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Most homeowners enjoy the process of DIY, as it helps them learn new skills, feel a sense of ownership over their home, and allows them to flex a creative means of solving problems. That said, even the most ardent DIY professional is unlikely to find themselves wanting to do this at every moment of their free time. There’s more to life than fixing and patching up a home, and few would disagree with that. So, how does one reduce home maintenance costs?
This means that home improvements that aim to not only fix an issue, but reduce the likelihood of a problem rearing its head again, at least in short order, is desirable. But how can we achieve this? Does this mean throwing money at the problem until it goes away? Or does it mean installing only the most expensive units or upgrades in order to hope they last for longer?
Well, the solution is not necessarily bound to either of these two outcomes. In this post, we’ll discuss a few means for applying improvements to your home that should reduce maintenance needs in the long term:
Proper Drainage & Runoff Systems
Worthwhile drainage and runoff systems can prevent water from building up around your home, which is important if you live in an area that sees regular rain, or if your house is situated at the bottom of a hill. In other words, if water is likely to pool around your home, or at least run from your home during a heavy downpour, then it’s important to pay attention to where that water leads to and how it can drain towards infrastructure provided by your zoning authority.
The best way to go about this is to install a garage floor drainage grate, repair your roofing gutters, and making sure that water can runoff land properly by implementing draining installations where it’s likely to pool. If you can achieve that, then water damage is unlikely to occur.
Window Shutters & Protection
Window shutters can be a great means of protecting your pane glass and window arches in the event of an intensive storm. They are often installed in houses that endure intensive autumn or winter periods, as well as homes that sit near the waterfront, where wind is unimpeded as it blows towards the household. Window shutters can also provide a robust protective shielding to homes that are getting on in age, or outbuildings like converted barns.
We tend to ignore our windows unless they’re dirty or we notice a problem, but with such an installation, that problem can be resolved ahead of time.
Well-Installed & Locked Fences/Gates
Well-installed and locked fences/gates will help our property retain its security and privacy, but you’d be surprised just how much these can prevent our homes from other maintenance issues taking shape. For instance, we can direct people away from heading around the back of our homes and potentially tripping over your garden path work, or allowing vehicles from entering your driveway to turn around and churning up the lawn based on turning incorrectly.
In other words, more of your home becomes more of your private property when the proper protections are in place. This way, you can ensure that no matter what, your home is a little more protected against the foibles of those who may live near it, even if that just means knowing your garden plant pots are unlikely to be damaged.
Tree Maintenance, Long Term
Tree maintenance can help prevent unexpected rot problems or weak branches from falling. Proper pruning over time, ensuring that growths are inspected, and the proper installation or removal of trees in your garden depending on how you hope to maintain it can all make a major difference, allowing you to ensure that your treeline is in good health.
Professional arborist services in your local area can become familiar with your treeline and its needs over time, allowing you to ensure issues are seen to appropriately and in a timely manner, and that appropriate care is always levied. They can also act as consultants if extending your property, letting you know where the treeline or root system might get in the way of your foundations, and what to do about that. They’ll also be able to prevent rot and its mold/toxins from spreading to other plant life in your garden, ensuring the health of your natural landscape, no matter how humble.
With this advice, we hope you can reduce home maintenance costs in the best possible way.
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