September is a month of transition. Summer’s heat gives way to golden days and cool nights, the leaves begin to turn and suddenly everything seems to come in pumpkin spice. It’s also one of the best times of year to tackle the home repairs and upgrades you’ve been putting off. Here are 10 ways to get your home ready for fall — and Get Dwell is here to help you get the job done right.
1. Keep your knives sharp
A sharp kitchen knife is actually safer than a dull one. Dull blades require more pressure, making them more likely to slip and cause an injury. Keep your kitchen cutlery in top shape by bringing your knives to your neighborhood family-owned hardware store for professional sharpening. You’ll also find a selection of knife sharpeners if you prefer to do it yourself.
2. Add fall color to your yard
Bring a little autumn color home with mums, asters and pansies in rich fall hues. September is also a great time to plant spring-flowering bulbs so you can enjoy a colorful payoff when winter finally gives way to spring.
No planting beds? No problem. Add color with terra cotta pots, planter boxes or hanging baskets. Your local family-owned hardware store can help with plants, bulbs, containers, tools and advice.
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
—Dolly Parton
3. Inspect your chimney before your first fire
Before you light that first cozy fire of the season, make sure your chimney is ready. The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual inspection of chimneys, fireplaces and vents to identify creosote buildup, blockages, damage and other potential hazards.
Get Dwell can provide a professional chimney inspection and cleaning to help you enjoy your fireplace safely all season long.
Schedule a chimney inspection or cleaning
4. Give your fireplace a fall makeover
Your fireplace can be the focal point of your room — even when it’s not burning. Update an outdated brick surround with paint or whitewash, replace an old mantel with a sleek wood beam or add tile or thin stone veneer for a completely new look.
Ready for a bigger transformation? Consider a modern gas or electric insert to update the look and function of your fireplace.
Talk to us about your fireplace project
5. Restore your hardwood floors
Are your hardwood floors looking scratched, dull or worn? Fall is a great time to restore them before the holidays arrive. Depending on the condition of your floors, refinishing may be as simple as a new coat of finish or may involve sanding, staining and repairs.
Get Dwell can also install new hardwood, engineered, laminate and vinyl flooring when it’s time for a bigger change.
6. Give your garage floor a fresh start
Your garage floor takes a beating from cars, chemicals, dirt and Chicago’s unpredictable weather. If yours is cracked, stained or showing signs of wear, a professional coating can give it a durable new surface without the disruption of a full slab replacement.
We apply polyurea/polyaspartic coatings, and the benefits include:
Extremely tough: Better than epoxy, chemical-resistant and designed to stand up to scratches, abrasions and hot tires.
Fast curing: Dries to the touch in hours and allows light foot traffic or vehicle use within 24 to 48 hours. Many projects can be completed in as little as one day.
UV stability: Does not yellow, fade or peel when exposed to direct sunlight, unlike traditional epoxy.
Durability: Resists scratches, abrasions, chemicals and hot-tire pickup. Cracks are joined so they don’t spread.
Versatility: Can be applied in a wide range of temperatures both indoors and outdoors.
A limited transferable lifetime warranty is included.
Get an estimate for your garage floor
7. Prepare for the next power outage
Destructive summer storms remind many Chicago homeowners just how disruptive a power outage can be. A whole-home backup generator can automatically restore power when the grid goes down, helping keep your lights, air conditioning, refrigerator and other essential systems running.
Don’t wait for the next outage to think about backup power. Fall is a good time to explore your options and get prepared.
Schedule a generator installation estimate
“September was a 30-days long goodbye to summer.”
—Lea Malot8. Protect your basement with window well covers
Basement window wells are easy to overlook — until heavy rain sends water rushing into them. Overflowing gutters, downspouts and saturated yards can all send water into an unprotected window well and potentially into your basement. Sometimes window wells need to be replaced because the water is coming in from the sides where they are no longer sealed to the foundation.
Get Dwell’s custom window well covers are designed to keep water and debris out while allowing natural light in. Installation includes cleaning the well and adding raised atrium drain grates when needed.
With Chicago seeing exceptionally heavy rainfall this year, it’s a good reminder to protect one of the most vulnerable areas around your home.
Learn more and request a window well cover installation estimate
9. Keep leaves out of your gutters
Fall leaves are beautiful — until they clog your gutters. Gutter guards can help keep leaves and debris out while reducing the need for frequent gutter cleaning.
Get Dwell installs gutter guards designed to handle Chicago’s mix of heavy rain, snow and seasonal debris. Our gutter guard installation process includes a thorough cleaning of your gutters — the last one they’ll ever need! Protect your gutters, reduce maintenance and help keep water flowing where it belongs.
Get a custom gutter guard estimate
10. Turn your basement into living space
If your basement is dark, unfinished or mostly used for storage, September is a great time to start planning a remodel. Cooler temperatures and lower humidity can make fall and winter particularly good seasons for basement construction and finishing work.
Turn unused square footage into a home office, media room, workout space, playroom, entertaining area with a wet bar, wine cellar or whatever your family needs.
Your basement may have more potential than you think.
Tell us your vision for your basement remodel
Make the most of September! It’s your last chance to tackle many outdoor and home improvement projects before winter arrives. Whether you’re preparing for colder weather, getting your home ready for the holidays or finally tackling that project that’s been on your list, Get Dwell can help. Let’s get your home ready for fall.