Summer is the hottest of the four temperate seasons. To some, the arrival of summer represents the time to relax at the beach, and carry out some outdoor events, school breaks, and BBQs.
For homeowners, it is considered the ideal period of time to do justice to those important indoor and outdoor home improvement projects when the weather conditions are just right.
As the summertime approaches, there are many home maintenance and improvement projects you can embark on to effectively add more value to your home.
Not all home maintenance and improvement projects require a lot of time and money to complete. A simple DIY home improvement project can change the entire look and feel of your home.
The fact that a home maintenance project worked for some does not guarantee that it would work just fine for you. This is why you have to sit back and decide on the improvement project that would best fit your home.
Whether you plan to sell your house or you want to continue living in it for years to come, maintaining and keeping your home up to date is beneficial to everyone.
When is the Ideal Time to Remodel Your Home?
As a homeowner, have you ever asked yourself what season or time of the year would be best to remodel your home?
You need to know that some home improvement projects are better adapted to a particular time of the year than others as well as for cost savings.
Spring is known as the traditional home renovation and building season. However, with rain, snow, and wind out of the picture, most homeowners considered summer times to be the perfect time to assess, renovate and upgrade their homes.
The ideal time of the year to upgrade your home depends on you so far you are ready to do it.
You do not have to wait till you can afford thousands of dollars when there are smaller projects that can be done now, which will save you time and money in the long run.
Choose The Right Remodeling Projects
Consider which aspect of your home needs serious attention and its renovation cost then decide whether to hire professionals or to use a DIY approach.
To determine the most suitable summer home improvement projects for your home, you should take factors like efficiency, cost-effectiveness, the required amount of time, and most especially the return on investment (ROI) into consideration.
However, we have gathered the top 15 summer home improvement ideas that can transform your home into what you’ve always dreamed of.
Take advantage of these indoor and outdoor projects to make your home more enjoyable and presentable as you get together with your friends and family this summer.
Indoor Summer Home Improvement Ideas
1 - Install or Repair Your Air Conditioner
In this warm summer weather, your air conditioning machine would probably be one of your favorite home appliances.
However, they have to be in a proper working condition in order to serve you well this summer.
When it comes to regular home maintenance, air conditioners are often overlooked till they stopped functioning properly.
You don’t have to wait till it breaks down before you make efforts to get it fixed. A little care and maintenance that you can do on your own can make it last longer and keep the professional repairers away.
Simply taking out and cleaning the filter as well as the fan of your air conditioner can help you to remain cool during this hot season.
Inspect your air conditioner regularly and ensure that its condensation hose is not clogged up.
Evacuate the water standing near where the condensation line drains to prevent the growth of mold and algae near your air conditioning unit.
This is very important as they can be injurious to your health if their spores are taken up and blown into your home.
Install a new air conditioner if the unit is old or the cost of repair is more than 50% of the cost of installing a new unit. The cost of repairing or installing a new unit ranges from $500 - $4000.
2 - Install Fans
Apart from the air conditioner, installing fans is a more reasonable way to keep cool this summer.
It is one of the cheapest DIY home maintenance projects that can efficiently increase the air movement within your home.
While the cost of installing and running an air conditioner can be high, installing the ceiling, whole house or other circulating fans is a good move to cut costs and take energy efficiency to another level.
The cost of installation runs from as low as $200 to as high as $1200 depending on some factors like your location, the type, color, decorative styles, and the quality of the fan you choose.
3 - Repair or Install Energy Efficient Windows
This is another top home improvement project, especially during the hot days of summer.
This approach is ideal for homes with old, broken, or worn-out windows. This will not only improve the resale value of your home but also improve its energy efficiency.
Energy efficient windows provide security while improving your home appearance. It will also protect you from heat and high humidity while saving you the cost of running your air conditioner.
The cost normally falls between $500 to $5000 depending on the number of windows being installed or repaired.
4 - Painting and Wallpapers
This is one of the cheapest indoor home maintenance projects you can handle easily by yourself or with a little help from your family.
This idea gives you the opportunity to retain or change the color of your home interior to the color of your choice while being creative with colors.
Repainting the entire part of your house can be costly and tedious. However, strategically touching up some parts of your home interior will save you time and money.
Simply covering up the dirty spots on your wall will do the job but the color has to match the existing one. The new appearance and feeling a new paint and wallpapers will create to spruce up your home cannot be overemphasized.
Painting the interior part of a home is best carried out during the summer days as it gives you the advantage of opening all your windows for proper ventilation and drying.
