Most homeowners make the mistake of thinking that home improvements have to be major upgrades or additions, such as installing a new roof, putting in a swimming pool, or giving the kitchen an entire overhaul. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Home improvements refer to any project, whether small or large, that’s geared towards modifying your home so it’s better, bigger or more modern, valuable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Another mistake that homeowners make is that making improvements is expensive because you have to hire all sorts of professionals. Again, this isn’t entirely true. While there are instances where hiring a professional is best, there are many DIY home improvement projects you can take advantage of. If you lead a busy lifestyle and you can only make improvements to your home, read on to find these awesome ideas for weekend DIY home improvement projects.
Build A Deck
If your lifestyle includes regular instances where you invite family and friends over and entertain them, you could benefit from building a deck. The good news is it’s possible and easy to build your own deck instead of deck contracting. You just have to make a few considerations first, so you know what to expect before you tackle this project. For instance, do you have an existing substructure, or will you have to build your deck from scratch? Have you already chosen the deck shape, design, and location? If not, it’s crucial to do some research to make an informed decision. Don’t forget that sometimes you may have to obtain a building permit, depending on the type of deck you’re building.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to explore your material options. Ideally, you want a material that’s easy to handle, lightweight, low maintenance, and durable. Your options for deck flooring typically include wood, composite lumber, PVC, wood plastic composite, concrete, and tile. Do your research and review these material options in detail to determine which one is right for you. Since it’s a DIY project, you also need to have all the right tools and equipment for the job. You’ll typically need cutting tools, a drill, and a fastener. Once you consider all these factors, it’s time to come up with a workable budget and kickstart your project.
The process of building a deck typically begins with designing your deck, which you can do using tailored software. The final design depends on your preferences – whether you want a flat or raised deck and whether your deck has multiple zones or a simple design. Once you have gathered all the materials you need, make sure the ground is prepared and as level as possible. The first step is to build the deck, whether a flat or raised deck.
Next, you fix the railing and posts, then lay the deck boards before building the steps and adding the finishing touches. Although this may be one of those weekend DIY home improvement projects that take place over several weekends, you’ll find that it’s cheaper to build your own deck since you’re removing labor costs from the equation. With your deck in place, you can enjoy a more livable space and have more incentive to spend time outdoors relaxing.
Make Your Kitchen More Functional
Got a weekend to spare? There are many weekend DIY home improvement projects that can enhance the function of your kitchen in many ways. You don’t have to wait until you have a bigger budget or can hire kitchen remodeling contractors to have your dream kitchen. You should never understand the power of one small improvement at a time. Once you find the best tips for making your kitchen more functional and you implement them, your kitchen can quickly become the true heart of the home. One of the best ways to make your kitchen more functional is to rearrange it to create a more optimal layout.
This is necessary if you’re tired of constantly bumping into things when navigating your way around the kitchen. So, start by rearranging such that there’s a clear path throughout your kitchen and everything is clearly accessible. Another key way to make your kitchen more functional is by upgrading the lighting. If your kitchen just has ambient lighting, this may not be enough. Ambient lighting is overhead lighting that’s used for general illumination.
But there’s also task lighting, which is direct lighting used to provide enough illumination to enable you to perform various tasks quickly and efficiently. Your kitchen will be more functional if it’s shadow free and you can clearly see what you’re doing. Examples of kitchen task lighting include installing pendant lighting over your kitchen countertops, island, or sink. You can also install wall sconces and under cabinet lights to enhance functionality. If you choose stylistic and decorative fixtures, this will also enhance aesthetics.
Still another way to improve functionality in the kitchen is through incorporating smart and clever storage ideas. For instance, instead of adding more cabinets, try adding more drawers. These smaller compartments make organizing and finding things easier. Alternatively, you can install slide-out shelves that are easily accessible. With the right storage ideas, you can get rid of clutter while ensuring every item in your kitchen has a dedicated space where it fits.
Insulate Your Attic
The process of insulating an attic depends on whether it’s finished or unfinished. In any case, attic insulations increase your home’s energy efficiency, helping you lower your utility bills. When it comes to weekend DIY home improvement projects, insulating your attic is a worthwhile investment that can pay itself back over time. Suppose you have an unfinished attic. You’ll still need to insulate the floors to prevent air leaks. Otherwise, it will be harder for your HVAC system to keep the rooms below cool in the summer and warm in the winter. When your HVAC struggles to maintain the desired temperatures, the strain causes it to consume more power.
