Some homeowners are completely content to keep their basement relatively out of sight and mind. They don’t really mind that there’s an unfinished or partially finished space right underneath them, because, frankly, they don’t have much use for it.
That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. With the scarcity of great real estate in modern urban centers and the skyrocketing price of homes, you would think that a homeowner would want to squeeze some life out of every little, liveable corner of their home.
That’s why many experts recommend you consider finishing your basement, making it either liveable (in which case you could rent it to help pay the mortgage, or offer it to a family member), or recreational (in which case it functions as a rec room). To help you on your way toward a finished basement, this article will discuss four key tips to bear in mind.
Plan the Layout for Usability:
Planning the layout of a basement is often the most consequential part of the process – it creates a blueprint for everything to come. Have utility and functionality in mind when planning the layout: if it is meant to be liveable, how can you make it more liveable? If it is meant to be recreational, what would you like the basement’s centerpieces to be? In either case, plan the main areas around natural light and open space. Give thought to the flow of rooms, starting with when you walk downstairs.
Protect Your Basement from Water:
The single greatest threat to a finished basement is water. Being the lowest space in a house, a basement is also the most susceptible. Hire a professional to consult on waterproofing, and get yourself two sump pumps, including a battery backup for your existing sump pump – you’ll need a plumber to aid in installation, but it’s worth it for sheer risk management.
Budget for the Use of Professionals:
Working off that last point, here’s an important, broad tip that homeowners should keep in mind: budget for bringing in pros. So many homeowners convince themselves that DIY construction, electrical, plumbing, etc. is going to be easy, only to find that it is incredibly complicated and that incorrect execution can have big consequences for the final product. There’s no shame in calling in pros, and, in fact, it might save you money in the long run.
Don’t Discount Looks:
As discussed, functionality is a crucial part of putting together a finished basement… but so is aesthetics. Consider trim for the walls, wainscoting, good flooring, and pleasing light fixtures. Put thought into the color and brightness of the room, as well as the arrangement of its furniture and components. Install and maintain good windows and, as a final touch, add some art to the walls. Don’t be afraid to head to the internet for inspiration. This collection of 50 basements remodels in a great place to start!
Don’t leave a whole floor of your home unfinished –start thinking about your dream basement today!
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The roof is important for any commercial building. If your roof is broken, it exposes precious belongings that incorporate certain expensive commodities.
In most of the commercial buildings, roofing projects often stand out. It is necessary for your home to be protected from the harsh elements. For this, all you need is a reliable roofing company that can offer you these required services.
It is important to remember that remodeling and renovating your home is an intensive undertaking with several potential pitfalls. Before you can think of renovating your commercial roof, there are a few considerations to make.
This article will emphasize factors you should consider before renovating a commercial roof.
Top Considerations Before Renovation Of A Commercial Roof
Here is a list of guides to help you fix your commercial building roof.
1. Roof Ponding
Before you can contact a roof contractor, you need to inspect your building to see if there is any ponding.
Therefore, you need to observe if there is an act of accumulation on the roof. This will indicate you have an issue and might also face certain drainage issues. Excessive ponding might also lead to algae growth. This causes permanent harm to the rooftop.
Ponding indicates the right sign your roof is getting damaged, and it is time that you get into reroofing.
2. Determine The Material That Fits The Best
Thinking of renovating the commercial space is a great way to look functional. But at the same time, it is also expensive and time-consuming if you do not pay attention to the included material.
Before initiating the renovation, create a plan outlining the materials you need and the purpose. This will help you delegate the project effectively.
Researching the materials in advance will help you renovate appropriately, last longer, look great, and cost much less.
Not only will certain materials dictate aesthetics, but they will majorly reflect attributes in the home’s new design. When you are taking on home renovation projects, make sure you choose the right materials.
3. Consult An Insurance Company
If you need to replace the roof, it might be due to bad weather, so ensure it from an insurance provider first.
There are certain contractors who are more happy about helping one another during the time of processing the claims. So look for an insurance provider who can clear your doubts and get you all the valid information required to proceed with the claim.
In addition to that, they will try to get the insurance company to pay according to the damages. Similarly, you might also get a new roof without spending as much.
4. Prepare A Contingency Plan
Renovating your home is an exciting undertaking. It requires thorough planning and research. Similarly, knowing if you can prepare a contingency plan for any potential issues is vital.
An unforeseen issue might occur throughout the course of the renovation process. Thus, your contingency plan should include details about what you would need in certain cases, what can go wrong, the material required, and design decisions.
