Temporary Cover for Window Bars on a Budget

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

When it comes to upgrading the house, I struggle a lot because my apartment is a rental apartment. I struggle to organise my house, because of a lot of reasons. For those who are in the same shoes with me, will understand what I mean. Yeahh.. I can not nail the wall to add wall rack. I can not paint the house, unless I repaint it again once I end the contract or leave the house. 

But as foreigner here, I dont think its an option for me, because I am not sure how long I am gonna live in this country and in this apartment. Another limitation that I have as a renter, I can not install anything in the house. I can not upgrade and make a permanent change to the house and even though if I change something, it should be something that I can remove and take it with me when I leave the apartment. 

But anyways, not give up in that way, at least I try to upgrade it in a small way. One area that really need an attention is the storage room. The room has a large opening with window bars and face to other storage rooms belong to neighbours. You don't want your neighbours can see inside your house clearly right... Thats why that window bars should be covered.

Sadly, my landlord manually covered those large opening with the plywood. Due to prior leakage from the aircond above it, the plywood became moist and leaved the black spots on it. So I got the house with this condition:

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Wondering what kind of change that I could make to make this area looks more finessed with less budget and removable anytime I leave the house, I came out with this idea using corru board. For those who don't know what corru board is, it is polypropylene hollow corrugated plastic board consist of two flats walls connected by vertical ribs. The good things about this board are it is durable, washable, and reusable, and moreover, it is usually UV protected and flame retardant. Most important thing, the price is fit on those budget concerned people.

Corru board can be found in stationary store, craft and art store, or even in supermarket. I got mine from AEON Big for 4.50 RM each only. I got translucent and grey color, but you can get it in any color that you like since it has variety of colors.

If you want to know how I turn that ugly cover into neat cover for window bars using corru board, lets begin....

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Supplies:

- Corru Boards / Polypropylene Hollow Corrugated Plastic Boards
- Hole Puncher / Leather Punch Plier
- Eyelets Plier
- Eyelets
- Multifunctional Plier
- Wire

Hole Puncher / Leather Punch Plier

Eyelets Plier + Eyelets

Corru Boards / Polypropylene Hollow Corrugated Plastic Boards

Wire

How to Do It:

Step 1: Firstly I prepared the corru board. I bought 6 corru boards, translucent and grey colors. 

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Step 2: On each of the corru board, I put the remark where I want to create the hole with the punch plier. Remember to measure it first with the size of your window bars so then you put the holes on the correct place. 

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Step 3: I used punch plier to create the holes on each marks that you made earlier. I used Hotak Leather Hole Punch which I got from Mr. DIY Store in Kuala Lumpur for 15 RM. You can get it there as well to get the cheap one if you live in Malaysia or you can easily find it in any other hardware shops.

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Step 4: Once the holes are created, I used the eyelets plier to place the eyelets on each holes. I used Hotak eyelets plier and the eyelets which I got it from Mr. DIY Store for 7 RM only.

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Step 5: After all the corru boards are ready to be placed in window bars, I removed the plywood from the window bars and cleaned the area before installed the corru boards.

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Step 6: I prepared the wire and cut them into smaller size to attach the boards to the window bars. 

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Step 7: I assembled the corru boards to the window bars using the wire. I pulled it tightly so then the boards attached tightly and neatly on the window bars. 

So this is the final result....

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

Temporary Home Upgrade Solution for a Renter on a Budget

I am pretty happy with the result and the cost that I spent for it. It really worth to try for upgrading your house temporarily and with less budget. I hope you guys enjoy it... :)