Home Improvement Tips

As Spring rolls around our minds tend to wander and we begin to think about remodeling projects or fixes around our home. Here are some great DIY Home Improvement Tips:

Home Repair:

  • When driving screws into dense hardwoods, lubricate them with wax or soap to prevent stripping the hole.
  • To repair a nail or screw hole in drywall, use a screwdriver with a rounded end on the handle. Press the end of the handle into the screw hole. The pressure creates a divot. Fill the divot with spackle or drywall compound and you’ll have a nice smooth surface.
  • When planning a budget for a home improvement project, add 10 to 15 percent for surprises. You never know what you may find until you start a project.

Painting:

  • When painting a surface that needs to be primed – new drywall or wood – tint the primer to match the finish coat, reducing your painting project from three coats to two.

Plumbing & Electrical:

  • Make sure you and your entire family know where the main water shut-off valve is located and how to turn it off in an emergency.
  • To test for correct water pressure you can quickly attach a water-pressure test gauge to an outside faucet, turn on the faucet and read the pounds per square inch you have in your home. Normal operating water pressure should be around 45 psi – 75 psi. Anything over 80 psi is considered too high by most building codes.
  • Don’t try to work with electrical or plumbing projects you are not confident about. It often costs more to repair later and can be dangerous.

Organizing Room-By-Room

Spring fever has arrived!  Spring brings warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and a need for Spring cleaning.  After being cooped up all Winter we have a desire for openness and air.  One of the easiest ways to obtain this in our home is through organization.

Kitchen:

  • Countertops; they should only hold things that are used on a daily basis.  Create a permanent spot for everything else, including appliances.
  • Personal Items; to prevent the room from becoming a dumping ground try this rule: By dinnertime, the kitchen must be clear of all personal items.

Mudroom:

  • Create an Outbox; locate by the door so you can easily grab library books, DVDs, or outgoing mail on your way out.
  • A Place for Everything; whether it’s a dedicated room or a stretch of wall inside the door, create a place for all the things that need to go no further into the house (i.e., coats, boots, mail, keys, etc.).

Family Room:

  • Control the Extras; limit yourself to no more than two issues of a magazine and keep only movies, games, music and books that you use and that realistically fit on your shelves.

Bedroom:

  • Look Below the Bed; clear plastic containers are great for seasonal clothing, linens, and shoes.  Also keeping them dust free while allowing you to see what’s in them.
  • Final Resting Place; dresser tops, bedside tables, and chairs can quickly become towers of stuff in need of a home.  Track the things that stack up over a week and create permanent places to keep them in the room.

Bathroom:

  • Let It Go; scan your linen closet and medicine cabinet at least once a month and toss expired or unused products.

Kitchen Updates on Any Budget

As Spring rolls around our minds tend to wander and we begin to think about remodelling projects or fixes around our home.  With today’s economy it is hard for most of us to even consider a full remodel of any room in our home, but there are a number of different ways to update a room and on any budget.  The most remodelled room in any home is the kitchen so below are some ideas that won’t necessarily break the bank.
“On a Dime”:

  • New faucets can be a moderately inexpensive spruce-up.  If bling is what you are looking for, think about a pricier polished chrome or polished black nickel finish.
  • New knobs, pulls, and hinges can make a big difference on your cabinets.You could also repaint or refinish your cabinets if the color is more of the issue.
  • Consider adding a small island if you have extra floor space. It can provide an extra work area and/or storage space. You can find these preassembled at many retailers or DIY plans on the internet.

“With a Few Dollars”:

  • Looking for more cabinet space?  Installing slide-out shelves can make the space more easily accessible thus making it feel like you have brand new cabinets and a lot more space.
  • Granite and fabricated stone are the most popular looks for countertops.  To save money, consider using granite tile.