Hence, a comprehensive contingency plan can equip you and assist you in tackling unanticipated issues instantly. Moreover, you might not have to cause much of a disturbance in your renovation timeline.
5. Check The Paperwork
When you are dealing with something as vital as your roof, you do not wish to leave anything else to change.
For any contractor, it lays out how much you would need to pay and how much time they need to install a new roof. In addition to that, the paperwork can include all pertinent details on what permits you would need to make the new roof within your community.
In the end, you should also receive a letter from the contractor’s insurance providers and communicate exactly what is under the business liability plan. Commercial Roofers, similarly, can also help you with the renovation process and install a new roof.
6. Anticipate The Budget
Determining and setting the right budget is important before you can contact any roof contractor. You might develop a limit or have an expensive amount, so consider your decision.
Thus, setting a budget makes you plan about every attribute in the renovation project. Dreaming about a luxurious change that might increase your home's value is easy.
Therefore, create an estimated labor charge, material and decoration costs, and a contingency fund. Build up a detailed calculation and cost breakups that will keep you on the right track and assist you in saving time and resources.
Furthermore, keep all your expectations in check today.
7. Obtain The Right Permit
Before you can start with the major renovation, it is vital to know about the local areas and obtain the necessary permits.
This could be acquired for a permit from the country or city before you can begin the construction process. This is a specified requirement if you are undertaking any work affecting the home structure, plumbing, or electrical system.
Thus, by doing so, you need to protect the roof in the long run and save resources while ensuring that renovation will be handled professionally.
Furthermore, obtaining the right permit can avoid legal issues with the local authority, and it is worth going through the entire stage.
Hire The Best Roofing Contractors
Thus, finding a listed contractor is an integral factor. This is because it would ensure your home is in tip-top condition. If you know business owners who offer commercial roofing repairs, research before hiring contractors.
When you finally consider the essential requirements before renovating a commercial roof, you must hire the best contractor.
You must look for contractors with the expertise and skills to install and replace a roof. Ensure they carry their material and tools as well.
Therefore, a roofing contractor can offer significant advice on roofing installation and repair. Make sure that roofing projects are conducted properly with qualified materials.
Furthermore, roofing contractors carry liability insurance, so you only need to protect yourself if any mashup or accident occurs.
Thus, roofing contractors offer invaluable skills and knowledge regarding roof installation and repair and valuable protection from damage.
Read Also:
Choosing A Siding And Roofing Companies In Delaware
What To Know About Commercial Greenhouse Flooring
Why You Must Use A Residential Roofing Company For Your Home
So you want to downsize to a smaller apartment?
If you’re banging your head against the wall trying to figure out how to make a move go smoothly, you’re not alone. We’ve all been guilty of having too much stuff!
Give yourself a break and start thinking of solutions. Stay inspired by focusing on the many benefits of downsizing!
Moving into a smaller apartment gives you the chance to start over and get rid of things you no longer need. It can also help you to get organized and keep only the essentials.
Even better, you won’t have to clean nearly as much space and can live as a minimalist! That in itself has some serious perks. Your stuff won’t own you and you’ll have more time to enjoy life.
Do you see where we’re going with this?
Get ready, because, in this article, we offer seven expert hacks to help make the process of moving into a smaller apartment easier.
Here are 7 Expert Hacks for Downsizing to a Smaller Apartment:
1. Analyze the space you’ll have
It’s essential to know the total space of your new apartment before you start the downsizing process.
Take a look at your new floor plan and figure out how much room in feet and inches are on each wall. That way you’ll know what will fit in your apartment.
If the measurements aren’t on the floor plan, ask the leasing office to provide you with the details.
But, the floor plan or provided measurements won’t tell you everything. You need to measure the extra spaces as well:
Closets
Space under the bed (more on this later)
Bathroom storage and cabinets
Garage storage (if your apartment includes a separate garage)
Kitchen storage and cabinets
Other spaces where you might add shelving (like the top of the fridge or in a window)
When you’re done with that, measure your current furniture and decide which pieces will fit into your place and which ones you won’t need.
2. Determine your actual needs
An excellent way to figure out what your needs are is by asking yourself if everything was gone, what would you replace?
Jot down some necessary items you can’t live without such as a bed, sofa, coffeemaker, dog bed — whatever is important to you.
You should also ask yourself the following questions:
What sentimental items will I miss the most?
Does this item serve a purpose?
Do I already have something that serves the same purpose?
Can I use this item to accomplish more than one task?
Is this object in good shape, and will it last for a while longer?