If you have a finished attic that you count as usable living space, then all the more reason to insulate it to keep the space comfortable. In this case, you’ll need to insulate not only the floors but the walls and ceilings as well. Sometimes you may feel that the attic doesn’t have enough insulation, so you can always take some time off the weekend to ensure it’s well insulated. That said, you may need to remove some finish material, such as drywall, to access all the openings. So, when insulating the attic yourself, the popular method is to lay strips (batts) or rolls of fiberglass between joists in the attic. Do this around the room’s walls, ceiling, and walls.
Make sure the roof is well ventilated as this prevents the formation of ice dams, which can damage your roof. Proper ventilation also helps eliminate water retention. Additionally, take care not to cover any sources of heating, such as recessed lighting, as this can constitute a fire hazard. Also, watch out for exposed wiring and uncovered electrical boxes. When done right, insulating your attic should be able to prevent heat loss in your home. This is especially true if you caulk up any gaps where air can pass between the attic and the rooms below and apply weatherstripping around the attic entryway.
Clean Your Roof
When a roof is first installed, it looks shiny and new and will boost your curb appeal considerably. However, over time, your roof accumulates dust, debris, and dirt. It’s essential to clean your roof occasionally to keep it in the best condition possible. A well-maintained roof generally lasts longer and requires fewer roof repairs. The most common reason for cleaning your roof is to eliminate algae growth. According to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, algae is more likely to grow on your roof due to moisture retention. Moisture retention also promotes the growth of moss, so if you see any green, fuzzy areas on your roof, it’s likely moss.
Why should you clean your roof in this case? Well, having stuff growing on your roof might not sit well with you for aesthetic reasons. In addition, algae can affect the energy efficiency of your roof, for instance, by interfering with the reflective properties of your roof. Besides algae and moss, you may not want twigs and leaves to accumulate on your roof. These trap moisture and cause all sorts of problems. If you’re cleaning your roof on your own instead of hiring a roofing service, you can do a quick hosing down without climbing on top of it. You can use a rake to pull off leaves if your roof is steep enough. Avoid pressure washing the roof, as this can damage the roofing material.
Make Your Front Yard Inviting
There are many weekend DIY home improvement projects that you can take advantage of to make your front yard more inviting. One of the best ways to achieve this is to upgrade your lighting. Good lighting instantly transforms your yard, and you can make use of different types of light to highlight great features in your yard or to boost security. People find homes with front yard lighting to be naturally welcoming. Think about how a simple addition of Christmas lights can add more cheer to your home’s appearance during the holiday season. In addition, you can also make your front yard more inviting by planting trees and flowers.
Trees have a natural beauty that can enhance any landscape. However, make sure that you get rid of any dying and diseased trees on your property before planting new ones. Since tree removal can be a complicated process, you might want to leave this task to professional tree removal services. When you’re deciding which plants and trees to have in your front yard, consider native species because they are more likely to thrive in the environment you put them in. For year-round beauty, you can’t go wrong with evergreen trees and bushes that keep your front yard vibrant throughout the seasons.
If you need the best weekend DIY home improvement projects, the good news is that you don’t have to make major landscape upgrades that require equipment trailers and bulky tools. It’s the simple touches that do the trick. Additional weekend DIY home improvements that you can make include setting up a seating area for guests, repainting your front door, and seal coating the driveway.
Clean Your Siding
Why should you include cleaning your siding on your list of weekend DIY home improvement projects? Well, your siding gets dirty over time because it’s constantly exposed to harsh weather elements. When you clean the siding regularly, you help extend its lifespan while getting rid of harmful substances, such as mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria. The best way to clean your siding is with a simple soap and water solution. You can also powerwash your siding, though it’s better to hire home siding services for this because power washing the wrong way can damage your siding.
These are some of the best weekend DIY home improvement projects that you need to know about. The biggest benefit of weekend DIY home improvement projects is that you can gradually realize your dream home one weekend at a time. If you’re not happy with the way your existing home looks now, your option is to move to a different home or make improvements tailored to your needs. The problem with moving to a new home is that it’s difficult to find the perfect home. You have to hunt for houses, hire a realtor or a real estate attorney, and keep searching until you find a home that ticks all your boxes.
Given this, it’s often better to work on your existing home until it slowly begins to resemble the perfect home in your mind. Another advantage of implementing these weekend DIY home improvement projects is that you don’t have to search for reputable contractors or be forced to hire an attorney in case you need to sue for substandard work. Instead, you can enjoy lower costs, plus it can be fun learning new skills as you figure out how to make your home a better place.