Summer months will be here before you know it, and you may want to show off your home at parties and barbecues. If you’re one of the many people moving in summer, you may be preparing your home for the market. Therefore, it’s never been a better time to get started on those interior and exterior repairs you’ve been putting off. The right upgrade can increase your overall quality of life and home value. Here are some repairs that you should consider to make your property stand out.
Plumbing Fixtures
Did you know a bathroom remodel is the second most popular renovation in American homes? You can’t live without your bathroom, as it’s the space where you relieve yourself and wash up. It can become a relaxing Oasis with the right interior updates. The simplest way to get started with converting your bathrooms into a better space is with plumbing repair. You need plumbing updates if you have constant leaks in your home that aren’t because of your roof. You may sometimes have been awoken at night by a dripping faucet in your master bathroom. Check if your water bill has increased but your overall water usage hasn’t. If so, you may have a hidden leak somewhere that a plumber can check and handle. A plumber can find the source of those leaks and repair or replace any ill-functioning pipes. Some of those plumbing repairs may be part of the exterior repairs, especially if it’s traced to your sewer line or septic tank.
Speaking of septic tanks, if you haven’t had it pumped or replaced, now is the time to do so. Adding septic updates to your list of exterior repairs can ensure your property doesn’t lose its value or become a safety hazard. According to Bob Vila, you should have your septic tank pumped at least every three to five years. It may be time to do pumping immediately if you notice the smell of sewage around your bathroom or outside near the drainage field. It would be a shame if your beautiful landscape slowly degraded because of septic leakage.
Modern fixtures can take your bathrooms to a new level. Dual-flush toilets can help you save money while being more economically friendly. According to the CDC, a traditional toilet wastes as much as five gallons of water per flush. However, this interior upgrade will only waste one gallon when you flush. Plumbers can also add water-saving fixtures to your showers. Enjoy a luxurious rainfall shower with other attachments. Bring the popular European bidet feature to your bathroom. Installing a bidet can give your bathroom a luxury feel, as it makes it easier for you to always properly clean yourself after using the toilet.
If you have problems with clogged drains in your bathrooms or kitchens, a plumbing professional can take care of that. When water takes forever to drain out of your kitchen sink or tub, it can take forever to clean. If you like to clean your shower immediately after washing up, waiting around for it to drain out may hold up your day. Be extra vigilant of this issue in the summer months, due to insects. Some insects are attracted to pooling water, as they’re always searching for a water source for hydration. Those clogged drains in your kitchen may have trapped food you’re unaware of. The smell of those foods can attract pests. Insects like mosquitoes use water to lay eggs. According to the CDC, mosquitoes can lay up to 100 eggs at a time in sitting water. Making updates to your drains can ensure your home remains sanitary and reduce pest infestations.
Drainage updates may be part of your exterior repairs. Be aware of water pooling in your driveway or near your drain field. A soggy drain field may not come to your attention until you smell it. You may also notice super green patches from the fertilization of the extra sewage creeping up. Drainage updates are also part of your roofing system. After all, your gutters usher water away from your roof after rain or snow. When gutters aren’t doing their job, water may pool near your basement and foundation. You can always install new gutters that can match the overall theme of your home. In other words, they can be as beautiful as they are functional.
Heating and Cooling Systems
Make your home stand out by having the most modern HVAC systems available. If you’re still using outdated fuel sources, you can improve your home’s value by upgrading to more energy-efficient ones. For example, an HVAC system from the Energy Star Network can reduce your energy bills by an average of 15%. A good HVAC system will properly circulate the air throughout the home. If it’s outdated, it may only have a centralized area where it spreads heated or cooled air. If you don’t want to have to stand directly under your unit, it may be time for a new AC installation.
One of the more innovative types of HVAC systems is mini-ductless networks. These systems don’t need ducts installed throughout your home. As a result, they run more efficiently and can heat or cool several rooms or floors in your home efficiently. Since ducts don’t need to be installed, they won’t disrupt the structure the way a traditional installation would. These systems work similarly to a hotel room, in which every room has its own unit that people can control. Therefore, if you have a large home or people with different temperature preferences, this system can make it more comfortable for everyone. This type of innovative HVAC system can make your home stand out by giving people more control in individual spots of your home. So if you’re someone who tends to have a lot of overnight guests, it also may be an attractive feature to add.
