Top Five Improvements
Winter Projects
When old Jack Frost comes nipping at your house, it's time to put away all of those outdoor summer projects and settle in for a long and cozy winter indoors sipping hot cocoa. Or is it?
Here's a list of the top five winter home improvement projects that you can do at any time during the winter.
Basements are probably one best and most common winter home improvement projects that can be done. Remodeling a basement can be as simple and cheap as sealing out exterior moisture with Dry-Lock or as complex and expensive as building your new home theater room.
Storing materials, tools and supplies have never been easier than storing them in your basement. While space may become a constraint, just remember that when it's all said and done, it sure beats working outdoors and in the cold.
Radiant Heating under flooring is a great way to beat back the chill of the early morning underfoot. If you've ever been on a cold tile or wood floor in the morning, you know how much fun that can be without socks.
Many radiant heating products can be covered by a multitude of flooring options from tile, parquet, floating floors andreal wood. The list goes on and on. If you're handy with electrical work, this project can be simple and cost efficient.
Thermal Leaks can be detected easier in the winter than in the summer months. With a special gun known as a FLIR (forward looking infrared), you can inspect your home for areas that may leak out precious heat and waste energy.
You can purchase one of these thermal inspection devices from most large home improvement centers, or even better, check your neighborhood rental center and rent it for the day.
Insulation should be replaced, repaired and added wherever the FLIR gun has shown where problems exist. When using a thermal leak detector in winter, it may be best to go outside the home and aim it towards the house.
Use caulk to seal around doors and windows, replace worn or damaged vinyl inserts and blow in replacement attic insulation as needed to keep your home free from wasteful energy leaks and lower your winter heating bill.
Window Treatments work especially well in place of expensive window replacement. Windows that are old or not up to the energy efficiency standards of more modern windows can be covered with a large variety of window treatments.
Drapes, curtains, blinds and valances all help to control winters creeping progress into your home. Some window treatments are specially designed for winter use and help to keep Jack Frost at bay when he comes rapping on your window.