Painting your home is an experience that spans the spectrum for homeowners. It’s time-consuming – that’s for sure – and it really depends on how much value you’re going to get out of it. This article on the Restumping Melbourne blog covers both your internal and external paint jobs and while you’d think that external would take exponentially longer AND cost more – that’s not always the case. Don’t worry, the Restumping Melbourne team is here to provide all sorts of guidance related to every aspect of your home. It helps when you’re the premiere provider of underpinning, reblocking and restumping services (and have been for decades). Why does it help? Because you’re outside at very important points in the process, and you’re also inside – looking at the cracks in the floors, walls and ceilings. Over time, we’ve certainly built up a library of knowledge. Not only about what works and what doesn’t work – but how we can make what doesn’t work turn into what does work. And today, in this post, the key word is paint.

We started stockpiling this information when we started leveraging paint jobs as a good sign that some sort of foundation reinforcement was needed. There are always key signs for this – cracks, moisture, sloped floors, doors that don’t close, etc. But peeling paint jobs weren’t/aren’t necessarily a tip-off that something is wrong with the entire structural integrity of your property. We did start to see a pattern though, and we started to double-check whenever we saw some sort of issue with the paint or wallpaper on the wall.

We always have to give this caveat – it doesn’t necessarily mean that anything is wrong. After all, paint fades and peels, and wallpaper definitely have a lifecycle. But it’s become another check off the list to ensure that we’re doing our homework before the Restumping Melbourne team makes a recommendation about the work that needs to be done.

That’s foundations and that’s our business. But let’s look at it from your point of view, especially if you plan on living in your home as a short-term investment before selling it. You want that paint job to be top-notch – a project that you can easily take on with the help of family or a couple of friends. Just make sure that if you’re working on the exterior, you also factor in the time and money it takes to pressure wash any necessary areas and consult an expert (we’re here) if you have any questions.

We always like to end our blog posts on a happy note and that can certainly be the case if you do a paint job or wallpaper job correctly. If you’re living in the home for life, you’ll feel a certain emotion every time you walk into a room. You might feel a lot calmer; you might feel a pleasant sense of memories; it doesn’t matter – it’s a paint or wallpaper that you pick out and it has sentimental value to you and your household.

When you buy a home, there are a lot of considerations. You want to think through what works, what doesn’t, what’s worth it and what’s not. Sometimes, the price is just right and everything is in tip-top shape. Eternal optimists, but hey, it can happen. More often than not, it’s a question of deciding whether additional investment into your property to make it your dream home is worth it. We can’t make that decision for you, but having worked in this industry for decades, the Restumping Melbourne team knows that adding on rooms for specific purposes is generally a huge reason to improve homes after you sign on the dotted line.

Overview – what is an addition? It can be an attic (building up), a basement (building below your home) or an addition on any floor (most commonly your ground floor). Homebuyers add them generally either because they’re expanding their families or households, or there is a particularly promising piece of the property that would work well for passions or projects. We’re talking about gyms, spas, man caves, she shacks… you get the idea.

Now that you’re up-to-date on what an addition is, as well as what it would be used for, let’s talk about how to care for them. The Restumping Melbourne team has an elevated level of respect when it comes to preparing and caring for your home, because we reinforce the foundations of homes with every sort of design and style under the sun. We love it. It keeps us moving and, on our toes, and allows us to help share information like this.

Preparing for an addition – this is *maybe* something you want to plan for when you buy your home, but it can also be a thought after the fact as life happens. If you plan ahead, you’ll know how much space you have and what amenities it needs. Do you need a lot of natural light? Okay, you’ll want to build above ground and probably facing towards where the sun hits best during the day. Do you need it to be soundproof? Sounds like it doesn’t matter if it’s below ground, like a basement, maybe you’re about to embark on the epic journey of becoming a popstar. Or, is it more of a functional question? An additional bedroom knowing that you’re about to expand your family. Factor all of these things in as early as possible, so that you’re not disappointed or having to scramble and get creative when the time comes to build.

Caring for an addition – here’s a heads up… it might look a little bit different than the rest of your home and may require additional renovation when it comes to things like painting or staining the floor, painting or wallpapering the walls and ensuring that the insulation and heat and energy are in line with what you currently have.

With both of the above, don’t fret about the time or money investment. As long as you plan ahead and ask experts like the Restumping Melbourne team any questions that you may have, you’ll be not only good to go… but excited about this new addition to your home.

If you have a pet of any sort, you get it. Your life tends to revolve around them. As some of us say, “it’s your world… we just pay for it.” And there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s commendable. They’re another member of your household whose needs you need to keep in mind at all times. They can honestly be even higher maintenance than children sometimes. Children grow up and (hopefully) learn to take care of themselves. Pets, while very smart, will rely on you for their entire lives.

When you get a pet, no matter what kind, you need to make all sorts of sacrifices. You need to think about your schedule, you need to think about budgeting for what they need, and the focus of today’s post – you need to adjust your home a little bit. That can be overwhelming, but you know that the Restumping Melbourne team not only has your back but will help prepare you for every situation. In today’s case, let’s prepare your home for a pet. Read on for more information and always reach out to us with any questions and comments:

• Do your homework about what you need to buy. The first thing that comes to mind is anything that’s going to protect your floor (potty pads, a cat litter box, etc.), but this article has a great comprehensive list. We should clarify that this article does tend to focus on your furry friends, especially because they are the most mobile.
• Once you’ve done your homework and purchased what you think you need, again – focus on the floors first. It’s not like they can do their business on the walls or ceiling. (If they can, let us know – that’s just impressive). You don’t want to be constantly cleaning your carpet, where stains can sink in quickly and you won’t even know they’re there. You don’t want to be constantly wiping up your wooden floor – nobody’s back wants that. Training is obviously a solution, but so too are the products like we mentioned above. You might want to purchase a few in key rooms in the house, where you’re noticing that your pets are hanging out the most.
• Gates are paramount, depending on the size of your pet and how well they’re trained. Especially when they’re babies and if they have explorative natures, you don’t want them wandering around the house. So, set up gates outside of key areas, (especially where there are valuables) and at the foot or top of the stairs if you have a multi-storey home.
• Finally – and this can be the most cost-intensive, you might want to look into a mini door on your back door for your pet to go in and out. Of note, this should only be explored once they’re trained and you know they won’t escape, but can be a game-changer, especially if you have outdoor spaces that they can learn to access and then enjoy by themselves. Just make sure they’re fenced in!