Wow! Winter has certainly arrived! While we retreat inside, this is the perfect time to make a plan to do all of the little things around your home that need attention. Whether it’s a general tidy-up, makeover, or some crucial maintenance and repairs, there’s likely to be a few things on your ‘To Do’ list if you think about what needs attention. To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of Home Improvement Jobs to do in Winter.
1. Gutters
Being out of sight, gutters are often neglected when it comes to maintenance. Now is a good time to:
- Check all gutters for debris and other items (eg. children’s toys, stones the crows drop, growing plants).
- Remove all debris. You can do this by hand or use a hose or pressure washer. If you don’t do this, your gutters may become blocked, causing water to overflow and possibly damage your home. Some debris may also pose a fire hazard.
- Check your gutters for damage (eg. holes, rust) and repair anything that needs attention.
- Install gutter guards to help limit the ingress of debris.
2. Pressure Washing
During winter, outdoor maintenance can be something we limit or even forget about until the warmer months. As the weather cools, moss and mould can take hold on outdoor surfaces. With the addition of dirt and oil spills, outdoor surfaces can quickly become unsightly and harder to maintain. For these reasons, Winter is a great time to pressure wash your:
- Driveway
- Carport
- Paths
- Pavers
- Outdoor tiled surfaces.
3. Sort, Edit and Arrange
Why wait until Spring to do a clean-out? Winter is the perfect time to sort, edit, and re-arrange your cupboards. Whether it’s your wardrobes, laundry cupboards, kitchen cupboards, pantry, home office or linen cupboard, doing a clean-out is worth putting on your ‘To Do’ list. There’s probably a lot to donate to charity, a few things to discard, and maybe a few repairs or additions to be done.
- Can you utilise storage space more efficiently?
- Do you need more rails or shelves to hang things on?
- Would you like to hang your favourite photos, artwork, or mirrors?
- Do the hinges, handles, and other hardware need replacing?
Sorting out our cupboards and wardrobes can be quite challenging and cathartic at the same time. It will also give you that sense of lightness and feel-good factor once everything is in order.
4. Handles and Hinges
How many times throughout the day do you use a handle to open or close something? Those handles, and the hinges on the doors and cupboards that you’re opening and closing take a fair hit when it comes to wear and tear.
Because we use handles so often throughout our day, handles and hinges are prone to becoming loose. If neglected for long enough, screws can come loose (or start to rust), and the handles or hinges may fall off.
So, walk around your home and check all of your handles and hinges and make a note on your ‘To Do’ list of any that need fixing or replacing. This process may even inspire you to consider upgrading your handles to a more functional or modern version. Click here to read an article by the Block Shop on how to choose the right handles for your home.
5. Painting
Some people love painting, while others loathe it. The good news is that you can tackle some smaller painting jobs over winter, such as:
- Painting door frame trims.
- Painting skirting boards.
- Painting window frames.
- Patch and paint walls that need repair.
- Paint the front door.
It’s worth noting that cold temperatures slow down the drying time of oil-based paint and water-based paint. This will add time between additional coats of paint. However, according to Inspirations Paint, “You can still work on indoor paint projects even during cold and wet weather and as long as it’s between 10 and 30 degrees Celsius and you have adequate air circulation, it will dry just fine.
As for outdoor painting, it may be preferable to leave this until warmer and drier months.
6. Organise your Garage or Carport
Being outside the main part of our homes, the Garage or Carport is often neglected during winter. Often a dumping ground or additional storage space, things can start to pile up over time if you haven’t had time to organise the space.
It’s probably best to do a clean-out and recycle or discard old or unwanted items, then make a list of what’s left. This will give you an indication of the types of storage solutions you might need. This may include:
- Shelves
- Hooks and Rails
- Bike racks
- Snap-in toolbars for brooms, shovels, garden rakes, etc.
- Pegboards for hanging tools and garden and cleaning implements
- Fixed or portable work benches and cabinets
- Storage boxes
- Garden shed (if you have a carport).
7. Install Outdoor Solar Lights
If you find yourself having to venture outside during the night, installing outdoor solar lights is an easy and energy-efficient way to light your way. There are many applications for outdoor solar lighting, including:
- Security lighting – solar motion & sensor lights (front door/patio, garage/carport, side paths)
- Garden paths and steps
- Garden spotlights
- Driveways, paths and walkways
- Carports and sheds
- Festoon lights for alfresco areas, under trees, and along fences.
8. Fence repairs
Your fence encloses your property and protects you and your privacy. Like most things around your home, once installed we can forget about them. However, over time they become subject to the elements and the occasional mishap. If you have dogs or chickens in your backyard, you may even find a hole beneath your fence!
A few inspections throughout the year, including winter, will help you keep on top of any fence repairs and maintenance. Things to consider include the following:
- Before you do anything to your fence, we recommend checking with your local Council to see if you need permission and if there are regulations and guidelines you need to comply with.
- You should also speak with your neighbours before you engage Hire A Hubby (or anyone else) to fix or replace your fence.
- Is a fence repair or part or full replacement required?
- Is painting the fence an option?
- Do you need new foundations or footings?
- What is the maximum allowable height for the fence?
- If you’re replacing the fence, consider your options – eg. Colourbond, Hardwood, Brick, Rendered brick, Concrete, Modular Walls, Steel mesh, Privacy screen panels.
- Colour options (check your Council’s regulations).
- Urgency and timeframe.
- Lifetime use and the upkeep required to maintain your fence.
- Budget and shared costs with neighbours
Takeaways
Winter is the perfect time to plan and do home improvement jobs. We hope we’ve provided you with the motivation to have a look around and update your ‘To Do’ list – and then get it done!
While some things you can do yourself, if you need help around your home this winter, click here to Book a Quote, or call 1800 803 339. Get it done over winter.
