Taking care of a home is like taking care of your health—what you do now will make a big difference in five, 10, or even 20 years. Just as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular checkups can help you feel energized and stay active, taking preventative measures to care for your home can help keep it safe and prevent larger, costlier repairs down the road.
Whether you’re a new homeowner or found your forever home years ago, check up on your house’s health with these three tips.
Bulk Up Those Load-Bearing Structures
One of the best ways to stay active, healthy, and strong is to exercise regularly. Weightlifting, running, or even simply walking can boost bone density and muscular strength—two things that tend to decline as we age. While you can’t exactly remind your home to do a few sets of push-ups every morning, you can make sure your home stays structurally strong and sound.
Regularly inspecting load-bearing beams, walls, and posts can keep your home sturdy and safe. Whether you need to replace your porch posts or reinforce a load-bearing wall, you’ll thank yourself later for keeping an eye on those key structures. If you see any potential problem areas, don’t be afraid to call in a professional to take a look.
Take a Temperature
A stable, regular body temperature is usually a sign that you’re healthy, whereas a fever lets you know you’re fighting off an infection or illness. The temperature of your home can also be a telltale sign to keep an eye on. If your thermostat climbs in the summer and plummets in the winter—no matter how high you crank your A/C or furnace—your home may need a little extra insulation.
While comfort is important, extreme temperatures can impact the plumbing, flooring, or appliances in your home. Luckily, weatherstripping your doors and windows or adding batt insulation to attics and crawl spaces can help regulate your home’s temperature. Both your home and power bill will thank you for keeping cool, comfortable air in and drafts out.
Put Check-Ups on Your Calendar
From teeth to toes and shingles to stairs, certain areas of our bodies and homes undergo a lot of wear and tear—and usually need a little extra care. Just like regular dentist visits and wearing supportive shoes are great ways to keep your body in tip-top shape, it’s important to look out for the parts of your home that require regular maintenance or undergo frequent stress.
Knowing what areas of your home require regular maintenance can help you avoid costly repairs down the line. Flushing out your water heater annually, cleaning your vents, changing your air filter regularly, and replacing your stair treads as needed are all great ways to keep your home in good shape. Just like you’d add a bi-annual dentist appointment to your calendar, remember to note when it’s time to check off those annual or bi-annual maintenance tasks.
Health and housekeeping are marathons—not sprints. When taking care of yourself and your home, it’s the little things that make a long-term difference. With these three things in mind, you can keep your home in great shape.
About Menards®
From experienced contractors to the newest DIYers, find what you need for your next home improvement project at Menards®. Menards® can help with everything from minor home repairs to major room remodels—and more. Find tools, hardware, materials, and everything else you need to take the job from beginning to end. Not sure where to start your next home project? Not a problem! You can find inspiration and guidance in the Menards® Project Center. Learn how to install new porch posts or learn the ins and outs of batt insulation. You can even see photos taken by folks who have worked on their own home projects! Menards® is also home to a number of great deals, including their 11% mail-in rebate offer on many popular products. Get things done and Save Big Money at Menards®!
Give your house a checkup with supplies from https://www.menards.com/
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