Home Makeover Diva

Help Choosing Between ClosetMaid Closet Organizers

02.25.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Carmen writes:

Dear Diva, My New Year’s resolution is to get more organized! Thus far I’ve organized my kitchen and pantry, but now I need to move onto the closet in my master bedroom. There is tons of space, but I’m a little hesitate to begin. I’m looking at going with a ClosetMaid do-it-yourself organizer, but I don’t know if I should go for the wire or the wood system components. The wood look is nice, but I’m not sure if it is worth the extra money. Please help! Thanks so much for your help!

Well Carmen, you are definitely not alone with the get organized New Year’s resolution. In fact, January is typically a good month to start organizing the inside of your home, even if it’s not your resolution. The reason being that a lot of people are in the process of putting away the holiday decorations and finding a place to store any new holiday swag they might have received. So, it’s the perfect time to organize your home and make each room more usable for the year to come!

Recently I found myself in a similar situation and had to decide between the exact ClosetMaid organizers you’ve described. Ultimately I chose the wire components, but I know that look is not for everyone. With that in mind, you’ll find the 3 main factors below that I used to help me determine which closet organizer was right for me.

Cost: This was definitely a factor I considered because I had multiple closets to makeover and I wanted to get the most bang for my buck. The fact of the matter is that the wire organizers are just more economical. However, if you are only making over one closet, you can probably afford to be picky in making your selection. I suggest making a list of what you need for each closet system and then tallying up the difference dollarwise between the two. You may be able to offset the price difference by going with one less “wood-looking” unit, using shelves instead of drawers, or adding more hang bars to your closet system. Don’t just go with the wire closet system because it’s less expensive, instead explore all of your options! If you need help doing this, check out ClosetMaid’s website or go to your local authorized retailer and ask an associate for help. I spent a lot of time on the ClosetMaid website, but in the end the associate at my local home improvement store was the biggest help. She saved me money by suggesting an arrangement that I hadn’t even thought about. Plus, by doing the research you’ll have a better idea of what you are looking at price wise for each system.

Appearance: No matter how much less expensive the wire closet system may be, it’s not a good choice if you actually prefer the wood look instead. When you get done with your hard work, you want to be able to appreciate it! Not just wish you could have purchased something else entirely. So while cost is definitely a point to consider when selecting a closet system, make sure you aren’t just installing something you’ll want to replace in a year or two. It’s also worth noting that the wire look is a better option if you like more of a casual or industrial look for your closet. If instead however, your style leans towards the more traditional, then you’ll want to stick with the wood laminate closet system.

Also remember that with the wire system, even if you purchase the drawers, you will still be able to see all of the items you store in it. With the wooden themed closet systems, the drawers come with a solid door. This means you can store your underwear effectively without seeing it! Speaking for myself however, I don’t mind seeing in all of the drawers in my closet, so the wire look wasn’t a big deal. But this type of layout isn’t for everyone. So, bear this in mind when making your selection.

Versatility: The last factor I considered before making my purchase, was how versatile the closet system was in the long run. When I say versatile, I mean how easy it is to change the closet system components. For example, my organizational style changes frequently. So I wanted to make sure that what I purchased was very versatile. As luck would have it, both closet organizers happen to be fairly versatile. But. . . there is no question in my mind that the wire closet system is going to be far easier for me to change in the long run. The reason being that the only pieces that are fixed are the standards you hook the brackets into. This means the brackets are easily repositioned for your organizational needs.

While with the wood look, several of the components can be changed inside each wood unit but the main units are stationary. Meaning that if you wanted to change your overall layout you could, but you would have to uninstall and reinstall each unit to change it. For my needs, this was more work than I wanted. However, if you don’t see your needs changing or don’t over organize your closet like I do, then this would be a moot issue!

No matter which type of ClosetMaid system you choose, I’m confident that if you do your research and consider the three factors I shared above, you’ll end up purchasing the one that is right for you. Remember, not to just consider the overall cost of the unit, or how it looks when making your decision. Instead take each of the above points into consideration and you’ll be sure to you pick the unit that best fits your needs for years to come! Additionally, if you’ve done the research and still can’t make a decision on what type of organizer is right for you, there are a variety of companies out there that specialize in designing and installing closet organizers. So, you are not alone and there is professional help available for this task!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog!

Are In-Floor Heating Mats Worth It?

02.25.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Margaret writes:

Dear Diva, I live in a very cold climate and I am tired of my feet getting cold! Do you think those in floor heating mats are a good idea? Because they sure sound nice! What brand would you recommend and do you have any install suggestions? Thanks

Margaret, you are definitely not alone in wanting to keep your feet warm this winter! Now that summer is officially over and fall has begun, a lot of people have started to think about the impending cold weather and what they could do to keep their homes just a little warmer. The most common winter insulation and maintenance that people perform this time of year are only temporary solutions; from indoor window insulation kits to outdoor faucet covers. While the in-floor heating mats you are talking about are a much more permanent heating solution.

