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HOME DECOR &

REFURBISHMENT

Module 03

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3. Module 03: Different reasons to refurbish your home

Table of Contents

3. Module 03: Different reasons to refurbish your home ....................................................................... 1

3.1 Considerations ........................................................................................................................................... 2

3.2 Planning ...................................................................................................................................................... 2

3.2.1 Determining Issues............................................................................................................................ 2

3.3 Planning a Budget ...................................................................................................................................... 3

3.3.1 Timescale .......................................................................................................................................... 5

3.3.2 Talking with Contractors ................................................................................................................... 7

3.3.3 Deciding What to Do Yourself ........................................................................................................... 8

3.3.4 Buying Supplies ................................................................................................................................. 9

3.3.5 Tools ................................................................................................................................................ 10

3.3.6 Getting to Work .............................................................................................................................. 12

3.3.7 Floor plan ........................................................................................................................................ 12

3.3.8 3D Model ......................................................................................................................................... 13

3.3.9 Create a List of Purchase Items....................................................................................................... 14

3.4 Small Changes, Big Results ....................................................................................................................... 14

3.4.1 Clean and Refurbish ........................................................................................................................ 15

3.4.2 New Additions and Replacements .................................................................................................. 16

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3.1 Considerations

In the module one you learned about different reasons to refurbish your home, and how to approach each

option. In module 2, you will learn about different considerations such as planning, budgeting, and taxes.

You'll also learn more about how to make small changes to create bigger results, and how to choose which

types of refurbishment you need for your home. Most importantly, you'll get started on refurbishing your

home, and learn how to finish on time, and within your budget.

• Planning

• Budgeting & Working Out Costs

• Small Changes, Big Results

3.2 Planning

Planning is one of the most important parts of refurbishing or redecorating, because the order of repairs,

your time usage, scheduling, and planning material purchases all affect what you can do, and when you can

do it.

For example, the order in which you make repairs and changes is as important as what you change. You have

to plan the order of things to repair, restore, or redecorate, or you could end up getting in your own way,

having to wait for other projects to finish, or having too many things started at once.

There are multiple steps to planning your refurbishment, but you should start with the basics of

deciding what to refurbish.

3.2.1 Determining Issues

Inspecting your home and determining everything that you do and do not like is a great way to get started.

If you are simply redecorating, you can choose to go on a room by room basis, which is easier if you are

working on a budget, because you can tackle jobs as you have the funds to do so.

Pay for a property inspection to determine issues or structural problems, even if you're not planning on

doing any repairs. Many projects run well above their initial budget simply because the property had issues

that the owner was not aware of before starting the project.

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Go through the house yourself. Write down everything you don't like. This will give you a good start for

deciding what to change. Consider paying special attention to the first thing you see when entering a room,

like the far wall or the sofa.

Create idea boards, either with a scrapbook and magazine clippings, or a website like Pinterest, which allows

you to save all of the inspirational photos you want. This option is very helpful if you want to change your

entire house to meet a certain look or style.

Organize your proposed changes based on the urgency, and the effect on the rest of the home. Create a list

of tasks you intend to do yourself, and those you need a contractor for.

3.3 Planning a Budget

Your budget is the most important thing to consider when refurbishing your home. Not only does it control

how much you are willing to spend, it controls how much you can do, what type of materials and supplies

you can use, and how much of the work you have to do yourself. If you're handy, or good with tools, you can

plan to do much of the work yourself as well, in which case you can plan for a lower budget.

Set a maximum budget for the entire project before you begin. This is important if you want to work out how

much you can afford spend on each room or project, and how much you can spend overall without putting

yourself in debt, or inconveniencing yourself in other ways.

One important consideration is that if you are on a low budget, you can set a monthly budget, rather than a

total project budget, and do a small amount of work each time you have money to do so.

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If you're on a low budget, doing as much preparatory work as possible yourself will save you a lot of money.

However, if you live in a house built in the 1950s or earlier, you shouldn't usually tackle the walls yourself in

case you have asbestos insulation.

Go over your finances and set a maximum budget per month, or for the whole project. Try to budget out

your final refurbishments at about 20% lower than this number, because most projects run at least 20%

higher than initial estimates.

If you've organized your projects in order of urgency, you can then start planning based on your budget. For

example, if you can only spend $750 per month, but your plumbing is leaking, you know where to spend it.

If you have a $20,000 budget and your most important project is the bathroom, then spending $7,000 on a

new shower, new tiles, and a complete makeover for the room is okay.

• Try using the following method for determining a budget per room.

1. Determine your entire renovation budget

2. Organize your rooms with the most important first

3. Determine how much time you spend in each room to make sure your order of importance is

correct. If you spend 20% of your time in the kitchen and 40% in the living room, and only 5% in

the study, then you know which rooms to spend more on.

