Television Home Improvement

Over the course of the last six months, I have had many friends and Clients ask me if I watch a lot of Home Improvement Shows. My answer was always the same, “sorry, I don’t watch the DIY, HGTV, or TLC channels.” They always respond back as to why? I then go into a disortation as to my reasons why I stopped watching them a long time ago. Though I am an aficionado of the public educating themselves in the processes of home improvement, these shows often make it look so easy. Due to the majority of the shows only being a half hour long, they don’t stress the needs of permits and the process of finding a qualified contractor. The shows make it look so easy, the average person feels, after watching several episodes they can remodel their entire house. It empowers them to think, “I am smart person, I should be able to figure this out” and though I can appreciate this bravado, I don’t recommend it. My biggest recommendation to any sort of remodeling is to seek the help of a licensed and qualified professional especially when it comes to anything dealing with electricity, water, and structural items.
Don’t get me wrong, I once started out like the average Homeowner. My college education had nothing to do with construction except for the Spring Breaks and Summer months where my Father made me come home to work for his Company. After graduation, I worked corporate America and after being downsized by a company in 2000, I was recruited by my Father to work for the family business. My Father made me work in the field (on jobsites) at the very bottom of the chain of command, which was very humbling due to me being college educated. I constantly complained to him that I did not go to college to “swing a hammer.” Ten years later, I am eternally grateful for his insight. I don’t have to rely on or the expense of hiring someone to maintain my home with the exception of the occasional issues with my Heating & Air Conditioning System. Though my expertise is in managing the company, projects and subcontractors the skills and knowledge that I have learned over the past decade are incredibly valuable.
Getting back to the main subject of Home Improvement Shows, I believe that they can give the average person a false sense confidence in their abilities to tackle large projects. Though I had humble beginnings like the average Homeowner, I had one major advantage… I had a Mentor, my Father. In the beginning, if I took on a project and discovered that I was in over my head, he was always there to bail me out. Obviously, over time I learned from his interventions and now I can actually say I often give him insight.
In summary, I commend Homeowners for taking the iniative to complete Home Improvement Projects on their own. There is nothing better than empowering yourself with skills and knowledge to complete repairs and projects on your own. However, find an expert or mentor that can review your work or that can instruct you as the proper way to complete the project. A mentor is invaluable especially when it comes to your largest investment, your home. Throughout the years I have seen the work of novice Homeowners and in some circumstance was in disbelief that the House had not collapsed (removal of load bearing supports), had not caught fire (illegal electrical wiring) or had not flooded (rigged plumbing). I have seen exterior repairs that have caused more issues, due to redirecting water to areas that are unable withstand it. I have seen cabinetry fall off of walls and shelves fall out of closets. My advice is to start slowly in building your skills, do some research in regards to the project you are looking to complete and most importantly find a mentor. Only rely on Home Improvement Shows for IDEAS!

Now if only my Father was also a good Mechanic, I would not be watching videos online learning how to repair my vehicles. 🙂

“And the Winner Is!” Granite vs. Quartz Countertops

 

Granite Countertop

There are really only two benefits to installing Granite over Quartz.  Granite is currently less expensive and it has a more natural beauty IF you like the look of the veins, striations, and color variations. 

Quartz is a combination of a manmade and natural product.  Here is a case where nature is not always better. Quartz is one of the hardest minerals making the surface virtually scratch resistant (Granite is softer and scratches).  Quartz countertops are dense and non-porous. Granite on the other hand is porous and requires some yearly maintenance.  Even with the maintenance, spills need to be cleaned up as they occur especially with wine, olive oil and even liquid soap.  I have seen all three penetrate the surface of Granite and leave a noticeable “stain”.  Due to Granite being porous it is susceptible to mildew and bacteria adhering to it.  Some Quartz products have a antimicrobial, product added in during the manufacturing process to help eliminate the adherence of mildew and bacteria to the surface.  The overall Quartz product is stronger allowing for larger overhangs without supports needed beneath it (consult with the installer). 

Quartz has a brilliant shine similar to Granite.

Quartz Countertop

Due to Quartz countertops being manmade they have a consistent pattern and colors throughout the entire product.  This could be considered a drawback if you like the veins, striations, and color variations that are natural to Granite.  If purchasing Granite, it is imperative that you select your countertop from the stone yard so you know exactly what you are getting. With Quartz, you can easily select your countertop color from a small sample piece knowing it will be the color that you will receive.

There has also recently been the Radon scare with Granite.  Radon, which is a radioactive gas, can be trapped in the granite which can be emitted into your house once installed.

I recommend all of my Clients to use the Quartz in all of their Countertop needs. 

Here are some additional usages:  Kitchen- Countertop, entire backsplash between countertop and upper cabinets and any kitchen window sills. Bathroom- Countertop, knee wall cap, window sill, shower seat/shelf, shower curb (entry).

Installation: The quartz installation is similar to granite.  The installer will come out and create a template based on the cabinet layout and additional overhangs. The installers will usually require having the sink (I recommend a undermount sink) on site at the time of creating a template.  Back at their shop, they will cut the countertop the size of the template, cut any holes for the sink and attach the sink to the countertop. They will also add any edging and will usually offer a variety of profiles.  They will usually drill the holes for the faucet on the job site. Once the countertops are installed, they will clean and buff them.

You will need to hire a plumber, to hook up the plumbing drain lines for the sink and to install the faucet.

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Painting and Choosing the right Sheen for the Project

Sheen, is how shiny or dull the paint finish is after it is dry.  There is a Sheen spectrum, with Gloss (shiniest) being at one end of it and Flat (dull) being at the other end.  In between the two of these there are a variety of other Sheens, which I mostly use when painting.   The entire Spectrum is as follows starting from the dullest to the shiniest: Flat; Satin; Eggshell; Semi-Gloss; and Gloss.

Here are some important tips when choosing which Sheen will work best for your project.  The shinier the Sheen the more scrubbable or the abilitiy to clean the surface that has been painted.  This means that it is much easier to clean a surface that was painted with Semi-Gloss Sheen than would be a surface that had been painted with a Satin Sheen.

On the other hand, the shinier the Sheen the more flaws in the surface being painted stands out.  This means that a wall that has been painted with a Gloss Sheen will have more of its imperfections stand out as opposed to that same wall being painted in a Flat Sheen.  Imperfections in a wall can consist of scratches, inconsistencies in wall texture, dents in the surface, improper repairs, etc…  If these items are painted with a Gloss Sheen any light sources will reflect off of this Sheen and make any imperfections stand out from the rest of the surface.  The shinier the Sheen, the brighter the room will become depending on the amount of light emitted from a light source.  Be careful because the shine or reflection from the light source can be bothersome to you eyes. 

My recommendation for a home is to paint the interior walls with either a Satin or Eggshell Sheen.  I have found that these Sheens are ideal on the walls because they are easier on the eyes, while at the same time, do not highlight the imperfections in the wall as readily and allow for some cleanability.  I recommend a Semi-Gloss Sheen for the doors,baseboards, doorcasing , and other woodwork because I want these items to standout.   These items also have a tendency to get dirty more readily and I want to have the ability to clean them better.  I only recommend a Flat Sheen when painting the ceiling and rarily ever use a Gloss Sheen on any surface.  

On the exterior walls, I recommend the same as the interior, a Satin or Eggshell Sheen.  I have seen houses that have been painted in a Gloss Sheen that have been unbearable to look at without Sunglasses.   For the exterior doors and trim, soffits and fascia, I use a Semi-Gloss Sheen.   You can also use an Eggshell Sheen on these items due to the amount of light emitted and reflected from the  sun.

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