The Home Improvement Projects to Take On This Fall
The temps may be holding steady in the 90s and 80s but fall is still on its way. Maintaining your home means tackling seasonal repair projects and updates. Many fall home improvement projects involve your home’s exterior. Even if we’ve recently remodeled your kitchen and bathroom, a great interior can be overshadowed by a less than stellar home exterior. Here’s a look at what home experts say should be the priority projects during the fall.
Enhance Your Home’s Exterior
As the hot, humid climate of Mississippi summer settles into a milder but still humid climate for fall, the outdoors becomes more bearable and pleasant even as the season progresses. The mild fall climate is prime for tackling projects that enhance your home’s exterior. Start by cleaning up your home exterior with a deep pressure washing to all exterior surfaces including brick, siding, driveways, and sidewalks. If a deep pressure wash isn’t enough to make you love your home’s exterior again or if you have cracked paint, consider an exterior paint project. If you’re not quite ready to paint your entire house, warm up to the idea by painting your front door and shutters. You’ll be amazed at how much impact small, simple refreshes can have on your home.
Landscape
Another great way to improve the outside appearance of your home is to spruce up your landscaping. Create new flower beds, prep existing beds for winter, and, of course, get rid of those weeds you were too hot to fool with over the summer. Don’t forget to rake falling leaves and patch dead spots in the grass. Add colorful fall foliage like mums to accompany your evergreens.
Repair or Replace Your Roof
Roof maintenance is just a routine part of home maintenance. Monitoring and addressing roof issues each year can save you big bucks later. But even if your roof is beyond repair and needs to be replaced, fall is still the best time to take on this project.
Clean Gutters and Winterize Faucets and Sprinklers
Keeping your gutters cleaned out can minimize those annual fall roof repairs. Clogged gutters lead to water damage which is why they should be cleaned regularly, particularly during the fall. Outdoor plumbing like faucets and sprinkler systems should also be winterized to prevent frozen or busted pipes.
Organize the Garage
Too embarrassed to open your garage doors because of all the clutter? Cooler temps will make the old garage just bearable enough to dedicate a weekend to cleaning and organizing the space. Unlike some of the other projects on this list, you don’t need a professional to ensure project success. You just need an open weekend and help from the rest of the family. If you’re still short on help, enlist the help of a good friend or two. Just be sure to fire up the grill, order a pizza, or have a hot bowl of soup ready to feed the help--that much work will stir up an appetite.
Address Energy Efficiency Concerns
Got drafty windows or need new insulation? This is the best season to have new windows installed, seal gaps, and get new insulation.
Schedule Fireplace Maintenance
Your fireplace and chimney should be checked and cleaned by a professional each year to prevent fires and other dangers.
Clean Your Carpet and Polish Flooring
The weather is nice enough to stay outside while your carpet dries and it’s also great open-window weather, which will help dry wet carpet faster. It’s also a good time to polish or deep clean other types of flooring.
Light Kitchen and Bath Renovations
Want to do some light updating to your kitchen or bathroom like new countertops or cabinets? Fall is a great time to take on those projects before the holidays.
