Replacing a Ceiling Fan

OK, so I know you can just read the directions that come in the box for replacing a ceiling fan, but after replacing a few in our new home, I thought I’d share some tips that we learned through this process.  It’s fairly easy to do, however for some reason my husband and I always run into (small) problems. The photos in this collage are from when we replaced my daughter’s fan in her room.

Removing the Old Fan:

• Never use a metal ladder while working with electricity. Use wood or fiberglass (We didn’t run into any problems with this one… thank goodness… I just thought I’d add it anyway).
• Turn off the electricity for both the fan and the light before you start.
• Remove all the light bulbs before you remove the fan (If they still work, reuse them!).
• If there are light shades, remove those too.
• Use the buddy system. Ceiling fans are heavy!
• Consider removing the blades before removing the motor instead of removing the entire fan at once (Unless you are SUPER strong like I am… just kidding).
• When in doubt, call an electrician!

When assembling the new fan, account for all the parts and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Installing the New Fan:

• If you have any issues with the support brace you can always install an expanding metal brace.
• If for some reason your fan doesn’t come with a mounting bracket, you can but a mounting kit separately.
• Make sure all screws are tightened to avoid any wobbling when the fan is on.

I hope this helped!

DIY Projects to Add Home Value

I have written about replacing a light fixture before, but I wanted to share photos of the new light fixtures we got for the front of the house.  The old ones were nice; however they were very rusty and damaged.  Updating your light fixtures is an easy and low cost way to add value to your home, especially in the front of your home for curb appeal or in the entryway because it leaves a good first impression.

Here is the before and after of the fixture by our front door. Hmmm… it looks like our door needs updating too (when does it end?).

We also replaced the light fixture on the front of our house on the balcony.

Instead of writing another tutorial on replacing a light fixture, here are some other suggestions for low cost DIY projects to add home value, especially if you are trying to sell it (I used to be a Real Estate Broker…blah):

• Focus on other parts of the front entry like, trim the hedges, add a doormat, and add a flower pot.
• Paint the interior with neutral colors.
• Add crown molding.  I have actually tackled this DIY project before, and it’s not as tough as it seems!
• Freshen up the bathrooms by getting rid of water and mildew stains. Also consider updating the vanity mirror with a framed one. Add or update towel racks.
• Improve window treatments with budget friendly paper shades or plastic blinds.
• Paint or stain the kitchen cabinets and replace the old hardware.

I hope you found this informative! AND I hope you like my new light fixtures because we bought five more for the back patio.  We are re-doing the patio as well… more to come!

Replacing a Light Fixture

I have never replaced a light fixture before, and since I started blogging I thought I’d better try and do it myself. When I mean “myself” I mean my husband (haha!). Replacing a light fixture is actually a lot easier than I thought.

Here is the fan before.  It’s nice but not our style. I didn’t want a ceiling fan in here because the airflow is so nice with all the windows anyway.

First, we made sure that we turned off all the power. Next, we carefully removed the plate. It took both of us, because the fan is so large, awkward, and heavy. I held it as my husband carefully unscrewed the plate.

While taking the old fixture off we found this nail.  It was stripped and took forever to get out… could it BE any longer? Geesh…

We followed the instructions carefully and we successfully replaced the light in no time. I suggest wearing goggles and a hat because pieces of falling paint or plaster in your eyes or hair is not fun.

If you prefer to see it on video, I found an awesome one and a half minute video tutorial on replacing a light fixture for Dummies from Dummies.com. It’s short and sweet!

Here are a few after shots. It still needs a little pizzazz, but it’s a good start. It is much better than standing at the counter while eating dinner for the last few weeks for sure!

Best Reuse Websites

If you love dumpster diving, I found out that the best times to go are towards the end of the month and the beginning of the month on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.  Love free stuff but not that into dumpster diving? Here is my list of five best reuse websites to help you find free or inexpensive pieces for your next DIY project.  The best part is that each one can search for items in your local area.

Freecycle.org

Here is a tidbit about what it’s about straight off of the website:

“The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 5,020 groups with 8,856,823 members around the world. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by local volunteers (them’s good people).”

GIGOIt.org

GIGO stands for Garbage In Garbage Out. This is a great free online source to donate and receive reusable items in your community.

FreeSharing.org

FreeSharing, also known as Free Recycling or Freecycling, is when you have an item you no longer need that is just too nice to put in the trash and you give the item away thru your local FreeSharing group.

Craigslist Free Stuff

Did you know that Craigslist has a section where you can search for “free stuff”???? Yeah… enough said. The key to this is to be ready to go before you search because people will post their free stuff and their address, aka a Curb Alert.  Go right away or it will be gone just like that!

EstateSales.net

I wrote a post called 6 Tips for Going to Estate Sales a while back. In it, I references a website called EstateSales.net. This is a great online source for active and up and coming Estate Sales in your local area complete with photos, maps, and directions.

Photo Source: Good Houskeeping

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When and How to Use Primer

When and How to Use Primer

Knowing when and how to use primer can be tricky especially if you are a new do it yourselfer.  I don’t know about you, but when I first started painting my projects, I had no idea if I needed to use primer or not. It was a little intimidating.  I accidentally bought an entire gallon for a small project (how embarrassing and costly).  As with many things, I learned through experience.  Here are a few tips and rules of thumb that I have learned along the way.

When to use primer:

• When the surfaced is cracked or has holes
• When you are using lighter paint colors
• When you are changing two types of paint (i.e. applying latex over oil paint)
• When painting over dark colors

Why use primer:

• Primer acts as a bond and will strengthen and adhere to your cover paint
• To correct flaws and uneven surfaces
• To protect the surface and keep moister and mildew out
• To increase durability and keep paint from chipping or flaking
• To create an even and smooth hue and mask brush marks
• To extend the life of your paint with a longer lasting color

How to use primer:

• Sand any lumps or flaws
• Thoroughly clean your surface and make sure it is clear of debris and dust
• Make sure the primer is completely dry between each coat
• Two coats typically does the job

Hope this helps!

Other DIY Tips and Tricks:

• Places To Go: Habitat for Humanity Restore
• How to Arrange Art or Photos
• Wallpaper Tips
• How To Paint a Dresser
• Long Beach Antique Swap Meet