I don’t think it is any surprise that a major home improvement project will not only take time and money, but it also takes proper planning to get the job done right. When it comes to planning, probably the most important aspect of the project is buying the materials for the job. By doing a little research you can, not only find the materials you need, but cut some cost and time out of your budget as well.
Comparison shopping is the single most important part of your planning for the job. This takes time and effort, but you will quickly find out about the wide variety of prices and quality in the market place. The old adage “you get what you pay for” is very true in the remodeling world. Super stores or big box supply stores have great prices, but a good amount of their product is manufactured for their own private label, therefore the super store dictates the quality of the product. You might see some good prices, but the quality may very well be lacking.
Don’t be afraid to shop online. There are a ton of websites out there that specialize in various categories that can save you a ton of money since they don’t have the high overhead that is associated with the retail environment. When it comes to lumber (2×4’s, plywood, etc..) you won’t find much of a difference, but for the fixtures, cabinets, lighting, and items like these, you can save as much as 50-60% by doing a little bit of research. There are literally thousands of websites for construction materials. By searching for closeout deals and alternative products to the name brand items, you can easily trim down your budget.
I touched on this earlier, but it is important to take a moment to talk about quality. The big name brand companies that supply the mega home improvement stores do a very good job of convincing you that they have a name you can trust (and that the quality will be there). While there are a lot of categories in which they do offer high quality products, there are some that you are better off getting from a specialty store. One example is paint. If you’re buying paint, don’t go with the big box retail brand. These stores tell you it is quality paint, but if you go to a real paint store like MAB or Sherwin-Williams; you will get a much better product and they will be more knowledgeable about the product.
The same is true for countertops and flooring. Once again, you can find all of these items in the mega stores, but the quality is just not there. Ironically, Home Depot and Lowes have very little to do with the flooring and countertops other than brokering the sale. They outsource the installation and most of it they don’t even stock in the store, especially the countertops. If you were to run into a problem with the product or how it was installed, it just becomes of battle of who is at fault. By working with a specialty countertop or flooring place, you can usually find a better deal on some closeouts and you know exactly who you are dealing with when you are signing the contract (it all comes back to the perception that the big stores have created about having the best price on everything, which is nearly impossible in the real world).
The other advantage of dealing with the smaller businesses has to do with the installation. Scheduling deliveries and installs can throw off your entire project time line if just one of the components isn’t completed when you need it to be. Time is money, so having an installer that you can rely on is just as important as what you are paying for the work to be done. By working with a local company, they are more likely to work around your schedule than the bigger outfits that will force you to work around theirs.
Watch the video related to home improvement store
my trip to lowes home improvement
Help answer the question about home improvement store
Do you Christmas shop at a home improvement store?I do not, they don't have jewelry or Swarovski crystal there
Two of the easiest essay formats are ORR and PECS. ORR is Opinion, Reason, and Recommendation. PECS is Problem, Effect, Cause, and Solution. For the type of essay you are doing an ORR piece would work best. I don't know what grade you are in (I'm assuming middle school or high school) so I don't know how long your essay needs to be.
But first paragraph O: In my opinion HomeDepo/Lowe’s web site is more helpful/user friendly etc…(Elaborate)
R: state reasons why that website is better. Easier to navigate, better on line payment, cheaper S&H…etc.
R: I recommend using this site for home repairs…etc.
Of course this is a very vague example, because I don't know your grade level. But you will need a few paragraphs for each section. You have gathered lots of information and that is great! Keep doing research! Talk to people who have shopped at both places and get their opinions of each store or store site. Maybe buy something there yourself and see how you like the experience. Ask for help from an employee at each store and see which store provides better services. I don't know how much I have helped, but you seem to be doing a great job of researching on your own. All you really need to do is get some more "personal" insight to each establishment and organize your information. And remember, the whole reason for writing an essay is to give your opinion, so don't forget to list your thoughts and why you feel that way! Have fun!
Congrats on your new home purchase!
I remember when I bought my first home and how excited I was to do all the home improvement projects. Crown Molding is an excellent choice that not only looks good, but will definitely increase the value of your home. Crown molding instillation can seem intimidating, but really if you have the right tools and basic knowledge installing crown molding isn't too hard.
The first thing to do is choose the right crown molding for your room. If you are working with a smaller room than you should choose less detailed/thin crown molding. If you are working with a larger room you can purchase thicker/detailed crown molding. Remember the molding is an accent and shouldn't be the focal point. If you haven't bought your molding yet you may want to check out this link for crown molding supplies. http://www.invitinghome.com/Crown_Molding/Molding_List.htm
I think it's important to not only read about crown molding instillation, but also watch video demonstrations so that you know exactly what you need to do. I have linked you to a text/video crown molding instillation guide that I found to be very helpful. http://www.invitinghome.com/Instractions/Crown_Cornice_Mouldings.htm
This website from Inviting Home takes you through the step-by-step crown molding process from the planning stage, how to miter corners, how to create outside corners and butt joints and ending with the moulding instillation.
I hope that your project turns out great… and remember to measure twice and cut once. Good luck!
And at my store we had some crazy bitch threatening to sue because we had regular birds. Claiming she would get the bird flu. This would make her have a hart attack. LOL
Lowe’s is the best!
i am also competing in a fbla competition on friday and i am doing the public speaking portion. weird huh? i was trying to write my speech and I still am confused. I am hopefully about to begin an internship like program in a few weeks so i was going to write about that. I;ve never done this before either and didnt even realize what I was signing up for. This senior signed me up because he said they like cute little girls? haha so im stuck writing a speech. Good luck on your competition. maybe i'll see you there =]
A bird in the hand is better than two at Lowes.
I prefer Home Depot.
I thought this question involved the raising of shirts.
Oh…….Well……………….
As far as Home Depot is concerned: I feel that Home Depot is a MONOPOLY and should be forced to split up into hundreds of KNOWLEDGEABLE mom & pop hardware stores!
Most of their employees are NINCOMPOOPS who couldn't find themselves out of wet cardboard boxes!!!
btw,You get what you pay for when shopping at HUGE stores
To address your question, please visit this website:
http://www.hometips.com/content/flashing_intro.html
I personally LOVE it! Hope you will too!
Good Luck –IC
That old dry wall must be removed completely. And replaced with green-board, which is a specially coated dry wall made specifically for wet areas like bathrooms. Its coating prevents mold and mildew from growing, and its regulation code in most states. You can probably demo the old drywall and hang the new green-board by yourselves, but finishing the new is a job left to pros. You must fill in all seams with joint compound, then top them with topping compound…….smooth and sand it. It's definitely a learned craft. I advise you to hire a professional for that part. Then you can paint or paper the finished wall to suit your decorating style.
Go to http://www.angieslist.com to find a reputable drywall finisher, if you don't have one in mind already. Angieslist is a website where people like you and me post reviews, recommendations, and warnings about professionals.
Best of luck to you.