If you’ve found a home that you love, and plan to live there for a substantial portion of your life, you’ll likely want to do everything you can to preserve the property. Truthfully, if you want to make sure your home remains in pristine condition for the next decade, you should start planning some home improvement projects. Below are five projects to help bolster your home for the next ten years.
New Siding
Siding is one area of the home that can take a serious beating over the years. Many older homes have aluminum siding that will gradually become covered in dings and dents. Other homes have siding that will become completely faded in color over the years. Certainly consider residing your home to make sure it can last for years to come, and update the look. Excellent options that won’t become damaged like older siding include vinyl and steel siding.
New Windows
Windows have been greatly improved in recent years. Old windows can let in dangerous UV rays, and they may also allow air to seep in. This can increase your heating bills during the winter and your electricity bills to run your air conditioning during the summer. Thankfully, once you have upgraded your windows, you will probably not need to replace them again for decades. Let a professional help you choose and install the right windows for your home design to ensure they are efficient and installed properly.
New Roofing
Unfortunately, many roofs lined with asphalt shingles are not sturdy enough to survive strong wind storms. If your roof is old, chances are it will soon be put to the test by the wind and you may start losing your shingles. If your roof is not in the best shape, hire a contractor to replace your shingles with new ones. Other options for roofing include title, metal, slate and rubber composite. Overall, newly installed roofing is typically assured to last more than a decade.
New Gutters and Downspouts
Over the years, gutters and downspouts will become loose and look damaged. Unfortunately, when these things fail, it can have serious consequences. You may end up with flooding inside your home if your rain gutters are outdated. If simply cleaning out your gutters and downspouts doesn’t fix the problem, it’s probably best to have them replaced. Since these items are made out of sturdy metal, they’ll be sure to last more than ten years when replaced.
New Garage Door
Lastly, garage doors also have a limited life expectancy. Older garage doors are extremely heavy and bulky. When they do fail, you may end up with your car trapped inside the garage. There is also the possibility of someone becoming injured. Thankfully, newer models for garage doors avoid some of these problems. They are much lighter. They are also designed to cease operation if lasers detect anything underneath the door.
Overall, a home requires new investment from time to time to keep the property in shape and to maintain its value on the market. With a little work, you can make sure your home will be in sound condition for a decade or more.
AUTHOR BIO:
This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for family, women’s interests, and the home niches. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters. Dixie got advice about roof repair and replacement from the Sherwood Park roofing contractors at A. Clark Roofing & Siding Ltd.