Summer always brings with it vacations, gatherings with friends/family, special events and in general, a very busy social calendar. But as the temperatures rise and your focus shifts elsewhere, it’s important to ensure that your home doesn’t get neglected in the midst of your busy schedule. Whether you’re thinking about selling your home in the summer or you’re just wanting to keep up with regular home maintenance tasks, these are some warm weather projects you’ll want to tackle before fall arrives.
Home Exterior Summer Projects
We spend so much time outside in the summer that it’s no surprise it’s a great time to take on some exterior home projects to get your outdoor space looking beautiful and functioning efficiently.
Clean Your Deck and Patio
One of the highlights of summer is spending more time outside. Whether it’s entertaining guests, hosting events, hanging out with your family or just soaking up some outdoor relaxation, ensuring you have a clean and functional space is crucial for maximum enjoyment. The last thing you want to do is set up all your patio furniture and accessories only to realize you need to fix something on the deck/patio.
If you have a deck, you’ll want to check on the stain/paint to ensure no touchups are required. Choosing not to stain or paint a deck not only looks unappealing, it can also significantly reduce its lifespan. Maintaining your deck is a great way to add value to your home in the short and long term so be sure to take care of it as time passes.
If you have a concrete/brick patio, now is the time to check on its condition and ensure there are no issues with missing/damaged individual bricks or the sealer overtop (if applicable). You may also want to work on picking out any weeds that may have started to grow between interlocking bricks to tidy up the look of your outdoor when during the season you’ll likely use it the most.
You can also use the pressure washer to soft wash other items in your backyard while you have it. Replace the tip with a nozzle that widens the spray of water so its modified to a lower PSI and you can also wash your patio furniture and cedar/wood/vinyl siding.
Clean Your Gutters
Overflowing gutters not only look bad from a curb appeal standpoint, but they also shorten the lifespan of your home. Gutters can get damaged during the winter and spring months and become filled with loose debris and leaves. While the grading around your home will determine if you have water issues, blocked or damaged gutters can also impact this. Get out your ladder and check to make sure all gutters are connected properly and nothing is damaged. Put on some garden gloves to scoop out any debris you find while inspecting, and don’t overlook your downspouts.
Check Your Fence
If you have a chain link fence, you’ll want to check that no parts of it are broken or missing as this can cause an injury or become a welcome entry point for intruders of the human and animal variety. If you have privacy fencing, you’ll want to check that no pieces are missing or damaged and ensure the paint/stain/sealer is in good shape. Taking care of your fence and making time to inspect it in the summer will help ensure you prolong its life and value.
Clean Windows and Screens
Taking the time to clean your exterior windows and window screens can have a big impact on how much light you let in when the windows are closed, and how much dust sneaks in when they’re open. You’d be surprised how much grime lives in your window screens, so if you love to open your windows to let in the fresh air, this is a great time to ensure that each screen is cleaned properly. This is also a great opportunity to inspect each screen to make sure there are no rips or tears. If you come across any, you can purchase the supplies you need to fix them from your local hardware store for a very minimal cost.
When you take the time to wash the exterior of your windows as well, you brighten up your indoor space and help maximize the amount of light you let in each time you pull back the curtains/blinds. If you have some exterior windows that are difficult to reach, you’ll want to hire a professional to ensure they get taken care of safely.
Power Wash Your Driveway and Sidewalks
A lot of homeowners don’t have a power washer so it doesn’t always strike them as a necessary task to wash down their driveway and sidewalks with anything other than a hose. You can rent a power washer from most local hardware stores at a cost of about $40/day, so if you don’t own one, you can still check this task off your list for a minimal cost. Before you start power washing your space, make sure to check for any cracks and weeds and once you’ve given everything a good inspection, you can use the power washer to wash away all the built-up dirt, grime and mold that’s accumulated over the past year.
Indoor Summer Projects
Warmer temperatures mean we’re often inside seeking refuge in the air conditioning. While you’re inside, there are some home projects you can take on that will ensure you get the most out of your indoor space at any time of the year.
Check and Clean Ceiling Fans
Did you know that ceiling fans can be set to spin in a specific direction depending on the time of year? During the summer you should run your fans in a counterclockwise direction which forces air downward and creates a nice cooling effect at the hottest time of the year. Every ceiling fan is different but most will have a visible switch that you can flip to change the direction it rotates. While you’re making this switch, take the time to clean off the fan blades and check the lightbulbs.
Deep Clean
Doing a good deep clean can take some time, but once you complete the job, it’ll be easier to maintain over the rest of the year. Deep cleaning refers to really getting into the nitty gritty spaces in your home like sweeping behind the appliances, wiping down the baseboards, cleaning the insides of all your closets, defrosting your freezer etc. Create a cleaning schedule and enlist each member of the family to help with specific tasks and make it a habit to repeat certain tasks at a higher frequency like wiping down kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities daily, emptying garbage bins multiple times each week and sweeping/vacuuming the entryway high traffic areas every few days. If this all sounds daunting, you can always hire a professional to kickstart the process or offer guidance.
Make Repairs
Repairs can include things like changing burned out lightbulbs, touching up paint, patching holes in the wall, fixing leaky faucets and replacing cracked tiles. Take a tour of your own home and make note of any issues/items that need to be dealt with. Then you can take on the task list one room at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed if you have a lot of small items to check off the list.
Keeping up with your home maintenance and completing specific projects each season, will help you extend the lifespan of your possessions, add value to your home and create a space you’re excited to live in 365 days each year. Thinking about selling your home soon? Want to learn more about your accessing your home equity to make improvements? Reach out to our team of qualified professionals to start the conversation!