subject: Summer Remodeling Ideas [print this page] Other than vacations, summer is the time of the year most popular for home improvement. The fine weather makes up for a great time to work on repairs and renovations without much of the hassles and delays that rain and other elements bring. For this reason and more, a good number of homeowners undertake projects at such time. If you are among them and plan to spruce up your New York home, here are summer remodeling ideas ideal whether you are in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, Queens, or Long Island.
Patios and Decks
What better way to enjoy the warm, sunshiny days than by creating an outdoor living space for the family to enjoy. Decks and patios are among the most popular summer remodeling ideas. There are various factors to take into consideration when deciding whether a patio or deck is the most appropriate project to undertake. Such factors include soil condition and consistency, site terrain, use, capacity, privacy, and cost and maintenance that you are willing to put up with.
Home Maintenance
Throughout the seasons, your home has taken good care of you and your family and now is the best time to be giving backmaking maintenance a great summer remodeling idea. Go through your property to evaluate and create a checklist on areas that need mending or replacement. This list is a crucial preparation before calling on a contractor or handyman for maintenance and repair services. Some common maintenance and repair include:
Waterproof the basement
Re-caulk and replace weatherstrip
Clean and seal wooden decks
Trim bushes and trees
Re-align downspouts and gutters
Repair roof
Clean the pool
Mend fence
Seal cracks along driveways, foundation, walkways, etc.
Maintenance of HVAC systems
Energy Efficient Renovation
When it comes to summer remodeling, theres no better way to invest your hard-earned dollars than by making your home energy efficient. An energy efficient summer remodeling is truly a worthwhile endeavor as it will result to years and years of savings on your energy bills. Other than this, homeowners can even take advantage of tax credits offered by the government for existing homes. Some of the common items that you can buy and integrate into your summer remodeling project include:
Insulation systems and materials
Roofs that resist heat gain
Biomass burning stoves
Energy-efficient windows
HVAC systems with the highest efficiency tier
Solar panels
Fuel cells
Geothermal heat pumps
Wind energy systems
You have to keep in mind though, that not all Energy Star-rated products qualify for the tax credit so better research on what features you have to take note of early on.
Winter Preparation
Summer remodeling is a great way to save on your winter preparation. The warm and dry days make installation of heaters on driveways and roofs easier. For optimal heating on winter, have your chimneys cleaned and heating equipments inspected. Sure these tasks can be done by fall, but by then contractors and companies offering such services will be busier and finding a competent one would be harder. Being off season, remodeling to prepare for winter is easier to schedule and can even be availed at a lower cost.
