Chill-Proof Your Space: Winter-Ready Home Renovations
The holidays might be over, but the official winter season really just started. Depending on where you live, you could experience harsh winter weather and freezing temperatures for the next few months. There’s plenty you can do to bundle up and keep yourself warm, but what about your home? Is your living space prepared for the long winter ahead?
Thankfully, chill-proofing your space doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. A few simple renovations can make a big difference when it comes to keeping your home safe, warm, and stylish throughout the winter.
So, before the snow starts flying, take the time to inspect and prepare your home for winter. By making some cold-weather renovations now, you can enjoy the benefits for many seasons to come. If you’re not ready to tackle some bigger handyman projects on your own, don’t stress! It’s not too late to get your winterization projects done when you contact HandyPro for anything from exterior home services to weather-stripping insulation.
Do an Inspection
If you’re not sure where to get started on your winter renovations, do a walk around your home’s interior and exterior. Are there any noticeable cracks or openings that could cause cold air to come into the house? Patch those up as quickly as possible. Additionally, make sure the actual heat source is working properly. Now is a good time to get your furnace checked out and tuned up! The last thing you want is for it to go out on a cold night.
Before cold weather hits, look at windows, doors, decks, tools and machinery, gutters, your roof, and drains. Weatherproofing your home’s exterior will help to keep you safe and warm inside. Some of the easiest ways to protect your home from the elements include:
- Installing storm windows;
- Adding door draft stoppers;
- Making sure your pipes are insulated;
- Sealing doors and windows.
And don’t forget about winterizing your storage spaces. If you have a garage or shed, weather strip the doors, caulk around the garage doors to prevent drafts, and make sure the spaces are insulated to keep things from freezing.
Protect Your Roof
When you’re going through your exterior home inspection, pay close attention to your roof. The spring and summer rain and storms can leave debris behind that’s not always easy to see with just a glance. The debris often becomes worse in the fall thanks to falling leaves, sticks, and even larger branches.
When you add heavy snow to a roof that is already weakened, you could end up with a big problem in the middle of winter that will be incredibly hard for a roofer to fix until the weather warms up. Often, roof ice dams can occur — a phenomenon where ice can accumulate on the roof, seeping underneath shingles and leaking into your attic space.
You can prevent ice dams from forming by doing the following:
- Sealing your attic and the exterior of your house with caulking to make sure no air or water gets into the house;
- Investing in a “roof rake” if you get a lot of ice or snow. If you’re not comfortable brushing off the roof, yourself, consider asking a neighbor or professional to do it.
- Cleaning out your gutters or hiring a HandyPro professional to do it. If you don’t clean your gutters at least once a year.
Most importantly, check your roof periodically to make sure these changes are preventing roof ice dams and any associated damage.
Don’t Ignore Your Home Interior
While your top priority for the winter should be to remain warm, don’t ignore your home interior when it comes to projects and renovations. Now is a good time to declutter. Not only can it help to improve your mood and state of mind if you tend to struggle with seasonal sadness, but some decluttering and cleaning practices can improve the air quality in your home and help you and your family breathe easily all season long. Some of the best cleaning practices for clearer air include:
- Changing the furnace filter;
- Dusting ceiling fans;
- Washing and disinfecting garbage cans;
- Dusting windows and blinds;
- Pulling out the fridge and stove and cleaning behind them/
You can also focus on renovations and improvements that will improve energy efficiency around the home while lowering your utility bills. You can offset the costs and optimize your home’s functionality by adjusting your thermostat. Turn it off before you leave the house, or invest in a smart thermostat that can be programmed to lower during the hours of the day you’ll be gone. An hour or so before you arrive home, you can set it to kick back on so you’ll come back to a warm and comfortable house.
Ensuring your home is properly insulated is another great way to save money and energy. Insufficient insulation will cause your HVAC system to work harder, essentially blowing your hard-earned money out into the cold. If you know your home insulation is old or damaged, it’s time to update it.
Finally, consider upgrading your home appliances. Consider it a gift for yourself for the new year. While appliances are an investment, energy-efficient models will save you money over time thanks to reduced utility bills. They’re also better for the environment and built to last.
Improvement Projects to Keep You Busy This Season
Just because you’re likely to be “stuck” indoors most of the winter doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your home projects. Many people think they have to wait until spring or summer to tackle home renovations, but there are plenty of things you can do when it’s cold outside to improve your home.
Room updates are an easy way to get through the winter while tackling something you might not prioritize when the weather gets warm. Have you been ignoring your laundry room and its lack of features? Is your guest bathroom completely outdated? Picking a small room to update over the winter will keep you busy and inspired.
If you’re not ready for a complete renovation project, consider small upgrades, like changing out cabinet hardware in the kitchen. You might be surprised by how much of a difference a few handles can make! Things like changing out faucets and lighting are also easy ways to make your home look different with just a small amount of effort.
If you want something a bit more hands-on, add wainscoting to walls, and install crown molding on the ceilings. Both of these features are easy DIY projects that will add layers of depth and warmth to your home. They can make your house feel cozy this winter, and more sophisticated and clean in the spring and summer.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of things to do to get your home ready for winter, and to have some fun with renovations when you’re cooped up inside. Keep these projects in mind to ensure you and your family stay safe and warm this season, and don’t be afraid to have fun with some of the interior projects you decide to take on.