The cost of repainting depends on the cost of the paint and other needed materials plus the size of the room to be covered. The painting cost normally falls from $200 to $2500.
5 - Remodel Your Kitchen
Kitchen remodeling is a very common summer home improvement project. Since it is much easier to cook and eat outside, summer times is the ideal period to vacate the use of your kitchen for a proper upgrade.
Remodeling your kitchen will not only enhance its efficiency, comfort, and design but also boost the ROI value of your home (60% - 120%).
You do not have to spend thousands of dollars before you can make a significant change to the looks and feels of your kitchen.
A small and inexpensive kitchen DIY revamp project can effectively spruce up your kitchen and your house as a whole.
Take a good look at your kitchen; decide on the aspect that needs attention while taking your budget, taste and how you want your kitchen to look into consideration.
This will assist you to select the most suitable and affordable ideas to adopt in order to transform your kitchen.
The cost of a full kitchen renovation can be as high as $70,000 and even more, depending on your kitchen size, the improvement projects you’re embarking on, and the location of your home.
6 - Remodel Your Bathroom
Are you tired of your bathroom style and outdated design? Then this is the right time for a change.
Since your bathroom will probably be the most visited room this summer, remodeling your bathroom will be a great move to spruce up your home.
Upgrading the bathroom requires a large amount of money to complete. However, there are various bathroom remodeling projects you can embark on without breaking your bank.
Replacing your bathroom fixtures using a DIY approach is a great move to cut your bathroom remodeling cost.
DIY projects such as painting the bathroom cabinets and walls, replacing or installing a new mirror, curtains, showerhead, and faucet as well as adding a new vanity top will enhance the efficiency of your bathroom.
The estimated cost of upgrading a bathroom falls between $7000 to $18000.
Outdoor Summer Home Improvement Projects
1 - Pressure Wash
Rediscover your home this summer with this inexpensive outdoor home improvement project.
This quick, reliable, and affordable home improvement project can help spiff up the dirtiest of homes by removing build-up dirt, mud, algae, mildew, and mold.
The most interesting part of the project is that you can pressure wash your home without professional help.
Although it requires some level of experience, adhering strictly to the given instructions will do the job. Care must also be taken to avoid the risk of electric shock.
You can save yourself the trouble of finding and purchasing a new pressure washer by simply renting the most suitable one from a local rental store. It normally costs about $50 - $100 per day to rent.
Using the pressure washer together with hand tools such as a stiff bristle brush or pressure washer brush on tough spots will get you the best result.
2 - Clean and Repair Your Gutters
Gutter cleaning and repairs are important home maintenance project which is often neglected.
Gutters serve the main purpose of protecting your foundation and siding by collecting water runoff from your roof and diverting them away.
Spring storms can fill your gutters with leaves, blocking the normal flow of water, hence the need to it tidy up.
Gutter cleaning and repairing are best done in summer when the weather is conducive enough. It is an inexpensive project that ensures good drainage and prepares your house for the fall.
Check up your gutters regularly to spot cracks and leakages and get them repaired as soon as you can. Old and rusty gutters should also be replaced. The cost of cleaning and repairs falls around $75 - $180.
3 - Apply Fresh Coat
Take advantage of this warm summer weather to touch up your home exterior. Applying a fresh coat of paint to your home exterior is a quick home improvement project you can carry out all by yourself.
This will not only increase the value of your home but will surprisingly spruce up your home appearance.
The cost of painting the exterior of a home falls within $1000 to $3000 and gives an average of 90% return on investment.
4 - Pool Cleaning
Apart from your air conditioner, your swimming pool is the aspect of your home that will be abundantly utilized this summer.
Your swimming pools should be properly cleaned and chemically treated to ensure your safety. While installing a swimming pool can be a good idea, it is costly and can only be done by professionals.
The cost of maintaining a swimming pool is cheap and can be an easy DIY project.
It can simply be carried out by brushing to remove algae, getting leaves out using the mesh skimmers and shocking the water with chemicals.
It costs around $30,000 to $75,000 to install an in-ground swimming pool but its maintenance and treatment cost can run between $25 to $500 per month.
5 - Tidy Up Your Backyard, Walkways, and Driveways
This is another great summer home improvement project you can embark on to improve your outdoor living experience.
Maintaining your backyard and driveways are the home maintenance project you will be happy you did this summer.
Your backyard is a major part of your home that provides an outdoor living space to gather, barbecue, relax and enjoy the summer outdoor experiences.
