6 Durable Renovation Projects to Protect Your Home
The most important reasons to renovate your home are to make it stronger, last longer, and be more efficient than it currently is. Of course, no one plan of action can achieve this, but paying attention to your largest concerns with the property and following through can ensure that your home lasts longer and looks better. These are the most durable renovation projects you should do to protect your home for years to come.
1. Ensuring Your Floors Are Made to Last
If your floors are natural wood, they may look beautiful now, but there’s a big chance that over time they’ll gain scuffs, dents, or other issues that can make them look bad and invite damage to your property. Instead of going for vinyl or using different inexpensive types of flooring, it’s a good idea to go for stronger faux wood. This can be made waterproof, will be more resistant against damage, and allows you to customize the color and finish to look however you want. The idea of natural wood floors is nice, but it’s not a damage-free option.
2. Replacing Your Siding
When’s the last time your siding was updated? Many don‘t realize that older house siding was only built to last twenty to thirty years. This means if you bought your home with siding already on it and hasn’t been replaced in ages, it may be time to update. Look for stronger house siding options that are resistant to weather and heat and are good at protecting your home from moisture or insect activity. This is another part of the home where natural wood isn’t a good option. Although some may like the idea of wood siding, it can only last ten to twenty years and puts your home at a lot of risks.
3. Refinishing Your Trim
The trim on your home isn’t something many people think about. Outside of painting it so that it looks nice, homeowners don’t realize that if this rots or ages too much, it can weaken the security your home has from the outdoors. In addition, if the trim on your home rots or isn’t sealed, it can lead to insect activity inside your siding and possibly even within your home. You don’t have to replace all of it if it’s not rotting, but you should check in on it and repaint or refinish it at least once every ten years.
4. Updating Your Insulation
Your home’s insulation will majorly affect how well your home can keep out weather, noise, insect life, moisture, and mold. If you have poor insulation or haven’t checked on it since you bought your home: it’s time to get it checked. Even if all you do is add more to your roof, this can greatly impact how comfortable and warm your home is. Siding adds padding between your home and the outside world, so updating it and ensuring that there’s enough will reduce a lot of stress for you and ensure that your home lasts longer.
5. Adding Energy Efficient Windows
If your windows are leaky or letting in a lot of air: they’re also going to let in moisture and insect life. Ensure that all of your windows are well-sealed and that they’re energy-efficient so that they won’t allow your energy bills to skyrocket because of poor glass or fitting. Getting vinyl replacement windows will add aesthetic beauty to the exterior of your home, let more natural light come through, and will keep your fears of moisture or insects at bay. If you want to get more natural light in, replacing your windows is an awesome time to consider cutting the holes bigger so that you can have large windows.
6. Putting In A Roof That Will Last
How old is your roof? The average roof has a lifetime between twenty to fifty years, depending on the material. If you let it go too far, you’ll have to deal with leaks and repairs rather than just the cost of replacing this part of your home. A quick way to tell if it’s time to replace your roof is if you notice a lot of wear on them or see that tiles are starting to have trouble staying secured.
You must get your roof completely replaced. Slate roofing can have a lot of benefits, but it’s hampered if there are older tiles underneath your new ones. Seek out a company that you can trust, and update this part of your home.
A Sturdy Property Lasts Longer and Is Worth More
Whether your home is twenty years old or over a hundred, you must replace what’s needed and keep it updated. This means taking the time to consider what your home’s weak points may be and putting in the work to update these parts of your home. Over time this will allow your home to last better, require fewer repairs, and offer benefits like lower power bills and less stress.
Brian Jeffries is the content director for the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
