With the start of 2021 just around the corner, many people will honor the time-honored tradition of creating project lists that they hope to complete in the new year. Other homeowners need a little help determining which projects to consider and add to their list.
From something as simple as adding a fresh coat of paint to a home’s exterior to more complex projects like remodeling a bathroom, there is no shortage of DIY projects to complete next year. Here are three trending ideas for relatively easy home improvement projects to tackle in 2021.
A Simple Remedy for a Squeaky Floor
Walking across a wooden floor only to hear it squeak and groan can certainly get annoying after a while. Fortunately, eliminating the squeaks is an easy fix. To identify where the noises come from, homeowners should walk across the floor, listen for the squeaky sounds, and mark each one with a pencil.
For the next step, homeowners should use a screwdriver to place new screws approximately six inches apart and add additional screws if necessary until they no longer hear any squeaking. Two-inch screws are ideal for most hardwood floors except for subfloors thicker than three-quarters of an inch thick.
It is best to use two and one-half inch screws in that case. Homeowners can also add screws to all floor joists upon moving into the home to prevent floors from squeaking in the first place.
Another options is to add construction adhesive between the joist and floor board joints from underneath:
Add Window Shutters to Make the Home Look More Inviting
There is something about shutters on the windows of a home to make a home appear more welcoming. Window shutters can appear on either the inside or outside of the home depending on personal aesthetic preferences. Homeowners can choose from a wide range of styles and materials for their window shutters. Vinyl and dark wood are just two examples of this easy home improvement upgrade.
For homeowners with large summer cooling bills, shutters help to block the maximum amount of light. This is important because excess light coming into the home makes it warmer and causes the air conditioner to work harder to keep the home cool. Lastly, shutters provide improved privacy over curtains, drapes, or blinds when closed.
Remove an Unsightly Concrete Patio
Concrete patios provide a convenient place for homeowners to gather outdoors with their family and friends. Like most things around the home, concrete patios eventually become worn and require replacement.
A concrete patio likely only needs minor repairs if the homeowners notices chipping, flaking, fractures, stains, or overlays. Homeowners need to start considering replacement if they notice any of these issues:
- Majority of the patio’s surface appears flaky
- Wide or deep cracks have set in
- Patio surface shows obvious signs of settling and slope
- Frost heave in colder climates has raised and/or broken concrete on parts of the patio
While removing a concrete patio can be a do-it-yourself project, homeowners need to make sure they have the right tools ahead of time as well as the physical strength to complete the job. Tools required include a sledgehammer, bolt cutters, shovel, wheelbarrow, and pry bar. It is equally to have proper safety equipment such as steel-toed boots, safety glasses, and hearing protection.
The first step in removing a concrete patio is to lay a piece of plastic over a section of concrete and swing the sledgehammer at it. The person completing the DIY project will need to repeat this process multiple times until he or she has broken up all concrete. The process will leave quite a mess behind, and it’s up to the homeowner to figure out how to get rid of the debris.
People should approach every DIY project with a flexible attitude and remember there is nothing wrong with calling for help if the project turns out to be more than anticipated. Setting realistic goals with easy home improvement projects rather than complex ones is also important.
