With the Grain » autumn

Start Thinking About Fall

Jenn Greenleaf — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:48:11 +0000

In some parts of the country, fall weather means a lot of planning and preparations for the upcoming winter season. Here are some suggestions for fall home improvements:

Perform an energy audit on your home by calling your electric company or heating fuel delivery service.
Have your furnace serviced, including all the yearly maintenance checks and filter changes or cleaning.
Be sure your thermostat is running efficiently and, while you’re at it, check the batteries and efficiency of all your smoke detectors.
Check for cracks and holes in your foundation and walls to ensure pests, air, and water doesn’t invade your home.
Clean out and repair your gutters or, if you don’t have gutters, consider installing some before cold weather hits.

These are just some of the things you can do during the fall season to improve your home’s efficiency and maintain your home’s value. Be sure to hire a contractor or technician before attempting a DIY project you are unsure of.

Start Preparing For Fall

Jenn Greenleaf — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:50:12 +0000

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!

Have Fun With Home Improvements For Fall!

Jenn Greenleaf — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:37:00 +0000

Fall is rapidly approaching and, to some, has already arrived despite what the calendar reads. This means a wealth of opportunities to be creative with home improvement projects. Not only will these projects be gratifying for you, but they will add a special seasonal twist to your curb appeal. Enhancing how a home looks is an important home improvement, too, because you do have to live there after all!

purchase several varieties of colors of mums and repot them in matching pots or urns
pick up pumpkins in various sizes, at least one to place next to each potted plant (or more)
gourds and small pumpkins in bowls dress up patio tables and picnic tables beautifully
add bails of hay to flank your driveway or walkway, along with some more pumpkins
hang wreaths made from “fall” elements to hang on doors, trees, or gazebos
fill a wagon or wheel barrel full of hay, pumpkins, gourds, and Indian corn, and then park it next to your porch

As you can see, there are a lot of things that can be done around your yard and on your porch (or deck) to improve your curb appeal. You may already be growing pumpkins and mums in your gardens and, if so, you’re one step ahead in this task. Have some fun, be creative, and enjoy the changing of the seasons with your home improvement projects!