While some home improvement projects will intimidate the novice, others are surprisingly simple. And those simple jobs can make a big difference for little or no cost. Here are home improvement projects that fit into this category:
Clean Your Heating and Cooling Registers
Almost all modern buildings have a forced-air HVAC system. The mechanical components of this system include a heating source, a blower to move the heated or cooled air, an air filter to remove airborne particles, and one or more registers (vents) through which the heated or cooled air is distributed throughout the dwelling. As time passes, dust accumulates on the heating and cooling registers. This reduces airflow, which in turn reduces your chances of having to seek costly HVAC repair service. Not only does this reduce comfort levels, but it can also lead to increased energy bills if you have an older furnace that requires regular furnace repair or a boiler that is working overtime to compensate for reduced airflow.
In addition, clogged registers can lead to higher levels of airborne contaminants in your home. For these reasons, you’ll want to clean the heating and cooling registers from time to time. Cleaning the heating and cooling registers is one of the cheap and easy home improvements that every homeowner should prioritize. You’ll need a screwdriver or an Allen wrench to remove the grille that covers each vent, and you’ll want a vacuum cleaner to quickly clean up any dust that falls when you take off the grille. The type of vacuum cleaner will depend on how many registers you are cleaning; if you have one or two registers, a good hand-held vacuum cleaner will work.
Clean Up Your Yard
Yard work can turn out to be among the cheap and easy home improvements that every homeowner should consider. A new coat of paint, a weeded garden, and clean windows can change the entire look and feel of your home. Consider hiring a professional landscaping company riding lawn mowers if you feel overwhelmed by yard work or don’t have the time to get it done. They can do all the hard work for you, so you can sit back and relax when it is done. A professional landscaper has the equipment and experience to ensure the job is done right. Rather than using a weed whacker and hoping for the best, you can trust they’ll mow your lawn and edge it, so everything looks neat in no time at all.
If you want to give your home a quick facelift, call around and get some quotes from local landscaping companies before you commit. The last thing you want is for them not to show up on the day of your scheduled appointment, so make sure they’re reliable. One way to save money is to hire a landscaper that belongs to the Better Business Bureau. This means you can trust they’ll do the work for you so your yard looks great and you can improve your home’s overall appearance at the same time.
Add a New Coat of Paint to the Exterior Siding
Many home improvement projects are more complex than they first seem. However, it is possible to complete cheap and easy home improvements that can dramatically affect the appearance of the home. One such project is painting the exterior siding. This is one of the most affordable siding repair that any homeowner can execute. Applying a coat of paint to the siding and the fence is an inexpensive option that can increase curb appeal and even home value. Exterior siding is frequently wood, vinyl, stucco, aluminum, or fiber cement. Each has different properties that determine what paint will work best for it. Some may not require priming before painting, while others will need to be primed first.
Asphalt shingles are another option, but they are usually painted rather than covered with vinyl. For wood siding, a primer or a sealer is recommended. Since wood siding is porous, the paint will not adhere if there isn’t something to stick to. Other painting methods use a brush, but spray paints work best to get into all the cracks and crevices present in the wood. The cost of exterior painting can vary depending on the size of the house.
Paint Interior Doors
For a quick and easy home improvement tip, try painting your plain interior doors. It’s a simple way to add color or depth to a room while giving it that polished look you desire. Painting interior doors is one of the cheap and easy home improvements that can make an otherwise plain door look interesting and new. Before you begin, you’ll need to purchase some paint, primer, and tape. If you don’t want to spend money on new materials, you can always use what you have. This is a great way to use up some of the leftover paint you might have from another room. When you’re ready to begin, start with your door and remove all hardware. Next, take a damp cloth and wipe down the door’s surface; this will help the primer adhere better.
Once that’s done, apply an undercoat of paint primer starting at the top and working your way down to ensure even coverage. Please wait for it to dry completely before painting. Now it’s time to paint the door itself. Start with your first coat of color and wait until it’s dry to apply a second coat, continuing until you’re satisfied with the results. For an extra touch, consider painting different designs on each side of the door for added interest. It is equally important to consider fixing your broken garage door so that every door in your home is in a good condition.
Add Shutters for a Pop of Color and Home Security
Many people are aware that interior shutters can serve as cheap and easy home improvements by adding design elements. Still, not everyone knows that they can also benefit the home’s exterior. On the exterior, shutters can improve a home’s appearance and provide important security benefits. They can protect windows from high winds or storms that break a window, as well as hide your valuables inside the house from burglars who need quick access to cash or jewelry. And it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing type of addition—even adding them to one window can make a difference. If you’re tired of having your curtains blown around in the wind, or if you want something that looks better than plastic sheeting, then shutters might be the right solution for your home. The first step of this easy home improvement project is deciding what type of shutters you want for your home.
