Hour 1
Study what traits are sizzling in kitchen transforming, the way to forestall inside frost on home windows, the distinction between refacing and refinishing cupboards and extra.
Large-Image Kitchen Transforming Tendencies for 2023
As a house enchancment skilled, I’m at all times trying to study concerning the newest design traits. I just lately got here throughout the 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Tendencies Research, and I’ve to say, the findings are fairly attention-grabbing.
The examine surveyed greater than 2,000 U.S. householders who’re within the midst of, are planning, or just lately 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 probably the most to me:
Renovation Spending Rises: The median spend on a minor rework elevated $4,000 12 months over 12 months to $14,000 by mid-2022. Householders spent $15,000 on a minor rework of a bigger kitchen and $13,000 on a smaller kitchen.
Sustainability Influences Selections: 92 p.c of householders incorporate sustainable options throughout a kitchen rework. These embrace 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 preferred selection 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 commonest selection 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 selection, however wooden tones are a robust contender. Practically 1 / 4 of householders select wood-tone cupboards.
Colourful Islands: 46 p.c of householders chosen an island cupboard colour that contrasts the colour of the primary cupboards. The recognition of blue and grey declined barely, whereas black, medium-tone wooden and darkish wooden noticed will increase.
Learn the complete report: 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Tendencies Research
Why is Frost Forming on the Inside 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 build up on the within of all of her home windows and doorways.
“Is there something we are able to do to forestall this from occurring?” she asks.
Frost build up on the within of home windows and doorways throughout extraordinarily chilly temperatures may be brought on by quite a few elements.
Our first thought is that the doorways and home windows are older and faulty. Nevertheless, the home-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 via 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 attainable explanations embrace:
- Lack of air flow: Inadequate air flow could 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 improve humidity ranges due to the many individuals residing 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 variety hood and loo vent fan.
To regulate humidity ranges in your house, and deal with 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 completely different strategies used to replace the look of kitchen cupboards.
Refinishing includes sanding down the prevailing end on the cupboards and making use of a brand new end, equivalent to paint or stain. This technique is often cheaper than refacing and is an effective choice for these trying to change the colour of their cupboards. Nevertheless, it doesn’t change the general design of the cupboards and may be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Refacing, alternatively, includes overlaying the prevailing cupboard doorways and drawer fronts with new supplies, equivalent to veneer, laminate or strong 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 choice than refinishing, but it surely’s a fast method 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 prevailing cupboards, whereas refacing is the method of overlaying the prevailing cupboards with new supplies to vary the general design.
Hour 2
Hear the key to eradicating vinyl wallpaper, suggestions for staining a pressure-treated wooden fence, and extra.
The Secret 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 wish to harm the drywall by making an attempt to scrape it off. What do you counsel?” he asks.
When eradicating vinyl wallpaper, you’ll want to rating the vinyl coating to ensure that the DIF wallpaper remover to work. To do that, use a instrument referred to as a paper tiger. Merely rub it over the face of vinyl to poke hundreds of holes in it. This can permit the remover to penetrate to the wallpaper and deactivate it, so you’ll be able to 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 totally 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 no less than three hours, in a single day could be even higher. The combination will dissolve virtually all of the adhesive, permitting you to peel away the wallpaper with nearly no effort!
Watch: The Straightforward 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 may be a good way to guard the wooden and improve its pure magnificence. Nevertheless, there are some things to bear in mind to make sure that the stain is utilized correctly and adheres properly to the wooden:
Watch for the wooden to dry: Strain-treated wooden is often moist when it’s first put in, so anticipate it to dry utterly 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. You may as well do this take a look at.
Clear the wooden: Earlier than staining, clear the wooden to take away any dust, grime, or different contaminants which may be on the floor. An answer of water and a gentle detergent is often enough, however you may also use a wooden cleaner particularly designed for pressure-treated wooden.
Select the appropriate 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 most suitable choice as a result of they’re simpler at penetrating the wooden.
Apply the stain evenly: Apply the stain evenly and within the path 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 totally coated.
Permit the stain to dry: After staining, permit the wooden to dry utterly 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.
Greatest New Merchandise
Ridgid’s new and improved 2.0 Professional Gear System moveable toolbox retains all of your instruments organized and simply accessible when you’re on the go. Study extra >> |
Easy Options
Situation New Paint Curler — Earlier than utilizing a brand-new paint-roller sleeve, it’s essential 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 chunk of cardboard or different naked, clear floor. That can 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 instantly apply paint.
Watch: Situation A New Paint Curler Cowl
Additional Storage for Ventilated Shelving — When you have ventilated metal-wire shelving in your closet or pantry, right here’s a fast, easy method to acquire a bit of additional 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 types of things that will ordinarily be taking on beneficial shelf house, together with mud brooms, hand towels, flashlights, belts, scarves, and many others.
Additional Studying
Radio Present & Podcast: Ship us your query!
When you have a remark, normal query about house enchancment, or one thing we have featured on In the present day’s House owner, please fill on this type: