Summer Projects to Make Your Home Sensational

summer(BPT) – Summer is here, and this is the time when you want to be outside as much as possible, soak up the sun, eat amazing food and enjoy the company of family and friends. You’ll also see more of your home’s exterior on days like this than any other time of the year, so this is also a great time to complete those outdoor projects. In fact, 60 percent of homeowners will accomplish a summer home improvement project this year according to survey data from the Zillow Digs Summer Home Improvement Trend and Spending Survey.

Follow these tips to make your home’s exterior shine all summer long.

* Smooth over concrete surfaces. In order to prevent any trips or falls, now is a good time to fix and patch those cracks in the driveway or garage. Be sure to fix them now before they get larger and incur larger repair costs. It will also help to prevent any future accidents. Small cracks can be fixed with concrete caulk while large cracks require a patch. Make sure to clean out the crack before applying either of these substances.

* Repaint the deck. Improving your deck, patio or porch is the seventh most popular home improvement project according to RE/MAX, and it’s easy to see why. When you picture yourself outside on a beautiful summer day, you probably picture yourself sitting on the deck. So, make your deck stand out with a fresh coat of paint. “Decorating outside of your home is now all the rage,” says Matthew Mead, author of Backyard Style. “Your deck needn’t be brown and sullen. Infuse your backyard space by selecting whatever color you want, and spray the floor of your deck with the Wagner Flexio 890. Your deck will be the toast of the neighborhood.”

* Give your old patio furniture a new look. If you’re going to reinvent your deck, why stop there? Why not refresh your patio furniture to complement your deck’s new color, too? “Revive any outdoor furniture with an easy spray using the Wagner Flexio 890,” says Mead. “With a simple coat of paint you can transform tables, chairs and anything wicker in any hue or shade you desire. In my new book Backyard Style, I show how to take simple flea-market finds, and with some paint and very little effort, transform them into show-stopping decorative accessories.”

* Caulk around the windows. This annual project won’t help you enjoy those beautiful summer days, but it will help you survive those sweltering days from the safety of your air-conditioned home. Make sure to caulk around windows and any exterior joints, including doors. Many people think of this as a preventative project for winter, but a fresh application of caulk will protect cool air conditioning from escaping when you need it most.

* Make your home’s exterior sparkle. If your home suffered any damage during the winter, summer is the perfect time for repairs that will make it look great again. Walk around your home and look for damaged or missing siding. Replace these pieces and then use a pressure washer to clean and wash away excess dirt and grime. Using a special detergent appropriate for cleaning your home will give you better results. Once you’re done with the siding, don’t forget to grab the window cleaner and make those windows sparkle.

Each of these projects can return between 67 and 112 percent of their value to your home, according to DiGiorgi Roofing and Siding, not to mention the added joy you’ll receive from these home improvements. So get out there and get to work. The sooner you finish your project, the sooner you’ll be able to enjoy the rest of summer in style!

How to Give Your House an Annual Checkup

annual home checkups(BPT) – There’s no better time than now to give your home the attention it deserves. Give it an annual checkup before cold weather arrives to help add comfort, save energy and cut home maintenance in the long-run.

When inspecting your home’s windows and doors, here’s what to check:

Inspect interior and exterior finishes: Over time, paint and stain can weather away. Flaking or peeling may mean that it’s time to refinish or replace the unit. When replacing windows or doors, consider factory prefinished wood or fiberglass options from Pella, or vinyl options that don’t need painting or staining, to save time and money.

Look for damaged exterior surfaces or signs of leaks: Check your sprinkler system to make sure it’s watering your lawn and landscape, not soaking your windows or doors. Cracked or deteriorated wood may be a sign of water penetration. Leaks can linger and affect interior walls, floors or ceilings, so look closely for discoloration or other moisture signs.

If you spot a problem, track its trail. For example, discolored trim around a window might actually be caused by moisture entering a ways away. With a leaky roof, water may run down inside the wall and appear at the window. Contact a professional for help in making home repairs.

Clear windowsills and tracks of dirt and debris: Sand, leaves, insects or pine needles stuck in weather-stripping can affect the performance of your windows and doors. Open the windows and clean the opening with a soft brush, like a dry paint brush or vacuum attachment. Do the same for sliding patio doors.

Try opening and closing: Open your windows and doors to make sure moving parts work, and units close properly. Replace worn or broken parts.

Inspect weather-stripping: Re-attach loose weather-stripping around windows or doors, and replace material that’s ripped or torn.

columnsReplace or repair broken locks: If locks feel loose or don’t work smoothly, replace them. Keep windows and doors locked when not in use. Locks help hold doors and windows tightly, to lock out rain, wind, snow and insects.

Inspect weep and breather holes: Weep holes in the exterior of windows, allow excess moisture to escape, while breather holes allow air exchange within certain components. Clear blocked holes of dirt or debris with a wire or toothpick.

Check exterior sealants and caulk on and around windows and doors. Pay attention to areas susceptible to rain, water and extreme sunlight. Remove damaged material and reapply sealant.

In coastal locations, rinse exterior metal like exterior aluminum trim or cladding: Rinsing exterior metal parts three or four times a year can help extend the life of your windows and doors by minimizing corrosion from salt spray or fog.

Feel for signs of air leakage around the window or door: Improperly installed windows or doors can be drafty, decrease energy efficiency, and allow unwanted moisture into your home. To help save on utility bills and keep your home more comfortable year-round, replace drafty old, leaky windows with new, ENERGY STAR-qualified Pella windows installed properly.

Visit Pella Windows and Doors on Pinterest for design inspiration or Pella.com/news to connect with a Pella representative for tips on caring for your windows and doors, or choosing new replacements.

 

Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Trim

curb appeal(BPT) – Curb appeal relies not just on the color of a home’s siding or the beauty of its landscaping, but on often-overlooked, underplayed details. Whether it’s charming intricate gingerbread scrolls on the porch, or fluted door casing that imparts an elegant, upscale look, trim can have a strong impact on a home’s curb appeal.

“Trim adds that final touch to a home. For historical or traditional designs, trim can be machined into ornate profiles. For a contemporary look, thicker trim, such as 1-inch thick trim, can add depth to a home with the reveal’s shadow,” says Peggie Bolan, vice president, building products, for JELD-WEN, Inc.

While wood has long been a popular material for trim applications, it’s no longer the only option. Wood composite trim, such as MiraTEC Treated Exterior Composite Trim, delivers flexibility and durability. Designed for outdoor use, MiraTEC trim offers a wood grain texture on one side and is smooth on the other. It resists moisture, rot and termites. Made in the USA from renewable materials, MiraTEC has been on the market since 1999 and offers a 50-year warranty.

If you’re looking to boost your home’s curb appeal, here are a handful of trim projects that can create a whole new look the exterior of your home.

Add architectural detail to your porch – One of the most eye-catching ways to dress up a home’s facade is to incorporate architectural detail into a porch, such as the intricate gingerbread scrolls often seen on the porches of Victorian-style homes. Trim can also be used to create column wraps that transform a utilitarian porch post into a design statement.

Make your windows stand out – While windows bring light into your home, window trim brings character to the outside of your home. Adding wider trim to a window creates a reveal that adds depth. Trim can be also machined into moldings, medallion and other architectural details to add a sophisticated look.

Update the look of your front door – The front door is a significant design element of your home’s facade and the one that helps visitors visually transition from the exterior design to the interior decor. Door casing can be simple and traditional, or you can create a bolder, more dramatic look by adding fluted vertical trim and decorative molding on top of the doorway.

To learn more about trim, how it impacts your home’s curb appeal and MiraTEC products, visit www.miratectrim.com.