4. Determine how large each room is. Refurbishment usually breaks down to triple digits per

square foot if you're going for quality products and having a contractor do everything, low triple

digits to double digits if you're doing some work yourself but want a contractor to do some

structural work or window replacements, and double or single digits if you're primarily doing

small cosmetic changes like paint, or doing almost everything yourself. Essentially, the larger the

room, the more it will cost, so plan accordingly.

5. Create a pie chart with the time spent in each room, and another with the size of the room .

Most people spend the most time in the larger rooms, so you can usually average out a good

budget per room from there.

6. Write down your budget per room and plan changes that fit into that budget. You can also use

this chart to decide where to scrimp if you don't have enough money for everything. If the living

room is going to take up 60% of your budget but you spend less than an hour a week in the

second bedroom, it's pretty easy to make the decision to cut costs on the second bedroom.

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3.3.1 Timescale

Planning a timescale should involve deciding how long you can take to finish the repairs, and in what

order you want to do the repairs. This sounds easy, but it can be complicated. For example, if you're doing

work yourself, you have to plan it around your weekends or when you are free. You also have to plan tasks

in a logical order. The following includes a list of common repair tasks, and in which order they should be

done.

• Rip up old carpeting

• Tear down an old wall to create an open floor room

• Build a half bar against the far wall

• Install new windows

• Paint

• Install shelves

• Install new hardwood floors

• Install trim

• Add new light fixtures

• Have couch steam cleaned

• Purchase new furniture

• Add a decorative motif to one wall

This is just a very small example of general tasks surrounding re-doing a living room, but you can see that

they are ordered based on how difficult they are, and on how they affect the rest of the home. If you were

to build the bar first, you would run into issues ripping up the carpet, and if you were to lay the new flooring

first, you would risk damaging it by tearing down the wall. You can divide most refurbishments into the

following categories:

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Group A:

• Structural changes (removing the bathtub, taking down walls, creating a window)

• Utilities (wiring, plumbing)

• Removing cosmetic features (trim, carpeting, built in shelves, etc.)

Group B:

• Deep clean, scrubbing, re-painting, professionally cleaning

• Maintenance and repair

Group C:

• New features (installing a shower, windows, built in shelves)

• Paint, plaster, wallpaper, etc.

• Installing hanging shelves, cases, etc.

• Flooring

Group D:

• Trim, decorative touches such as baseboards and cornices

• Light fixtures

• Furniture

• Finishing touches

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This order will get you through most types of home refurbishment projects in a logical and orderly fashion

that will ensure that you can tackle each project without risking damage to another.

You'll also want to divide projects up based on type, so that you can see if you can save money. For example,

if you want to install new sinks in the kitchen and the bathroom, and you have to re-do the plumbing in the

entire house, you might as well have it all organized so that you know to schedule the same contractor to do

it all at once.

Because contractors charge as much as 40% of the fee for coming out to your house with supplies and making

the changes, you can save a great deal by making sure that everything is handled all at once. The same theory

applies to woodwork, flooring, laying stonework or tiles, or even painting if you don't want to do it yourself.

Use a separate page or an Excel document and organize all of your listed tasks based on the type of work

required.

3.3.2 Talking with Contractors

Once you know what you need to refurbish or change, you can start talking with contractors. It's always a

good idea to find all of the contractors available in your area, and then ask all of them for quotes. In some

cases, you can send them an email or use a submission form on a website to get an easy quote, sometimes

you will have to call. You will learn more about getting the best deal and getting quotes in module 3.

Discuss your needs, all of the projects that you want the contractor to handle, and your timeframe. Keep in

mind that the longer you have to complete the job, the cheaper the quote will be. Another consideration is

that even if you schedule your contractor months in advance, your project could still be delayed if they are

held up on another job. Planning in 2-4 days of leeway time for any contractor is always a good idea.

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If you're planning on having more than one contractor at your house at once, make sure you discuss this

with the contractors in questions. Many types of contract and repair work are governed by strict OSHA

guidelines, and they have to take special precautions when working around each other. This is especially true

if you need work on your roof or require a scaffold in your home.

As tempting as it is to try to organize and schedule everything all at once, that isn't always a good idea.

Make sure that your contractors can complete Group A and B tasks before scheduling someone for Group C

tasks. Putting 3-5 days between scheduled contractors is always a good idea in case one of them ends up

being tied up with another task.

3.3.3 Deciding What to Do Yourself

It's easy to think that you can do everything yourself, but most of us aren't very good at actual DIY work. In

addition to requiring a certain level of skill, you will also need the proper tools, which can be quite expensive

to purchase, and moderately so to rent. You can decide what to do yourself and what not to based on the

following considerations:

Legality - Some jobs, such as wiring and plumbing, should only be performed by a licensed and trained

technician or electrician. Do not try to do them yourself.

