Summer Projects to Start Now

Do you have projects on hold waiting for the right time to get started? Now is the time to move them to the front burner and take advantage of savings, not only of money but time. The time frame of some projects makes them stressful enough, and waiting too long will mean added stress to get ready for the approaching holidays. So, now is a great time to dust off the plans and get moving.

Kitchen and bath remodels. The number one complaint from kitchen and bath designers is that people come in to the showroom in September and early October wanting to redo a kitchen or bathroom, and have it ready for the family Thanksgiving holiday. While most designers will do their best to accommodate, the chances of disaster are huge. To order cabinets, the minimum wait time is four weeks. From template of countertops to installation is three weeks, and the template cannot be made until the cabinets are installed. Add to this schedule the need for painters, floor installers, and the thousand and one other contractors, and you get some idea of why starting early can save you loads of stress, and might allow you to host the coming holiday dinner without losing your sanity. Start now with your designer to get materials on order if you want to beat the rush.

Replacing floor coverings. Thinking of redoing carpet or hardwoods? Prices and availability of contractors has never been better. Companies are begging for work and you can negotiate better deals for installation than you ever dreamed. Since getting on a schedule takes a few weeks, again, starting now will allow you less stress in getting the job done before the holidays. Be sure to consult a designer to work out the best color scheme for a room before replacing new floors or paint. Have you considered replacing carpet with hardwoods or laminates? The average life of carpet is 5 years or less, but hardwoods and laminates are long-lived, easier to keep clean, and improve your family's allergies. Note: While replacing floor coverings, check the floor for squeaks and ask the installer to fix the subflooring to stop the noise. Pricing is almost the same for either carpet or laminates. Consider adding an area rug for dramatic effect to a room with hardwoods.

Clean gutter and roof. End of summer is a great time to clean out gutters and roof to get rid of leaves, limbs and other obstructions. It is never a good idea to allow leaves to stand in gutters and on the roof. At least twice per year these areas should be cleared to allow water to flow off the roof and through the gutters.

Painting and touch up. The fall and winter months are brutal on the outside surfaces of your home. Peeling paint will once worsen, allowing water and weather to reach wooden surfaces and cause decay. Molds and mildews, if left alone, will spread making it more difficult to remove. Scrap and clean all surfaces completely before applying paint. Always re-caulk around windows and doors when the seal is broken or the caulk is coming loose. Never paint over peeling paint or loose caulk.

Clean windows thoroughly. Summer is a great time to clean windows, including taking down window treatments and blinds to get rid of dust. Putting your window treatments (soft treatments) in the clothes dryer on no heat is a great way to remove dust. Dry-cleaning soft treatments if needed will preserve color and shape better than washing yourself. Take blinds outside and use an air hose or a vacuum clean to clean dust from blinds. You might be amazed how much dust can accumulate on blinds and drapes. Clean the windows and the inside frame thoroughly. Molds and mildew can grow in the bottom areas of the frame from rain and weather and not only cause damage to the window frame but may trigger allergies as well.

If you begin the cleaning process early you will have less stress in getting ready for the family gatherings during the holidays. While still a bit warm the end of summer usually provides a pleasant time to do some of these chores we tend to put off waiting for a convenient day that never seems to come. Taking each Saturday in the fall means these chores can get done without a maximum outlay of time. Good luck!