7 Steps to Beautifully Painted Flea-Market Finds (home hud improvement loan)

Home hud improvement loan

by: Michel Laurine

Even the designers on TV are doing it; finding great furnishing at flea-markets, charity shops, and yard sales. Often, a wonderful piece of furniture can be had for mere dollars, especially if its finish is in desperate need of some TLC. Unfortunately, the design shows on TV don’t show you all the proper steps for refreshing your finds. Take the time to do it right, and your “new” furniture will have friends wondering where you shop!

1. Safety first: Before you disturb any painted surface, you should think about the possibility of lead. Lead paint additives were phased out in the 1970’s and 80’s. If you suspect lead is present in any paint, you can find information about safety precautions and testing at www.epa.gov/lead, or by calling the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD. Even with newer surfaces, I find that a dust mask is always in order when sanding. Your lungs will thank you.

2. Sanding: Not all pieces will require sanding before repainting. My mantra is to leave well enough alone when dealing with old paint surfaces. If, however, the paint is chipped, peeling, crackling, or has other problems, you might not be able to avoid the sandpaper. A small electric hand sander is my best friend for these situations. A very light sanding (really just scuffing) can help your new paint adhere to old oil paint or a glossy surface.

3. Prep, prep, prep: The number one reason for paint failures is incorrect preparation. Time spent on prep will ensure you get a good result in the end. Make sure the surface is completely clean and dust free before you ever get the paint out of the can. If you have sanded the surface, remove dust with a tack cloth. This is a small piece of cheesecloth soaked in wax, available at your local home improvement store in the paint section. They cost around one dollar…get several to keep on hand for the next project! If you can’t find one, several thorough passes with a damp cloth followed by another pass with a dusting cloth can do the job. Most importantly, don’t rush your prep work.

4. Taping: Carefully tape off any areas you don’t want painted, and burnish the tape edges down once, firmly, with a fingernail. If you think you might have to leave the tape on for more than a day or so, use a lower adhesion tape made for delicate surfaces.

5. Priming: If the piece is unpainted, consider a coat of primer before you paint. There are excellent primers specifically made for stone and metal. Tell your paint store rep what you’re painting and follow her advice. Use a good latex or oil-based primer for wood surfaces. Some wood grains (pine or cheaper grades of oak, for example) may “rise” after a first coat of latex, and priming improves the chances that you can avoid this. The raised grain will feel rough. If this happens, you’ll need to sand the grain down lightly and prime again. Don’t worry; it’s not as bad as it sounds when you know what happened!

6. Painting: Finally, time to paint! Use a good quality paint brush. Be careful not to overload your brush with paint and put it on too thickly. This is a common mistake. Painting in thick layers can lead to ugly drips, cracks, or drying delays. Instead, paint in thin coats, allowing time for each coat to dry completely before recoating. This will give you a beautiful and strong surface.

7. Curing: Follow the instructions on your paint can to make sure your new furniture is safely cured before you begin to use it or place objects on top of it. Paints, latex in particular, can feel dry well before they really are. When in doubt, I like to wait 24-48 hours before I place my newly painted flea-market beauties into service. Now, enjoy your new furnishings. Use them well and never fear; if they get chipped or you tire of the color, you know how to fix it!

About the author:

© 2005 Michel Laurine. Michel Laurine is a faux finisher and decorative painter who enjoys sharing her love of color and helping clients personalize their homes. http://www.greatwallschicago.comCirculated by Article Emporium

Thanks to Michel Laurine.

Home hud improvement loan

Washington Home Improvement (home hud improvement loan)

home hud improvement loan

by: Marci Crane

Everyone wants their home to look clean and attractive. In certain climates however, this can require a constant stream of effort that would wear anybody out. Many areas of the Washington state area have climates, which are more prone to cause the weathering and corrosion of home exteriors. This article is designed to show you how simple Washington home improvement can be. You don’t have to work around the clock to maintain your home’s siding, paint job, windows or gutter systems---even if you live in Washington.

Siding in Washington
Washington home improvement, at least exterior Washington home improvement, starts with the right kind of siding. For most homes there are three types of siding that are recommendable.

Fiber Cement Siding
The first is Fiber Cement siding. Fiber Cement siding is beneficial if you are looking for a low initial cost. It doesn’t rot or burn and it resists insect damage.
However, on the down-side, Fiber cement siding does not help to resist extreme temperatures, whether cold or hot. Fiber cement siding is also very heavy, which adds additional weight to the foundation of your home. It is brittle, (which leads to chipping from nails), and is more subject to air gaps and porous defects. Before you purchase this type of siding you should ask yourself how long you plan to keep your home. If you plan to keep your home for a long period of time it is recommendable that you purchase a siding that is more durable.

Cedar Siding
Another type of siding is Cedar siding. Cedar siding increases the value of your home, beautifies your home with a natural look, increases the resell value of your home and resists heat loss or gain. On the down-side, cedar siding has a high initial cost, has very thin boards, and is becoming more scarce, (which means that the price of cedar siding is continually on the rise.

Swedish Siding
The last type of siding that we recommend to your consideration is Swedish siding. Swedish siding increases the value of a home and offers a beautiful natural look. In addition, it increases the resell value of a home and resists heat loss or gain. It is thicker than most siding and the trees that are used to make this type of siding are generally 100 yrs old---which makes for more durable siding. Unlike cedar siding, Swedish siding comes in abundant supply and only the select heartwood is used. Finding siding in Washington that will increase the value of your home and which will require less maintenance doesn’t have to be a difficult process if you do your research from the beginning. Washington home improvement does not have to be difficult.

