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Actually, if you don’t know the drill, this blog is for you. In my last blog, I listed the five essential tools for homeowners who want to do some home repairs and improvements, and I put the cordless drill right there near the top of the list. But the question remains, what kind of drill do you need?  Here are the main types:

• Drill Driver – A great, versatile drill that can handle drilling holes and driving screws.  Good features to look for are an adjustable clutch, variable speed transmission (this is starting to sound like a car), and a keyless chuck. For most home repairs, this will do just fine. Heck, get two.
• Hammer Drill – Okay, if you’ve decided to step up your game and do some masonry drilling, this is the one for you. More powerful than the drill driver (although some can be used as either a drill driver or hammer drill by flipping a switch), it combines rotary motion with a hammering motion to drill through brick, concrete, and the like. A practical use for one of these might be drilling into your home’s foundation to attach a deck.  An impractical use might be just scaring the dog with it.
• Impact Driver – Now we’re talking some serious torque. Similar to the hammer drill, the impact driver combines percussive motion with drilling motion, but with a lot more power. Not as versatile as the drill driver, this one is really just for driving screws, and a LOT of them. If you’re building decks for a living, get one.
• Cordless Screwdriver – Yeah, I know, aren’t all screwdrivers cordless? Definitely a one-trick pony, this tool (it won’t even scare the dog).  Anyway, I think they make great gifts – give one to someone in your household that you don’t want touching your real drills.

There are lots of brands out there to choose from, as well as battery types and sizes, but we’re out of space for now. Don’t forget: if you have larger home improvements or repairs, give us a call at Regal Home Improvement and we’ll be glad to take care of them for you.

If you own a home, repairs and improvements come with the territory. If you’re like me, there’s a honey-do list of household projects that mysteriously never gets shorter, no matter how often I scratch things off. And to get even some of those things addressed, you have to have the right tools. So here’s my short list of essentials, the tools that are must-haves to tackle do-it-yourself home improvements and repairs:

1. 1. 16-oz. Claw Hammer. Hang a picture, tighten up some loose decking, show your thumb who’s boss. For professional carpenters, this tool does duty for everything from driving nails to digging a hole (I recommend a shovel for the bigger ones, though). Consider a fiberglass handle for durability.
2. 2. Cordless Drill. Almost a tie with the hammer for the number one necessary tool for home repairs. There are enough drill variations for a dedicated blog post (and I just got an idea… look for that one in the future), just make sure that when you’re buying, you get one strong enough for your current improvements as well as any anticipated future ones.
3. 3. Tape Measure. I like a 25-footer, an inch wide. Some might say that 25’ is overkill but when you’re talking only a couple bucks for the extra feet, why not grab it for a little insurance? Plus, the inch width will keep the tape from buckling as you feed it out, especially useful if you’re working alone.
4. 4. 6-Foot Stepladder. A kitchen chair is not a good substitute. A rolly, swivelly office chair is an extremely poor substitute. Six feet should give you enough height for 90% of your projects around the house.
5. 5. Duct Tape. This one’s almost too obvious. You could argue that duct tape isn’t technically a tool, and I could argue that it isn’t technically a weapon, unless you’ve been hit with a hard, compacted tape ball when you weren’t looking. If you need a quick clamp, duct tape. Quick nail? Duct tape. Quick do-not-enter barrier? You got it, duct tape.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, of course, but it’s a good start for the smaller repairs and improvements you might want to do around the home. For bigger projects, give us a call. Regal Home Improvement is proud to provide top-quality home repairs and improvements in Richmond and the surrounding area.

Plumbing is something that may need updating if you live in an older home, if you  have a leak or if you’re moving into a new home that needs repairs. There are lots of different plumbing pieces and kits you can purchase at home improvement retailers near you to make simple repairs or replacements to your plumbing like sinks, toilets and tubs.

