Now that the warmer months are upon us, it is time to take advantage of the sun and get some home upgrades done! The wintertime would have most likely put your home through quite a lot, and it is in dire need of some TLC
Now, you can increase the value of your home, fix the damages you couldn’t have done during the winter, and perform the necessary maintenance checks. So, what improvement projects should you consider undertaking this summer? The answer lies in this list below!
Give your house a good power wash
If the siding of your home’s exterior is in good condition but does not seem to look like it is, you should consider power washing it. And what better time to do so than in the summer! You can purchase or rent a power washer. However, use it cautiously to prevent the high-pressured water from causing damage to your siding and getting in between the gaps. To be on the safe side, you can hire professionals to give your siding a safe power wash. Power washing is not limited to just your siding. Consider giving your driveways and deck a good bath this summer to give your home a fresh, clean look and improve your curb appeal. It also creates a clean and relaxing environment for your home, making your summer days at home enjoyable.
Perform maintenance checks on your boiler
During the winter, your boiler served you well, ensuring that you and your family were safe and warm inside. Instead of leaving your boiler unattended till it gives you trouble, use the summertime to inspect and maintain your boiler. You can run your boiler for 10-15 minutes once or twice a month to prevent the boiler’s components from seizing up. Also, ensure that the area around the boiler is clean to allow for adequate ventilation around the boiler. You should have the boiler inspected for signs of leakage or damage. Invest in a new boiler if your existing one is badly damaged or has exceeded its usual lifespan of 15 years.
Invest in new windows
If you noticed your electricity bill skyrocket during the winter, you might want to take a look at your windows. Old, inefficient windows create cold drafts, forcing you to apply more heat and, in turn, increasing your bills. If your various attempts to fix your drafty windows did not do the trick, you should consider replacing your windows. Be sure to select a window that fits the theme of your home. Purchasing low-maintenance and energy-efficient windows is a good idea as it increases the value of your home and reduces your costs. And if your windows are dirty, clean inside and outside with window cleaning products, make them look good as new.
Replace your gutters
Gutters are essential to your home. They play the vital role of ensuring water is channelled away from the roof and foundation of the house. When debris gets stuck in your gutter, water cannot flow out of it, causing water damages and other damages to your gutter. Therefore, cleaning it would prevent this. However, this may not always be enough. Suppose your gutter systems are old, sagging, or leaking. In that case, you would need to replace them entirely. This is a worthwhile investment to prevent incurring the costs associated with water damage. Be sure to hire the services of a professional to ensure the new gutter system is installed correctly.
Replace your roof
Summer is the best time to undertake any roofing project, especially as new shingles require heat to form a weather-tight seal. So, you should add replacing your roof to your to-do list this summer. Experts say that the average roof has a lifespan of between 15 – 20 years. After this time, your roof would be ineffective. An ineffective roof would mean causing water damage and worsening issues such as mould and leaks around your home. These water damage issues cause further problems around the house and your health which means you incur more costs. Therefore, hire a reliable roofing company for your roof inspection and replacement to protect your home and your family for a long time.
Work on your driveways and walkways
The constant use of your driveways and walkways may cause some wear and tear. You can fix these cracks with a few supplies available in your local hardware store. However, if there are significant damages, you should contact an expert to receive professional patchwork. If your driveway is made from asphalt, you should consider resealing it to keep it in good shape for an extended period. Various factors may influence how often you should reseal your asphalt driveways. For example, if you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you might have to seal your driveway more often than in warmer seasons.
Weeds tend to sprout up and about the pavement and can be pretty unappealing. The summer offers the perfect time to deal with them. Simply ripping the weeds out would not suffice since doing this would not terminate its root system. This makes it highly likely for them to sprout up again. To tackle your weed problem correctly, pour a pan of boiling water on them to eliminate the weeds for the rest of the season.
Change your garage door
You may not know this, but your garage door plays a significant role in your curb appeal. You can easily clean a dirty garage with water. However, this would not suffice if your garage door is in bad shape due to the dents and dings from everyday use and a few driving mishaps. If your garage door looks like it has seen better days, replacing it is a great summer project to embark on. A new garage will increase curb appeal and be an excellent investment in improving your home’s value and security.