So, the first thing I’d point out is that the in-floor heating mats are only cost-effective if you are going to replace your existing flooring, as well. Because in most cases, you cannot just tear up your existing flooring, install the heating mats and then lay the old flooring back down like nothing happened. If this is the case, and you have no plans on installing new flooring, I would consider other options to keep your toes warm this winter. Like space heaters, area rugs and slippers. I know none of these options are the same as having a heated floor, however they are the best options to consider if replacing your existing flooring is not an option.

If you are planning on replacing your existing flooring however, then I would definitely suggest adding in floor heating mats to the install. They’ll keep your toes warm this winter and can help to lower your heating costs as well. As far as which brand I would suggest, the only brand I’ve ever used is Suntouch. While I can’t provide in-depth information comparing Suntouch to other brands of floor warming mats, I can tell you that Suntouch has never failed me or any of my clients. Plus, they offer some pretty comprehensive information on their website and their installation guide is very thorough. So, with over twenty separate installs to compare to, I’d say they make a pretty solid product and if I were installing in floor heating in my own home, that’s the brand I’d choose. Plus, Suntouch floor heating mats are reasonably priced and come in convenient sizes.

Here are a few things you should know about in floor heating mats and where they can be installed:

If you are estimating the cost of in floor heating, don’t forget the price of the thermostat and all needed materials. You will need one thermostat for each room you are installing the mats in and depending on which model thermostat you choose, this could cost an additional $150 per room.

Suntouch mats can be installed under almost any floor type, though it will warm floors with the maximum amount of heat by being installed under tile, stone and laminate flooring. In floor warming mats can be installed under carpet, vinyl and wood flooring but would first have to be installed using a polymer-modified cement-based mortar. Also, you should be aware that carpeted floor will not feel as warm as tile or laminate because the pad and carpet itself insulates against it.

If you were thinking about installing the mats yourself, you should read their online install specifications guide first. Do this before purchasing any material to find out whether or not your skill level is up to the task. Because floor warming systems have to be installed under your flooring, if you are not comfortable with the install specs, hire a trained professional. Additionally, Suntouch Floor Warming Mats are DIY friendly, but you must have an electrician hook them up to the thermostat and connect the mats together.

Can You Paint Cultured Marble Or Tile Countertops?

02.24.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Mary asks,

Have any ideas about making over countertops that are cultured marble, and tile countertops? Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations won’t work on these surfaces. 🙂

Mary, unfortunately neither one of those surfaces handle paint well in wet areas. This is one of the reasons why it’s not recommended to use a product like Rust-Oleum CountertropTransformations on cultured marble or tile.

Upon receiving your question, I asked all my contacts in the painting industry for help and I also scoured the internet to find a paint for a DIY makeover on a cultured marble countertop. Unfortunately, short of buffing and reapplying a gel coat to get it back to its former glory, there really isn’t much you can do yourself to give a cultured marble countertop a new look. In fact, when it comes to making over cultured marble you really have only three options: live with it, replace it or hire a company to come in and professionally refinish it.

The first option is pretty self-explanatory, do nothing and live with the countertop you’ve already got. Not the most glamours option, but it’s certainly the cheapest.

The second option requires you to choose a new countertop and install it yourself, or hire someone else to install it for you. Depending on the size of your countertop, you might be able to find a pretty cheap replacement at a home improvement store. If you go this route and decided to do it yourself, be aware that you are also going to have to deal with the plumbing attached to the sink and faucet as well. After all, it’s not just the countertop that has to be removed and replaced.

The last option is to hire a company to professionally refinish it for you. This is done very similarly to how you would have a bathtub or shower refinished, which is why it’s best to have someone else do the work for you. To date, none of the attempts I’ve seen by DIYer’s have turned out very well. It’s also important to mention that if you are going to have this done, it may be more cost-effective in the long run to just replace the countertop. These finishes can last for awhile, but eventually may chip and crack. At which point, you’d be back to square one. Which brings us back to option two – replace it.

As for a tile countertop, if the tiles are well secured, just about the only thing you can do that will last is to put a new tile right over the existing ones. However, this poses a unique problem when it comes to the sink. Whether the sink is an under mount or a drop in sink, you’ll have to get creative with the new edge. In the case of an under mount sink, how will you treat the overlap of the tile onto the sink? It will now be twice as thick as it was before and if you leave it the way it is it, you’ll be able to see the edges of both layers of tile. So, you’ll have to find away to cover up the existing tile and make a finished looking edge at the same time.