“Whatever It Takes”:

  • New cabinets: Stay away from what’s fashionable!  It’s best to stick with classic cabinetry with a stained or painted surface that will still be in style 10 years down the road.
  • New stainless-steel appliances are a big ticket item.  And a nice range hood is like an art piece these days and can become a focal point of a kitchen

Repairing Nail Pops

When a nail pops out of your drywall, it is tempting to just hammer it back in.  Unfortunately, it will just pop out again because it is not gripping the wood stud under the drywall.  The issue isn’t the nail you are seeing, but the fact that the drywall is not securely attached to the underlying stud.

This is a really easy repair.  Do this by driving new drywall nails into the wall, two or three inches above and below the existing nail pop. These new nails will help hold the drywall securely to the stud and stop the movement that is causing the pop. Set these nails slightly below the surface of the drywall, and then patch the holes using lightweight spackling.   Spread it smoothly, let it dry, sand, and you are ready to paint.

Review your Homeowners Insurance Policy

Review your Homeowners insurance: Most homeowners insurance companies will simply send out a reminder for a renewal of your home insurance policy when the end of the year is up for your insurance coverage. Many will also automatically renew your policy unless you call and let them know that you want to change or cancel that policy. This makes it easy for many homeowners to simply begin sending in the next set of payments for another year without reviewing the policy to make sure it adequately reflects their needs for the year.

Whether you have upgraded or remodeled the home, added a deck, turned the home into a rental property or realized that you may have problems with flooding in your area, there are several reasons to review your home insurance policy every year to assess whether the coverage still meets your needs.

Tips For A Bathroom Makeover

Tips For A Bathroom Makeover

  • Make a list of the most important features that you want and put them into your plan one-by-one.
  • Decide on the style, colors, and what new fixtures you’ll be including.
  • To keep your new bathroom nice, don’t forget the ventilation system. There’s nothing exciting or flashy about ventilation and it often gets overlooked until it’s too late.
  • When choosing lighting for your bathroom makeover, plan for functionality. Before you make a decision, remember to include enough lighting in the grooming areas and watertight lighting in the shower areas
  • Make your new bathroom a safe place for the entire family. Make sure your new floors, shower areas, and tubs have slip-resistant finishes. If they don’t, add mats or non-slip strips. Don’t forget to include grab bars in tub and shower areas and choose rounded edges on your countertops in case of a fall.

ANDY’s Helpful Tips!
 Uses for everyday home items:
 Vinegar

Clean those ugly mildew stains off your plastic shower curtain by putting it and a couple of soiled towels in your washing machine. Add 1/2 cup laundry detergent and 1/2 cup baking soda to the load, and wash it in warm water on your machine’s regular cycle. Add 1 cup white vinegar to the first rinse. Before the machine goes into the spin cycle, remove the curtain and let it hang-dry.

It Finally is Spring!!

Kitchen Updates on Any Budget

As Spring rolls around our minds tend to wander and we begin to think about remodeling projects or fixes around our home. With today’s economy it is hard for most of us to even consider a full remodel of any room in our home, but there are a number of different ways to update a room and on any budget. The most remodeled room in any home is the kitchen so below are some ideas that won’t necessarily break the bank.

“On a Dime”:

  • New faucets can be a moderately inexpensive spruce-up.
  • If bling is what you are looking for, think about a pricier polished chrome or polished black nickel finish.
  • New knobs, pulls, and hinges can make a big difference on your cabinets.
  • You could also repaint or refinish your cabinets if the color is more of the issue.
  • Consider adding a small island if you have extra floor space. It can provide an extra work area and/or storage space. You can find these preassembled at many retailers or DIY plans on the internet.

“With a Few Dollars”:

  • Looking for more cabinet space? Installing slide-out shelves can make the space more easily accessible thus making it feel like you have brand new cabinets and a lot more space.
  • Granite and fabricated stone are the most popular looks for countertops. To save money, consider using granite tile.
  • New cabinets: Stay away from what’s fashionable! It’s best to stick with classic cabinetry with a stained or painted surface that will still be in style 10 years down the road.

New stainless-steel appliances are a big ticket item. And a nice range hood is like an art piece these days and can become a focal point of a kitchen.