Difficulty and Skill Level - If you've never built a cabinet before, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to

build one that meets your standards for a beautiful home anytime soon. Hire a professional. On the other

hand, you can usually hang up shelves or install laminate or click board flooring on your own with zero

problems. The more difficult a task, the more likely it is that you need a contractor. Some things like tiling

are extremely difficult to do yourself, and won’t look professional on your first try.

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Visibility and Importance - Unless you are fairly confident of your DIY skills, you should leave highly visible

tasks to contractors. For example, you might not have any qualms about cutting and installing shelving in

your cabinets, but do you really want to do the trim yourself? Consider how important finishing touches are,

and if you're not entirely certain of your ability to do them professionally, don’t do them. You might pay

more, but you will get better results.

3.3.4 Buying Supplies

Once you’ve planned out your tasks, decided which you are doing and which you are paying someone to do,

you can start buying supplies. Whether you're purchasing furniture, building materials, or flooring you can

research and choose the best options for your budget.

Most materials are divided into the following categories:

Premium - High end materials, which typically cost double to triple digits per square foot. These are quality

materialslike hardwood and stone tiles, or designer mirrors and lights that add value to your home.

Mid-range - Expect to pay in the double digits per square foot for these products. These are usually very

high quality, but less expensive than premium products.

Budget - You can usually find budget versions of almost any home building material, furniture, or supplies.

These often mimic the style and feel of high end items, but are made of cheaper materials, and can devalue

your home. Examples include laminate that looks like hardwood, or stick on tile for the bathroom.

If you're only concerned with the cosmetic appearance, then most budget options work, although it is

important to consider that they are not as durable as more expensive items. Stores like Ikea, Crate and

Barrel, Scandinavian Designs, and Walmart all carry budget friendly supplies and furniture.

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3.3.5 Tools

You will have to purchase, borrow, or rent tools for work that you are planning to do yourself if you do not

have them already.

A basic tool set for home repair should include the following:

• Safety glasses

• Measuring tape

• Ruler

• Square

• Level

• Hammer (and nails)

• Phillips Screwdriver (and screws)

• Flat screwdriver (and screws)

• Power drill (power or cordless, it should be three-eights, variable speed, and reversible)

• Drill bits

• Sandpaper

• Paint brushes (multiple sizes of brushes, roller brushes, replacement rolls)

• Paint tray

• Locking pliers

• Linesman's pliers

• Needle nose pliers

• Wire cutters (rubber handle)

• Adjustable wrench

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• Utility or Box Knife

• Ladder or step ladder (usually available for rent, but useful in most homes)

• Large rasp (horse rasp, four-in-hand rasp)

• Wrecking Bar (for dismantling walls/removing fixtures)

• Sledge Hammer (for dismantling walls)

Woodworking

• Cutting saw (hacksaw/power saw/jigsaw/circular saw depending on the quality, complexity, and

quantity of the work required.

• Cutting surface (saw horses, you can make do with an old table)

• Sandpaper

Polishing

• Paint

• Wood polish/wax

• Varnish

• Applicator tools

• Paint thinner for cleanup

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This might seem like a lot of supplies, but many homes already contain some of them, and you will use most

of them regularly on small projects and during regular maintenance, so they are a good investment. Consider

your budget, and choose the best quality you can afford

3.3.6 Getting to Work

Once you work everything out, you can create a detailed plan to tackle every part of your home

refurbishment or redecoration. If you plan correctly, have the correct tools on hand, and know the order in

which to tackle projects, you can already get started while waiting on contractors.

Plan carefully, measure everything twice, and take safety measures when using saws or power tools.

Budgeting & Working out Costs

Budgeting and working out costs can be difficult to do because prices vary quite a bit from area to area, even

when you're purchasing the same brands. For this reason, the best way to get an estimate is to decide on

the materials, tools, and supplies you need, and then look at hardware stores online, or go browsing in a real

one, to find prices.

You will need a few things before you get started.

3.3.7 Floor plan

A floor plan allows you to easily see the size and dimension of your home when you're shopping, and allows

you to calculate costs for things like flooring or carpeting at a glance. You can use a pen and paper, a site like

Autodesk Homestyle (or the companion app), or hire a professional to do it for you.

If you're doing it yourself, you'll need a long tape measure, a pen and paper, and someone to help you

measure. For the most accurate results, you'll also want to measure each wall two or three times.

Floor plan - Measure the length of each wall in the room, from corner to corner, and write the measurement

down. Repeat on each side. Write down the name of each wall. For example:

Bedroom 1:

West wall: 10 feet

South Wall: 14 Feet

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East Wall: 10 Feet

North Wall: 14 Feet – Distance on either side of door: 5.7 feet

Square Feet: 140

3.3.8 3D Model

Measure the wall from floor to ceiling. Try measuring once in each corner, and again in the middle of the

wall. This will also tell you if your floor is level or not. Calculate the square feet per wall for paint or wallpaper.