Start a garden
Gardens are a great way to keep you active and healthy. They also beautify your home and increase its value. In addition to your beautiful flower bed or vegetable garden, you can plant some shady trees. These include maple trees, oak trees, elm trees, and linden trees. These trees are great during the summer as they are a great way of cutting down costs on your cooling bills. However, it is advisable to consult your local nursery on which of these shady trees are suitable for your home.
If you already own a garden, you should consider it. Social apps such as Pinterest and various blogs on the internet are filled with unique landscaping ideas you can try without spending a fortune! Or you could look up to your neighbour’s, friend’s, and family’s landscaping for some ideas. If you are low on inspiration, you can create basic beds with mulch and green shrubs to give your home a unique twist and an increased appeal.
Give your kitchen a makeover
Have you been putting off your kitchen renovations? Well, you should take advantage of summer this year and give your kitchen a makeover. If your cabinets are in good condition but look worn out, you should consider refacing them. Refacing your kitchen cabinets involves replacing or reapplying paint to your kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts to create a fresh-looking kitchen at affordable costs. You should also consider installing new countertops. Since the old ones need to be removed, the various activities involved in installing your latest kitchen countertops do not make this an ideal project to embark on during the winter months. When selecting new countertops, ensure that your choice of style and material fits into the overall theme of your kitchen space. Making these kitchen improvements in summer gives you ample time to put your kitchen in order before the holiday cooking starts!
Perform maintenance on your air conditioning
Your air conditioning unit is vital during the summer. Therefore, before the warm temperatures get warmer, be sure to perform maintenance checks on them to ensure their efficiency. Take the time to inspect the air conditioning unit’s air filters or hire a professional to do so. Dirty air filters need to be replaced once or twice a month to avoid compromising the quality of the air supply in the house. In case you notice your air conditioning unit does not cool a room as effectively as before, be sure to contact a professional. However, your unit may have to be replaced as the problem might be due to its age. You should check for drafty doors as this may cause a problem with temperature control, causing cool air to escape a room more easily and quickly.
Although summer is a great time to kick back and relax, you should take the opportunity to do a few of these summer home improvement projects. With family at home to enjoy the summer break, some of these improvements can serve as the perfect DIY projects for the family. However, where necessary, be sure to hire the services of professionals.
The post Home Improvement Projects To Consider This Summer appeared first on A Life Of Lovely.
#Home #HomeImprovements #Summer #Home&Garden
Give your house a good power wash
If the siding of your home’s exterior is in good condition but does not seem to look like it is, you should consider power washing it. And what better time to do so than in the summer! You can purchase or rent a power washer. However, use it cautiously to prevent the high-pressured water from causing damage to your siding and getting in between the gaps. To be on the safe side, you can hire professionals to give your siding a safe power wash. Power washing is not limited to just your siding. Consider giving your driveways and deck a good bath this summer to give your home a fresh, clean look and improve your curb appeal. It also creates a clean and relaxing environment for your home, making your summer days at home enjoyable.
Perform maintenance checks on your boiler
During the winter, your boiler served you well, ensuring that you and your family were safe and warm inside. Instead of leaving your boiler unattended till it gives you trouble, use the summertime to inspect and maintain your boiler. You can run your boiler for 10-15 minutes once or twice a month to prevent the boiler’s components from seizing up. Also, ensure that the area around the boiler is clean to allow for adequate ventilation around the boiler. You should have the boiler inspected for signs of leakage or damage. Invest in a new boiler if your existing one is badly damaged or has exceeded its usual lifespan of 15 years.
Invest in new windows
If you noticed your electricity bill skyrocket during the winter, you might want to take a look at your windows. Old, inefficient windows create cold drafts, forcing you to apply more heat and, in turn, increasing your bills. If your various attempts to fix your drafty windows did not do the trick, you should consider replacing your windows. Be sure to select a window that fits the theme of your home. Purchasing low-maintenance and energy-efficient windows is a good idea as it increases the value of your home and reduces your costs. And if your windows are dirty, clean inside and outside with window cleaning products, make them look good as new.
Replace your gutters
Gutters are essential to your home. They play the vital role of ensuring water is channelled away from the roof and foundation of the house. When debris gets stuck in your gutter, water cannot flow out of it, causing water damages and other damages to your gutter. Therefore, cleaning it would prevent this. However, this may not always be enough. Suppose your gutter systems are old, sagging, or leaking. In that case, you would need to replace them entirely. This is a worthwhile investment to prevent incurring the costs associated with water damage. Be sure to hire the services of a professional to ensure the new gutter system is installed correctly.
