For many homeowners, renovations are the last things on their mind during winter, especially if those renovations are outdoors. But if you want to save money, you can use the cold months to plan ahead for any springtime renovations you may have set your heart on.
Take these five money-saving tips into consideration now and get those spring renovations on time and under budget!
One of the most annoying home problems involves one of the smallest bits of the construction materials. Popped drywall screws are a real pain, especially if they’re coming through beautifully painted walls. The problem usually happens when the lumber to which the drywall is attached shrinks, especially if it was installed while the wood contained a large amount of moisture. Screws popping out can be especially bad when you have the heat running in winter, but any time the frame warps or changes shape can cause this problem.
You should never ignore popped screws. They are a sign that the sheet of drywall is no longer properly secured to the frame. Luckily, repairs are pretty easy!
One of the trickiest parts of installing flooring yourself is getting the floor level before installation. The subfloor, the layer (usually made of plywood) that provides you a surface over the joists, might look flat to the untrained eye. But across the width of the room, the levels can grade just a fraction of an inch, and while it might not seem too bad, it can seriously affect your finished flooring.
Without a level subfloor, your hardwood or tile flooring can buckle and crack, damaging these expensive materials. Prevent this by taking the job of levelling your floors seriously!
Winter is a slow time for many renovators, which means it’s one of the best times for you. Homeowners can really take advantage of the lack of demand and finally get to those projects that they’ve been saving for (or ignoring!). By choosing to go with a renovation at this time of year, you could be saving yourself some money!
Of course, the cold weather makes some projects more realistic than others. Here are some ideas for the best winter renovations!