Home improvement is the process of making changes to ones homes, either through repair or renovation. Home improvement projects can be small, such as adding sealant to a window. They can also be big projects, such as adding new carpeting to floors. The tips in this article should help you with home improvement, regardless of the size of the task.

When building your own home through use of a contractor, add a clause to the contract that gives the builder a bonus for finishing on time and on budget. This clause will encourage your builder to do a good job in the time allotted, and can save you a lot of headaches due to missed deadlines and extended budgets.

Fix floor squeaks with a few drywall screws. While a second person waits below in the crawl space or basement, walk over your floor and locate where the squeaking is occurring. Signal to the person below where the problem is. They can insert a drywall screw through the sub floor and into the flooring to stop the squeak.

If you have popcorn on your ceiling, get rid of it. The popcorn ceiling look was very popular in the 60’s and 70’s but now it just looks dated. You can find solutions that will soften the texture allowing you to scrape it away. It’s a simple change but it can really bring your house firmly into the new century.

Solar panels are beneficial additions to any home. The high initial investment will be offset by years of lower electric bills. Doing this will cut down your electric bills, as you’ll be able to get much of your energy from the energy your panels are storing. This is also a good way to reduce your impact on the environment.

Putting on a new roof is one of the major expenses of home ownership. Always get a few estimates from reputable roofers and not just by the newest and cheapest roofing company. There are many different styles of roofing materials available today, from lightweight tiles to traditional shingles. A good contractor that does roofing will assist you in deciding what to get.

If your house is low on usable space and you need an extra space, consider looking to your attic or basement for help. You can easily choose to turn your basement into a livable environment such as an office, man cave or recreation room. If your basement already has a staircase, a roof and separate walls, it can be a very cost effective way to improve your home.

Make sure before you get started in remodeling your basement that you have kept in mind heating, cooling, proper ventilation and dehumidification of the area. If you have enough headroom, your heating, cooling and much of your electrical equipment can be hidden behind a false ceiling. Prepare to hire a heating contractor to help you with your basement project.

As stated before in the article above, home improvement is the process of making changes, such as repair and renovation, to homes. Using the tips in this article, you should be able to tackle any home improvement project no matter the size of the task.