Occasionally you might have to replace a pipe or a larger item like the whole sink or toilet; however, those are still easy fixes that can be done in a few hours. For complicated plumbing issues it is best to call a professional plumber that can make sure that your plumbing is properly installed and working correctly.  You may not be able to make all the plumbing repairs you need, but trusted professionals are just a call away and in the event of an emergency a plumber can help repair or replace your plumbing.

If you need a professional plumber don’t forget that Regal Home Improvement offers plumbing service in many areas and can help you whatever plumbing situation you have.

There are many simple and inexpensive home improvements you can make on a budget. For example, simply painting can change the look and feel of a room dramatically and adding some decoration or design can also change a space to be more comfortable. For larger home improvements set a specific budget that you can afford and stick to it. Save money for a home improvement project or redesign before undertaking one and then you’ll have a specific amount of money to work with when shopping for items.

Purchase energy efficiency appliances and items that will save you more money on heating and cooling costs, which are increasingly getting higher. Instead of purchasing items that are new refinish or paint your existing household items to make them look new or different. For example, instead of buying new cabinets paint them another color or use a kit to paint them to look different. You can also change the look of wood furniture or other wood items by sanding them and refinishing them or repainting them.

Home improvements can be made on a budget; you just have to be a little more creative and flexible. Re-using old items and making them look new will breathe new life into the item and your home. When you’re on a budget you have to first think about what you already have to work with and then improvise to the best of your ability. Once you’ve reused and repurposed items then you can evaluate if you need to purchase anything new or used to add to your home to improve your space.

Keeping your home fairly organized and free from clutter can help alleviate stress, create a cleaner environment and a nice home to live in. When clearing out clutter or going through your belongings it is best to make three piles, one for what you want to throw away, one for what you want to donate and one for the items you wish to keep. If you have a ton of clothes, shoes, purses or any other items like books, magazines, knick knacks you should go through them regularly to get rid of things you no longer need or use regularly. There is no need to keep things that just sit around and take up space. If you don’t need it donate it or throw it away, especially if it is broken and cannot be repaired then recycle it. Don’t hold onto old electronics that just get in the way and take up precious space in your home and try not to fill up storage spaces like attics, basements, garages or storage spaces outside. It is not healthy to have too much stuff cluttered in your home and can be harming to both your physical and mental health.

Organize the stuff you keep in the space you have. Use things like bins, totes, storage items that you can hang in your closet and make use of closets, drawers in a night stand and dresser, space under your bed and cabinets. Keep in mind how much usable space you have and how you can effectively use your space to your advantage. Don’t just shove things into storage spaces one over top of another, try to organize the space and keep it organized. Keeping things organized will allow you to be able to clean faster and more efficiently.

We are a group of dedicated and hard-working contractors in Richmond, Virginia and we can help recommend some great products, services and new ideas for your home. It is our goal to provide you with blog posts that will help you, inform you and motivate you to develop your home improvement efforts. We will be blogging about a variety of different topics including home improvement ideas and tips, home repairs, home renovation, bathroom and kitchen remodeling, home organization, storage, replacement windows, gutters, roofing and just about anything else dealing with your home and contractors in Richmond.

We wish to provide you with valuable information, recommendations and advice. We hope you enjoy our posts and will share them with your friends. Stay tuned for more posts on home improvement and contractors in Richmond, Virginia soon!

Everybody knows about the dangers of lead in your home and the negative health implications it can have. It is most dangerous when the lead is disturbed during home renovations. Regal Home Improvement is aware of the dangers of lead which is why our entire team of home improvement professionals is lead certified.

On our website, we proudly display the lead safe certification symbol. This indicates that our company is certified under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) strict guidelines regarding material safety standards. It also means that the entire Regal Home Improvement team has completed a lead safety training and awareness course.

Federal law requires a contractor to be lead-safe certified if they disturb six square feet of paint or more in homes, child care facilities, or schools built before 1978. Safety is important to all of us at Regal Home Improvement. That is why we take every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of your family during our home renovation projects.  If you are considering home improvements for your home, give us a call.