Repair & Improve

April Weekend Projects

Tips to get your home in tip top shape for the season

by Leslie Segrete

Spring is here! With warmer weather and longer days, it’s a great time to add a few projects to your home improvement to-do list. Here is where to begin.

WEEKEND #1: April Showers Bring May Flowers - and Flooded Basements!

As the saying goes April showers bring May flowers; which mean that we are in for some rain in all areas of the country. Let’s get the moisture and water under control before it finds its way into our homes. Although you should keep your dehumidifier going all year long, now is the start of the time when you are really going to feel it working. Make sure the dehumidifier is clean and operating properly, indoor levels should be between 30 and 50%. The basement should be checked over for signs of leaks, cracks, and mildew. Whether or not you see evidence of water infiltration, take these steps to keep things dry. Make sure ground is sloping away from your foundation at a drop of 6 inches over 4 feet. Keep your gutters clean and your down spouts extended away from your foundation wall by at least 3 feet.

WEEKEND #2: Get All Decked Out

Before you know it, you’ll want to be spending every day outside on your deck. So this is the perfect weekend to clean and brighten the surface so it will be ready when you are. Start by giving the deck a good sweeping. If the finish is in good condition (you don’t see any signs of peeling, blistering, or cracking) go ahead a give it a good cleaning with a cleanser. Two products that work very well for freshening up the look of a deck are Flood Dekswood Cleaner and Brightener and Flood CWF-Ultralast Premium Wood Cleaner. Dekswood is a gentle cleanser safe for all wood types and will not harm your plants and lawn. It will remove any ground in dirt without harming the wood’s surface or natural color. The CWF-Ultralast will restore grayed and weather beaten wood to its natural color. It also works great on composite decking materials and vinyl siding. If the finish looks worse for the wear, strip off the existing finish to get a fresh surface, make any necessary repairs and then refinish with a good quality stain. Your choices for color are limited only by your backyard imagination!

WEEKEND #3: Happy Earth Day!

In the early 60’s Senator Gaylord Nelson was overwhelmed by the political non concern of the state of our earth and knew something needed to be done to help our planet. After speaking publicly across the United States about our environment for almost a decade, he noticed that people were waking up to the sad situation. He then organized the first real grassroots campaign to help stop the degradation of our earth’s resources and environment in 1970 which is still going strong today. To find out how your community is celebrating earth day check out the website for Envirolink, the online environmental community. http://earthday.envirolink.org/calendar.html Remember it doesn’t have to be Earth Day to celebrate the wonder of our planet. Look around Envirolinks website for ways you can conserve everyday.

WEEKEND #4: Lighten Up for Spring!

Now that the weather has warmed up and the days are longer, let your home’s interior reflect what is happening outside. Change out your heavy and dark toned winter linens, bedding and towels, for ones that are light weight and softer in color. Your draperies can also be more seasonally appropriate. Choose ones that have a gauzy feel to encourage cool breezes or swap a fabric shade for one in bamboo or reed to bring nature in. Even throw pillows and area rugs can be swapped out for more summery colors and textures to inspire that beachy frame of mind. Changing your home’s décor on a seasonal basis is a great way to keep the look fresh and your inner designer satisfied.

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