5 Ways to Cultivate a Welcoming Atmosphere in Your Homehttps://unsplash.com/photos/178j8tJrNlc

5 Ways to Cultivate a Welcoming Atmosphere in Your Home

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Maybe your home is feeling cramped and untidy, and your yard looks like it’s seen better days. This is the perfect opportunity to invest your time and energy into basic home renovation projects! If you need a team to assist you with outdoor projects, Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement is here for you. Plus, here’s how to get rid of clutter by digitizing your documents, take on projects like power washing and deck staining, and determine which tasks you can DIY safely.

Declutter by Digitizing Paperwork

Before you start carrying out any big home improvement projects, you’ll need to declutter your space. As you start going through your belongings, you’ll probably find that paperwork and physical documents account for much of your clutter. To free up space, consider digitizing these documents. To help with your search for specific files, use a PDF merging tool to combine your documents into a single file. After combining your documents, you can reorder and organize them as you wish.

Spruce Up Your Home’s Exterior

You want to enjoy spending time in your front and backyards, so why not focus on fixing up your home’s exterior? First, you can start by power washing your walls. Next, you can paint your home with a brand new hue that stands out from the curb. Finally, you can complete smaller projects like staining your deck. Improving your outdoor space might inspire you to create a dining nook in your yard where you can entertain your loved ones.

Try Gardening and DIY Landscaping

If you have enough yard space to start a garden, you might find that growing your own produce is a deeply satisfying project – and having fresh herbs on hand at all times can seriously enhance your home cooking! You might want to block off a weekend for building raised garden beds and planting vegetables. Furthermore, you can get started with other aesthetic landscaping projects. For example, Bob Vila recommends installing small fountains or setting up a firepit.

Design Spaces Dedicated to Wellness

You can turn your home into a wellness sanctuary! If you have your very own home gym, you don’t need a gym membership. Shape recommends stocking up on equipment like dumbbells, a jump rope for cardio workouts, a kettlebell, resistance bands, and foam rollers for workout recovery. It’s easy to assume that you need lots of space for a home gym, but if you get creative with the way you arrange and store your equipment, you can create a workout space in a small corner or nook. If you prefer gentle exercise, you could also design a relaxing yoga studio in a spare room.

Should You Hire Contractors?

Depending on the projects you have planned, you might be thinking about taking a DIY approach in order to save money. But certain renovation and improvement projects should only be completed by professionals. For instance, you should never remove walls on your own, as they may be load-bearing, and you should be careful about installing new lighting fixtures without the help of an electrician, since making even a small mistake when dealing with electrical wires could result in a serious injury or damage to your property. If you need any repairs to your roof, make sure to call roofers rather than climbing up to mend it yourself!

Right now, you might feel unsatisfied with your home – but there are always opportunities to change things up. By nixing clutter and digitizing your documents, painting your home’s exterior, and even creating spaces dedicated to your well-being, you can enhance your home’s atmosphere. With these tips, you’ll be ready to take on DIY renovations or hire contractors for home improvement projects!

Ready to transform your home’s exterior? Turn to Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement! Call us today at 703-253-9268 to schedule a free consultation.

Curtis Fisher

tradesbright.org

Durable Renovation Projects to Reduce Maintenance

Durable Renovation Projects to Reduce Maintenance

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Taking care of your home is more than simply cleaning or repairing items that fail over time. There is regular maintenance on all types of aspects of your home to ensure its value stays as high as possible. That’s where low-maintenance renovation ideas can help. With these premier ideas to renovate the home while reducing the maintenance you have on your side, you can easily update your residence with confidence.

Maintenance doesn’t have to take hours or days out of your schedule. Check out these ideas below and see how you can update the look of the home while keeping maintenance at a minimum.

Refinish Concrete Floors

Concrete
One way you can update the home you have while reducing your maintenance is by considering epoxy-painted concrete floors. These floors are a durable way to update your garage area or any concrete flooring you have. They look nice and reduce the amount of maintenance and repairs that are due over time. The application is simple and easy to do whenever you have a clean concrete surface to start with.

This type of floor is capable of standing up against chemicals, gasoline, and other liquids you might be dealing with in your garage. You’ll love that your floor looks great no matter what, with little upkeep from you.

Consider Stone Panels

New Siding
A way to update the outside of your home without having to keep up with paint is to consider installing manufactured stone panels. These panels are a great way to keep your home looking great without having to maintain them too much. They offer a variety of styles, colors, and pattern options to help you create the look and feel you want. These durable panels look like rock has been painstakingly installed while it is a simple panel that fixes to the home. These are very low-maintenance and provide a beautiful upgrade rather than simple paint changes or siding.

New Mailbox

New Mailbox
Your mailbox is a part of your home. You may not even realize that it needs maintenance until it does. That can be frustrating as mail will not be delivered if there is an issue with the box. Safeguard your items by considering the installation of a new construction mailbox to help you reduce how much maintenance is required. You can choose from a variety of designs that are durable enough to withstand any type of climate issues thrown their way. A new construction mailbox can be for a variety of homes, all in one safe, convenient location. Whether it’s for a new community or simply wanting to update the mailing options for your community, these are a great way to go.

Painting

Another great renovation product that can help with the maintenance of the home is to consider a new paint job. Working with painters can help you to get a new, fresh paint job in no time. This renovation product can help with maintaining your lumber down the road. With a new paint job, the old is scraped away, cracks are filled, and then it is primed and painted. By taking time to work with professional painters sooner than later, you can help reduce carpentry maintenance down the road.

