With the GrainHome Improvement Tips and Tricks

A lot of areas are experiencing a particularly wet and rainy season, and there has also been a lot of hot and humid weather in the mix.  So, what do you do if you have no air conditioner, it is hot in the house, and pouring rain outside?  How do you prevent your windowsills from becoming water-damaged?

Here are some ideas to help keep the water out during rainstorms:

• If you do not have gutters hanging, install some.  This is a sure-fire way to keep the rain away from your windows a bit (unless the wind is blowing, of course).
• Do you have double-hung windows?  If so, open the top windows instead of the bottom.
• Wipe windowsills immediately if rain does come in through the windows before preventative measures can be taken.  The sooner the water is removed, the less damage will occur.

Water-damaged windowsills are not impossible to repair or refinish, but it is less of a hassle if the problem is managed from the beginning.  There are also alternatives to using wood for windowsills.  Speak to a customer service specialist at your local home improvement center to find out what is available in your area.

The summer months are winding down and, in some areas, it hasn’t been much of a summer at all (while in other areas, it has been unseasonably hot).  No matter what the weather experiences you’ve had, it’s still necessary to start thinking about the next season.  Depending on where you live, it may be necessary to start:

• Weatherizing: if you live in a cold climate, it’s never too early to start preparing for cold weather.  Be sure your home is tight, leak resistant, and energy efficient.  Your heating and electric company should have consumer guides leading you in the right direction, either by mail or via the Internet.
• Clean up: while the interior of your home needs to stay warm, the exterior should not be neglected during the process of preparation.  Pack away all summer essentials (pool equipment, summer pottery, etc.), wash down outdoor furniture (and pack it away in storage if you don’t intend to use it through the fall), and give your gardens a final “clean-out” at the end of the season.

Home improvements in the way of maintenance is essential for keeping your home efficient and for keeping yourself from facing a lot of unnecessary tasks from season to season (do you really want to try to coil up a frozen garden hose?).  Good luck!