Replace your roof
Summer is the best time to undertake any roofing project, especially as new shingles require heat to form a weather-tight seal. So, you should add replacing your roof to your to-do list this summer. Experts say that the average roof has a lifespan of between 15 – 20 years. After this time, your roof would be ineffective. An ineffective roof would mean causing water damage and worsening issues such as mould and leaks around your home. These water damage issues cause further problems around the house and your health which means you incur more costs. Therefore, hire a reliable roofing company for your roof inspection and replacement to protect your home and your family for a long time.
Work on your driveways and walkways
The constant use of your driveways and walkways may cause some wear and tear. You can fix these cracks with a few supplies available in your local hardware store. However, if there are significant damages, you should contact an expert to receive professional patchwork. If your driveway is made from asphalt, you should consider resealing it to keep it in good shape for an extended period. Various factors may influence how often you should reseal your asphalt driveways. For example, if you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you might have to seal your driveway more often than in warmer seasons.
Weeds tend to sprout up and about the pavement and can be pretty unappealing. The summer offers the perfect time to deal with them. Simply ripping the weeds out would not suffice since doing this would not terminate its root system. This makes it highly likely for them to sprout up again. To tackle your weed problem correctly, pour a pan of boiling water on them to eliminate the weeds for the rest of the season.
Change your garage door
You may not know this, but your garage door plays a significant role in your curb appeal. You can easily clean a dirty garage with water. However, this would not suffice if your garage door is in bad shape due to the dents and dings from everyday use and a few driving mishaps. If your garage door looks like it has seen better days, replacing it is a great summer project to embark on. A new garage will increase curb appeal and be an excellent investment in improving your home’s value and security.
Start a garden
Gardens are a great way to keep you active and healthy. They also beautify your home and increase its value. In addition to your beautiful flower bed or vegetable garden, you can plant some shady trees. These include maple trees, oak trees, elm trees, and linden trees. These trees are great during the summer as they are a great way of cutting down costs on your cooling bills. However, it is advisable to consult your local nursery on which of these shady trees are suitable for your home.
If you already own a garden, you should consider it. Social apps such as Pinterest and various blogs on the internet are filled with unique landscaping ideas you can try without spending a fortune! Or you could look up to your neighbour’s, friend’s, and family’s landscaping for some ideas. If you are low on inspiration, you can create basic beds with mulch and green shrubs to give your home a unique twist and an increased appeal.
Give your kitchen a makeover
Have you been putting off your kitchen renovations? Well, you should take advantage of summer this year and give your kitchen a makeover. If your cabinets are in good condition but look worn out, you should consider refacing them. Refacing your kitchen cabinets involves replacing or reapplying paint to your kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts to create a fresh-looking kitchen at affordable costs. You should also consider installing new countertops. Since the old ones need to be removed, the various activities involved in installing your latest kitchen countertops do not make this an ideal project to embark on during the winter months. When selecting new countertops, ensure that your choice of style and material fits into the overall theme of your kitchen space. Making these kitchen improvements in summer gives you ample time to put your kitchen in order before the holiday cooking starts!
Perform maintenance on your air conditioning
Your air conditioning unit is vital during the summer. Therefore, before the warm temperatures get warmer, be sure to perform maintenance checks on them to ensure their efficiency. Take the time to inspect the air conditioning unit’s air filters or hire a professional to do so. Dirty air filters need to be replaced once or twice a month to avoid compromising the quality of the air supply in the house. In case you notice your air conditioning unit does not cool a room as effectively as before, be sure to contact a professional. However, your unit may have to be replaced as the problem might be due to its age. You should check for drafty doors as this may cause a problem with temperature control, causing cool air to escape a room more easily and quickly.
Although summer is a great time to kick back and relax, you should take the opportunity to do a few of these summer home improvement projects. With family at home to enjoy the summer break, some of these improvements can serve as the perfect DIY projects for the family. However, where necessary, be sure to hire the services of professionals.
The post Home Improvement Projects To Consider This Summer appeared first on A Life Of Lovely.
#Home #HomeImprovements #Summer #Home&Garden