Australians love to work on their home, to improve their living space, which not only makes the home more comfortable, making improvements also adds to the value of the property. If you have made a New Year Resolution to boost your property’s curb appeal, here are a few home improvement projects to consider this year.
- Master Bedroom Renovation – If you don’t have an en-suite bathroom, now is the perfect time to start planning the project. After the decor is completed, splash out on a new quilt cover and the room will be ready! Invest in a new bed, bedding, blinds and lighting, then you have a new look for the main bedroom.
- Loft Conversion – This is the cheapest way to add living space; you already have the structure in place, all you have to do is build a floor and clad the walls and ceiling for a new room. This could be used as an extra bedroom, a home office or even a study centre for the kids. Chances are your local builder has extensive experience with loft conversion and after a home visit, he could quote for the project. No planning permission is required as you are not exceeding the original building dimensions.
- Replace doors and windows – There are many benefits to replacing your original windows with double glazed uPVC units. Aside from transforming the look of your home, double glazing greatly improves insulation, reducing your energy needs. You won’t have to worry about burglars, they all know how hard it is to force entry with double glazed windows and doors.
- Build a deck – The latest generation of composite decking ticks all the boxes and some! If your deck has seen better days, the end of the summer is the best time to design and build a new terrace where you and your family can relax. If you are starting from scratch, you’ll need to excavate some soil, then drive in support posts on which to build a timber frame. This would make for an ideal DIY starter project; check out the many ‘to build a deck’ videos on YouTube for guidance.
- Engineered timber flooring – If you love the look and feel of solid hardwood flooring but are not prepared to pay the high price for solid timber, we recommend engineered timber. The core is made from piece that are criss-crossed for added strength and an outer layer (3-5mm) of real timber gives you a natural finish. A protective coat is finally applied and the product is suitable for high traffic areas and it is 100% waterproof. Visit your local flooring showroom to see and experience engineered timber and bring your room dimensions for a free quote.
The cost of labour keeps rising and many Australian homeowners have turned to DIY, which can save a fortune. There are lots of free resources online for would-be DIY-ers, plus you have YouTube to guide you.