Labor Day Home Improvement Projects

The long labor day weekend usually brings images of lazy afternoons spent by the poolside. Family and friends enjoying the delicious smells drifting from the grill overloaded with everyone's labor day barbeque favorites. But for some homeowners, the 3 day weekend is a chance to catch up on some home maintenance repairs or to begin a home improvement project, which will add beauty and value to their home. If you are a homeowner who is considering embarking on a home improvement journey over this labor day weekend, you want to keep a few pointers in mind when considering the job you hope to accomplish. First of all, it's very important that the project can be completed over the weekend, or in 72 hours. Depending on your finances, you want to make sure the cost of any supplies and materials you will need stays within the budget you have set up for your home improvement project. And that you have someone available if you chose a home improvement project that requires the use of an extra set of hands.

Labor day signals the end of summer and puts everyone in the mood for redecorating or beginning a home improvement project. Over this labor day weekend many home owners will begin a painting project on their home. This is a relatively easy, quick and inexpensive home improvement project that can be done in a few hours.The first step in painting a room is choosing the room you want to repaint and deciding on a color scheme that works for you. The cost of painting a room can range anywhere from $20.00 to $200.00 dollars. Depending on the room size, the color and brand of paint you choose and what materials you will need to purchase. The time invested in a home painting project can range anywhere from an hour to an all day project, start to finish. The materials you will need include; paint, paint brushes, paint rollers, painters tape, drop cloths, white caulk and paint trays. The steps in painting a room are so simple and easy just about anyone can do it. 1. Choose your color of paint, making sure that it is eco-friendly and low in odor.

2. Make sure and begin your painting project with a clean surface. So if your walls are dirty it's important to clean them with a mild soap and water.

3. Tint the primer 50 percent of the color you are using to paint.

4. Tape off corners, edges, and around the window sills.

5. Pour a small amount of paint into your paint tray.

6. Lightly wet your brush and begin to paint your room using light strokes. You always want to start by painting corners and edges first, painting over and away from tape.
Painting a room is a simple home improvement project you can accomplish with a minimal investment of time or money.

Another popular home improvement project chosen by homeowners wishing to add beauty and charm to their property, is adding solar lighting to their landscaping. Solar lights can be used to illuminate steps, paths or your pool. To begin your solar lighting project you need to make a diagram of your landscaping and where you wish to add the solar lighting. Then choose the design and style of lights you wish to use. A trip to your local Home Dept or Lowes can usually help you accomplish this task. The cost of installing solar lighting to the outside of your home can be anywhere between $9.00 and $250.00 dollars, depending on the amount of lights needed to complete your project. 1. When spacing your lights, make sure the diameters of each light slightly overlaps each other.

2. Prepare a hole in the ground before inserting the light stakes so that they are not broken.

3. Insert each individual light into a hole, spacing at least a foot apart.
Your landscaping is now complete with natural, beautiful illumination. This is a relatively inexpensive way to add beauty and charm to your landscaping design.

My husband and I recently decided to embark on the home improvement project of adding a shower door to our master bath. This is a project that you can accomplish in a day and the cost can range anywhere from $100.00 to $250.00 dollars. The steps in this project are somewhat more difficult and require the use of the items listed below. First of all you must choose a shower door. You will also need a tape measure, waterproof caulk, level, caulk gun, a drill, drill bits, safety glasses, miter box, hacksaw, and a Phillips head extension bit. 1. The first step in beginning your project is to cut the track for the shower door. You do this by measuring the inside area and then transferring the measurements to the track. Using a hacksaw cut the track about 1/16th shorter so it fits well. Use a miter box to get straight edges. If your shower has rounded corners use a file to round off the corners of the track.

2. Secure the track in place on the bathtub sill using tape. Snap the side rails into place. Use a level to check for leaks.

3. Remove the cribs and jambs, but first mark the holes for mounting the jambs on both sides of the crib. Using a 3/16th drill bit, drill the mounting holes. Mark the holes to make an impression for your drill bit. Have a tile cutting bit on hand in case you need it to cut the tile. Tap the plastic wall anchors into place and clean up any dust.

4. Apply caulk inside the lines for the track. Position the track in place. Being sure to keep the weep holes which are used for positioning inside the shower.

5. Put one side rail in place and secure to the wall with screws. Slide the header onto the other side and slide the other end onto the rail mounted on the wall.

6. You will then need to install the rollers on the door by screwing them into place. The shower doors hang from the rollers, allowing them to be opened and closed easily.

7. Install the inside door closest to the showerhead. This prevents water from leaking.
Sit the bottom of the door into the shower area. Push the top into the track and allow it to hang from rollers. Hang the second door and push both doors to the right side. Set the center guide in place and drill a pilot hole through the side of the tub. Secure the guide with a screw.

8. Place rubber bumpers over the screws in the side rails. Attach the handrail to the door. Caulk the corners where the sides meet the wall and the track meets the sill.

You now have the added privacy and beauty of a classic shower door in your master bath.
For information on these and other home improvement projects visit www.diy.com.