It’s May, it’s May, the merry month of May! The weather is warming and signs of growth and renewal are everywhere. Now is a good time to assess your home’s exterior and interior. Time to clean up, brighten up, fix up. Maybe tackle a project you’ve been thinking about for years. We’re here to help!
1. Don’t remodel when you can simply refresh your kitchen
Kitchen looking dated and past its prime? Painting the cabinets and upgrading the knobs/handles will transform it at a fraction of the cost of a remodel. All cabinets and pieces will be expertly washed, sanded, prepped with proprietary primer and sprayed with high quality enamel paint. You can expect a factory-type finish that will make your cabinets look like new again. And we can do it so there is minimal down time in the use of your kitchen!
Request a cabinet painting estimate
2. Go green
Natural yard care products can eliminate or limit the use of toxic chemicals on your lawn and garden that pose health hazards to pets, humans and the environment. Another way to go green is to use alternative fuel tools such as leaf blowers, lawnmowers and hedge trimmers with rechargeable batteries. Offering cord-free convenience, they run more quietly than conventional tools. Some brands can easily be swapped out and used with different tools of the same brand and voltage, saving money, time and effort. Stop into your local family-owned hardware store for expert advice on which products would be right for you.
3. Warm in winter, cool in summer
Beyond providing comfort, your HVAC system also plays a big factor in air quality, which can affect your family’s health. With warmer weather ahead, check your condenser (located outdoors) to make sure it’s not dirty or filled with debris, which will keep it from working efficiently. Stop by your favorite hardware store for tools and know-how needed for this job or give us a call.
Get Dwell’s certified technicians offer heating and cooling assessments and maintenance, which can help keep the systems in your home operating smoothly and safely while maximizing comfort year-round. Contact us for a free estimate — we’d be glad to talk to you about any of your HVAC needs.
4. April showers bring spring flowers … and wet basements
To borrow a saying from social media, “May is the new April.” In recent years, Chicago metro has gotten more rain in May than any other month. The most frustrating and costly home repairs usually result from basement flooding, which can sometimes be prevented byfixing the weakest spot in your basement. Get Dwell offers expert, on-site assessment that reviews your entire property, discovers where you’re susceptible to additional flooding and provides a best practices solution to mitigate any risk of future flooding. Be proactive: don’t wait until you’re knee-deep in basement flood water.
Request a Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Assessment
This CBS 2 Chicago video features Darryl Rose, owner of Get Dwell, offering proven, best practice solutions for basement flooding to Chicago-area homeowners.
5. Porch perfection
Homes that have classic front porches typically have tongue and groove wood flooring, which is exposed to rain and snow throughout the year. If not well maintained, both the flooring and structural supports can rot, requiring more invasive and expensive repairs. Get Dwell is here to help with painting, staining and support maintenance so you’ll be ready to relax and entertain on your porch all summer. Contact us to discuss your porch improvement project.
6. Get just the look you want with custom flower boxes
Why settle for ordinary, store-bought planter boxes when you can get the size, shape and design custom built for your needs?We can create unique and original planter boxes — large planters or smaller scale window boxes and everything in between. We build boxes out of any outdoor wood or exterior product of your choice and will work with you to bring your vision to life. Contact us to discuss your planter box project.
7. Paint a fresh face on your house
When considering painting your home’s exterior, it’s important to choose someone you trust to do the job right. Aside from doing a great job at painting your house, you want someone who will respect your landscaping by not trampling your plants. Our painters are EPA-certified craftspeople who are experts in both interior and exterior painting and use only the finest products and paints, such as Benjamin Moore. We can also handle repairing, sealing and caulking before painting to ensure the finishes are professional, long lasting and make your home look its best.
FYI, if you have a stucco exterior, painting can cause more harm than good. Stucco homes can be rejuvenated by recoating them and there are a large variety of colors to choose from. Contact us if your stucco exterior needs improvement.
8. Take the stress out of maintenance
Ben Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Regular maintenance is key to protecting your home, which is your biggest investment. Spring is the ideal time to take advantage of Get Dwell’s Whole Home Assessment. It identifies potential trouble spots and regular maintenance requirements that can help prevent expensive major repairs in the future. Be like Ben!
Schedule a Whole Home Assessment
9. Take fire safety seriously
Don’t wait until you smell smoke or see fire — know where your fire extinguishers are! NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) recommends placing a fire extinguisher in your kitchen and on every floor of your home. These should be wall mounted and easily accessible in case of a fire (not hidden behind supplies/clutter). For help selecting new fire extinguishers, visit your local family-owned hardware store — their team will let you know which types are best for your kitchen and the other areas of your home.
10. Change directions
We recommend that you run your ceiling fans year-round to maximize comfort. Ceiling fan blades should turn counterclockwise in the spring and summer months, which will help keep you cool by pushing cooler air in a downward motion. This can help save money on energy bills by maximizing your air conditioning. Look up! Which direction are your fan blades turning?
Spring is here, and with it comes a bundle of seasonal home responsibilities. It’s time to clean, repair and refresh. Take advantage of our expert help!