If the sink is a drop in, you’ll want to make sure that the additional tile with thinset isn’t too tall. You don’t want the tile to be taller than the sink. And then if the sink is round, you are going to have a lot of angled circular cuts to make. Which can be frustrating if you are not familiar with how to make those types of tile cuts.

I wish I had better advice to give, but when it comes to cultured marble and tile countertops there really isn’t much you can do. My advice is to wait until you can replace them completely, as this is the only option that will be cost effective and long lasting.

How To Buy Carpet For Your Home

02.24.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

As we continue winding our way through the season, many of you are thinking about the home improvements that need to take place in your homes. But one home improvement that tends to be put off until the last-minute has to be changing out old carpeting. Why the procrastination? Most of the time it stems from not knowing how to buy carpet for their home. This is understandable, as the entire process can indeed be seen as a bit overwhelming.

To address this challenge, I’ve decided to offer a round-up of articles along with one additional resource that I think will help to ease the burden of learning how to buy carpet for your home.

Home Depot Carpet Installation: In an article dating back to April of this year, a reader asked what she needed to know about Home Depot carpet installation prices and whether or not it’s a good place to buy carpet. Pricing, expectations and other considerations were explained at length. There was also suggestion to the reader for them to be very proactive when dealing with a carpet order. This tip, is among one of the many considerations to remember when shopping around for new carpet for your home.

Carpet Buying Tips

From carpet type to carpet color, this article will prove helpful in offering some worthwhile carpet buying tips. Great, general advice is offered to anyone wanting to get the basics of carpet shopping. By no means does this cover all of the bases, but it’s a pretty good place to start. Considerations explored include texture, style, color, padding, moisture barriers and stain resistance.

So what’s missing then?

A lot of things are missing here, actually. The underlying problem is no matter how much I attempt to cover in one or two articles, there’s bound to be something that will be missed. What is needed to handle situations such as learning to effectively buy carpet from home is using a guide that will ensure you’re doing the following.

Tricks of the trade – You need to learn how to avoid common, misleading sales tactics used by some unscrupulous salespeople. There are factors you need to be aware of, in order to prevent being hosed for hundreds of dollars.

Selecting the best carpet for YOUR needs – Despite offering some fantastic articles here at the Home Makeover Diva, there are going to be instances where you need to know how to handle very specific circumstances.

I’d like to share an e-book with you that will not only prevent you from feeling “in the dark” when shopping for new carpet, it will ensure you aren’t being misled, sold the wrong kind of carpet/padding or other common issues you’ll find when carpet shopping.

This e-book guide will show you step by step how to purchase the best carpet and padding for the best possible price. Unlike the salespeople you end up dealing with, the e-book’s author isn’t on commission. For a small one time purchase, you could end up saving yourself hundreds of dollars in carpet buying mistakes. Not buying this guide, is absolutely not using any commonsense. Don’t buy new carpet without getting all of the facts, first!

The best part about using this guide is that it comes with a money back return policy. If you hate the advice offered, return it. And considering how much you’re about to spend on carpeting for your home, the tiny cost for this guide pays for itself instantly. After all, why gamble with the entire cost of a carpet install when you could very well save yourself from a terrible mistake with a cheap little e-book instead? Don’t go into a carpet emporium without getting all of the facts first.

Remember, unless you’re already a flooring expert, buying carpeting without understanding the type of carpeting you’re actually going to end up with is simply unwise. Play it safe, read the articles linked above and please, use the resources that have been provided to you. Better to be safe, than sorry and by playing it safe, you’ve lost nothing.

Twelve Must Have Painting Supplies

02.23.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Adrienne writes:

What tools and supplies do you prefer when you are painting?

What a good question, Adrienne! As it turns out there are about a dozen different items that I always make sure I have on hand before I start my painting project. Some of them are no-brainers and others are items that just make painting easier for me. Unfortunately for me (but fortunately for you), some of them are the result of trial and error! Sometimes you’ve got to use the wrong tools before you can find out what the rights one are. That said, below I’ve listed my twelve must have painting supplies:

1.) Ergonomic Roller Handle and Paint Brushes – You might be tempted to buy one of those economy packs of painting supplies or just grab the cheapest options available. But when it comes to paint brushes and rollers, that would be a big mistake! You’re going to be holding onto these items for the duration of your project, why not make sure they are comfortable and fit well in your hands? Trust me on this one, there is nothing worse than only being half done with a project when your hand starts cramping up! It isn’t pleasant and spending just a couple more dollars on an ergonomic roller handle or paint brush could make a big difference in your ability to finish the painting project.

