5 Home Improvement No-No’s to Watch out For

There are two reasons why people pay close attention to the upkeep of their homes: they want their home to look impressive and fabulous, AND they want to add value to their home in the hopes of selling it for a higher price in the future. But what if your home improvement regimen is actually doing more harm than good? Here are 5 Home Improvement No-No’s to Watch Out For:

Overly-bright light bulbs. A well-lit home is a beautiful home, but using bulbs that exceed the wattage capacity of your light fixtures can cause damage to the circuitry. Over time, overheated wires will erode and cause a house fire. TIP: Use bulbs well within the recommended wattage of your home’s light fixtures (you can check the label of the fixture). If you want your home to appear brighter, be ready to upgrade your fixtures and your electrical circuit accordingly.

Planting trees near driveways or walkways. A line of trees boosts a home’s curb appeal, but they may cause problems to the slab and pavement of your home when they grow. TIP: Choose small trees that will not grow over 20ft and plant them at least 10ft away from concrete pavements. Large trees are discouraged, but if you want them in the property, give them a 20ft radius.

Scrubbing a sink too often. It is very tempting to scrub away when you see grime in the sink, but the repeated abuse to your metal sink may cause its lustre to wear away, leaving it more vulnerable to grit and gunk. TIP: Dirty-looking sinks turn off prospective buyers, so be sure to avoid this potential problem by using liquid cleansers and scrubbing the sink at less frequent intervals.

Using glass cleaner on mirrors. Store-bought sprays bring a promise of sparkle to your glass windows, but they actually pose a risk of damaging its reflective backing. If you notice a black edge around your panes, then it means you’ve overdone it with your ammonia- or vinegar-based cleaners. TIP: The best way to add sparkle to your glass windows without causing any harm to their reflective layer is by using warm water and soft, lint-free cloth to wipe across the glass surface. If you insist on using glass cleaners, however, spray the solution to a dry cloth and wipe accordingly. NEVER spray the cleaner directly on to the glass.

Excessive repaint jobs. While people love the sight and smell of fresh paint, it may not be ideal to work on frequent paint jobs, especially for older houses. Old, thicker oil-based paint becomes brittle with age, causing layers of new paint to look uneven, cracked, and/or peeling. Not a pleasant sight either, eh? TIP: If you desire a new color for your home, be sure to power-wash your walls before painting, sand surfaces that need to be evened out, and use only 100% acrylic-resin exterior paint.

For a full-list of things you should cross out on your home improvement list, check out the original article published by This Old House here.