6 Home Improvement Projects to do Before the 4th of July

The summer's a great time for relaxation. It's full of fun, parties, and holidays - the biggest of which is the 4th of July. As you start gearing up for one of the greatest days of the season, it's a good idea for you to start thinking about the projects that need to be done outside.

As your outside space grows in importance, so will the importance of maintaining that space. Below are a few ideas of outdoor maintenance projects you should absolutely get done before Independence Day.

Clean Your Faucets

It's funny how easy it is to forget your faucets. They're always there, they usually work, and they don't cause problems - until everything goes wrong. Imagine going outside to a flooded yard and receiving a drastically increased water bill, or trying to fill up a pool for your kids only to find out that your faucet is rusted shut.

These are both very real issues that you might encounter if you're not willing to put in some basic maintenance work. Remember, these faucets are exposed to the elements all the time - and if you don't check them, they'll continue to sustain damage. Take some time to go out and check your faucets for leaks and do a bit of light cleaning so you can enjoy water outside this summer.

Lay Down Sod

If your lawn needs a little bit of help in the greenery department, you'll want to lay sod down today. Laying down sod is always one of those projects that's a little less appealing in theory than it is in practice, but it's definitely less fun if you force yourself to do all the work alone.

Getting sod down while there's plenty of sun is a great idea, and having a full yard before your 4th of July is even better. This is one chore you don't want to put off until later, especially if you are planning on having guests over or planning any outdoor activities as your Independence Day celebrations.

Clean the Deck

If you've got a deck, you have the perfect place for a 4th of July party. Your goal should be to get this area cleaned before you have to start getting ready for a party. Not only does this give you more time to take care of the little things, but it also allows you to stay out of the heat during one of the hottest parts of the year.

Take the time to clean and seal your deck early in the summer so you can enjoy it in July. It's also a good idea to start checking for rot damage and other minor issues now so it isn't compounded during the rainy season. The more prep work you put in now, the less you'll have to spend on cleaning and repairs in the future.

Check Your HVAC System

While it's a given that only a professional should work on your HVAC system, that doesn't mean that you can rest assured while you wait for it to break down. As the summer heats up, it's important that you start paying attention to how well your cooling system works.

Make sure that you replace your filter if it is time, and make sure you call about basic maintenance before you have a problem. While you might make it through the summer without an issue, this really isn't something you want to risk. The longer you wait, the larger the odds you'll be among the many who have to go far too long without a cool home. Don't risk it - get to maintaining early to beat the heat!

Check the Fence

Your fence should be a stalwart bastion of safety. At the very least, it should keep unwanted guests out of your yard. If you are like most people, though, you probably haven't spent a lot of time looking at your fence - and you won't until something goes wrong. If you want to stay ahead of the game, take some time to walk along the fence and find problems before the 4th of July rolls around.

A quick check for damage might let you fix a few minor problems before they become expensive headaches. The good news is that even the least handy people out there can take care of minor fence patching jobs, so get out there and look for problems today.

Get the Summer Plants In

To be perfectly fair, this one should already be done. If you don't have your summer plants down, though, you're going to run out of time by the time the 4th gets here.

This isn't so much an issue of timing as it is one of heat - the hotter it gets, the less time you will want to spend outside. Get your planting done before the 4th so you can have a bit of colorful flora in your yard before your celebrations.

Always make sure to stay on top of outdoor maintenance. You'll be amazed by what you can accomplish on your own if you set out to solve problems before they become unmanageable. You've still got plenty of time to make sure your outdoor spaces look great before the 4th - so make sure you put in the effort today.

While you can handle the outdoors in Colonial Heights, VA on your own, let us handle your HVAC system - call Colonial Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. today at (804) 526- 8415 so we can make sure you are able to stay comfortable as the season starts to heat up.