Easy Winter Home Improvement Projects

(BPT) - During the milder months - like summer and fall - homeowners naturally tend to prioritize working on the exterior of their houses, because the weather is nice. But in the winter, we're more apt to tackle smaller home improvement projects inside. This seems like a no brainer, right? Chip Gaines, host of HGTV's Fixer Upper  offers a few easy home improvement projects to help you make the most of your winter indoors.

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Get Organized for Winter
New England weather can be hit or miss, but it never a bad idea to be prepared. When it is time to shovel out, you don't want to be digging through a chaotic mess looking for the right tools. Any one of our designs, such as the Martha's Vineyard Loft or Even Pitch, can be the perfect place to store your snow blower, shovels, and dog friendly salt. Pegboard, shevles, and even a metal bucket for your sand, can make clearning the drive and walkways a much easier task. 

Repaint your walls
Once you are snow ready, take a look around inside at places on your walls in high-traffic areas with one too many scuff marks or kids' grimy handprints. Whether they come from the kids, the pets or even yourself, erasing them is quick and easy. KILZ Hide-All primer and sealer can take care of these marks and more. This high-hiding product only needs one hour of dry time before you apply your topcoat, so there's no need to set aside a whole weekend to cross this project off your list.

Clear grout of gunk
No matter how much cleaning Gaines does at his house, he says there's one thing that's hard to keep looking clean: grout. The dirt and grime that turns your grout nasty colors can be scrubbed out, but it takes a little extra TLC. Gaines says he actually enjoys this project and finds it kind of fun because his boys like to join in and help, making it a family affair.

To clean grout at your home, he recommends wiping the surface with a wet cloth and mixing up a paste of two-parts baking soda and one-part water. Scrub it onto the grout surface using an old toothbrush or stiff-bristled brush, then rinse the area with water. If your grout lines are stained from mildew or kitchen spills, try spraying a mixture of equal parts vinegar and warm water onto the tile. It'll foam for a bit, but once it's done, scrub it well. After a final rinse, the stains should be gone.

Seal out the elements
If you live in a place where heavy rain or snow are always trying to find a way into your house, know that weather can lead to serious issues in your basement or foundation. To prevent water damage and leakage stains, inspect masonry on the interior and exterior of your home. Fill any defects you find with fast-setting hydraulic cement and clean up the surface.

Once the surface is clean and dry, apply two coats of KILZ Basement & Masonry Waterproofer. This interior and exterior product is formulated for waterproofing basement walls, masonry walls, retaining walls, and cinder and concrete blocks. Once the second coat is dry, you're all set for the winter.

Start your project today or Find the Right Team
When it comes to home projects, wintertime doesn't have to mean downtime. Start your project season with any of the ideas listed above and when warmer months roll along, you'll be ready to step out and make your home's exterior as beautiful as your interior. If you aren't as handyman inclined as you'd like to be, we can certainly help you not only get up a new shed (check out the gallery for inspiration), but we can connect you with local painters and plasterers who can get your house in tip top shape this winter. ​

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