Fall Home Improvements That Are Worth Doing

Autumn is a fabulous time for home improvements and maintenance. It’s not too hot, not too cold, kids are already in school, and you are hopefully well-rested and full of energy to tackle home improvements that matter the most. Homebuyers purchasing in the fall will appreciate home improvements such as these.

Here are the top 5 home improvements and remodeling upgrades to tackle this Fall:

Insulate and Protect Exposed Water Pipes

Did you know? Ensuring that any exposed water pipes in your crawl space and attic are insulated adequately from frigid weather is a critical step to take, even if you live in a relatively mild climatic zone where freezing temperatures are uncommon. According to State Farm, frozen water pipes are a problem in cold and warm areas, affecting more than quarter-million homes annually!

Home Improvements to do in the FallAir Sealing

Did you know? Even a tiny air leak or crack can let in enough cold air to cause exposed pipes to freeze with severe cold weather. Air leaks can negatively affect your home’s overall comfort level while also increasing your heating and cooling costs. Air leaks can also contribute to moisture issues, leading to mold and rotting damage in your home.

Use caulk and weatherstripping to seal any air leaks in the most sensitive areas in your home. Common areas to check for potential air leaks are basement walls, cracks in walls, doors, windows, attic floor, ceilings, air ducts, wiring holes, attic hatches, basement framing, etc.

Whether you go the DIY route or hire a pro, air sealing will not only save you money and prevent unnecessary energy losses, but it will also help improve the air quality and durability of your home.

Install a New Entry Door

Your home’s front door is what you and your guests see right before entering your prized castle. Does your front door make the right first impression? If not, installing a new entry door can help improve your home’s overall curb appeal while also enhancing your home’s energy efficiency and level of comfort.

Did you know? Replacing an old entry door with a certified exterior door can reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 10%.

A steel door offers tremendous value for the money. According to Remodeling Magazine, you can expect an ROI of over 90%!

A fiberglass door is another excellent, stylish exterior door option for homes. Fiberglass doors can replicate the beauty of natural wood with none of the hassles.

Cost-wise, fiberglass doors cost roughly twice as much as their steel counterparts. Expect to pay in the range of $2,500 to $3,500 for a new fiberglass door installed by pros.

First appearances are one of the most essential factors in getting a house sold.

New Siding

If you are getting tired of the peeling paint on the exterior walls of your home and can’t fathom having to do yet another repainting job, then installing new siding may be the way to go. Make your home be the envy of the neighborhood instead of the fixer-upper that draws negative attention.

A well-done siding job can dramatically improve your home’s curb appeal while also boosting your home’s durability, comfort, and air quality.

Did you know? Installing new siding will not only help improve the aesthetics of your home, but new siding will also create potent moisture and water barrier all-around your house.

Keeping the moisture out will help prevent the wood’s rotting and eliminate the potential for damage to your home’s walls and insulation. All siding installations should involve installing a new house wrap and replacing caulk around windows and doors. — These improvements will create a moisture barrier around your home and help reduce air leaks responsible for costly energy losses.

While there is some debate on the best siding option for homes today, we can safely say that depending on your home’s location and the style of neighboring properties; you can’t go wrong with an insulated (foam-back) vinyl siding or fiber cement.

All of these siding types essentially mimic bevel wood siding. When installed professionally, any of these three options will give your home a nice facelift and help improve its durability and comfort level.

Cost-wise, a typical professional siding job will range in price from $10,000 to $20,000 for foam-back vinyl siding and from $15,000 to $25,000 for fiber cement, depending on your home’s size and location.

You can expect an ROI or cost-to-value return of 70% to 80% depending on the siding option you chose to install and the overall cost of the job, with a bonus of a “joy factor” of up to 100% for the homeowner.

Install a New Roof

Let’s face it, winter can be the worst time to have to replace a roof, but many roofs do fail during winter. Heavy snowfall, precipitous rain, and unforgiving freeze and thaw cycles can cause an old roof that is already at the end of its service life to fail. That’s why autumn is a perfect time to replace that aging roof before it gets too cold, snowy, or rainy to do any roofing work.

Asphalt shingle is the most popular roofing option for homes with pitched roofs. If you plan to replace a roof with asphalt shingles this Fall, it’s best to go with architectural or dimensional shingles rated for the wind speed of up to 130mph.

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, then you should stay away from 3-tab shingles, as it will only withstand wind-speeds of up to 60 mph – 70 mph.

While asphalt shingles are still the predominant roofing option for homes in the US, many homeowners increasingly choose metal roofing as a greener, more durable, and longer-lasting alternative to asphalt.

Did you know? High-end metal roofs, such as standing seam, are designed to shed heavy accumulations of snow off the roof, thereby preventing ice dams from forming during heavy snowstorms that are so common in the Midwest and Northeast. In hotter climates, metal roofs can significantly reduce a home’s heat gain by reflecting solar radiant heat, thereby reducing a home’s air-conditioning costs.

Cost-wise, a typical asphalt shingle roof will cost in the range of $7,000 to $14,000, depending on your roof’s size, complexity, and your home’s location. ROI for an asphalt roof will be around 65% to 70%, but since you need a new roof to protect your home from the elements, the main ROI will be your peace of mind, knowing that your home is protected.

A metal roof for an average home will cost anywhere from $7,000 to $28,000, depending on the roof size, complexity, choice of metal roofing material, and your home’s location.

With metal roofing, there will be a broader variation in price than with asphalt. For instance, a ribbed metal roof with exposed fasteners installed on a home in Oklahoma will cost significantly less than a high-end standing seam metal roof installed on a home in a more expensive real estate market.

Final Thoughts on Home Improvements For The Fall

As you snuggle up in front of your fireplace this winter, warm and cozy, you’ll be glad you spent some extra time preparing your home this Fall. A little work this Fall repairing, and with these maintenance tips, your home will result in an abundance of peace of mind later.

 Arturo PeredoAbout the author: The above article on fall home improvements was written by Arturo Peredo. Arturo is a Content Marketing and SEO specialist at Porch.com. He enjoys cooking, music, and learning about other cultures and languages.