurate as possible. Adequate planning plays a vital role in ensuring your construction process is on budget.

 To keep your construction project on budget, follow the above tips. Our expert advice will ensure that your project is on the right track.

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Tips for Calculating the Cost of Building Your Home

Tips for Calculating the Cost of Building Your Home

Construction costs are among the most important aspects to consider when building a home. Although fees may increase or reduce during construction, you should have a rough estimate to plan the project effectively. The following tips can help you to calculate the cost of building your home correctly. 

Start with the Basics 

Building a home from scratch requires a general view. Do not start pondering about the interior features and finishes just yet. Instead, look into the basics like the location since building in urban centers or highly sought-after neighborhoods is usually costly than small towns and rural areas. 

Choose Floor Plans 

A floor plan offers a comprehensive illustration of the size of the home, the number of rooms, building style, and features. You may develop one or hire an architect. Nevertheless, the chosen floor plan will provide better insights into the needed materials and work to complete the project. 

Estimate Price Per Square Foot 

An experienced builder will estimate the cost of the project based on the given floor plans. You should divide those costs by the total number of square feet in the home to create a rough estimate of what to expect at every stage of the construction. 

Consider the Quality of Materials and Building Style 

Think about the specific style you need for the proposed home since it would impact the number of materials and work required to complete the project. Simple designs often cost less compared to houses with complex roofing and details. You should also carefully evaluate the quality of building materials, keeping in mind that high-quality materials will cost more. 

Think About Additional Costs 

You may inevitably overlook some details during the project planning. Those details could require minor or significant changes during construction. So, it would be best to consider any additional costs that may arise when calculating the cost of building your home. 

Building a home is not cheap and could put you through a lot of financial strain. But, these tips will enable you to understand and streamline the costs to your budget, avoiding unnecessary delays and costly overruns on the project. 

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Building a Home – 5 Surprising Things You Might Not Know

Building a Home – 5 Surprising Things You Might Not Know
A house under construction in Sedona Lakes, a master-planned community along County Road 101 just east of Texas 288 in Manvel.

The construction industry is a vast field with a rapidly changing landscape. The industry has experienced several changes in the past years, and a similar trend will continue. As such, there are several things about home building that even savvy builders may not know. Check out the following five surprising facts about construction that most people do not know. 

Concrete is the World’s Most Popular Building Material

Concrete is the most famous building material, which people have used for construction projects worldwide for centuries. The Grand Coulee Dam is currently the world’s largest concrete structure, with over 11,975,521 cubic yards of concrete. 

The World is Currently Facing Construction Workers’ Shortage 

The construction industry is growing fast but faces an acute shortage of workers worldwide, hindering it from meeting the housing demand. Many firms now have to offer highly competitive benefits packages to attract workers. 

Women Account for Only 10.9% of Construction Workers 

Women make up for about 47% of the entire labor force but, only a handful are in the construction industry. A majority of them work in office settings, leaving very few on construction sites today. 

Drone Use in the Construction Industry Has Increased 239% in the Past Year 

Technology has revolutionized the construction industry in many ways, including improved safety and efficiency. Drones are among the main drivers behind that revolution, whose usage in the construction industry has grown by more than 239% in the past year. 

Construction Rentals Contribute 47% of the Construction Industry Revenue 

Construction rentals enable builders and project developers to reduce costs significantly. Reliable reports indicate construction rental sales now account for 47% of the entire sector’s revenues and are expected to increase to about $59 billion in 2021. That makes them a critical part of the construction sector. 

The rapid changes experienced in the construction industry have ensured several things go unnoticed. However, knowledge is a powerful tool you should possess to understand those changes and how they impact the different aspects of the home building today.

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Guidelines for Selecting a Builder for a Construction Project

Guidelines for Selecting a Builder for a Construction Project
Man on construction site with plans in hand

You’ve probably heard a construction-related horror story. And this could be the reason you’re cautious when selecting a builder for your construction project. Well, nobody wants to pay a builder for shoddy work. You also don’t want your project to run over the budget. For this reason, you want to hire somebody that understands what your construction project means to you. To make the right choice, follow these helpful guidelines.

Plan Your Construction Project

Before selecting a builder, plan your construction project. That means deciding what you want and establishing your project’s parameters. Assess a potential builder’s suitability will be difficult if you don’t know what you wish to achieve from your construction project. Therefore, don’t reach out to the nearest builder without even knowing what you want. Instead, decide what you want and then approach the builder.

Establish Your Project’s Requirements

After planning your construction project and deciding on what you want to achieve, determine the requirements of the building. And this shouldn’t be challenging for a small project. For instance, decide on the fixtures that you want your bathroom or kitchen to have. You may have seen something at your friend’s house, and you want to have it in yours. Also, check out various building designs and then settle on what you wish to have.

Consult Family and Friends

Perhaps, you know a friend that completed building a house recently. Maybe you have a friend that commissioned a construction project and is progressing well. Talk to such people for tips on what to do and avoid. Ask them questions that will enable you to pick the best builder.

Vet Potential Builders

With all this in mind, start vetting potential builders. Ask each builder several questions to determine whether they are ideal for your construction project. Don’t settle on the bid of a contractor only. Instead, check out their past works and reputation.

Selecting a builder for a construction project might seem difficult. However, picking the wrong builder will leave you with more problems and losses. Therefore, take your time to identify and hire the right builder for your construction project.

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