This holiday season, the temperatures will be colder and the precipitation will be more of a problem. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas in the comfort and safety of your home.
With the right home renovation projects in mind, you can make your home both relaxing and energy-efficient, meaning the holiday season will be as pleasant as you hoped for it to be. If you’re ready for a great holiday season, keep reading. Here are three home renovation projects you should start today.
Replace or Upgrade Your Windows
Your windows are responsible for keeping heat inside your home. About 30% of a home’s energy is lost through its windows, so you’ll need to conserve energy this holiday season by making sure your windows are weather-stripped and sealed properly.
Aside from that, you may want to upgrade the exterior of your home by installing new casements or French windows to replace your older frames. The former is the earlier form of moveable windows, the crank window. If you choose to replace your sash windows with French windows, just remember that an energy efficient home also saves the Earth from having to use too many emissions to heat your home.
Do a Weekend Repair Project
There are plenty of areas, appliances, and rooms in your home that may need repair. The problem is, you probably won’t notice the issues right away on your usual passes around your home. Take aside an entire weekend to focus on what’s broken and not working, what can be improved, and what needs a little tinkering. You’ll find that doing a weekend project like this can have an impact on how energy efficient your home is. Sometimes, products, roofs, electrical panels, and even front doors can suffer damage that the naked eye might not notice, emphasizing the reason you need to get on top of routine repairs. Electric panels, for example, need replacing every 25-40 years, so consider upgrading what you can’t repair.
Fix Water Damage in Your Basement
Basements are tricky areas to care for, as over half have a tendancy to collect moisture and stay damp. The moisture in a basement can come from water leaks that you might not notice during the typical run-through of your home. Over time, this water damage can lead to the development of mold and other bacteria, which ultimately play an adverse role in your family’s health. The trick is to focus on keeping your basement dry, beginning with adding gutter extensions for water that ends up at least five feet from your home and plugging gaps where water seeps through cracks. In extreme cases, you may have to pump out excess water from your basement. However, you should know that even minimal amounts of excess water can damage your home. Just think about the breaker panel in your basement, especially when exposed to dampness. Remember, the best energy efficient upgrades can happen if you keep your basement dry.
A well-functioning, energy efficient home will have upgraded or new windows, products, and appliances in good working condition, and a dry, clean basement that doesn’t harm the appearance and sturdiness of your entire home. You know the weather will get colder this upcoming holiday season, so now is the time to focus on the right home renovation projects so your home feels comfortable but doesn’t cost you too much money to run efficiently. Now that you know what projects to get started on, your winter should be much more pleasant once you get these three home renovation projects completed.
