Last year, there were more than 683,000 houses sold across the country. One of the first things that many new homeowners after they buy a home is to make renovations. Winter can be the best time of year to do home renovation. Home renovation services contractors are often less busy and materials can be cheaper. Here are the best home repairs to do this winter.
Roof Repair
The winter season is usually not the best time of year to do home renovation on your roof unless you live in a warmer climate. If you live in the north and midwest, you may want to tackle your roof repairs before the cold and snow arrives. Make sure your gutters are clear of any debris that can clog up and cause water damage. Look for local residential roofing contractors to perform an inspection on your roof for damaged or missing tiles.
If you live in a colder climate, a residential roofer can still make repairs but the work may take longer to complete. Ice dams and snow can make the surface of the roof slippery, which can cause the roofer to slip and fall. A residential roofing installation is best done when temperatures are over 40 degrees. If temperatures are below that, it can cause cracks or other damage to the tiles and cause adhesives to fail in sealing. You may want to consider having metal roofing installed if you want to avoid these problems.
Siding Repairs and Upgrades
Winter is typically not the best time of year to do home renovation with residential siding repair. The equipment and material used for this work can quickly deteriorate in colder temperatures. However, winter storms and temperature can cause repairs to become necessary when high winds damage panels or cause them to come loose. It can be an advantage to have these repairs done because costs are cheaper and contractors are more readily available. Make sure to look for a siding contractor who has plenty of experience working in harsh winter conditions.
One repair you may want to consider for the exterior of your home are shutters for your windows. Custom shutters can help trap warm air inside your home. The average home loses about 30% of its heating energy directly through the windows. Installing shutters can be far less expensive than replacing windows. There are numerous styles and options of shutters to choose from that can fit any style of home.
Door Repairs
Another item on the list of repairs where winter is the best time of year for home renovation is residential door repair. There are many types of problems that can occur with your home’s doors during the winter. The weather can cause your door to expand and contract, which creates issues with being able to open and close the door. Weatherstripping can become worn and in need of replacement. Moisture from ice and snow can cause loose hinges and screws or locks to freeze.
You may also want to make sure your garage door is in good repair to prevent cold air from seeping in. Cold weather can create issues with broken springs, lubrication, warped metal, component malfunctions, and weatherstripping damage. You may want to consider hiring a residential garage door service to perform an inspection and make any necessary repairs. Make sure to regularly brush off ice and snow to keep moisture from causing damage. Use a spray solvent to remove dirt and debris and apply a lubricant to metal parts to keep them from rusting or warping.
Indoor Repairs
You may want to update your HVAC system during the winter season. During the winter, HVAC contractors are more readily available for installation and repairs. Having your HVAC system professionally cleaned will help keep it running in optimal conditions during freezing temperatures. Make sure to change your filters on a regular basis to keep your system from overheating. This can help you save hundreds of dollars on your energy bills.
Winter can be the best time of year to do home renovation on your floors. You may want to invest in residential tile flooring for your kitchen or bathroom. It’s also a good time to have your carpets professionally cleaned. You may also want to consider replacing your carpeting with hardwood flooring instead. Hardwood floors are easier to clean, raise your property value, and ideal for people suffering from allergies.
Interior and Exterior Painting
Winter can be the best time of year to do renovation when it comes to painting the exterior of your home if you live in a warmer climate. Paint is often discounted during this time, which can save you hundreds of dollars. If you’re going to paint during the winter, make sure the temperature is above 50 degrees when you apply it. Make sure the temperature won’t drop below freezing over the next few days.
If you decide to paint indoors, make sure you crack the windows open slightly to allow for proper ventilation. The lack of humidity during winter can help the paint to dry better, but you may rack up higher heating bills from the open windows for ventilation. You can use fans and dehumidifiers if you want to save money on your energy bills and still have some ventilation. Your house should be kept above 60 degrees to allow the paint to adhere and dry properly. Choose paint that contains zero to low volatile organic compounds to help improve air quality.
Kitchen Remodel
The best time of year to do home renovation in your kitchen is definitely during the winter. The price for cabinets and lumber significantly rises in the spring, so you may want to take advantage of the lower winter costs. It’s also easier during the winter to get the permits you need. January is an ideal month for saving money on new appliances. Kitchen remodels can get expensive, so you may want to consider what upgrades can fit within your budget.
