I don’t know about you, but when summer hits, I’m not trying to add things to my to-do list. In fact, I’ll blatantly ignore that list just to sit and bask in the sun. Listen, western Pennsylvania winters aren’t kind, okay? To guarantee yourself more quality summer time outside, check off these these repairs, renovations, and home improvements from your to-do list now.
New Flooring
DIY flooring means more people are installing it themselves and lemme tell ya: that can take a very long time and it gets messy! The more installation and clean up time means less time OUTDOORS. This is not the summer goal, people! Consider installing that new flooring now. Also: hard flooring is a lot cooler in the summer months, and much easier to keep clean. Please math with me:
Easier to clean + less time maintaining = more time for other things, like floating in a swimming pool.
Mounted Television
I love me some open space. Mounting the television on the wall makes a room look less cluttered and provides more physical floorspace. Get yourself a spirit level, tape measure, strong screws, and a cordless screw driver to drill that TV into the wall. If that sounds like something you’d mess up (*raises hand*), pay someone to do it for you. I bet a nice neighbor would help in exchange for a case of beer that they’ll then enjoy on a hot summer’s day.
Wall Touch-ups
If your house is like mine, it’s overdue for touch-up’s. Over time, walls begin to look grubby from all the dirt and handprints. And spaghetti sauce if you cook like I do. Regardless, these are occupational hazards of simply living in a space; wear and tear is to be expected. Might I suggest a good scrubbing? Then, if the situation calls for it (which it absolutely does in my house), repaint or touch up the walls, giving the whole space a refresh, especially in high-traffic areas. Get nuts and consider switching paint colors completely, maybe pulling inspiration from the budding trees and flowers out your windows.
Don’t Forget the Yard
I’m sure you’ve heard of curb appeal. If you talk to my husband, he’ll try and convince you the lawn is the most important part of said appeal. While I agree it’s nice when a home looks as beautiful and tidy on the outside as it does on the inside, my husband takes things to a whole other level. After winter, he begins nursing the lawn back to life, weeding, mowing, and fertilizing. I watch from the window, wondering when it’ll be time to switch to a low maintenance lawn. Like, when do we do away with real grass and swap it out for artificial instead? I feel like the lure of a putting green in the front yard would be enough to convince my better half…Anyway, the point? The point is cut your grass. Then, sip lemonade in the shade.
Check The Roof
When Mother Nature hits during winter, she can really do a number on the roof. We’ve had little leaks, while others have experienced loose or cracked tiles and damaged shingles. If there is any damage to the roof, call a professional immediately. Sadly, summer funds will need to be spent on repairs, but do it now before things turn into major and more expensive concerns.
Clear The Gutters
While you’re up there on the roof, clear the debris, dirt, and leaves from the gutters. Over the winter, lots of gunk can get stuck in them. While it’s true you can pay someone to clean out your gutters, it’s an easy enough job to tackle on your own and save some of that summer money for margaritas on the beach. Best practice is to check gutters regularly, so they don’t become too badly clogged. If you don’t clean your gutters regularly then water builds up and it has nowhere to run to, often ending up inside the house or damaging the foundation. This, of course, is no bueno. Check those gutters!
Once your pre-summer home improvements have been completed, grab a good book, your sunglasses, and head outside into the warmth. Enjoy it while you can…before we know it, it’ll be winter again!
This is a collaborative post.
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