House Remodeling Tips for Beginners

Electrical Power

• Turn off your electrical power at the main service panel to all outlets, switches and wires inside the room in which you will be doing any demolition work. Remodeling that requires taking out a wall carries with it the danger of electrocution if you are not absolutely certain the power is turned off.

Solvent Safety

• Stripping old furniture is one of the easier remodeling projects you can do. When using solvent-based strippers, make sure your pilot light is out and that nobody is using stove burners. Avoid smoking and wear both rubber gloves and safety goggles.

Keep Your Cabinets

• Don't toss old cabinets when you are remodeling a kitchen. Store those cabinets in the garage, basement or attic and they can be useful later on or as part of your remodeling plans for the basement or attic.

Tighter Plumbing Seals

• You can make your plumbing connections seal tighter by using Teflon plumber's tape. Wrap the tape around the threads of faucets and valves. Attach the supply tube and tighten the nuts first by hand and then using an adjustable wrench. Just make sure not to overtighten or you could crack the plumbing fittings.

Interior Demolition

• Interior demolition work on a remodeling job is bound to create a lot more dust than you think. Protect yourself by wearing a dust mask, gloves and goggles. Add gloves and long sleeves if your interior demolition remodel is going to include working with insulation.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

• The old adage about measuring twice and cutting once rings true anytime your remodeling work requires measurement. Precise measurements can mean the difference between a large window fitting into the space you measured and the jolt of realizing that no amount of wiggling back and forth is going to get that window to fit.

Cutting Copper Pipes

• Invest in a tube cutter if you are going to be working with copper pipe. If you use a hacksaw to cut pipe, you may not get a clean or square edge. The tube cutter will provide you with a much cleaner cut and it doesn't require the elbow grease that using a hacksaw does.