Late summer and early fall always brings a bittersweet swirl of emotions. Excitement for the school year, joy at the cooler weather, sadness about summer adventures coming to an end…Fall also brings forth the instinct to nest and improve your home! Did you know that most building materials, like wood and paint, are at their best during cooler temperatures and dry days? This is the perfect time of year to tackle your fall home improvement project ideas. Check out this list for some easy inspiration!
1. Mulch your Perennials
Your plants have been working hard all summer to grow beautiful foliage and flowers. As the days gradually grow shorter, they start to store energy in their roots which will eventually be fuel to get through the long winter ahead. Perennials are a long term investment in your landscape – it is important to protect them and give them support for the cold weather to come! Applying a layer of mulch around your perennials is a great fall improvement project that will provide your plants with extra nutrients and protection for harsh weather. More mulch means less weeding come spring!
2. Clean the Fireplace and Chimney
Chances are you haven’t thought about your fireplace in several months. A lot could have happened since the last time you lit a fire. Birds could have moved in or it could be full of cobwebs. Annual cleaning by a professional is essential for the health of your home. Unmaintained fireplaces are really dangerous, the buildup of creosote, debris and soot is a major fire hazard. Schedule an inspection and cleaning to make sure it’s in working order before it gets REALLY cold!
3. Caulk Windows and Doors
Water, bugs, wind and other undesireables love the nooks and crannies in your home. This fall home improvement project doesn’t add much curb appeal to your home, but it can save you money on your heating bill and prevent expensive damage!
4. Paint the Front Door
Nothing enhances the curb appeal of your home more instantly than painting your front door. The cooler temperatures and dry days of September create the perfect conditions to repaint your front door.
5. Pressure Wash Decks
After a long season of dust, debris and spilled BBQ sauce, fall is the perfect time to pressure wash your deck. Anything left on your deck when the wet days of fall arrive can become a slippery hazard.
6. Clean the Gutters
No one loves this fall home improvement project, but we all know that prevention is the best solution when it comes to cleaning gutters. Overflowing gutters can prevent thousands of dollars of damage to your home’s foundation.
People who live in one story homes can get away with cleaning the gutters on their own, but if you have a more complicated roof or multi-story home, it’s a good idea to hire a professional.
Did you know there are several products that can make cleaning and maintaining your gutters easier?
- Curved mesh. Ideal if you live in a rainy climate. Curved mesh handles downpours and heavy runoff well, and leaves and other debris slide off into the yard.
- Micro mesh. Micro-mesh guards keep tiny debris out of your gutter, such as shingle grit, as well as preventing wet leaves from building up..
- Foam filters. These porous filters are placed inside your gutter troughs and do a good job of keeping solid debris from impeding the flow of water.
7. Maintain or Replace your HVAC
Your HVAC has been working hard to keep you cool all summer. It’s important to get it maintananced or replaced BEFORE a big weather event happens and it quickly becomes an emergency.
If your unit is 10-15 years old, it’s definitely worth considering a replacement. The last thing you need is for your HVAC unit to give up the ghost as sweater weather arrives.
8. Window Replacement
Do you live in an older home with single pane windows? It’s definitely time to upgrade them! Single pane windows are incredibly inefficient insulators. This is an expensive project, but will provide long term energy savings.
9. Store your Lawn Tools
Soon, you will be tucking away your lawn care tools for their annual hibernation. It’s really important to properly store them so they work as expected come spring. Electric tools are much simpler; hose them down, dry them off and detach the batteries!
Gas powered tools require a little more care. The fuel needs to be drained and properly disposed of before storage.
Blades can be replaced or sharpened so they are ready to go next spring.
Handtools can be oiled, sharpened and stored for use during a time of year when you might not have as much time to care for your tools.
Make sure you drain your hoses before storing them for the long winter! Coil them and store them out of the elements so they last longer.
10. Tend to Hardwood Floors
With the busy fall season comes more mud and debris. Make sure your hardword floors are protected for this blustery season before it’s too late! Short of refinishing your floors, there is one really great option for protecting your floors this season. Using an inexpensive floor shine product after thoroughly cleaning your floors can add an extra layer of protecting while also making your floors look new!
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