Upgrade The Siding

The outside of your home is one part that can look worn down over time if not properly maintained. Dealing with paint chips or fading can be frustrating. Consider updating your home with steel board and batten siding. This type of siding is highly durable, low-maintenance, and a beautiful update to any home. It has a high impact rating to help reduce damage during storms. It also has a high fire rating to help reduce damage with possible fires as well. The siding also comes in a variety of styles, designs, and color choices to fit any décor you may want.

These simple items cost a little upfront to provide massive returns down the road. With these low-maintenance updates, you can enjoy your home without having to always do some type of repair or upkeep. That leaves time to do all the other projects you have on your to-do list. Consider these options the next time you want to upgrade your home.

Andrew Wesley

Andrew Wesley is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise on painting projects and materials. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia where he enjoys spending time with his wife and working on projects in his spare time. Andrew’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisors, a new construction industry resource launching in Fall 2022.

Top Renovation Projects

Top Renovation Projects to Pursue First

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It can be argued that there is no such thing as a “bad” renovation project. After all, any time you make an improvement to your property, it will pay some sort of dividend, whether it be increased safety, functionality, or resale value.
With that said, there will be some projects that you want to prioritize over others. For example, any type of renovation that will increase energy efficiency, prevent any subsequent issues from arising, or improve the safety of your home should be above more luxury-minded renovations on your checklist. With this in mind, keep reading to discover 5 top renovation projects to pursue first.

Any Projects That Increase R-Value

Increase R-Value

Unless you have been living under a rock, the importance of energy efficiency in all walks of life is one of the issues with which you are undoubtedly most familiar. For homeowners, there are numerous ways that energy efficiency can be improved. Some of the most popular ideas include solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and smart thermostats.

However, one of the best ways to curb energy consumption in your home is to renovate with R-value in mind. R-value is the measure of a home’s insulative quality, with a higher R-value indicating a more well-insulated (and more energy-efficient) home. Some ways to increase the R-value of your home include installing a continuous insulation system in the walls and roof that eliminates thermal bridges, choosing framing and roofing materials that have high thermal mass, and making sure that there are no leaks in the building envelope that will allow unwanted air transfer.

To this effect, one of the best ways to improve the R-value of your home is through the installation of synthetic stucco. This unique cladding system uses a layered approach to create a true air and watertight exterior that has an R-value significantly higher than traditional stucco siding. In addition, synthetic stucco can be applied using a number of attractive finishes that not only improves the home’s R-value, but enhances curb appeal as well.

Saying Goodbye to Concrete Driveways and Sidewalks

Concrete sidewalks and driveways have been a staple in suburban America for decades. And in all fairness, fresh concrete surfaces do look classy. However, exterior concrete comes up short along a number of lines. First, unsealed concrete can be highly absorbent, leading to cracking and buckling during temperature changes. Furthermore, flowing water readily rolls over concrete, increasing the risk of erosion that will threaten your landscaping and possibly even your foundation.

Therefore, when it comes time for a replacement, many homeowners are choosing to forgo the concrete and choosing gravel and other types of permeable stone landscaping pavers. While these types of surfaces traditionally ran the risk of rutting and clumping, innovative permeable pavers hold gravel and stone in place in the face of hydrostatic and other forms of pressure, ensuring a consistent appearance that maximizes the natural drainage properties of gravel.

Projects That Improve the Quality of Exterior Space

Quality of Exterior Space

Thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, renovation projects that increase the quality of exterior space are at the forefront of homeowners’ minds as they look for creative ways to get some fresh air and enjoy a change of scenery. Some projects that are increasing in popularity include the installation of outdoor kitchens, adding pergolas to patios and decks, and replacing worn deck boards with rot-resistant cedar decking. By completing any of these exterior projects, homeowners not only boost the resale value of their home through the improvement of functional exterior space, but by enhancing curb appeal in the process.

Window Upgrades

Windows are a truly unique aspect of the home in that they function as both an interior and exterior renovation. New windows will not only allow more natural light to pass through into the interior, but they will provide a major boost to curb appeal as well. Thanks to this dual nature, window projects should be at the top of your renovation list.

A full-scale window replacement will involve removing degraded frames and glass and updating to more modern materials. In this regard, aluminum frames are viewed as a superior option thanks to their water resistance and low maintenance fabrication, while innovative smart glass and low-E glass is now helping increase energy efficiency by limiting the type of sun rays that enter the home. All in all, this results in a more solid window-to-wall transition that will optimize the strength of the building envelope.

Flooring Projects

Flooring Projects

Finally, a flooring upgrade is always one of the most important remodeling projects a homeowner can undertake. As the floor is subjected to arguably the most wear and tear of any interior aspect of the house, the difference between an average flooring material and elite flooring material can make a world of difference. Therefore, bypass carpet and low-quality vinyl products in favor of engineered hardwood or polished concrete. While these types of floors may be a bit more expensive to install, they will do much more for resale value than more affordable flooring materials. In addition, they are extremely low maintenance and can be cleaned with nothing more than a broom and wet mop-an important characteristic for time-strapped homeowners in 2022.

Best Renovation Projects to Tackle First

While all types of renovation projects will be valuable in their own respect, there are some that should be given priority over others. For example, projects that improve energy efficiency, safety, and prevent subsequent issues from arising will provide the most bang for their buck. With this in mind, projects that increase insulation R-value, improve exterior functionality, fortify the windows, and improve the floor are some of the most important renovation projects to prioritize.

Andrew Wesley

Andrew Wesley is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise on painting projects and materials. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia where he enjoys spending time with his wife and working on projects in his spare time. Andrew’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisors, a new construction industry resource launching in Fall 2022.