Painting for Washington Home Improvement
Another aspect of Washington home improvement is the painting service that you choose for the exterior of your home. When looking for a painting service it is recommendable that you contact a Washington paint contractor that will ‘prep’ your home carefully before applying a paint job. A good ‘prep job’ includes water prep (i.e. pressure washing of the gutters, eaves, siding and house trim for the removal of loose dirt and old paint). A dry prep process is also recommended as are scraping, sanding, caulking and filling. For more information in regards to these Washington home improvement processes, please contact a professional Washington paint contractor in your area.

Windows for Washington Home Improvement
For additional Washington home improvement we also recommend bay area vinyl windows. These windows are gorgeous, they let in lots of light and in many cases they are usually amenable to customization. Finding replacement windows in Washington that really contribute to the aesthetic qualities of your home doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Consult with a bay area window expert if you have questions.

Gutter Systems Improvement
No one wants gutter leaks, unsightly nail-heads, downspouts or clogged gutters. Make sure you get durable gutters for your home. A less-than-quality gutter can lead to other problems on the exterior of your home so if gutters are the problem at your house, they should be taken care of as quickly as possible, especially if you plan to live in your home for a long period of time.


About the author:
Marci Crane is a Web Content Specialist for http://www.10xmarketing.com/in Orem, UT.

If you would like to learn more about siding in Washington, or replacement windows in Washington, visit http://www.bigswedepainting.com/index.html


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The Carpet That Needs to Be Replaced! (home hud improvement loan)

home hud improvement loan

by: Mike Yeager

Carpet doesn’t last forever. In fact, if the quality isn’t very good, carpet doesn’t last long. Carpet cleaning may help to some degree, but other times, a new carpet is the only choice. A surprise may be found underneath! Perhaps even hard wood flooring may be lurking underneath! But, maybe not. The wood beneath may need replacing as well. To find good carpet, that will last the longest, check out the large selections in home improvement stores and specialty stores.

Good carpet adds warmth and comfort to a room. But, perhaps the carpet in the living room has had food spills, animal stains, and/or dirt tracked in. Carpet cleaning, whether through professional carpet cleaners or not, may help to some degree. In stains are treated quickly after they happen, chances improve of getting it out. But, perhaps the carpet is done for, no longer able to be cleaned, but just needs to be replaced.

In the case that the carpet needs to be replaced, consider all options including carpet tile. Carpet tile is carpeting that is in the form of squares similar to tiling. Using different colors can create a unique pattern and add a level of style to a room. But, there are other choices as well.

A great way to get an idea of what choices are available is to make a trip to the home improvement store down the street. Yes, shopping at a specialty store is also an option, but it can be unnecessarily expensive. Most home improvement stores offer a huge line of carpet to choose from. Different textures, colors, and designs are available. In fact, many of these home improvement stores will even install it for the consumer. Now, how is that for convenience!

Sometimes, carpet has to be replaced. It has to be done to improve the level of comfort and the look, but also for health reasons. Old carpet can become moldy or trap bacteria and dust. Replacing old carpeting isn’t as difficult as it may seem though. Taking a trip to the home improvement store may be all that is needed to fix this dilemma.



About the author:
Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.my-carpets-4me.com/


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home hud improvement loan

Home Improvements – The Fun Stuff (home hud improvement loan)

home hud improvement loan

by: Raynor James

Planning home improvements necessarily involves addressing numerous practical matters. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the fun stuff!

The Fun Stuff

The first thing to plan for in home improvements is the practical stuff. The second thing you need to talk to family members about is the fun stuff.

Most people have colors they like and colors they don’t like. They have things that interest them and things that don’t. Get your family to talk to you about those things. Each person’s bedroom, or bedroom area, should reflect his or her taste and interests.

A boy who likes green, football, and backpacking can easily have a sage green (it “reads” as more neutral than many shades of green if re-sale of your home is a concern) room with cream woodwork, cream interior shutters, and cream ceiling. Framed football posters and wilderness scenes might be pleasant. Bedding with a rustic motif (rows of stylized pine trees?) from L.L. Bean or Plow and Hearth would work right in. Add a touch or two of a bright color like red or yellow.

Does he need a desk in his room? A chest of drawers? A bookcase? Would he enjoy having a bulletin board? Even if they’re small, most rooms need at least three lamps so that illumination is general and even. The shades are usually best in warm, neutral colors. (Light coming through green shades tends to make people look sick.) Lamp shades should be level and the seams should be toward the wall so they’re not visible. When the bottom edge of most lamp shades in a room are the same height from the floor, the room tends to look serene and cohesive.

Hanging pictures usually look best if the bottom edges of the frames are the same height from the floor and level with each other, too. There are exceptions to this and every generalization of course. A grouping of pictures can have the bottom tier follow the “rule” while all of the other pictures are higher. A picture over a fireplace often looks good higher than the other pictures in the room.

Pictures usually look best when they have a relationship to furniture or an architectural feature. Pictures centered over a chest, bed, bookcase, or fireplace are good examples. Pictures don’t tend to look good if they’re scattered willy-nilly around a room, or if they’re up near the ceiling (unless they’re part of a grouping), or if the height at which they’re hung varies wildly with no rhyme nor reason.

A girl who loves pink, the ballet, and swimming can have woodwork the same cream as her brother’s while her walls are a soft pink (a pink with a hint of yellow in it tends to go well with cream), and her art work reflects her interests. If she loves to read, make sure she has a good reading lamp near her bed, or near a comfortable chair, or both.

A cream colored dust ruffle with widely spaced pink stripes and a quilted plaid coverlet in pink, green, yellow, and blue on a cream background might look nice. Add cream fabric window shades with large pink polka dots and I’ll bet she’ll smile.

The bigger point is to simply have fun with some of your home improvements. There is no need to look exclusively at practical matters.

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