It may feel like fall just got started, but most good Connecticut contractors are already fully booked for the season. In fact, at this time of year, many contractors are booking their projects for the coming winter. If it's your home to do home improvements by the end of 2024, this is the time to talk to contractors and get your projects on the calendar.
Autumn is the perfect time of year to upgrade your home's insulation and get on top of deferred maintenance. From gutter replacement to roof replacement, these projects can help prepare your home for the coming winter. See below, seven renovation projects to plan for this winter.
1. Gutter Replacement
Gutters are an essential part of your home's drainage system. Gutters carry the water away from your home's roof and foundation. This helps keep your basement dry and can even protect your roof from problems like ice dams during the winter months.
Gutters last for decades. If your gutters are starting to near the end of their service life, you'll notice problems like sagging or pulling away from the roof, rusting, cracks, and splits. You may also experience some unfortunate side effects, such as a wet basement, or water leaks in the attic. When you replace your gutters, consider investing in gutter covers to keep your gutters clean and functional.
2. Window Replacement
There are a lot of old houses in Connecticut, and many of those houses have old windows. While energy efficiency is a great side effect of window replacement, the most common reason that homeowners choose to replace their old windows is poor functionality. Old windows can be hard to open, hard to close, and leaky. They also break easily and need regular repair.
Replacing your windows can reduce your home's energy bill and keep your home more comfortable when the snow starts to fall. If you struggle with your old windows, contact a contractor to discuss window replacement this fall.
3. Exterior Door Replacement
Just as old windows can be hard to use, so can old doors. Exterior door replacement is a fantastic way to improve your home's energy efficiency and boost curb appeal at the same time.
If your old front door is tough to open and close, or if it's drafty and unattractive, this autumn is the perfect time to replace it. Front door replacement is a high-ROI project that can boost the value of your home. It's a great upgrade to perform if you're thinking about selling your home sometime in the next year or two.
4. Siding Upgrade
Siding helps protect your home from the precipitation we frequently experience during Connecticut winters - precipitation like rain, snow, and sleet. If your home siding is in poor condition, siding replacement may be called for. Signs that your home's siding is nearing the end of its service life include:
- Siding is faded
- Siding is cracked or broken in places
- You're regularly repairing your siding
Upgrade your home's siding before the winter hits. Siding upgrades can improve your home's insulation, make your home more energy efficient, and can boost your home's curb appeal.
5. Roof Replacement
Curling shingles, missing shingles, faded shingles, and roof leaks are the signs that your home's roof is nearing the end of its service life. Don't wait to get started on a roof replacement. Your home's roof is one of the most important parts of the structure. An old roof can be vulnerable during storms. Ultimately, if your roof is in poor condition, it can lead to significant damage to your home.
6. Insulation Upgrade
Older homes often lack sufficient insulation. This leaves them drafty and uncomfortable throughout the winter, and can lead to higher energy bills during the winter and summer. If you've been struggling with rising energy costs, don't waste another year. Insulation upgrades - even simple attic insulation upgrades - can make a big difference.
Don't forget that if your home is energy inefficient, you're probably putting extra wear and tear on your furnace and air conditioner every year. This can shorten the service life of your HVAC system, leading to more frequent repairs and replacements. In other words, upgrading your home's insulation is an easy way to reduce your home's maintenance needs as well as energy bills.
7. Install New Heater
Furnaces last between 15 and 20 years. When they reach the end of their service life, they become undependable. Maybe your furnace functioned well enough last winter, but that doesn't mean it will continue to function this winter.
If your furnace was last replaced two decades ago, consider installing a new one even if it hasn't broken down yet. It's better to replace your furnace before it breaks down than to wait until mid-winter when the temperature outside is deadly cold.
Don't Wait - Get Started With Fall Projects Now
Although fall is a good time to get home improvement projects completed, late winter is not. Certain products and building materials (like paints and adhesives) don't function properly in cold weather. In other words, if you have a project that you'd like to complete sometime in the coming calendar year, contact a Connecticut contractor now. Good contractors are booking months ahead, and waiting until later in the year could push your project out to a time when the weather is problematically cold.
Want to know more about finding a Connecticut contractor? Download our free guide, or contact Litchfield Builders to discuss your upcoming projects.