There are many types available, and some work better than others depending on your climate and placement on the house. If you’re unsure, then speak with a shutter expert who can help you decide the best shutter option for your needs. Once you’ve decided on what type of shutters to install, the next step is to measure the width and height of each window. Make sure that your measurements are accurate since shutters tend not to be flexible regarding size. They either fit, or they do not. They cannot be cut down to size, nor can they be made larger without additional hardware that may not match your existing shutters.
Clean Your Gutters
Bacteria, mold, and various airborne particles can accumulate in your aluminum gutter. Just one missed cleaning session, or worse yet, clogged guttering that does not drain properly, is an open door for water damage to your roofing system and surrounding walls. Gutter cleaning should be considered among the cheap and easy home improvements that should be done twice every year – before winter sets in and before summer winds up. If you live in an area with heavy rainfall, your gutters will need to be cleaned more frequently. All you need is a ladder, a pair of gloves, and some elbow grease.
The most important step is to clear the gutters of any leaves and other debris. Remove your gutter covers (if you have them) and scoop out anything that’s stuck inside. If branches are furring up your gutters, use pruning shears to snip these off. Even if they do not look too heavy, it’s best to remove them not to damage your guttering. If the clog is too big for a simple snip, use a broom handle or similar tool to push it down so you can scoop it out with ease. If you have a pressure washer at home, now is the time to use it on your gutters.
Repair the Roof
It would help if you found a good roofing contractor to take care of your home. Roof replacement is one of the most expensive repairs you could ever have to do, and so it’s wise to try and fix up any problems before they get this bad. The best way to implement these cheap and easy home improvements is to check your roof. If you see anything wrong with it at all, contact your trusted roofer and make an appointment for them to come out and assess the problem.
Every homeowner should have a toolbox prepared just in case something happens with their roof. Repairing your roof can help you save thousands of dollars in roof replacement costs. Still, you should always hire a professional to do the job unless you’re already an experienced handyman or woman. If you’re planning on doing your roof repairs and awning repair, make sure you always wear protective gear. This includes shoes with good grips for walking on roofs, as well as some sort of safety harness if you plan to be up there for long periods.
Clean the Carpets
Carpets are often used in homes for their aesthetic value, warmth, and comfort. However, they also need to be cleaned regularly. Several methods can be used to clean the carpets properly. One of these methods is known as steam cleaning. Nowadays, this method is often recommended by most carpet companies because it removes all stains while leaving the fibers intact. In addition, it also removes the allergens from the carpet. Cleaning your carpets is one of the simplest ways to improve the overall look of your house. It is also more economical than buying new carpeting. Clean carpets can play a huge role in achieving cheap and easy home improvements. Most real estate experts consider clean and fresh-smelling carpet a big factor when selling a house. Potential buyers want the carpet free from stains and odors, which will make their homes more attractive. If the carpet has some visible signs of discoloration and dirt, the chances are that no one will buy your house. Properly cleaning your carpets and rugs at least twice a year can help you maintain the value of your property better.
Maximizing Lighting
You can make many small changes to your home that can maximize lighting without making radical alterations. Even better, most of these cheap and easy home improvements will pay for themselves in increased lighting efficiency and reduced monthly energy bills. The easiest way to increase the quality of your light is through window treatment. Selecting the appropriate window treatments is a crucial step in this process. Blackout or light-blocking shades are best, but if that is not an option, then blinds that are closed during the day are better than nothing. This step alone will bring you much closer to the ideal amount of light for your room.
Another simple step you can take is to replace your current light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights). While they initially cost more, they will save you a significant amount of money on your energy bills in the long run. In addition to durability and energy efficiency, they also last longer than standard incandescent light bulbs do, which means you will have to change them less frequently. Finally, you should remove light-blocking furniture from the room. This includes a bulky entertainment center and cabinets, which can block your windows. All in all, these simple steps will make a big difference in your home’s lighting quality and energy efficiency.
Add Insulation to Unfinished Spaces
Most people know that insulation is one of the cheap and easy home improvements you can make, but there are still a lot of homeowners who don’t see the benefits of adding more insulation to their unfinished spaces. If you don’t currently have any insulation in your attic, walls, and/or flooring, adding insulation to these areas can help with your heating and cooling bills as well as keep your home more comfortable. You can use a few different types of insulation to cover your unfinished spaces: fiberglass insulation, foam insulation, and cellulose insulation. All three of these insulations come in different thicknesses and widths depending on where they’re going and what you need them for.
Fiberglass insulation usually comes in 4 or 6 inches wide, 2-foot-long strips that are easy to install with standard tools. Foam insulation is a great choice because it’s also effective and comes in a thin, waterproof roll. Cellulose insulation is the cheapest option but the hardest to install. It’s loose-filled, so you have to put it on your wall or flooring from above, which can be difficult without damaging the existing surface.
When you begin to explore the world of home improvement, you’ll find that some upgrades can be made fairly easily. Even if you are fairly green with home improvements, some basic changes can be made to your home with little effort or skill. If you think the world of home remodeling is beyond you, consider applying some of the tips discussed in this article.