Are you looking for a few projects that will increase the appearance of your home? Here are a few projects for the weekend warriors. If done properly, these projects can make your home more competitive in the marketplace or raise the value of your house. Or if you’re not looking to sell, make your home look nicer for your enjoyment.
Kitchen Cabinets – Replace, Repaint or Reface
The heart of the home is always a good place to start when it comes to investing in your home.
Replacing the cabinets is a project that the advanced weekend warrior should be able to handle. But it will probably require a little help. Hanging cabinets goes a lot easier with an extra set of hands.
Re-facing the cabinets will create an entirely different look. When cabinets are refaced the exposed parts of the cabinets are covered with a Formica-type product that you select. The doors and drawer fronts are replaced with a matching finish. A good cabinet re-facing job can look like new high-end cabinets, and are also very durable. If you’re up to the challenge home improvement centers also sell re-facing kits.
But you can also create a totally different look by repainting the cabinets. This can be done pretty easily. There are special paints available that will make it easier. Available are self-leveling paints that will smooth out the brush strokes. I’ve also seen people spray paint with a rattle can. Or you can rent a sprayer. I’ve seen people stain painted cabinets. With this method, first you apply a base coat of paint on the cabinets. Then use a brush to put a gel stain on the cabinet for the final color. Vary the strokes slightly in different directions and thickness to give the appearance of the grain.
In today’s market, home buyers expect granite or solid surface countertops. Replacing countertops should probably be performed by a professional, but for some homes, a new Formica-type countertop will suffice. These can be purchased at most home improvement stores, and are easy to install installed. Prices on granite countertops have decreased in the past few years. Get a few quotes, you may be pleasantly surprised.
If your appliances are older or mismatched, consider replacing them with a matching set. We find buyers automatically think a new set of kitchen appliances (refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, stove/oven/cooktop) will cost at least $10,000 when in reality it should be closer to half of that amount.