I'm glad that I waited until now to promote the spring and summer renovation season. Usually, we try to get things going full speed during the May long weekend. You remember, that was the weekend that featured hail and snow.
If you haven't done so already, July and August are the perfect months to do a thorough inspection of your house and to determine what needs fixing or building. I've got three projects happening right now. One involves replacing a window while another involves some digging in the backyard. Both could be done at different times of the year, but doing them when the weather is nice and the impact on living conditions will be minimal, is a definite bonus.
If you don't have a deck, I'd recommend building one. If you already have one, add to it. We've been lucky the past few years with a fairly low mosquito count. Not so this year, so a little separation from the ground can be a good thing. Whether you want to create different activity areas on different levels or utilize one large single space, you'll be glad you created this extension of your home to take advantage of beautiful summer weather.
Let your imagination run wild when planning the various amenities that would go with your new deck and backyard. Furniture, loungers, barbeque, pizza oven, umbrellas, hot tub, fire pits, lighting, sound systems, heaters and a portable bar are just a few suggestions to make your backyard a paradise.
Does the fence need repairing, re-setting or repainting? Are the eavestroughs and downspouts distributing water or overflowing with water?
Weeding the lawn and garden is a lot easier when the soil is soft and moist than when it has hardened.
I mentioned windows earlier. If the window is clean and you still can't see through it, the time might be right to replace it. If the inside of your window featured a festive Christmas glaze last winter, it might be time to replace the window. Similarly, if the wind howling through your doorway could blow out a candle, you might look at replacement now -- not in the dead of winter.
If you've got a big kitchen job to do, why not do it now and barbeque your meals for the next few weeks. Take advantage of the summer weather to get your renovation projects done!
Mike Moore is president of the
Manitoba Home Builders' Association
