Adding Value to Your Home – Finishing the Basement

When you are adding value to your home, finishing your basement is a big step that will take some time and effort, but the end product will be well worth.

This should be a well-thought out project so that it is done properly, and so that you maximize the return on the investment of adding a finished basement to your home.

Here are some tips that will make your finished basement that much better, thus adding value to your home:

• Before you start devising a plan for your basement, make sure to check for any moisture or condensation around the walls and base of the basement. You need to repair and fix all cracks with some sort of concrete compound or cement before moving forward. This will also determine whether or not you should lay carpet or use some other form of flooring in the event you will have moisture in the future.
• If your walls are not framed out, you will need to do this before starting any portion of finishing the basement as well. You will need to have studs to hang the drywall (if that is the route you are going) as well as a frame for the type of ceiling you will install.
• If you aren’t doing the dirty work yourself, then the carpeting and drywall and ceiling are all things that you will only have to pick out, rather than install. It may be worth your money to have a contractor do the work so that it looks professionally done.
• Lighting is key for the basement so when you (or the contractor) is figuring out the layout, make sure to error on the side of adding more light than not. Energy star windows are a nice touch. A darker basement is a turnoff, so avoid this at all costs. Even if you have to bring in lamps – make sure the basement is properly lit.

After all of the hard labor is done, this is when the fun starts of spicing up the basement. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are prepared to finish the project:

• If you don’t end up laying carpet and you go with the hardwood floor, I would still advise to place an area rug in the middle of the room. Not only does it add a little bit more warmth to the basement, but it also adds a nice welcoming touch to it.
• A good way to maximize the space in the basement is to hang your TV on a wall mount rather than taking up space with an entertainment center. Wall mounts are available at any entertainment or hardware store, and it will be a great touch for you and your family.
• If you are planning on adding a bar – even if it is a portable bar – you will need at least some sort of fridge. It doesn’t have to be a larger fridge, but you should have at least a ‘dorm fridge’ under the bar for refreshments. This will alleviate the time of going up and down the stairs to the kitchen time and time again.
• When you are considering putting a bar in the basement in comparison to a possible pool table or poker table, the bar outweighs the other two in terms of usage. So if you are crammed for space, my suggestion would be to go with the bar rather than taking up so much space for the other entertainment activities.
• Make sure you make good use of the walls, not only with new paint but also with pictures or sports memorabilia. This is the space where you can afford to hang things that might not actually be a good fit for a living room. If this is in fact a ‘man cave’, then feel free to hang your framed jersey, signed photos or whatever else you deem appropriate. If you don’t have anything, make sure you sprinkle the walls with some sort of art.
• If you are taking the time to finish your basement, don’t use it as a storage place. Make sure you have storage in a separate room or the garage, and don’t just use this area for clutter or your kids’ toys. If that were the case, skip all of the tips here and save your money!

About the Author:  Doug Chapman is a staff writer for Home Daddys, a stay-at-home dad blog.  He specializes in diapers and Sippy cups by day, but is a successful real estate investor by night. 

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Is a Cow Hide Rug Right for Your Home?

People sometimes envision a cow hide rug being used in a specific way. This product may make people think of a log cabin somewhere in the Wild West. The fact is that these products can be used in a wide range of different settings that include contemporary homes.

A natural hide or one that has been changed slightly?

There are many different products that are made from this material. The traditional “cow” shaped rugs are some of the best recognized and loved. These have four “legs” and a “neck” and follow the natural contours of the animal’s body. These can vary in size depending on the original size of the animal, with bulls providing the largest options.

The patterns to the natural hides can be white, tan, beige, brown, brindle, black or gray. Some coat colors are a mix of different shade or have white areas. The patterns can be spotted, speckled, random blotches of color, brindle or a somewhat stripped pattern, or a mostly solid color. Some coats are similar to dappled coats of horses. People that like specific breeds of horses such as Paints, Pintos or Appaloosas often like to get a cowhide that is similar to their horse’s coat color.

There are also hides that have been treated or stenciled to give a unique pattern. Leopard skin and zebra are two of the most popular ones. A real zebra or leopard skin rug might cost many thousands of dollars and some wildlife products like this can no longer be imported. Having a cowhide imitation can provide a good look at a favorable price.

