Wintertime is right around the corner, and there’s more than a few remodeling projects to perform on your home that will be much easier to do in warmer weather. These are projects which can help you maintain a more stable internal temp during the coldest months of the year, so it’s important you get them done before that first frost hits. In case you’d like to know about a few crucial remodeling projects to get done right now before winter begins, here are 4 of them you can try out.
- Deck-building
Building a deck outdoors is something you’ll definitely want clear skies and a snow-free ground for in order to complete. Your decision on material is likely to come down to hardwood or composite, with each having its own benefits. Hardwood decks can give a more authentic, wood feel but are likely to rot, warp, or require more maintenance over time. Composite decks, on the other hand, are often made from more durable material. They tend to look a bit more “plastic”, but they can be styled to look like natural wood as well. Whichever material you choose to use, be sure to find a good deck calculator before starting your project.
- HVAC Improvements
HVAC ducting is one of the most important projects to complete before winter. Not so much because of the difficulty winter causes in installing it, but because it’s going to be either one cold or one expensive winter without it. An improperly ducted HVAC system can cost hundreds if it is leaking or inefficient. If you’re adding extensions to your home, you’ll obviously need to make sure it’s sealed and secure before winter rolls around. Building an extension on your home is best done with Insulated Concrete Forms. ICFs provide unmatched insulation benefits by pouring concrete into modular forms and producing a completely solid and impermeable wall. ICF home design is also affordable, durable, and weather-proof, claiming to be able to withstand tornadoes and hurricanes.
- Roof Upgrades
Your roof can make or break you during the winter. If you don’t already have soffit and polyiso insulation installed on your roof, you need to get both asap. Polyiso insulation is a specially-made foam insulation that helps add additional energy-efficiency and protection to your roof. Soffit is the material that goes around the edge of your roof, giving it an extra layer of insulation in the winter and ventilation in the summer. Both of these are crucial to have before winter starts and will lower your heating bill dramatically.
- A Backyard Walkway
Having a nice stone or brick path winding along your backyard can be a great way to spice it up. This is one project you’ll want to complete before winter, though. Once the ground freezes and the snow falls, you can forget about installing a walkway. You’ll likely have to wait until mid to late spring of next year if you want to get it done, so completing it in the summer to late fall is a great way to get ahead of the game. If you really want to step things up, make your new pathway electronically heated so that you can comfortably walk in and out of your home without shoveling or clearing out snow.
Winter Can be Harsh – Don’t Test Your Luck
Completing a remodeling project during winter can be like pulling teeth, if not impossible. If you want to avoid a struggle, try getting these 4 remodeling projects done before winter rolls around. You’ll be thanking yourself later when you’re curled up by the fire.
Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Construction and Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
– This is a guest post not writen by the owner of this site.