Tackle these DIY home projects

Chip Gaines, host of HGTV’s Fixer Upper and lead contractor/owner of Magnolia Homes, offers these three easy home improvement projects:

Repaint your walls

KILZ Hide-All primer and sealer can take care of marks and more. This high-hiding product only needs one hour of dry time before you apply your top-coat, so there’s no need to set aside a whole weekend to cross this project off your list.

Clear grout of gunk

No matter how much cleaning Gaines does at his house, he says there’s one thing that’s hard to keep looking clean: grout. The dirt and grime that turns your grout nasty colors can be scrubbed out, but it takes a little extra TLC.

To clean grout at your home, he recommends wiping the surface with a wet cloth and mixing up a paste of two-parts baking soda and one-part water. Scrub it onto the grout surface using an old toothbrush or stiff-bristled brush, then rinse the area with water. If your grout lines are stained from mildew or kitchen spills, try spraying a mixture of equal parts vinegar and warm water onto the tile. It’ll foam for a bit, but once it’s done, scrub it well. After a final rinse, the stains should be gone.

Seal out the elements

If you live in a place where heavy rain is always trying to find a way into your house, know that weather can lead to serious issues in your foundation. To prevent water damage and leakage stains, inspect masonry on the interior and exterior of your home. Fill any defects you find with fast-setting hydraulic cement and clean up the surface.

Start your project season with any of the three ideas listed above and you’ll be ready to step out and make your home’s exterior as beautiful as your interior.

This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.