Fall is the perfect time to undertake exterior remodeling and interior renovations for improved comfort in the winter.
The weather is still warm enough for home remodeling Northern Virginia projects including deck installation, driveway repair, masonry work, or painting.
When planning your weekend warrior projects, use these 15 tips to get your home in tip-top shape this fall.
1. Perform fall yardwork
Fall yard maintenance keeps your yard and garden in good shape, and ensures that perennial plants, shrubs, and trees can survive winter frosts. Fall yardwork tasks include mulching plants, raking leaves, trimming trees and shrubs, and planting fall-interest plants like mums or decorative cabbages. DIY or hire a landscape specialist for this one.
2. Schedule a home heating system tune up
With an average cost of under $100, this small step can make a big difference in your comfort level during winter. Fall is the perfect time to tune up your HVAC system, because you don't yet need to heat your home. If you wait until winter and something goes wrong, you'll be pretty uncomfortable waiting for the emergency HVAC technician to show up.
3. Store summer accessories
Dresses and summer shirts aren't the only things that should be stored as the temperatures start to drop. Garden tools, lawn mowers, sprinklers, kiddie pools, lounge chairs, outdoor dining tables, and other summertime items should be placed into the cellar or garage for safe keeping. At the same time, move any needed fall items such as rakes, yardwork bags, or the fire pit closer to the front of the basement or garage for easy access.
4. Clean gutters
Falling leaves can clog gutters and cause costly wood rot or ice dams. Fall and Spring are the two best times of year to give your gutters a good gutting. If you are at all uncomfortable with heights, make sure to hire an expert to take care of this for you.
5. Light up your yard
As the days grow shorter, home remodeling Northern Virginia experts recommend adding exterior lights to your yard for increased safety and security. Consider adding solar lights to exterior pathways, or adding a motion-sensitive garage floodlight to boost light levels when you come home. Extra light can also deter criminals or scavengers from hanging out around your home.
6. Weatherproof your home
Weatherproofing seals your windows and doors from air leaks. This lowers your utility bills by keeping heat in the home (instead of seeping out through holes) and increases your comfort level when temperatures fall.
7. Replace or repair windows
If your windows are too old, are broken, fit poorly, or have rot, they may need repair or replacement instead of weatherproofing. This is usually too challenging for DIY, so have an exterior remodeling Northern Virginia provider replace or repair windows.
8. Fix walkway, path, and stair cracks
Cracks in concrete, brick, or masonry can widen during the freezing and thawing cycle of winter. Fall is the perfect time to spend a day making these minor repairs before they worsen. This exterior remodeling project is fairly easy to DIY, or save yourself the trouble and hire a handyman or exterior remodeling Northern Virginia service to do it for you.
9. Make a mudroom
Having a mudroom in your entryway is the best way to keep muck, dirt, snow, and ice out of your home. With just a few essentials, you can create your own fall mudroom to cut down on time spent sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming floors. Mudroom must-haves include a drip tray for boots or umbrellas, hooks for coats, cubbies for storing scarves and hats, and a bench.
10. Freshen up the entryway
An attractive entryway adds curb appeal to your home. For fall, incorporate autumnal accents including pumpkins, corn stalks, fall plants, or Halloween decorations. If your entryway needs a fresh coat of paint, a better exterior light, or a new doormat, spend an afternoon taking care of these quick fixes.
11. Winterize sprinklers and faucets
Exterior faucets and sprinklers can freeze in winter. Have a plumber come out and winterize your faucets and sprinklers for you. Your plumber will shut off your water supply and open your manual drain valve to drain it. Once the water has drained, they will open the boiler drain valve and drain all the remaining water between your irrigation water shut off valve and your backflow device. This will help you avoid pipe bursts during freezing weather.
12. Power wash the exterior
A good power washing can remove dirt, debris, mold, and mildew from your home's exterior. Rent a power washer and DIY, or hire a service company to do this for you. If you go the DIY route, make sure to exercise caution and proceed gently to avoid unintentionally damaging your home.
13. Install a humidifier
Humidifiers increase moisture in the home and improve indoor air quality. Install a whole-house humidifier in fall to realize the largest benefit.
14. Don't forget about the roof and chimney
Before winter snows fall, have your roof checked by a home remodeling Northern Virginia specialist and your chimney cleaned by a chimney sweep. The former ensures the structural integrity of your home. The latter prevents carbon monoxide from entering your home.
Exterior Medics is your partner for all of your home remodeling Northern Virginia needs. Give us a call to discuss your fall home remodeling needs, receive a free estimate for exterior remodeling, and schedule your project before winter comes.
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