Summer Home Improvement Projects

We may not get the winters here in Maryland that a place like New England gets pounded with, but it still gets plenty cold and with plenty of snow. As a result, most of us can’t wait for the warm weather to arrive and rue the day winter finally hits.

What you don’t want to regret, however, are lost home improvement opportunities. Depending on the project, the longer you wait, the worse the situation you’re trying to correct is going to get. Or the bigger eyesore it will become.

So, if you have the means and the determination, here are a handful of home projects ideally suited for the warm weather months:

1. Replacement windows – No one needs to tell you when it’s time to replace some or all your windows – you already know. You can feel the draft coming in around them, one or more may not shut properly, or maybe yours just aren’t very well insulated. Plan your budget, find a reputable contractor, and replace what you can knowing that greater energy savings and improved aesthetics will be the end result.

2. New Siding – If you have old vinyl or aluminum siding that’s literally coming apart at the seams or looks so bad that no amount of paint can compensate, there’s another warm-weather project waiting to happen. Today’s vinyl siding is seamless for improved appearance and helps maintain indoor temperatures to keep your heating and cooling costs down.  

3. New Entry Door – Whether or not you’re planning to sell your home any time soon, you can go wrong with a new main entry door. New front doors provide added security over previous models, thus making your home more burglar-proof. If properly installed, your new door also will help cut your energy costs while enhancing your home’s curb appeal.

4. Cabinet Refacing – If your cabinets are looking a little dated but still in relatively good shape, replacing drawer fronts and doors, and adding a matching veneer on the face of the cabinets will give your kitchen a face-lift for a fraction of the cost of a full remodel.
5. Re-stain your deck or fence – Waiting even one year longer can cause the wood to deteriorate and shorten the lifespan of your deck or fence. And then there’s the aesthetic consideration, especially if you have a fence viewable by neighbors and passersby.

6. Drain your water heater – Your storage tank water heater has an average expected lifespan of up to 12 years. That doesn’t mean it can’t last longer – many do. But the key to longevity is keeping it in tip-top shape, and one way to accomplish that goal is to drain and refill your tank once a year. That allows you to clear out any built-up mineral deposits that otherwise work to erode the interior lining of your tank and shorten its lifespan.

Here at Your 1 Plumber, we’d be happy to drain and refill your water heater storage tank for you, and that’s just one aspect of our water heater performance and safety inspection service. It’s for anyone who wants the most for their hard-earned money and believes in taking the best possible care of what’s yours. Contact us today for more information or to request service.