Keeping your home dry, warm, and sturdy is a terrific investment in your future. With the right improvements, your home can also be even more beautiful. Some of these projects can be done on your own, while others will require the help of a professional.
Consider these recommendations from the outside in.
Start With the Roof
While your roof may be damaged by hail, it can also simply wear out. Shingles are constantly exposed to sunlight, precipitation, wind, and a wide range of temperatures. No matter your region, you can get great quality specialty roofing to better
- protect your home
- increase the beauty of your space
- improve the value of your home
Your home can be seriously damaged by small leaks over time. With the right roofing contractor and the right product on your roof, you can enjoy a weather-tight roof for years.
Check Your Windows
Get your windows checked for water and air leaks. Quality vinyl window inserts can reduce your utility bills, protect your furniture and carpets, and protect your home from long-term damage due to leaks.
Be prepared for more than just windows if your home is a bit older. The vinyl window inserts are a great start, but an older home will probably need at least a little framing work to square things up. Finally, be prepared to repaint the exterior window trim once your new windows have been inserted.
Work Around the Foundation
Check around the foundation of your home for signs of rot and standing water. If any space around the outside of your home is prone to growing moss, there’s a risk of moisture seeping around the foundation.
If your home has any brick, keep an eye out for cracks in the mortar of the bricks. If the mortar is crumbling, your house needs to be tuck-pointed. Should you note cracks in the bricks themselves, or cracks at the base of the line of bricks, it’s time to have a professional come take a look at your foundation. When the walls start to move, your house loses stability.
Most brick homes have a brick façade or a brick skin and wooden framing. Cracks in the bricks provide wonderful homes for weeds, and when weeds move in, you get bugs. As you work around your foundation, also keep an eye out for termite tubes, or sandy paths laid by termites to make it easier to get into your home.
Check the Water Risk
Changes to your landscaping, to city drainage, or a neighbor’s landscaping can alter how water behaves around your home. Additionally, climate change means that rainy seasons are getting more intense. This is an easy task that you can do any day that it rains hard, or on days when it rains consecutively.
Walk around your home and look for standing water after a hard rain. Keep an eye on your gutters as well; poor drainage can quickly damage your home. Keeping your gutters clean and clear can reduce weight and strain on the roof.
If you see standing water around your home after a hard rain and your gutters are draining well, it’s time to change up your landscaping. You may need to add french drains, a swale to move water away from your home, or bring in the soil to elevate the grade around your home. If you live in a flood zone, you may need to get your house jacked up to protect your home long-term.
Add Sturdy Improvements Indoors
A sturdy home can also be improved from the inside out. If you’re planning to upgrade your kitchen, consider adding stone or concrete to your countertops. A foyer can be improved with a slate or stone tile floor.
If stone isn’t your style, consider adding a wood floor with custom planks. Using quality click-lock planks, you can greatly increase the look of your home on your own; if properly planned, you can do this work on your own and improve your home room by room.
Final Thoughts
Home values are going up in many areas of the country. Check the value of your home today and consider tapping into the equity to make the improvements necessary to make your home more durable.