For example, if the room is 8 feet high, the West wall in bedroom 1 would be 80 square feet.

Furniture - Measure the length, width, and height of spaces for furniture, closets, and curtains. This makes

it easy to see if something is too big or too small when shopping.

Either draw out your room using a rough sketch, or use a drag and drop 3D model program like HomeStyler

to create your rooms. Label each area with the measurements you took. You can keep separate records per

room, or draw all of your rooms together to create a full floor plan. Write the square foot in the center of

each room

Tip: The easiest way to calculate square footage is to multiply the length and width of the room

together. This number will tell you how much carpet, flooring, or paneling you need to cover the space. If

you're measuring your walls or ceilings, make sure you are using measurements from the top of the wall as

well, rather than assuming that the walls are square

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3.3.9 Create a List of Purchase Items

If you sit down and write out a list of everything that you think you need, along with the square feet you

need for things like paint, tile, and curtains, you can easily calculate the cost by simply adding up totals. For

items like paint, you can use the area to calculate how many gallons you need, (one gallon of paint usually

covers 300-400 square feet - but don't forget that if you're using a lighter color than the existing paint such

as white over red, you will need more than one coat). You can use a similar process for curtains, flooring,

and bathroom tiles. Researching the exact furniture you want and adding in the costs is also a good idea.

If you're doing the labor yourself, you can usually stop here, and create a tally of total costs to figure out

how much you will spend.

If you're paying for a contractor, you will have to ask them for a quote, find out if they will use materials you

purchase, or if you have to buy through them, and find out how much you will pay. You can add this quote

to your estimates, but consider adding as much as 30% to the quote just in case.

Finally, calculate the total to see how much you probably have to spend to do everything you want. If it's too

high, you'll have to go through and find cheaper materials, or decide what not to change until you have the

money. You should also always plan to go about 20% over your initial calculations. Almost all projects cost

more than initial estimates, so plan for it and avoid a nasty surprise

3.4 Small Changes, Big Results

Not everyone has the time, money, or motivation to engage in lengthy and expensive renovation projects,

and that’s okay. You can consider a variety of small changes to make around the premises for big results. In

most cases, you can greatly improve your home for less than the cost of a vacation.

The two rooms that people pay the most attention to are the kitchen and bathroom, but you shouldn't

approach them as the most important. Instead, the rooms that you spend the most time are most

important. Keep in mind that your first impression when you walk in the door sets the tone for the entire

house.

One tactic sometimes used by decorates is to walk into each room and write down the first thing that

catches your eye. This is often the centerpiece of the room, such as the far wall or a large item of furniture,

and therefore the most important thing to fix to make the room look better.

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If you're on a tight budget, you can start with the small things that will make the most changes, but also

the big things that bother you the most. For example, if your old couch is stained and falling apart, consider

if you can clean it or repair it, if not, spend the majority of your budget on replacing it.

3.4.1 Clean and Refurbish

• Professional steam cleaning costs a fraction of what it takes to replace something, and does

provide impressive results for couches, rugs, carpet, curtains, and upholstery.

• Sanding and stripping old paint and then refinishing or repainting is a cost effective way to make

something old look new.

• Instead of replacing hardwood floors, have them redone, or do it yourself.

• Organize, reduce clutter, and pack away or throw out anything you haven't used in 6 months.

• Reorganize rooms to make the best use of space. If you're not sure how, hire a designer for an

hour.

• Purchase a high-power degreaser and use it on the entire kitchen. Grime builds up, even with

regular cleaning. Throw out curtains, old towels, and anything fabric in the kitchen and purchase

replacements.

• Organize cabinets, shelves, closets, and drawers

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3.4.2 New Additions and Replacements

New additions, like a sink basin, can be cost effective and still make a big impact. Fabric or upholstery items

are usually the first to look dingy, so consider replacing or repairing those first.

Replacing sinks can make an old kitchen or bathroom look new

Small changes, like replacing cupboard handles are extremely affordable, and make the whole room look

different.

Replace old, dim lighting with new, energy saving lights

Replace old curtains and drapes to make big changes

Get rid of anything that doesn't match the style of the room.

Paint the walls

Install click board or laminate to cover dingy floors

Replace drawer and cupboard handles

Purchase new mirrors

Replace cabinet fronts, they will change the look of the entire room

Add storage where needed

Replace countertops

Purchase new hobs and grates for your stove

Install splash backs for a cheap way to change the whole kitchen

Adding simple storage solutions like baskets to a shelf can make a world of difference to the area.

New faucets and showerheads can make a huge difference

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If you hate something about your house, try focusing on that first, using the majority of your budget to fix

that, and then using the rest on small but efficient changes around the rest of your house.