If you’ve gotten bored binge-watching Netflix it might be time to invest in your home and your sanity. Working on some projects around the house this winter may be the answer for you. Winter home projects are a great way to improve your home’s value as well as enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.
People don’t often think of using the winter season for home repair. Traditionally it’s the off-season for roofers. While we’re always busy with training and education in the winter, there are still house projects that can be done in winter easily and sometimes even less expensively.
Small Home Projects for Winter
Install a new thermostat. This is a great way to make your life easier and save money. If you have old thermostats, they can vary widely in their ability to actually maintain a consistent temperature. Installing a new one can save on heating costs and make your rooms more evenly heated. A bonus: they may also cut down on the arguments about proper room temperature.
Seal air leaks around your foundation. Look for leaks around windows, your foundation, and your attic. Spray foam is a magic (and easy to use) product that can fill small gaps. This can save you big, up to 25% off your winter heating bills. Sealing leaks can also help keep out pests such as mice and bats. It’s a win-win!
Heating system maintenance. Don’t forget to change your filters if you have forced-air heating. Replacing filters regularly improves air quality and increases the efficiency of your heating system. Filters should be changed at least every three months. Changing them more frequently is important if you have pets, allergies, use a fireplace, or if anyone in your home smokes. If you have boiler heat for your house, keep an eye on the water levels in the boiler and add water if needed.
Paint a room or two in your house. You can brighten up the whole feel of your house by painting a room. Painting just an accent wall can really brighten a space, and winter is the best time to find sales on paint. You can even splurge for some molding or trim to spruce things up even further and install them before you paint. Since winter is not a great time to throw open the windows, you might want to splurge on a low-VOC paint with fewer fumes.
Bigger Winter Projects
Insulate your attic. This is a bigger project but can give big value back in savings and comfort. Ice dams and melting snow on your roof can be an indication that your attic is leaking hot air. Not only is that costing you, but ice dams can develop from snow melting on those hotspots and then refreezing on the cooler edge of the roof. Though icicles can look pretty, they’re heavy and can seriously damage your roof.
Blown-in insulation is an easy and cost-effective way to provide more protection. Weather Vane provides this service. Call us for a free quote.
Remove dead or dying trees. This is something commonly thought of in the spring and summer, but if it’s just cold and not icy, there’s no reason that you can’t remove a tree in the winter. In fact, it’s often the cheapest time to have someone do the work because companies are less busy during this time of year. Best of all, most landscaping is dormant at this time of year, and so it’s much harder to damage.
Repair or replace your roof. There are a number of roofing products that can be installed even in the winter. If you’re experiencing leakage or other roofing problems it may be time to talk to the professionals about what can be done now, rather than waiting for the busier spring and summer seasons.
Getting stuck inside doesn’t have to be boring. Winter can be a great time to do some projects to improve the look and quality of your home. Take a little time to apply some skills to make your cosy space just that much warmer and happier.
About Weather Vane Roofing
We provide roofing, siding, insulation, windows and gutters. Making your house beautiful and efficient is our main goal. We use the latest in technology and products to provide eco-friendly and cost effective solutions for your home and business. With locations in Lansing, Owosso, and Brighton/Howell we are Mid-Michigan’s roofing experts. Let us transform your house into a home.
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