2.) Quality Angled Paint Brushes – A quality angled paint brush will make your life a whole lot easier when it comes to cutting in (edging). It’s easier to control where the paint goes and the angled edge makes working in a corner or along trim easier, as well. What I mean by quality paint brush is one that isn’t going to shed on you. The cheaper poor quality paint brushes can start shedding as you’re painting. So you’ll have to start picking the bristles off your wall or they will dry with the paint and become noticeable blemishes. It’s easier just to avoid this whole scenario and purchase good quality brushes from the start. My favorite angled brush is a 1-1/2″ Purdy brand brush. The size is perfect for edging by a baseboard heater or along the ceiling. Purdy paint brushes also last forever if you treat them right.

3.) Correct Size Roller Covers – Using the correct size roller cover is important for two reasons: first you want to make sure the length of your cover is correct for the size roller you have. So if your roller cover is 9 inches, your roller handle should also be 9 inches. Secondly, roller covers come in different nap sizes. Smaller nap sizes are for smooth surfaces (like furniture and table tops) while bigger nap sizes are for rough surfaces (highly textured walls and rough wood surfaces). Most roller covers are labeled clearly with their nap size and what type of surface they are good for.

4.) Plastic Roller Tray – I prefer the plastic roller trays because they’re easier to clean and don’t rust over time. Even with their no-rust advantages, I still try to get as much paint out of the tray as possible, and then I set the roller tray in the garage to dry out. Once it’s dry, I peel the remaining paint off and have a brand new tray.

5.) Handy Paint Cup – This little red cup is one of my favorite painting supplies, and it makes painting so much easier for me! It’s ergonomic to hold and very handy to tote around. As an added bonus, there’s a magnet inside the cup that holds your paint brush up and out of the paint inside. Handy Paint Cups come in a couple of sizes, but the smaller one is just perfect for edging and small projects.

6.) Scotch Blue Delicate Masking Tape with Edge Lock – If you’re needing to tape off an area or make a straight line for your painting project, then Scotch Blue Delicate Masking Tape is the best tape I’ve found by far. Plus, it’s for delicate surfaces so you don’t have to worry about it taking off the existing paint or stain. On minimally textured or smooth walls, you could use this tape and have a perfect line with no bleed through. Surprisingly, even on textured walls, this painters tape does a fair job of preventing any paint from bleeding through. However, if you need perfect lines, consider adding my next item.

7.) Paintable Silicone Caulking – Grab the kind that comes in a squeezable tube, not a caulking gun (this will be easier to control). And make extra sure it is labelled paintable caulk. To make perfect tape lines, you’ll squeeze a bead onto your finger and rub it over the edge of the paint to make sure the tape edge is sealed. Then once the caulking is dry you just paint right over it. Using the caulking is especially important for textured walls because it will ensure that the tape sticks to the wall evenly. Thus leaving you with a smooth and straight line free of blemishes.

8.) Self Leveling Laser level – A self leveling laser level is a good all around tool to have when you’re making over a room. Especially if you need to end your painting at a straight line. Whether you’re making an architectural statement or painting a pattern of lines, a laser level with help save you time. Set your level to your desired spot and use a straight edge and a pencil to draw your line.

9.) Double Layer Drop Cloth – A double layer drop cloth will offer more protection from spills. The top layer will absorb the spilled or splattered paint while the bottom later will keep the spill from soaking into what’s underneath. I prefer the drop cloths that have a canvas texture on the top and are coated with vinyl or rubber on the bottom. Knowing that no matter how much paint I spill or splatter it won’t soak through, gives me peace of mind.

10.) Rubber Mallet and Paint Can Opener – Unless you are using Dutch Boy paint (Dutch Boy Paints comes in an easy to open and pour container) odds are you’ll need a paint can opener and a rubber mallet to seal the can back up. While you could accomplish the tasks of opening and closing paint cans with other items from your tool box, it’s easier and generally more pleasant to use a paint can opener and a rubber mallet. Especially, considering they don’t risk damaging the lid.

11.) Painters Rags – I always keep a heap of painters rags near me, as well as a few in my pockets while I’m painting. That way they are close by to help clean up a spill or get paint off of trim quickly. Also paint rags work much better than paper towels, because they can absorb more paint and don’t fall apart.

12.) Water – I keep two containers of water handy when I’m painting. One in an open container so that I can just dip a painters rag in it in case of an accident – like getting too close to trim work or accidentally painting the ceiling. The second is a water bottle I don’t mind getting paint on, so that I can stay hydrated while I work. By keeping the water near by, I eliminate the risk of tracking paint through the rest of the house when I’m thirsty.

I’m sure there are a few more items I could add to this list, but these are the ones I find myself using the most. These are also the items that I kick myself for when I don’t have them readily available. I hope these help you out as you plan your next project!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe(diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog!