There’s no shortage of interesting home improvement projects for homeowners. Anything from quality of life upgrades to full remodelling, you will always be able to find what you’re looking for. But there are some projects you should always be ready for – and while these are not necessarily frequent, they can certainly be urgent.
These are the projects we’ll be discussing today. Especially now that Fall season has started and Winter is soon to follow, having even a small budget ready for these projects if the need arises will keep you safe.
After all, these projects are more than just practical: they prevent other bigger issues from ever coming up. Let’s take a look at why this is so important!
“If you can dream it, you can do it." – Walt Disney
Pest control
The colder months of the year encourage all sorts of pests and critters to find refuge inside your home. And since pests aren’t particularly demanding about where they live, they will find refuge anywhere: openings on the roof, clogged gutters, ventilation ducts, nearby trees, trash cans… you name it.
And as you can imagine, pests tend to reproduce quickly if given the chance, so it’s better not to give them a chance at all.
It’s important to take preventive actions with the help of a pest control professional to be sure you’re not giving potential pests too much of an opening. And if you happen to have problems regardless, you can take further measures to stop them from entering your home.
Foundation cracks
Foundation cracks don’t seem like such a big deal by themselves, but as with any cracked concrete, one thing remains true – it can only get worse.
Combine that with possible water damage during these next colder months and the repair cost only ramps up by the day. Foundation cracks are very serious problems and should be dealt with as fast as possible. If you want to err on the side of caution, at least hire a foundation inspection company to make sure there are no cracks and you can go through the rest of the year in peace!
And most importantly, take the necessary precautions to prevent foundation cracks in the first place, such as keeping your gutters working effectively to avoid pools of water around the walls.
HVAC maintenance
Your HVAC system will be essential during these next few months, so you can understand why it’s important to be prepared for potential repairs.
Ideally you want to replace your filters regularly (as often as indicated by the manufacturer) and maybe upgrade your thermostat to a newer model – they often have better energy efficiency settings. Finally, always be sure your outside unit isn’t blocked by plants or shrubs.
But a lot more goes into HVAC maintenance. You might also have to clean your ducts (which can sometimes be home to critters and pests), and if you notice any unusual energy efficiency problems, bring it up to an HVAC pro. Many variables influence your energy economy and they can help you ensure it’s always at its best.
Roofing
It sounds like a joke, but having a roof over your head is, in fact, the most important part of a home. You could have all the same stuff you already own, but take the roof over your head and it’s bad news.
Rain and wind, along with wild temperate changes, can cause damage to your roof. Naturally, they are built to withstand most of that, but it’s not uncommon for them to give in sometimes, especially if you’ve neglected maintenance for a while.
Replacing a few shingles isn’t such a huge problem, but leave it for later and water will start to leak inside your home, which leads to water damage – and water damage is way more expensive than simple roofing costs.
Avoid this problem altogether by keeping your roof well-maintained, or at the very least, being prepared for eventual repairs.
Insulation
Insulation is by far one of the most important projects for this time of the year. Proper insulation will reward you with a massive improvement to the energy efficiency of your HVAC system, as well as being a general quality of life upgrade – because who likes cold drafts near windows?
Proper insulation will make it so your house heats up faster and retains that heat for longer. Combine that with a smart thermostat and you can save a lot on energy bills.
During these last colder months of the year, keep an eye out for drafts coming from your windows and doors. If you notice a section of the house needs better insulation, it’s always a good idea to go for it – the investment is fairly small and your energy and heating bills will be much lighter to you!
Did you know proper insulation will maintain the heat inside the home and save you money on heating bills?
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