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Tips before deciding to do a DIY demolition
Home improvement
projects can range from
relatively inexpensive
undertakings to complex
endeavors that cost
homeowners thousands
of dollars. In an effort to
make expensive proj
ects more affordable,
homeowners may look
for ways to pitch in, and
do-it-yourself demolition
is a common way to cut
costs.
Due to geographi
cal fluctuations in price
as well as the scale of
a project, it’s hard to
pinpoint just how much
homeowners can save by
doing demolition work
themselves. HomeAdvi-
sor estimates that the
average small interior
demolition project costs
just over $3,000, though
more significant demoli
tion projects can cost
considerably more than
that. Given the cost, it’s
no surprise that so many
homeowners volunteer
to do demolition on their
own. Though it’s possible
to do so safely, home-
owners can take steps to
determine if it’s in their
best interest to take on a
DIY demolition or leave it
to the professionals.
• Conduct a cost
analysis. Demolition proj
ects seem simple, but
they often require the
use of equipment most
homeowners don’t have
on hand. Rentals can
be considered in such
instances, but the cost
of renting equipment can
reduce the amount of
money homeowners are
saving by going it alone.
For example, homeown
ers may be able to pull
up vinyl or tile flooring
on their own, but not all
floors are installed the
same. Some floors may
have been glued more
effectively than oth
ers, making it hard and/
or time-consuming to
pull them up by hand. A
walk-behind floor scraper
can make it easier to
remove such floors, but
that equipment must be
rented. A cost analysis
comparing the contrac
tors’ demolition cost
estimate and the cost of
DIY, complete with equip
ment rental projections,
can give a more accurate
picture of how much
money homeowners will
save by going it alone.
If the savings of DIY are
negligible, homeowners
should probably let the
contractor handle the
demo.
• Speak with your con
tractor. Prior to saying
they’ll do the demo work
on their own, homeown
ers should speak with
their contractors to get
an accurate idea of what
the project will entail.
Demolition projects may
seem simple enough, but
contractors can illus
trate the correct way to
do things so as to mini
mize potentially costly
damage. Some contrac
tors may offer to help
homeowners start the
demo project and then
leave them to their own
devices once they get
a knack for what to do.
Once homeowners see
what it will take, they can
then decide if DIY is best
for them.
• Enlist help. No DIY
demo should ever be
done alone. The risk
for accident and injury
is simply too great for
homeowners to go it
alone. Homeowners who
can’t enlist some volun
teers to pitch in should
leave the job to the pro
fessionals.
DIY demolition can
save homeowners a lot of
money. But such proj
ects are not necessarily
as simple as they seem.
Homeowners should
take steps to see exactly
what they’re getting into
before they volunteer to
take on demo duty.
Must-have features in your bathroom remodel
Veteran homeowners
recognize the value of re
modeling their kitchens
and bathrooms. Kitchens
and baths tend to appear
dated more quickly than
other spaces, such as
living rooms and bed
rooms, which can always
be revamped with some
fresh paint and new fur
nishings.
The home improve
ment pricing resource
Home Guide indicates
an average bathroom
remodel costs anywhere
from $5,500 to $15,000
depending on the size
and scope of the renova
tion. However, a bath
redo can increase a
home’s resale value and
can return as much as 68
percent of homeowners’
investments. As home-
owners plan their bath
room renovations, it’s a
good time to consider
improvements that will
improve function and
add design appeal for
years to come.
• Floating vanity: Add
an airy feeling to the
room by creating space
between the vanity and
the floor. A floating van
ity can be a counter with
a vessel sink or even
have cabinets, as long as
the vanity doesn’t extend
to the floor.
• Freestanding tradi
tional sink or tub: There’s
something elegant about
a freestanding tub or
pedestal sink. Such fea
tures can lend a classic
vibe to a space. However,
freestanding fixtures also
come in modern or eclec
tic forms, so there are
options for any design
style.
• Frameless show
ers: Switch to a walk-in
shower option, which
improves aesthetics and
makes it easier to “age
in place” in a home. Pair
that frameless shower
with clear glass shower
doors so sightline in the
space remains unencum
bered.
• Natural textures:
Create a calm and serene
sanctuary in the bath
room with light, natural
hues and materials.
Nature-inspired colors on
tiles, walls and vanities
can add to the spa vibe.
• Dual sinks and vani
ties: With a double van
ity, two people can share
the space and easily use
the bathroom without
getting in each other’s
way. One vanity with two
sinks works, but home-
owners can create even
more personal space
by dividing vanities and
mirrors.
• Small textured tile on
shower floors: Small tex
tures are appealing and
add safety. The added
texture and grouting will
keep feet from slipping
on wet floors. Also, opt
for mold-resistant grout
to make cleanup even
easier.
• Special shower
heads: Invest in shower
heads that can run the
gamut from creating
steam showers to rainfall
effects. Some showers
will have multiple shower
jets to offer an invigorat
ing experience.
• Improve drainage:
Increase the diameter
of the drain pipe in the
bathroom from the stan
dard to a two-inch drain
pipe. This will reduce the
risk of clogs and overflow
leaks.
• Install a window:
Natural light and air flow
can reduce the risk for
mold and mildew growth,
and windows add some
aesthetic appeal to a
space. Just be sure to
choose frosted privacy
glass.
Additional consider
ations for a bath remodel
include heated floors,
well-placed and attrac
tive storage options and
a toilet enclosure (water
closet) for added pri
vacy. These and other
bathroom renovation
ideas can add value and
improve the appeal of
the room.
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(PARAGON REALTY
Tuesday, October 12,2021 ®[) 11) era lb <©a?£tte 3B
Fresh veggies are not
exclusive to spring and summer
Spring and summer
may be the seasons most
often associated with
gardening. But people
who love to grow their
own vegetables can do
so even when the weath
er outside is frightful.
Various vegetables
thrive in cool tempera
tures. The home and
garden experts at HGTV
note that some winter
vegetables are hardy.
That means they can
handle frosts in tem
peratures as low as 25
F without being dam
aged. Others are even
sturdier in the face of all
that winter can throw at
them, capable of tolerat
ing temperatures that dip
into the high teens.
Growing vegetables in
winter requires a dif
ferent approach than
growing in spring and
summer, as gardeners
must be ready to prevent
damage from frost if tem
peratures get especially
chilly. For example, the
experts at Michigan State
University Extension
note that gardeners may
need to utilize floating
row covers to protect
sensitive crops from
frost. Gardeners interest
ed in planting winter veg
etables can speak with
a local garden center
professional about which
crops to plant and what
to do if temperatures
push winter vegetable
gardens to the brink.
Though it’s up to gar
deners what they want
to plant, the following
are some popular winter
vegetables that can make
for wonderful, fresh addi
tions to any dinner table
even after the traditional
gardening season has
come and gone.
• Arugula
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Collard greens
• Endive
• Parsley
• Parsnips
• Kale
• Radishes
• Rutabagas
• Spinach
• Swiss chard
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Phillip Bell
943 Thomaston Street
Barnesville, GA 30204
770.358.1108 (office)
770.358.6308 (fax)
www.phillipbellagency.com
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