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You Ask, We Answer: What Home Improvements Should I Do This Summer?
Ah, summer: The season of rest, relaxation, spontaneous fun, and…home improvements? While they may not hold the promise of the picture-worthy memories that some of our other summer activities do, making improvements to your Connecticut home this summer can save you a lot of time, money and headaches in the future. So, which home improvements are the easiest to do when the weather is warm? Read on for the top projects we at Calcagni Real Estate recommend to keep your home looking—and functioning—its best, long after summer’s sun has faded into the horizon.
Clean or replace your windows
After the harsh conditions of Connecticut’s winter and spring, your windows are probably looking a bit dingy. Cleaning them on both sides will help your house shine from the outside in, and you may be surprised at just how much of an improvement this makes, including enjoying summer’s sunshine in all its glory!
If your windows are old and drafty, consider replacing them this summer. Over the colder months, drafty windows can not only hinder your comfort, but they can result in significantly higher heating costs. If you’ve worked to seal them up over the past few winters but the difference has been minimal, it’s probably time to give thought to window replacement. The investment you make now can help you save money in the colder months ahead.
Replace your roof
If your roof is rounding the 15–20-year mark, it’s probably time to start thinking of replacing it. Leaky roofs can wreak havoc in your home, and that can mean unexpected expenses (not to mention stress). Summer provides the optimal time to replace a roof because in order to form a weathertight seal, new shingles require heat. Just be sure your roofer tears off the existing shingles, so they can determine the condition of the roof deck underneath. Layering on shingles over an existing roof may be a cheaper option but can lead to headaches down the road.
Clean your gutters
We love Connecticut for its beautiful seasons, and for many of us, fall is at the top of the list. But all that “autumnal splendor” means falling leaves which can clog gutters and, when coupled with summer showers, can create water damage and broken gutters.
Avoid potential disaster by cleaning out your gutters and downspouts this summer. Grab a sturdy ladder, a bucket and some thick gloves and remove the debris from the gutter. Once you’ve removed leaves, twigs and whatever else has landed in them, spray the gutters down to wash away any further debris. Voila! You’re now ready for peak foliage season.
Organize your garage
If you’re lucky enough to have a garage, you know how much easier they can make daily life! From keeping your car out of the elements to affording you extra storage space, garages serve many purposes—and that’s exactly what often makes them the “catch all” for clutter or the things we’ll deal with “later.”
Now that it’s summer, “later” is here! Cleaning out clutter and setting your garage up as a clean work or storage space can alleviate stress when life gets a little more hectic in the fall. If your garage is also your workshop, consider investing in wall mount storage for tools, lawn equipment and snow shovels. And if you utilize your garage as a catch-all for your family’s sporting stuff, now is the perfect time to get organized by installing cabinets, hooks, stacking bins and shelving to help lift hockey stocks, soccer balls, baseball bats and golf clubs off the floor. Just imagine the space you’ll reclaim!
Power wash your exterior
Harsh cold weather and hot, humid conditions can result in an exterior that looks a little worse for wear. Shake off your home’s past year by power washing your house, garage, driveway and deck to rid it of dirt, mold, stains, and debris. You may be shocked at just how “new” everything looks! You can rent a power washer or hire a professional to do it for you but doing so in summer will keep your home looking its best for the coming year.
With a few dedicated hours this summer, you can give your home the TLC it needs to shine once more—and to save you time, money and headaches in the months ahead. Which home improvement project will you tackle this weekend?
