Hour 1
Study what developments are scorching in kitchen reworking, how one can stop inside frost on home windows, the distinction between refacing and refinishing cupboards and extra.
Massive-Image Kitchen Transforming Tendencies for 2023
As a house enchancment skilled, I’m at all times trying to be taught concerning the newest design developments. I not too long ago got here throughout the 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Tendencies Research, and I’ve to say, the findings are fairly attention-grabbing.
The research surveyed greater than 2,000 U.S. owners who’re within the midst of, are planning, or not too long ago accomplished a kitchen renovation undertaking, and the outcomes present a beneficial glimpse into what’s trending in kitchen design. Right here’s what stood out essentially the most to me:
Renovation Spending Rises: The median spend on a minor transform elevated $4,000 12 months over 12 months to $14,000 by mid-2022. Owners spent $15,000 on a minor transform of a bigger kitchen and $13,000 on a smaller kitchen.
Sustainability Influences Decisions: 92 p.c of house owners incorporate sustainable options throughout a kitchen transform. These embody LED lightbulbs, energy-efficient home equipment and water-efficient fixtures.
Open Layouts are Right here to Keep: Following a dip within the pattern of open kitchens final 12 months, this 12 months renovators are as soon as once more extra more likely to open their kitchens to different inside areas and outside areas. The most well-liked alternative for kitchens newly open to inside areas nonetheless is to haven’t any wall separation. For the transition between the kitchen and outside areas, the most typical alternative is double doorways or a row of doorways.
Wooden Cupboards Achieve Reputation: White cupboards aren’t going out of fashion anytime quickly. The colour stays the most well-liked alternative, however wooden tones are a robust contender. Practically 1 / 4 of house owners select wood-tone cupboards.
Colourful Islands: 46 p.c of house owners chosen an island cupboard colour that contrasts the colour of the principle cupboards. The recognition of blue and grey declined barely, whereas black, medium-tone wooden and darkish wooden noticed will increase.
Learn the total report: 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Tendencies Research
Why is Frost Forming on the Within My Home windows?
A home-owner in Wyoming says over the past chilly snap, temperatures dropped to round 36 levels beneath zero! She seen frost increase on the within of all of her home windows and doorways.
“Is there something we are able to do to stop this from occurring?” she asks.
Frost increase on the within of home windows and doorways throughout extraordinarily chilly temperatures might be attributable to a lot of components.
Our first thought is that the doorways and home windows are older and faulty. Nonetheless, the house owner says the home is new, so the doorways and home windows are very vitality environment friendly. Due to this, much less humidity is escaping from the house by the home windows and doorways. So, as soon as the moisture within the air makes contact with these chilly surfaces, it freezes.
So what’s inflicting this excessive humidity? Some doable explanations embody:
- Lack of air flow: Inadequate air flow may cause humidity to construct up in a house, particularly in bogs and kitchens the place moisture is generated from cooking, bathing and showering.
- Houseplants: Giant numbers of houseplants can launch moisture into the air, contributing to excessive humidity.
- Excessive occupancy: Excessive occupancy in a home can enhance humidity ranges due to the many individuals dwelling and inhaling the identical house.
The options to excessive humidity are including air flow and insulation, and in excessive circumstances putting in a whole-house dehumidifier. Be sure you’re venting any moisture out of the home, like utilizing a spread hood and loo vent fan.
To control humidity ranges in your house, and tackle the underlying causes, get a hygrometer to measure the quantity of humidity in your house. It shouldn’t exceed 50 p.c.
Refacing vs. Refinishing Cupboards
We’re renovating our kitchen, however the price range doesn’t permit for all new cupboards. So, we had been planning on refinishing them by sanding after which repainting. However then I learn an article about refacing the cupboards. What’s the distinction between refinishing and refacing, and which might you advocate?
Refinishing and refacing are two totally different strategies used to replace the look of kitchen cupboards.
Refinishing includes sanding down the present end on the cupboards and making use of a brand new end, comparable to paint or stain. This methodology is usually cheaper than refacing and is an efficient possibility for these trying to change the colour of their cupboards. Nonetheless, it doesn’t change the general design of the cupboards and might be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Refacing, however, includes protecting the present cupboard doorways and drawer fronts with new supplies, comparable to veneer, laminate or stable wooden. This will change the general design of the cupboards and can be utilized to replace the look of your kitchen. It’s additionally a dearer possibility than refinishing, nevertheless it’s a fast option to change the looks of your cupboards, and it’s much less disruptive to your kitchen.