Don’t forget about using a smart thermostat. Smart technology can be incorporated into several aspects of your home, such as your HVAC network. When you install a smart temperature system, it can automatically adjust based on a timer. In other words, your system can be off when you’re outside, but you can program it to automatically come on a few minutes before you get back every day. Therefore, you can always walk into a home that is properly cooled or heated as necessary. You don’t have to wait several minutes to cool down or heat up after dealing with extreme weather outside. As a result, you can save energy costs while still maintaining your comfort. You can also have the system automatically shut down by the time you go to sleep.
Driveway and Walkways
Enhancing your driveway and walkways are some of the top exterior repairs you can make. After all, these are usually some of the first things people will see when they approach your property. A professional paver can create a more welcoming space. Most importantly, they’ll create a safer space for people to walk or drive on. You can make your home stand out from the rest by having a paved front walkway that may have colored or engraved cement.
Many people use asphalt paving for their driveway as it can dry faster than cement. Cement will last much longer, but it can also take longer to cure. Which one you prefer to use can be based on your design preference. Be aware that you can add color to your cement which can go with your overall home theme. However, asphalt paving is great for absorbing heat. If you live in a cold climate, this type of material can help snow melt faster. Therefore, it’ll be easier for you to get out of your driveway when you don’t have to worry about shoveling an icy path. You can further enhance this path with asphalt sealcoating. Thanks to sealcoating services you can protect the beauty, shine, and durability of your driveway for several years. If you drive larger vehicles, the sealcoating can decrease wear and tear.
If you’re already working on your driveway, you might as well work on the garage door repair too. Your garage makes up as much as a third of your exterior space. So including it in your exterior repairs can enhance curb appeal. Garage doors come in many styles and designs. Show off your cars with a transparent fiberglass door, create a rustic feel with farmhouse doors, or have beautifully engraved metal ones.
Metal Roofing
When you call your local residential roofing contractor, you can take steps to add a feature that may outlast you. A metal roof can last as long as 40 to 70 years, according to Bob Vila. It’s quickly giving asphalt shingles, America’s most popular roofing type, a run for its money for many reasons. This type of roofing has a class A fire protection rating and can withstand winds up to 140 mph. You have many types of metal to choose from, including tin, aluminum, copper, and fortified steel. There are beautiful forms of metal that can suit your personal preference. A metal roof can quickly add value to your home because it is durable and eco-friendly. Speaking of eco-friendliness, you can look forward to saving on HVAC costs after this installation. Metal has great insulation properties as it reflects heat. So you can cut down on your cooling costs throughout the summer months. Metal is low maintenance. Therefore, once you install it, you won’t have too much more work to concern yourself with. Thanks to the lack of seams, it’s also less likely to leak compared to other roofing materials like wood or asphalt shingles.
Backyard Updates
More Americans understand the value of enhancing their outdoor space. While people have always had patios and decks, they have taken on more popularity after the Covid-19 crisis. Once people began spending more time at home, they realized the value of enhancing their spaces inside and out. Focusing your exterior repairs on your deck or patio is worth it. If you decide to sell your home shortly, it’s one of the main features new homeowners look for and will pay more money for.
A new or upgraded deck installation can come in a range of materials, like wood, cement, brick, stone, or a combination. You can enhance your deck with several features, such as a fire pit where you can toast small items of food. A fire pit can be the central point of any deck or patio and can keep you warm during those late-night parties. You can go full throttle by having a full outdoor fireplace. If you enjoy cooking and entertaining on a large scale, why not add an outdoor kitchen? Having an outdoor kitchen provides space to make smoky and smellier food you don’t want inside the home.
Since you’re already enjoying the outdoors from your deck or patio, you should call your local landscape companies to enhance your yard spaces. Landscape companies can do various designs with your grass. They know the right fertilizer to keep your grass green and beautiful throughout the year. Landscapers can even plant flower beds around your front or back. They can lay down mulch to protect your trees and gardens throughout the year, especially during seasonal changes. According to Healthline, being out in nature can provide a sense of wellness and relaxation. Take advantage of this and ensure your landscape is as optimized as possible. By making these exterior repairs, you may not want to leave your home to go to the beach or park.
As you can see, you have many options for interior and exterior repairs to your home. Your home is your palace, so it should be as comfortable as possible. Making your property stand out with the right updates isn’t just good for your lifestyle, but can also add to its value. You’ll be more encouraged to have people over to socialize, especially in the summer. Plus, if you decide to sell your home, it’ll be ready and you can increase your likelihood of making a good profit. Have fun making these updates and many more.