Repair or add a new patio to spruce up your backyard. Pressure wash the areas for effective cleaning. Check your driveway and walkways for weeds and cracks and get them fixed as soon as you can.
6 - Prevent Pests
Since you will be spending most of your summertime outside in your compound, it is essential to get rid of insects that may ruin your outdoor living experiences.
This project involves getting rid of those insect pests which may even be injurious to your health. You have to destroy those pests or they hamper your chance to relax and enjoy your summer outdoor experience.
Spraying of chemicals to kill mosquitoes and other harmful pests is a good move.
However, proper care should be taken while using this approach. The given instructions and guidelines on the use of pesticides must be followed.
Pest prevention can be an easy DIY project although you may require professional help in selecting the most suitable pesticide for your home.
7 - Deck Maintenance
Spending time on your deck on a warm evening is one of the ways to enjoy the summer.
Deck maintenance can be an easy DIY project that is best carried out on summer days when the weather is just okay.
It involves checking to spot broken or loose boards, cleaning, and repairing the damaged parts or a complete deck replacement.
Decks can be cleaned with the help of a pressure washer. Check your deck and decide whether it needs to be repainted, repaired or replaced.
The cost of building a new deck depends on the size, location, and whether you are hiring a professional or you are doing it yourself. On average, it cost $6000 to install a new deck.
8 - Landscaping
This top summer home improvement project can transform your home into a paradise you’ve always wanted it to be.
It is an affordable home improvement project that will create a good first impression on visitors and potential buyers. It not only improves the value of your home but also improves the quality of life during the hot summer periods.
The lawn and the landscape flowers should be properly managed for them to retain their beautification properties for a long period of time.
In most cases, it requires a little amount of time and skills, with a few yard tools to get this done. The best result can be achieved and maintained by regular trimming, weed removal, and proper irrigation.
Soaker hose installation which runs from $15 to $20 is also an easy DIY method of ensuring a regular supply of water to your landscape plants.
The average cost of installing landscaping runs from $3000 to $3500.
9 - Repair or Install Fences and Gates
This is an ideal summer home improvement project for homes with old, worn out or outdated fences that can be repaired easily.
You may consider going for replacement if your fence is too old or severely damaged. Fence and gates add numerous importance and value to a home.
Since their advantages are far more than their drawbacks, adding gates and fences with help create a more marketable home.
The cost of repair and replacement depends on the type, the number of posts needed, and the materials to be used but normally runs between $900 to $5500.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Home Remodeling in Summer
Weather advantages and disadvantages are often considered when it comes to remodeling a home. Successful real estate investors understand the essence of time in executing any home improvement project.
Most home improvement projects can be carried out at any period of the year when there are enough resources available to see them through.
The advantages and disadvantages of remodeling homes in summer are discussed below.
Advantages
Summer provides the free time and the ideal weather condition to complete the home maintenance projects you have been laying aside with longer daylight hours to work.
With a lighter schedule and school vacation in the summer, it is much easier to get the helping hand of your family members on a DIY remodeling project.
During summer, any inconvenience is easier to manage. You can schedule the improvement of your home when your family would be away on vacation in order to ensure lesser amounts of disturbances.
Dust and disorder are the inevitable parts of home remodeling processes. In the summer months, you can open your doors and windows to let out the dust or take some of your properties out while you carry out the remodeling processes.
Since the summer weather is favorable, you will be able to work with your windows open with no fear of damage to your properties by rainfall.
Summertime also favors outdoor maintenance projects. It is easier to work, grill, and eat outside during this period compared to others where you may have to spend more to heat yourself.
You do not need to use a temporary source of heat to heat your home or your workers if you hired any.
Disadvantages
Sweltering heat often caused by the hot summer weather is the major drawback to tackling home improvement projects in the summer months.
Heat is a silent killer and can cause headaches, heavy sweating, and exhaustion to the homeowner or hired workers.
This can slow down the rate of work and delay completion, especially the outdoor DIY projects, if not properly managed.
Final Words
Are you looking to enhance productivity and protect your home from heat and high humidity this summer? Make most of this ideal atmospheric condition by tackling your home improvement needs.
You do not have to force yourself into a home maintenance project you won’t enjoy all in the name of adding value to your home.
Select the most suitable ideas for your home and focus on your taste and preferences while taking your budget into consideration. Employing these summer home maintenance ideas will not only enhance your home appearance and productivity but will also make your home to be more energy-efficient.
Your home’s longevity will also be increased while significantly reducing the amount of money you spend on utility bills.
