Everything You Need To Get Started With Your Home Maintaince

Upkeeping your home or property can feel like a pretty big chore. Regular maintenance is important for various reasons, the most important being that you want your house to be a source of joy and hassle-free shelter for years into the future.

When neglected, not only does the value of your home decrease, but an unsightly home can become embarrassing as well.

Maybe you’re keeping your house in good shape, but you’re ready to upgrade your space.

This article will teach you everything you need to know about home improvements, from home renovations and remodeling; to changing interior spaces like bathroom and kitchen remodeling to exterior gardening, landscaping, and curb appeal.

What is Home Renovation?

What are some of the best ways to maintain your home? Consider a home renovation or remodel.

When it comes to the terms ‘Home Renovation’ and ‘Home Remodel,’ often they are used interchangeably to mean the same thing; even when you google synonyms for one word, the other appears.

The truth is that these terms mean different things to those in the construction industry and any contractor you may hire.

A home renovation often encompasses the interior and exterior, whereas a remodel may occur in one or multiple house sections. For example, people often say, “we’re remodeling our bathroom” or “we just remodeled our kitchen!”

In a remodel, sometimes the structure is altered, but generally, the layout design changes completely; adding an addition to your home, knocking down a wall to expand the bedroom or bathroom, or relocating the hardware and appliances in a kitchen.

While a renovation can also be a large job, it generally involves repainting and choosing new hardware or devices while maintaining their same locations.

Why is it important to know these terms?

As you undertake any large project like a home renovation or a remodel, you want to understand all the terminology associated with each.

This article aims to teach you some of the basics, to help you better understand some of the most popular phrases in the home renovation space.

Home Renovation - repairing, making new, and restoring to good condition.

When you renovate your home, you may choose to update appliances, repaint the walls, and replace broken doors or windows. You’re likely not changing the house's structure but rather improving upon what is currently existing.

Home Remodeling - the process of changing the functionality and the design of an area

A home remodel often changes the integrity of a space, as we mentioned, adding an addition to your home or expanding the size of the bathroom. It’s more than just painting or updating your current space; you may completely change the layout of the room or space, requiring construction.

Bathroom Remodeling - As previously discussed, ‘remodeling’ means making new and reconstructing. Often with a bathroom remodel, the bathroom's layout changes more than just updating cabinetry or repainting the walls. Remodeling the bathroom involves more major changes like adding a walk-in shower, relocating the tub/toilet/sink, adding new windows, expanding the space, etc.

Kitchen Remodeling - Much like a bathroom remodeling project, a kitchen can be a large project. You’re likely changing the location of major appliances to increase the space's functionality. After a complete kitchen remodel, the kitchen will probably have an entirely new layout.

Painting - Whether it's an interior or exterior job, painting the house can be costly, though it generally pays off. Before you start painting over that boring beige color on your walls, it's important to prep your space properly.

Whether painting yourself or hiring professionals, the right coat of paint can change your house's atmosphere. If you’re interested in selling your property, opt for neutral colors as they are the most popular, like natural earth tones.

Replacements & Installations (floor, siding, windows, etc.) - One of the most common ways to update your home’s efficiency is with new window installations. While often a subtle change, having a more efficient household can up your home’s value in the long run and save you some money on utilities.

Updating and replacing the flooring in your home can also increase the value by 10-54%, depending on what’s in style. Outdated, dirty, or worn flooring often makes buyers reconsider where they invest their money.

Gardening & Landscaping - In home improvement, landscaping and gardening are the processes of making your yard more attractive by altering the existing design. To give your home some curb apparel, consider removing shaggy shrubs or pruning hedges to obtain a well-manicured look. If you’re more inclined to grow flowers, consider gardening a great way to create beauty within a landscape.

Curb Appeal - Curb apparel is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as ‘the attractiveness of a house from the street.’ Some of the biggest factors affecting curb appeal are the landscaping, the front entrance, and the condition of the paint or siding on the home.

It is said that you only get one chance at a first impression. When you put some effort into your home's appearance, you can wow your neighbors, passersby, and potential buyers.

It’s important to understand these terms as you consider doing work on your home or property and begin to meet with contractors. Understanding these terms will help you discuss the scope of work involved in a project and help you ask intelligent questions or provide appropriate input.

Knowing these terms can also help you understand how you’re adding to or detracting from the value of your home. Any remodel or renovation can be a large undertaking, so it's good to understand the importance of an investment in your property.

So now that we’ve covered some basic terms in the industry, what words would you like us to talk about next?