This is the point where you’ll be making some headway on knowing what you’re keeping and what you can live without.
If ever in doubt of whether you should keep or donate something, go back to asking yourself these questions.
3. Set some tangible goals
When it’s getting closer to moving time, you need to come up with a game plan.
Best get started with setting some goals before time escapes you!
We’re assuming you want to declutter and possibly redecorate your new place, and if that’s the case, it’s time to set some tangible goals.
Ask yourself these questions:
(Yes, we realize we’re telling you to do this yet again.)
What do I hope to gain by adopting a minimalist lifestyle?
Do I want to keep the furniture I have or get new furniture (#1 and #4 will help with this)
How do I plan to declutter?
How will I maximize my space? (Keep reading because we cover this in #4.)
What will I do if I can’t decide to part with some items?
Should I pay for storage elsewhere to store extra belongings?
Need some help answering those kinds of questions?
Here are some goals you could have:
I want a clutter-free apartment that will give me peace.
Not fixating on my possessions will help me feel free.
I’d like to have a clean slate and keep my belongings organized moving forward.
Being minimalistic will help me put emphasis on the most important emotional and physical items in my life.
Write down a few goals that inspire you so that when you feel like giving up, you’ll be able to remind yourself of your intentions.
4. Be a master organizer by maximizing space
Since you know how much space is in your apartment, as we recommended in #2, you should already have a plan in place as to where everything should go.
With the limited storage space in your new digs, it’ll help to store things vertically.
Vertically aligning hooks and shelves helps you take advantage of every square inch of space.
You might want to use adhesive hooks at first because most are easy to adjust.
We’ll be getting into how to simplify your wardrobe next, but for now, keep in mind that multi-use furniture can solve a lot of storage problems.
Keep reading because we’re about to reveal some killer ideas.
One idea is to maximize space by incorporating storage headboards. These are pieces of furniture such as bookshelves and a hutch that’ll fit over your bed.
Incorporating these types of units will make it easier to store a variety of items from family treasures to books and jewelry.
For example, incorporating a fitted unit in your closet can make it easier to organize.
Beyond that, think of other ways you can make use of storage. Is there any room underneath the bed you’ll be moving into your fancy new apartment?
If there isn’t and you need an upgrade, buy a bed that has drawers underneath. Trust us — those drawers will be your best friend when you need to store extra items of clothing such as blankets or sweatshirts.
Keep your bed if you like it, and it just so happens that you may be able to squeeze in some bins underneath to use as storage. For example, milk crates work well when you want to store books, tee shirts, and keepsakes.
5. Simplify your wardrobe
Seriously, how do you go about simplifying your wardrobe with you have a gazillion t-shirts?
If you think your new closet is small, just think about the people who live in tiny homes. Now those are super tiny!
Don’t worry; you can do this if they can!
Here are some steps to follow that’ll make your wardrobe functional in no time at all.
Step 1: Get all of your clothing out (ALL of it!) and put it somewhere you can sort through it. Whether that’s on the floor or on your bed is entirely up to you.
Step 2: Next, divide those clothes into three different piles and decide to donate, keep, or store them.
Step 3: Ask yourself if the clothing fits you or if it's still in wearable condition. If you haven’t worn jeans, for example, due to a weight gain or loss, donate or store those items.
Don’t keep clothing that’s falling apart. That’s just a waste of precious closet space!
Step 4: Are you done going through your clothing and separating them into three different piles?
Okay good, you’re going to do it again. This time ask yourself if this clothing fits your personality and your current lifestyle.
Step 5: Mission complete! Well, almost. Organize the clothes you’re keeping, store what you plan to wear later (such as seasonal clothing), and drop off clothes you’re donating.
6. Sell or donate what you don’t want
Now that you know how much space you have, and how to simplify your wardrobe, let's dive into why it's so essential to sell or donate belongings. It's time to stop and figure out which items you can and can't part with.
As you know, whether you're moving to a different city or relocating to a separate apartment at the same complex, moving takes a lot of work.
You should do everything in your power to simplify the moving process.
Eager to make some money to help with moving expenses?
One way to do that is by selling belongings and furniture you no longer want.
Try Craigslist, eBay, garage sales, Facebook, consignment stores, and more.
Before you even start packing, you should sell, donate, or recycle stuff you can live without. This will eliminate packing everything up only to decide later that you didn't need that item of clothing or five extra plates.
If you have problems deciding whether you want to keep, sell, or donate an item, take a hard look at everything you own.
Think about whether another person would find use out of that item.
