So, you think that you are an expert when it comes to home improvement? Can you tackle some of the biggest and most complex projects in your own home? Take a look at the following tips to help you improve upon your home improvement knowledge.

Plain lampshades can make your whole room look boring. You can use a few stencils and a little paint to liven them up. You could literally create any design you can think of and give more personality to your home.

Never let a contractor start work without having a signed contract. It is also wise to have the contract inspected by your attorney. Your contract should contain specifics that pertain to all work being performed, costs, warranties and beginning and ending dates.

Construction adhesive can be used to stop floors from squeaking. You’ll have to work from the basement or in the crawlspace but the effort will be worth it. With a caulker, put some glue on all the floor joists, so that glue secures subfloor planks to each joist.

Change your door hinge if its creaking. Your local hardware store should carry this piece. Just take apart the hinge, then attach each of its side to the wall frame and door. After that, just get your hinge pieces aligned and your pins replaced.

If you want a simple home improvement, go buy some paint. Fresh coats of new color can add fresh energy to a home for little expense of money or time. Getting a new coat of paint will make your home more appealing to potential buyers.

If you have a leak under your sink or your tap, do not try to fix it yourself. Just place a container under the leak to collect the water and get in touch with a professional plumber.

Insulating your attic properly is a home improvement project that can cut down on your wintertime heating costs. Heat rises over time and a tremendous amount of heat is lost in the fall and winter season in houses with poor insulation. This insulation can be bought at most home improvement stores and is fairly easy to install.

Always make sure that a company you hire is a legitimate one. Any company lacking a physical address is not worth your time. Stick with companies that are reputable.

Use old baby food glass jars to help organize your work area. You can screw or superglue the jar lids underneath a wall shelf. Keep your smaller items like beads, screws, nails or other small hardware in the jars. You can then put the jars under your shelf. This maximizes the usage of your shelf and makes great use of little jars that are not used for anything else.

For safety, install peepholes in any exterior doors. You should know who is at your door before you open it! Peepholes do not cost much money and are relatively easy to install. All that is involved is a little drilling and a few minutes of your time. Doing this will make it so that you can ensure that you do not open the door for someone that may not be welcome.

Home improvement skills should be honed continually. There is always more to learn, and your skills can always be improved upon. Use the tips that you read in the above article to become a great handyman or woman.