Essential outdoor home improvements
If you want your home to remain weatherproof, increase in value and look good, you should always try and carry out an annual checklist of home improvements. A house and garden that are left in a dilapidated state will only lead to long-term trouble and expense.
Outdoor living needs maintenance
Most Australians spend the greater part of their summers outside. If you want an extra space for entertaining or just relaxing in your garden you can always look at some ingenious carport designs that can be used as an additional relaxation space or an extra home for your car. Once you’ve assessed what your budget will cover, make sure that you inspect the house’s exterior essentials. Any painted woodwork should be redecorated on an annual basis; this will stop you having to replace the whole window or doorframe at a later date.
Improving the value of your home through renovation
At some point you may want to put your house on the market. First impressions do make a difference and you don’t want to deter a prospective buyer before they’ve even put a foot over the threshold. The Age suggests that you should try to keep the outside of your house spick and span by either repainting or at least cleaning the brickwork of the property. The same rule applies for those who have wooden houses. If you are able, try and see if you can revarnish any chipped or peeling areas.
Inspect your outdoor features
Many Australian houses have decking and it’s important to keep this in prime condition. If you have wood decking, replace this material with an alternative that will only require regular cleaning rather than an expensive staining treatment. Tips from the Melbourne Home Show suggest that you should also check your perimeter fences and make sure that they are in good order.
Maintain your pool
If you have considered getting rid of your pool as a result of drought restrictions, it might be a good idea to see whether the pool is the major culprit when it comes to water consumption. If you look after your pool properly, keep it clean and ensure that the filters are working properly then you’ll discover that the pool might not swallow as much water as you originally thought. In hot weather, especially if you live inland, a pool is essential for cooling off and you can always use rainwater from tanks if you need to top up your pool.
Take a good look at your garden
As well as maintaining your house, have a look at your garden and see where you can make improvements. If the ground around your house is really dry, then you can always use plant pots as an alternative to flower beds. You might want to plant some hardy trees in these containers to act as a windbreak and for additional outdoor beauty. Grass is often a problem, especially in the high summer. Perhaps you could consider paving over the lawn and extending your decking. Nothing looks more depressing than a dry patch of grass, so it might be time to consider the alternatives.