In abstract, refinishing is the method of making use of a brand new end on the present cupboards, whereas refacing is the method of protecting the present cupboards with new supplies to alter the general design.
Hour 2
Hear the key to eradicating vinyl wallpaper, suggestions for staining a pressure-treated wooden fence, and extra.
The Secret to Eradicating Vinyl Wallpaper
A home-owner needs to know — what’s the trick to eradicating vinyl wallpaper?
“I sprayed it down with DIF wallpaper remover, coated the wall with skinny plastic, after which waited an hour or so, however the wallpaper was nonetheless caught in place. I don’t need to injury the drywall by attempting to scrape it off. What do you counsel?” he asks.
When eradicating vinyl wallpaper, you must rating the vinyl coating to ensure that the DIF wallpaper remover to work. To do that, use a instrument known as a paper tiger. Merely rub it over the face of vinyl to poke hundreds of holes in it. It will permit the remover to penetrate to the wallpaper and deactivate it, so you possibly can simply take away it.
To take away the wallpaper, combine in a 5-gallon bucket:
Stir the combination, then apply it to the wall utilizing a pump-up backyard sprayer. After completely soaking the wallpaper, cowl the wall with a layer of skinny (0.7 mil) plastic, utilizing a wallpaper brush to press the plastic onto the wall.
Let the wallpaper remover soak on the wall for at the very least three hours, in a single day could be even higher. The combination will dissolve nearly all of the adhesive, permitting you to peel away the wallpaper with nearly no effort!
Watch: The Simple Recipe to Take away Wallpaper
Suggestions for Staining a Fence
A home-owner needs to stain her newly put in pressure-treated wooden fence. She asks, “Are you able to give me some suggestions or recommendation?”
Staining a pressure-treated wooden fence might be an effective way to guard the wooden and improve its pure magnificence. Nonetheless, there are some things to bear in mind to make sure that the stain is utilized correctly and adheres properly to the wooden:
Look forward to the wooden to dry: Stress-treated wooden is usually moist when it’s first put in, so look ahead to it to dry fully earlier than staining. This will take a number of weeks and even months, relying on the climate and the wooden’s publicity to the weather. It’s also possible to do this take a look at.
Clear the wooden: Earlier than staining, clear the wooden to take away any filth, grime, or different contaminants that could be on the floor. An answer of water and a gentle detergent is normally enough, however you can too use a wooden cleaner particularly designed for pressure-treated wooden.
Select the fitting stain: Not all stains are appropriate for pressure-treated wooden, so select a stain that’s particularly formulated to be used on pressure-treated wooden. Oil-based stains are the best choice as a result of they’re simpler at penetrating the wooden.
Apply the stain evenly: Apply the stain evenly and within the course of the wooden grain. Work the stain into the wooden utilizing a brush, curler or pump-up, then back-brush it into the wooden to make sure it’s completely coated.
Permit the stain to dry: After staining, permit the wooden to dry fully earlier than making use of a second coat or utilizing the fence. This will take a number of hours and even days, relying on the climate and what stain was used.
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Easy Options
Situation New Paint Curler — Earlier than utilizing a brand-new paint-roller sleeve, it’s vital to “situation” it, in order that it spreads paint evenly and easily.
Place the brand new sleeve on the paint curler, fill a plant mister with water, then spin the sleeve as you spray it liberally with water.
Dry-spin the sleeve to take away any extra water, then roll the sleeve onto a bit of cardboard or different naked, clear floor. That may assist take away any loosened fibers from the curler sleeve — and stop them from entering into the paint or onto the newly painted floor.
Now use the dampened, conditioned sleeve to right away apply paint.
Watch: Situation A New Paint Curler Cowl
Further Storage for Ventilated Shelving — You probably have ventilated metal-wire shelving in your closet or pantry, right here’s a fast, easy option to acquire somewhat further storage.
Purchase a number of steel S-hooks and slip them onto the wire shelving. Use pliers to pinch closed the hooks to allow them to’t pop off.
The hooks are nice for hanging all kinds of things that might ordinarily be taking over beneficial shelf house, together with mud brooms, hand towels, flashlights, belts, scarves, and so forth.
Additional Studying
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