Cold weather may force some people indoors for the next several months, but that time doesn’t have to go to waste, especially for homeowners whose houses could use a lift.
Basic winter maintenance should take precedence over any aesthetic projects homeowners may tackle. Attending to heating and insulation and protecting roofs and other infrastructure from heavy snowfall early in the season could save stress and thousands of dollars in repairs.
Snow slides can also have disastrous results if they sever a gas line.
Homeowners also should replace carbon monoxide detectors, trim tree branches that could break and cause damage if covered in snow, check heat tapes around pipes to make sure they’re still working and stock up on snow blowers, shovels and snow rakes.
But apart from doing the standard winter chores, home furnishing supply stores and floor installation businesses are seeing an influx of homeowners taking advantage of the season by taking on interior home projects by themselves that will brighten their homes for the holidays or for selling – and save them money in the process.
“A lot of people right now say it must be the slow season because it’s winter, but it’s not for that very reason,” Handcrafted House owner Sheryl Lock said. “People are getting ready for the holidays and want to get something done quickly.”
Wood finishing is a common winter project, just because that is where builders typically are at in the process if they started construction in spring.
Based on what customers are doing, Lock said winter is a good time for quick painting projects. She sees many people who decide to paint the guest room before holiday company arrives or parents painting or decorating their children’s bedrooms as a gift. As with any do-it-yourself project, foregoing a hired painter can save hundreds of dollars.
Chalkboard painting is a trending project that’s quick, easy and inexpensive. The paint, which can convert walls to writeable surfaces, is often used with stencils to create crafty to-do lists and calendars.
Finishing walls with American Clay plaster is also popular, Lock said, because of the smooth finish, textured look, mold resistance and lifespan - the color doesn’t fade and requires no repainting, and it has a low carbon footprint.
Someone who resurfaces on his own might pay $1 to $1.60 per square foot, compared to a professional charging $4 to $4.50 per square foot for plastering.
Because plastering can be a tough technique to learn, DIY plasterers might start with just one accent wall. Handcrafted House offers a workshop to learn the process and how to do other home projects.
Christine Sterling is a manager at The Gallery in Durango, which sells carpet, tile and hardwood flooring. She said the business specializes in DIY customers, and kitchen backsplashes are the No. 1 home project during the winter.
“It’s because for $250, you can have a new look and bring a 1980s kitchen into the 21st century without spending a million to redo the whole room,” Sterling said. “It can also spruce things up for the holidays.” She estimated an approximate $500 in savings on installation for a DIY backsplash, which would be a two-day effort for a hired installer.
The money saved on labor can also go toward better-quality materials.
Re-tiling bathroom floors and redoing basements are other ubiquitous winter projects, she said.
And when in doubt, watch YouTube. “If someone comes in asking how to install a shower pan, I say watch YouTube for a couple hours. You’ll feel better,” Sterling said. “And they do accomplish it.”
Winter projects should be limited to smaller, interior tasks, particularly painting, whether it’s rooms, cabinets and doors or refinishing furniture. Bigger projects like redoing floors is better suited for the summer season – or perhaps best left to the professionals.
More than once over the past month, Commercial Floor Services has had to finish the job for an over-confident homeowner attempting a floor installation, owner Ray Godfrey said. He said homeowners may not be as successful redoing or installing unfinished wood floors, which tend to require trade secret knowledge. Finished wood or tile floor installation are easier DIY projects.
“Pre-finished wood floors are something the average handyman can do with the right tools and following the instructions from the manufacturer,” Godfrey said. “Some of the luxury vinyl tile can be done easily, if they follow specific guidelines.”
In addition, homeowners stand to save a minimum of one-third to one-half the cost if they’re willing to put in the manual labor to redo their floors on their own.
jpace@durangoherald.com
Getting DIY tips
If you’re not a visionary, the following sites offer basic, step-by-step instructions for a variety of winter home projects that range from ornamental to utilitarian:
www.Howtobuildit.org
www.Instructables.com
www.DIYnetwork.com
www.Greenupgrader.com