One inexpensive upgrade you can do is to give your cabinets a fresh coat of paint and upgrade the hardware. Make sure the pipes under your sink are insulated to prevent them from freezing and causing water damage. Install new faucets and have your kitchen vent cleaned. Upgrade your lighting fixtures and add a kitchen backsplash if you don’t have one already. Replace any worn or damaged tile on your kitchen floor.
Install Insulation
The winter is the best time of year to do home renovation to save money on your energy bills. Freezing temperatures can seep through your home without the proper insulation. If you still feel cold despite the heat being on, it’s a sign that your home may not be as protected against the elements as it should be. Make sure your home is warm and dry by installing insulation in the walls of your garage, attic, and basement or crawl space. If you don’t know how to do the work yourself, you may want to consider hiring a licensed contractor.
Before installing any insulation, have a home energy audit done by your utility company. This home energy audit can help you identify the areas of your home that are losing the most heat. This will help you determine where to add insulation to help you save time and money. The type of insulation you’ll need will depend on the climate you live in and your household budget. Get several recommendations and estimates from local contractors before you make a final decision.
Add a Room
If you want to expand your home, the winter is the best time for home renovation with room additions. The frozen ground and dry air make ideal conditions for digging foundations over muddy ground and humid temperatures in the spring and summer. This renovation can be quite expensive with costs ranging anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 on average. You want to make sure you have highly experienced and licensed professionals to design and build the new room. If you don’t, you may end up with a room that may stick out like a sore thumb from the rest of the house.
A room addition can add significant property value to your house. If you live in a colder climate, you will want to act quickly on this home renovation project. Concrete for your foundation should be poured before the first hard freeze happens in your area. Have a plan for blocking any cold air from affecting the rest of the house while the room is being built. You may need to be flexible on how long the project will take for contractors to complete the work, depending on the elements.
Finish Your Basement
Like a new room addition, the best time of year to do home renovation with your basement is during the winter. The cost to refinish a basement can cost between $6,000 to $20,000 on average. The amount will depend on the size of the basement and the work that gets done. Materials are often cheaper and contractors are more readily available during the winter season. Local government permits and inspections are also more easily obtainable during the winter months.
This type of work is best done by a licensed professional unless you have plenty of experience. You may want to hang tarps to seal your basement from drafts throughout the rest of your home while work is being done. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation to protect you from plastic, wood, and concrete dust flying through the air. When considering renovations for your basement, you may want to opt for concrete flooring instead of carpeting or other flooring materials. Concrete is stain-resistant and one of the easiest materials to clean, especially if your basement happens to get flooded.
Upgrade Your Home With Smart Technology
When considering winter projects that meet the criteria for the best time of year to do home renovation, upgrading your home with smart technology may be at the top of the list. You can install many of the smart home technology gadgets on your own to make your home more comfortable. This technology can also help you save a significant amount of money each month on your energy bills. The first upgrade you may want to consider is a smart thermostat. You can control the temperature of your home remotely using your phone and set it to adjust automatically around your schedule.
There are many other smart technology options for you to consider as well. You can install cameras that will allow you to monitor your home while you are away. Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can send an alert to your phone during an emergency. Do you constantly forget to lock your door? A smart door lock will make sure you don’t have to worry about remembering or panicking about that ever again.
Build a Deck
The best time of year to do home renovation for building a deck is during the winter season. When spring and summer arrive, you’ll already have a deck to enjoy rather than waiting for it to be built. The lack of humidity during the winter helps the wood stabilize more evenly and dry faster. Staining a deck is best done during the winter. Since the ground is more solid during winter, the amount of damage to your lawn is significantly decreased from contractors walking on it.
Keep in mind that severe weather may delay this home renovation project. You may want to wait to tackle this project towards the end of winter for the best results. Make sure to obtain the necessary permits from your local government before any work begins.
Many people may think that home renovations can’t be done in the winter. As you can see, there are numerous projects you can do to improve the comfort and value of your home. Consider what projects are most needed around your home. If you live in a colder climate, winter home renovation projects are essential to help keep you warm and dry. Take advantage of the best time of year to do home renovation by making plans for your home upgrades today.
