While you might feel like it’s the middle winter and you aren’t even thinking about your landscaping, February is actually a great time to plan and implement ideas to boost your home’s curb appeal before spring starts. Here’s four ways to boost your home’s curb appeal this winter.
1. Paint the Front Door and Shutters
Painting your front door is a great way to give your home instant curb appeal. However, beware of painting siding and trim in February, as temperatures that are too low or too high can prevent paint from binding properly, causing it to crack or peel. An ideal temperature to paint your exterior will depend on the type and brand of paint you use, as certain paints can be used in temperatures as low as 35° F. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to paint between 50°-80° F.
While you should avoid painting outside in February, you can certainly paint your front door and shutters inside your home or garage. You may even be able to paint your front door inside your home without removing it from the hinges, but if you need to remove it, be sure to have a storm door or temporary replacement to prevent too much cold air from entering into your home.
2. Update House Numbers, Exterior Lighting Fixtures, Mailbox, etc.
Today you will find countless design options for updating exterior home fixtures. Take a cold winter day and do some online browsing to explore different ideas for your house numbers, exterior lighting fixtures, and mailbox. Check out sites like Houzz and Pinterest for ideas on using different textures, LED lighting, and other DIY projects to make your home address stand out. If your exterior lighting and mailbox are as old as your house, chances are, it’s time to update these fixtures as well. To save costs, perhaps all your lighting fixtures and mailbox need are some TLC and a fresh coat of paint.
3. Prepare Your Landscaping
February is a great time to do some pre-spring cleaning for your yard. Prune trees and plant bare-root plants such as roses, clean out flower beds, remove broken and unwanted branches, and spray your lawn to prevent unwanted pests and weeds. In addition, start planning out your garden area, deck, patio, walkways, and pool/spa.
4. Contact a Landscape Contractor
Contrary to popular belief, winter is an ideal time to contact a contractor about your next project for your home, whether it be a lawn makeover or even an interior renovation. Careful planning and consideration needs to be done before taking any significant project inside or outside your home. Acquiring the necessary permits for larger-scale projects or creating and approving project drawings will take time before you can begin your project. Most homeowners will wait until the spring or summer months to contact a professional, when contractors are in their busiest season. For the best, most individualized service, plan ahead and make the call sooner rather than later.
Turnberry Custom Homes located in Reading, PA specializes in new construction, renovations/ additions, commercial fit-outs, and project management. We serve Berks, Montgomery, Chester, and surrounding counties.