How To Refinish Exterior Wood Doors- I did it!

Written by on September 22, 2011 · 2 Comments

Give Your Home a Facelift in a Weekend!

Finished!

The most important feature in “curb appeal” is your front door. My wood double doors were suffering from the intense western exposure. The sun had baked the finish right off. It was time to either purchase new doors or give mine a facelift. The cost-effective and eco-friendly way was to give refinishing a whirl. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?? See how I did it! 
  
1. If you have glass, tape it off. Also tape off all hardware: hinges, locks and doorstops. Many home improvement websites suggest removing the doors and all hardware. How the heck am I supposed to do that when it’s my front doors?!

2. Wipe any dust and dirt off the doors with a damp cloth.

3. Sand the doors. I used an electric palm sander with 80 grit sandpaper. You can do it with a hand block sander but it takes longer and is a lot more work! Sand in only one direction with the grain wherever possible. Wipe the door down with a damp cloth. Repeat sanding with 120 grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.

4. After sanding, I noticed that the doors had a few tiny cracks. I filled these with wood putty and sanded again.

5.  Clean all sanding dust with a vacuum. Remove remaining dust with a tack cloth.

Tinted Primer

6. In my case, I decided to paint my doors red to make them “pop”. I applied a Behr tinted primer. Let the primer dry for 4-6 hours.

7. Paint the doors with an exterior paint using a 3 to 4” brush or small roller. I used Benjamin Moore paint along with the roller and a brush for the curved windows.

8. Allow paint to dry for at least 4 hours in good drying weather. That means low humidity. Apply the second coat when completely dry.

9. Remove all the tape, add a wreath or door decoration,  and enjoy your new look!

I am lucky to have a husband who can do almost any home repair or improvement. But, as he reminds me, he’s only one man! I am inspired by women like my sister Susan and friends like Sarah and Sis who do so many things around the house. The first step is confidence – believe that you can do it and you will.

This was my first big project on my own and I couldn’t be happier! Not only do the doors look great, but I feel good knowing that I saved some big bucks and my old doors aren’t rotting away in a landfill. With those beautiful front doors, the shutters are looking a little tired. Maybe next weekend!

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Get Your Lake Zurich Home Ready for Winter

Written by on November 2, 2010 · Leave a Comment

6 Winter Maintenance Things You Can Do in a Weekend

The trees are bare, the days are growing shorter and the weather is getting colder. Whether you live in Lake Zurich, Long Grove, Buffalo Grove or any other Chicago land area, now is the time to take a winter maintenance walk around your house. Improvements made now will not only help to prevent costly repairs but will also help to keep you safe and cozy during the long winter months ahead. Here’s a list of 6 easy things to do that can be accomplished in a weekend:

1. Check your smoke detectors and install fresh batteries. Make sure that your fire extinguishers are fully charged.
2. Have your furnace checked out to be sure it’s in good repair. Typically this service also includes a test for carbon monoxide leaks. Have a supply of filters on hand. A clean filter great improves the efficiency of your furnace.
3. If you have a fireplace, have your chimney cleaned. This will prevent dangerous creosote build-up and help to prevent a chimney fire.
4. Clean leaves from the gutters to prevent ice damming and leaks.
5. Drain your exterior hoses. Disconnect the water supply from the house and leave it on until all water is drained.
6. Check around your windows and doors for leaks. An easy way to do this is to hold a lighter around the frame. If it flickers, there’s a leak. Caulk the leaks around windows if you can. If not, there are plastic sealing kits available at Lowe’s, Home Depot or Menards. For a leak around the bottom of a door, install a new door sweep.

If you need a referral for service people to accomplish some of these tasks, give me a call. I have a list of reliable people that I would be happy to share with you. When you finish, surround yourself with people you love and celebrate with a warm drink!

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A Vintage 1920’s Table Gets a New Look!

Written by on September 7, 2010 · 5 Comments

Reuse Old Items and Keep Them From the Landfill!

A new look for the vintage table

This table has a long history. It was built in the 1920’s. It was owned by a woman in Brandenberry Park in Arlington Heights. My daughter, Kristin, acquired it and kept it in its original condition. It moved with her several times; Arkansas, Carbondale and Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She brought it back to Long Grove to sell on Craig’s List and it sold immediately.

The Crystal Lake woman who purchased it will be using it in her dining room. She lovingly restored the top by sanding and adding several coats of stain. I was excited to see that she left the beautiful base in its original form. The transformation is amazing and the end product is beautiful.

The table now adds another chapter to its history. It was saved by a woman who saw its potential and had the skill to update it. It will now serve her family instead of being banished to a landfill.

Before refinishing

The new owner was kind enough to share the process (and pictures!) of refinishing with me. It’s inspired me to do a makeover on my pine kitchen table and chairs. It’s still in great condition but the look is dated. I hope it turns out as beautifully as hers did. Perhaps her creativity will inspire you to take an old item and update it rather than buying something brand new.

Have you rescued an old item and refinished or repurposed it? If so, we’d love to hear about it!

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Kitchens…Remodeled!

Written by on August 24, 2010 · 4 Comments

Adding the “Wow” Factor to Your Kitchen

Kitchen "After"

 Home buyers today are looking for updates and upgrades. It doesn’t matter if they’re looking at condos in Arlington Heights or single family homes in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove or Lake Zurich. One of the most important upgrades is the kitchen. The updates can range from painted cabinets and new hardware, countertops and flooring to total overhauls.

Kitchen "Before"

Recently, a homeowner in Buffalo Grove made a major kitchen improvement. He purchased new cabinets, changed the configuration, added granite countertops, flooring and, well, you get the picture. Everything is new! The home had been on the market and buyer feedback was that it was out of date and overpriced. After the rehab, we relisted the home and are getting rave reviews. It’s only been on the market for a few weeks and we are awaiting an offer! Our feedback, although it is offered at a higher price, is that it’s priced well and shows better than the competition.

If your kitchen is looking a little tired and you just need a cosmetic update, you may opt for a less expensive overhaul. Painting your cabinets, installing new lighting and hardware and replacing your flooring and countertops can give you an updated look for a fraction of the cost of a total rehab. This couple did just that and are enjoying their updated, modern kitchen.

A Kitchen Facelift

The National Association of Realtors reports that homeowners receive a 79.5% average return on a kitchen update. The current real estate market in Terry’s Towns appears to be telling us that the number is much higher..

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Buyers Look For Updated Kitchens

Written by on April 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Is It Time for a Kitchen Remodel?

Remodeled Lake Zurich kitchenHome buyers in the Lake Zurich area are looking for great kitchens! This past week I had the opportunity to show 23 homes in the Lake Zurich area to a young, fun couple transferring to the area. Kitchens that needed a major overhaul were rejected immediately. The home that they decided to purchase has an awesome kitchen with fine features. So, what were they looking for?

  • Size. They wanted a kitchen with an eating area where their family could enjoy meals together.
  • Stainless Steel appliances for a sleek, modern look.
  • Granite countertops. This is a personal choice but if you’re remodeling, buyers are looking for solid surfaces such as granite, soapstone and quartz.
  • Maple cabinets are a big plus but I’ve also seen a trend back toward white painted cabinets.

These features are indicative of what buyers in the Lake Zurich area are looking for in their kitchens.  In the end, you have to love your choices and I think I could fall in love with these features!

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