Helpful Tips

With Spring, comes SPRING cleaning. You don’t have to buy a number of special chemical-filled cleaners to use for cleaning in your home. Below are a few everyday items that can do the trick.

  • Lemonade Kool-Aid: Clean lime deposits and iron stains inside the dishwasher buy running an empty cycle with Lemonade Kool-Aid.
  • Lint Roller: The lint roller is the perfect cleaning agent for your lamp shade; just roll it up and down the shade to remove any dust build-up.
  • Lemon: Remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the solid surface, scrub, and then let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
  • Baking Soda: Polish your silver. Wash the items, and then place them on aluminum foil in the bottom of a pot.  Add a baking soda solution (1/4 c. Soda, few tsp. salt, 1 qt. boiling water) to cover for a few seconds.
  • Car Wax: Polish your faucets, sinks, tile, and shower doors with Turtle Wax to add a protective barrier against water and soap buildup.
  • Newspaper: Place a balled-up piece of newspaper into a plastic container, seal it, and let it sit overnight to absorb food smells.

Home Maintenance

Spring fever has arrived! Warmer weather and longer daylight hours, reminds us it’s time for spring home maintenance. It is not recommended to delay or ignore regular home maintenance. Keeping your house well maintained can affect the overall value of your home. Here are some standard maintenance suggestions:

  • Check cement for cracks. Temperature changes can implement cracks. Simple cement caulk can mend smaller cracks.
  • Use sealants to protect decks, porches, railings and fences from the blistering sun and heat. This also improves their appearance.
  • Clear outdoor drains of debris.
  • Inspect roof for wear and tear.
  • Evaluate insulation within your home and replace if necessary.
  • Install ceiling fans to circulate cooler air and help reduce AC costs.
  • Service AC unit – Coolant levels should be checked.
  • Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and space under the dryer.
  • Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
  • Change batteries in smoke detectors.
  • Clean lights and glass fixtures, especially on outdoor lights. Keeping these clean will ensure optimum light output.

Spring Is Coming Soon

Getting cabin fever this winter?  We’re all waiting for spring to come to

Chicago.  While waiting, why not start planning your home improvements so your house can be in tip-top shape when spring arrives.  Here are a few tips on what you can do to get your house ready for spring:

·       Clean and repair any damaged window or door screens·       Re-caulk windows to prevent air leaks·       Check for peeling paint, or any problem spots, on exterior of house·       Clean and seal your deck·       Plan your garden and landscapingAfter making a to-do list for spring, it’s a good time to think about what bigger home improvement projects you’d like to take on.  Want to remodel the bathroom finally? Looking to install a deck? Andy OnCall can help with all your spring projects including: ·        Bathroom remodeling·        Interior and exterior painting·        Installation of a closet system·        Kitchen remodeling·        Deck repairs·        Fixing up patios Let Andy OnCall chase away your winter blues and bring some sunshine into your home.  Whether you want a whole new look for spring or just some extra help fixing things up, Andy OnCall has you covered.  So start planning today and give us a call at 847-379-1823, or visit us online at: www.getandy.com

 

Andy OnCall Chicago and North Shore Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Andy OnCall Chicago and

North Shore Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service AwardAward reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service 

Andy OnCall Chicago and

North Shore has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies. 

“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing consistently high quality customer service, as judged by the customers who hired them,” said

Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.
 

Andy OnCall is one of

Chicago area’s premier home repair, handyman and remodeling providers with four separate franchise locations that serve the Chicago Metropolitan area.

 “Andy OnCall Chicago and

North Shore is extremely honored to receive this Angie’s List award. We feel so grateful to Angie’s List customers for putting their faith in us and also humbled that so many have taken the time to write a review about their experience with our craftsmen and customer service staff. This award is very gratifying to our hard working staff that is out there day in and day out solving difficult home repair problems, remodeling bathrooms, repairing drywall, carpentry, painting, minor plumbing and electrical repairs – they are the true winners of this award” said Tom Daly, owner.

 

 

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines. 

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2010 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.### 

Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the

U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.