If the item is useful, you can either donate it or sell it, depending on its value.
Who knows, your trash may turn into someone else's treasure.
7. Digitize nonessential media
Next let's dive into how you can digitize and save documents, pictures, videos, cassettes, videos, DVDs, and CDs.
While it's important to keep hard copies of documents such as your social security card and birth certificate, try to save and scan everything else.
Transfer CDs and DVDs to digital files by using free computer programs such as Freemake Video Converter, Movavi, and WinX.
Scan documents to your computer or save them as PDF files. After you're done scanning everything, use services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft One Drive.
Online storage sites are lifesavers when your goal is to digitize media.
Think of all of the space you'll free up in your new apartment by getting rid of boxes of videos, paper, and more by going paperless!
It'll take some time, but it'll totally be worth it. And boom! Suddenly you'll realize you're there.
So, do you think it’s time to move? Even though downsizing may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Moving to a smaller apartment has its perks, such as decluttering your life and organizing your new place with fewer belongings.
Simply put, downsizing to a smaller apartment means:
Enjoying lower monthly expenses and living costs
Not having to clean nearly as much since your place is smaller
Living a minimalist lifestyle without meaningless belongings getting in your way
Instead of sweating the small stuff, take the moving process step by step. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your new digs, relieved that you took the time to eliminate the clutter.
Carolina Creek is a great townhouse-style community located about a mile from Eastern Carolina University's campus. The community consists of 2x3 and 3x3 apartments and contains a full amenity suite including a fitness center, pool, business center, and game room. The community is the best value in the Greenville NC student housing market.
Read Also:
5 Tips For Designing a Tiny House
How To Make Your Home Look Like You Hired An Interior Designer
Buying A House Vs Renting An Apartment: Which Is More Affordable?
Do you need an easy and quick solution to overhaul the look and feel of your bedroom? Well, you don’t need to have a lot of money to decorate your bedroom and enhance its overall appeal. A round shag rug can make a whole lot of difference when it comes to adding a little pizzazz and brightening up your bedroom area.
A shag rug not only offers a warm surface to walk on but also adds exciting texture, color and personality to your bedroom. To save you time, you might want to explore a few ideas for decorating your bedroom floor. Elevate your bedroom with these five bedroom rug ideas – area rugs and decorating ideas.
1. Use a Room-sized Rug:
It is imperative to lay down a large, room-sized rug that covers the most part of the bedroom floor. This works pretty well in bedrooms with vaulted or high ceilings, giving the room a wide open feeling.
To achieve this, measure your bedroom’s entire length and width. Then, deduct about 12-24 inches from the measurements or dimensions you got. Buy an area rug that closely matches the size you got from your calculation.
2. Anchor Your Bedroom With a Shag Rug:
Using a round shag rug, anchor your bedroom to give a sense of balance and order to space. The adjacent flooring serves as a frame to showcase you're the fine rug.
To properly anchor your bedroom, simply center your bed along with area rug in the space. Ensure that each side has equal amounts of exposed flooring.
3. Minimalism is the Key:
Minimalism is a popular choice as far as decorating the bedroom is concerned. There is no need to pack a bedroom with plenty of objects and loud colors.
You simply need plain-colored walls with a basic, plain rug to pull off this awkward look. Also, complement your area rug with a natural and organic pillow top mattress for ultimate comfort and better sleep. Visit here to learn how do pillow top mattress work.
4. Two Area Rugs Are Better Than One:
You can break up the dullness of a large bedroom space by laying down two area rugs that are distinctly different from each other. Two area rugs give your bedroom added interest and color.
Pick up two area rugs whose colors and designs are distinctly different. Placement depends upon your furniture and décor, so you are free to try different placements to find the one that best suits your preference.
5. Create the Mood:
We all have different moods, and not everyone would wish to have the same mood for their room. Thus, you might want to pick a rug that complements the mood you intend to create in your bedroom.
Classic pattern rugs with solid colors are ideal for a traditional-style bedroom. Such rugs make you feel at ease. Alternatively, you can add dots and stripes to make your room look more upbeat.
Final Thought
Your bedroom might be already cozy, but you can make it cozier by adding an area rug. Rugs add style and warmth to a room. Now, go ahead and decorate your bedroom with these ingenious bedroom rug ideas.
Read Also:
5 Ways To Maintain And Decorate The Study Room For Kids
7 Ways To Add Character And Style To Your Home
Cheap And Simple Tips To Give Your Bedroom A Makeover
A Guide To Finding The Perfect Sofa For Your Living Room
