Painting, removing damp or draught proofing aren’t usually the first things you associate with summer. But the warmer, drier months are a fantastic time to carry out some DIY such as home improvements, whether small tweaks or larger projects.
Install tap aerators
If you want to kick off your summer DIY with something that’s not too daunting, fitting tap aerators is a great idea. They only cost about £5 and are fitted inside existing taps. They’re full of holes that mix air into your water supply reducing the amount of water that comes out while still leaving you with plenty to wash and clean with. It can save you around £20 a year on your bills.
Block out draughts and keep in heat
Don’t wait until winter arrives to start combatting heat loss. Get it done while the heating is off and warm air floods naturally into your home.
A simple job is adding draught excluders to letterboxes, doors and windows. Getting a professional in can cost well over £200, but it’s easy to do yourself, with self-adhesive foam strips, metal or plastic excluders with wipers or brushes attached.
Placing reflective panels behind radiators is also a good idea as this stops too much heat being absorbed into the walls, rather than warming your room. These panels only cost around £30 to install.
Declutter
No one wants to be clearing out the garage or attic and making trips to the tip when it’s cold or wet outside. But if the weather’s nice, you can use outside space to help sort through the years of accumulated clutter. Arrange them into piles for throwing away, giving to charity, recycling or even, if you’re feeling creative, upcycling. The drive to the tip or charity shop can also be more enjoyable when it’s warm and sunny.
Take the opportunity to sort out all the frustrating living room or bedroom clutter while the weather is good otherwise you’ll have to spend months on end indoors, staring at it all.
A lick of paint
If you can paint with windows or doors wide open you’ll avoid inhaling unpleasant, overpowering fumes, particularly if you’re using a gloss finish. It’s help speed up paint drying too.
Sanding furniture or floors can create a lot of dust, so these tasks are also better done with windows open. A gentle breeze flowing through the room will disperse much of the dust, before it can irritate your lungs or eyes – though it’s important to always wear a protective mask and eye covering, whatever the weather.
Tackle damp and mould
These common problems can start to develop during summer. By the time the weather gets wetter and darker, they can be much more widespread and perhaps have got out of hand. Sort them out with specialist products early to avoid more work and serious issues later.
Review your mobility
When the days are long and sunny, it’s a perfect time to appraise your mobility.
Is it taking a lot of effort to negotiate your way around the house while you’re working on the DIY projects? Is carrying bags of nails, power tools, draught excluders and paint pots a struggle? Do you look at your stairs with trepidation or even fear? It might be time to consider some additional help, whether you’re DIYing or not.
AStiltz Homelift allows you to move effortlessly and quietly between floors in no more than 30 seconds. Homelifts can assist with transporting not just you and other members of the household, but a range of items from that awkward DIY equipment to the far more pleasant suitcases when going on holiday.
The best thing about a Stiltz is its size. The smallest model takes up just 0.55sqm, which is the size of a bedroom armchair. A larger model which takes a walking frame or wheelchair is available with additional length to accommodate equipment.
All Stiltz Homelifts are affordable and come finished in a soft, warm grey colourway which compliments the clear sides of the lift car and the soft blue ambient internal lighting. They look perfect in both traditional and contemporary homes. So, if you’re carrying out updates to your property in either a big or small way, it’s the perfect time to think about installing a homelift.
For more information on the full range of Stiltz Homelifts, visit stiltz.co.uk/
