A 12-Month Home Improvement Checklist

At Allen Keith Construction Co., we encourage you to do home improvements year-round by following an improvement checklist. That’s why we’ve put together this list of projects for inspiration. Many are seasonal, but others can be swapped to fit your timeline or budget. With today’s economy, planning ahead and keeping your home current and in good repair makes sense.

January: start the new year right by reducing your clutter

While the cold winds of winter whistle around you, begin cleaning out your clutter and storing away your extra items. This may require adding storage to help you organize.

• Install organizers in your closets to maximize space
• Add additional storage with an extra linen cupboard, china cabinet, or pantry
• Add shelving and cupboards in the basement to store your Christmas decorations.
• Add cupboards to the laundry room and extra shelves to coat closets

February: update your bathroom

Take advantage of this short but dark month to add warmth to your home with a bathroom makeover. If the layout works, change the small things. If not, change the layout and take the room to a new level. Here are some suggestions:

• Install new stylish faucets and fixtures on the sink, tub, and shower
• Upgrade lighting fixtures
• Transform your shower into a warm spa with a shower massage, a rain bar or a whole-body shower
• Replace the cabinet with one that has more storage, if needed, or just replace the hardware for a new look
• Repaint the walls in a new color with mold and mildew-proof primers and paints
• Replace caulking and worn tiles

March: organize the basement

Whether you need to clean or finish the basement with basement flooring, take advantage of the wet weather to improve the basement living space.

• Protect your basement from wet weather by adding a dehumidifier and caulk the cracks
• Get the extra space you need by adding a family room, bar or more storage space to your basement
• Clean and declutter the basement
• Organize and label items stored here
• Improve the lighting

April: time for an addition

The weather has broken, and new things are springing up everywhere. It’s time to add that extra room you’ve been wanting:

• Extend your fun in the sun with more outdoor living and entertaining space by adding a porch or patio
• Add an enclosed sunroom so you can extend your summer
• Add an extra family room, bedroom, or in-law suite

May: prep your deck for entertaining

Memorial Day is coming, and with it comes the beginning of picnics and grilling. Prepare to spend lots of time outside. If you need a deck, build it now. If you have a deck, get it ready to go.

• Clean and repair your deck
• Stain the deck
• Add a pergola to create shade and a separate zone for lounging
• Add large container gardens filled with vegetables or colorful flowers
• Add hanging lights to extend the hours you can entertain

June: repair your siding

If you have aluminum or vinyl siding:

• Inspect your siding for cracks and breaks
• Determine if you need to replace or repair it and reach out to a contractor.

July: repair your roof

Take advantage of dry summer weather to inspect, repair or replace your roof.

• Replace any damaged shingles
• Check the flashing
• Look for chimney damage
• Replace any spouting that is worn

August: paint your home exterior and trim

Take advantage of August’s warm, dry days to paint the outside of your house or have someone do it for you. If you have a brick or sided home, paint the trim or replace the trim with vinyl that never needs to be painted. Here are some tips:

• Power wash the exterior of your home
• Scrape any peeling paint or dirt

September: get your home ready for winter

Winterize your home, starting with these high-visibility items:

• Inspect your furnace.  Replace filters.  Clean registers
• Replace leaky windows and doors with energy-efficient ones
• Add insulation to your attic and house walls
• Clean gutters and downspouts
• Wrap your water heater with an insulation blanket
• Wrap any unheated water pipes and drain outdoor spigots
• Clean out the garage

October: brighten your kitchen

Splash your kitchen with color and get the focal point you’ve always wanted just before Thanksgiving.

• Install a tile backsplash.
• Replace worn and scratched countertops
• Add new light fixtures, including under-counter LED lights
• Add a laminate floor
• Enlarge your island or add a new one for extra space for holiday entertaining
• Add more cupboards, including ones with lead glass to display glassware

November: paint and decorate for the holidays

Give the inside of your home a fresh, newly decorated look ready for holiday entertaining.

• Remove outdated wallpaper
• Update your paint colors
• Paint all the trim in the house one color for a unified look
• Add crown molding in the living room for elegance
• Replace builder-installed baseboards with the taller custom-looking base trim
• Install chair rail or wainscoting in the dining room, living room or foyer

December: check your flooring

Prepare for the rush of visitors at the end of the month by inspecting your flooring.

• Replace worn carpet with new laminate flooring
• Retreat your foyer with tile or stone
• Clean your carpets