How to tackle home improvement projects one month at a time

Save money this year by following this calendar of simple steps to improving your home with this monthly to do list. That leak or those gutters are not going to fix themselves. Little problems become bigger problems. If you do not repair a small leak or hire someone else to do it it becomes a larger problem not only outside your home, but a bigger problem inside your home with repairs to walls, floors, and ceilings.

Follow these annual property maintenance steps and save yourself a bigger problem down the road.

January-  Add all weather stripping and caulking if you feel a draft. Install carbon monoxide detectors. When windows are closed carbon monoxide can build up in tightly sealed homes.

February- Check your bathtubs for repairs. Regrout all bathtubs and showers to prevent leaks. 

March- Check for animal infestation in your attic and reseal these holes that squirrels or birds my have gotten through.  
Replace batteries in your clocks when switching time to daylight saving time. Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

April- Its time to start moving outside. Reseed bare patches in your lawn. If you are planning outdoor renovations, do it now or in the fall. Concrete will not set properly when the weather is too hot or too cold. Workers seem to work better in the spring and fall before it gets too hot or too cold. April is a good time to transplant trees. Its best to transplant trees before they get their leaves.

May-  Plant perennials and annuals after the last frost. Mulch the flower beds with pine straw, bark or leaves to discourage weed growth.

June-  June is a good time to paint. You can leave the windows and doors open for ventilation. Build up the soil around your house. This will help the rain flow away from your home.

July- Check your exterior siding and shutters for damage. Make sure your plants are receiving enough water.

August- Check your deck and fences for needed repairs. Trim shrubs, and take a vacation.

September- Check your furnace. Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors. Coat your driveway with sealant. Coating will protect from salt damage in parts of the country that receive snow. Southern areas such as South Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida can skip this chore. September is also a good time to start a new lawn.

October- Plant spring flowering bulbs. Many think that the spring is the best time to plant trees and shrubs because that's when all of the home improvement stores rush to show the new plants, however, October is the best time because plants do not require as much water and cooler temperers give the plants time to take root before a long hot summer. Spray azaleas and other shrubs with a protective coating to protect against cold. Prune trees, branches, and additional limbs that might fall when heavy winter ice builds up.

November- Clean gutters. Wrap basement pipes to save heat. Close valves to your water hoses that are not in use. Fertilize you lawn with a winterizing product.

December- Let's move inside. Clean out closets and donate clothing and other items in good condition to get year end tax deduction. Replace or clean furnace air filters.