People will sometimes find the hides have natural irregularities. If the cow had a scar, usually obtained from a tangle with fencing material, it is possible to have a white line in the hair or a raised spot on the hide itself.

Other shapes and options

There are also options to obtain rugs in traditional shapes such as squares and rectangles. People that like a multicolored effect or a pattern may want to explore the world of patchwork rugs. These can be found in shapes like a compass rose or traditional patchwork shapes.

People can also find other home products made from cowhide. Some of the most popular are wall hangings and pillows. People often find that pillows can be the perfect complement if they have a leather sofa. These can be chosen to match a color in the sofa or provide a contrasting color.

For more information, visit http://thecowhidecorral.auctivacommerce.com/Cowhide-Rugs-C140344.aspx?sid=11011 today.

Use a Fence Topper for Finishing Touches to Landscaping

Using a fence topper can be an easy way to add visual appeal to landscaping. These products are in the family of post cap products and are available in a wide range of sizes and styles. These kinds of details help people to get a customized look for yards and are very appealing in areas where homes seem to look very much the same.

Good looks aren’t everything

These products look great but actually serve a purpose beyond beautification. The upright posts for many kinds of fences have raw edges that hold water when it rains or snows. After a while, this can cause the post to rot or decay and makes it vulnerable as a support system for the fencing. In some parts of the country, this kind of damage also encourages pests like termites, carpenter bees or other insects to make a home in the wood. With the cost of lumber plus labor, most people are not anxious to have to replace fencing.

Design choices

There are styles that work with all kinds of houses ranging from the contemporary to the vintage. People will find peaked top pyramid shapes, globes or rounded shapes, oval orbs, pineapples, or even lantern styles with window grids. While these are manufactured in different materials such as wood and laminate, the best choices may be ones made of metal. These kinds are superior for several reasons. Wood and laminate can be damaged from extreme weather, moisture or sun damage making them split and cracks over time. Metal has none of these hazards. At the very worst metal like copper will turn a lovely green patina over time called verdigris. But that only happens with untreated copper. People that want to retain an orange shade to copper can buy ones that have been treated with a coating. Stainless steel is also another good metal choice. These kinds sometimes have a brushed finish that retains a good look for decades. An added bonus to using metals is that these never have to be painted.

Some products also have lights. These are almost always solar powered so there is no need to add wiring. These can be used on all post caps or merely the ones adjacent to the gates or other endings of the fence line. Many of these models look like old style lanterns and have window style grids.

These products are very easy to install. Many use only regular screws to hold these in place making it an easy project.

Visit Copper Top USA for more details.

How Trash Removal Service Makes Life Easier

People have more options for trash removal service now than ever before. These services offer users an easy way to get rid of things they don’t want, can’t use and that cannot be recycled or given away. There are many different ways that people use these services.

Remodeling

Remodeling is almost always worth the effort but it can cause a lot of chaos before it’s finished. These processes can sometimes take many months to accomplish and generate a considerable amount of debris in the process. In the meantime, broken plaster or drywall saw dust, dirt and other materials can get tracked back into the house or vehicles if it is allowed to lie outside such as in the driveway. Another problem that can come up is nails, wire or other metal objects finding their way into tires. Having a dumpster or other receptacle onsite eliminates this problem. Materials can go directly into the dumpster and this eliminates the need to handle them more than once. This saves money over the long run, especially if there is quite a bit of debris to move. Having some form of disposal for this kind of waste also keeps it out of sight of the neighbors.

Landscaping projects

Landscaping projects are often one of the last details in a home renovation. Some homes will need major tree pruning or other kinds of trim work if the yard has been allowed to become overgrown. At other times, people may be removing trees or shrubs to change the look of the yard. This can be messy and is another good reason to obtain a dumpster. Most people that assume they can cut down branches from trees and bushes to place them in regular trash receptacle will find this to be a long, drawn-out process that sometimes does not wrap up for months. Getting it out of the way by using a dumpster gets the yard looking better, more quickly.

Moving or selling

People often need to de-clutter a home. This can come about when they need to sell but also if they have to clean up a home of an elderly relative or a packrat tenant that has moved out. People often leave behind broken furniture, car parts, kid’s toys, or household items that should have been disposed of but were not. Having a dumpster on site helps to get things out of the way so the home can be sold or re-rented.

To find out more of trash removal service, visit http://www.18775dumpit.com/