Summer is the perfect season for completing home improvement projects. With a bit of work, you can spruce up your living space while making it cooler and more energy efficient. From minor upgrades to major overhauls, these nine projects are sure to enhance your home’s functionality, comfort, and overall appeal in summer and beyond.
Table of Contents
Project 1: Repaint Your Home
Whether you are buying one of the historic homes for sale in Charleston, SC, or upgrading your current home, painting it with a color that reflects the light can help it look better and stay cooler. To determine how much light a particular paint reflects, look for the light reflective color value (LRV) of the paint colors you like. This should be written on the labels as a percentage. The more light the paint reflects, the cooler your home will stay.
Project 2: Add Cool Lighting Strategies
Summer is a great time to switch from fluorescent and incandescent lighting to LED. Fluorescent and incandescent lighting release heat, making your home warmer; in contrast, LED bulbs have heat sinks, preventing the heat they generate from spreading. While redoing your lighting, ensure that you use all three of these types:
- Task lighting provides bright light for doing close-up tasks.
- Ambient lighting provides enough light to move around a space at night easily.
- Accent lighting helps create a focal point.
For example, after buying one of the Folly Beach homes for sale, consider hanging a seascape photo and placing a wall sconce above it.
Project 3: Install Insulated Windows
Summer is the perfect time to have insulated windows installed in your home.
Shield the sun’s rays by considering these tips:
- Several layers of glass with specially designed spacers
- High R-value and a low U-value windows
- Wooden-framed windows will help keep your home cooler than other options like PVC
- Awnings over the windows
Project 4: Have a Cool Roof Installed
A cool roof will absorb less solar energy than a traditional roof, keeping your home cooler. Also, consider going with a light-colored roof. For example, a white roof can reflect up to 90% of the sun’s heat. If you live in an environment with a lot of humidity, consider options with special chemicals that prevent mold or algae growth added to them. Shingles, modified bitumen sheet membranes, spray polyurethane foam, and tile options are available, and the roof’s pitch will determine which options are best for you.
Project 5: Get a Whole-House Fan
Whole-house fans should exchange the air in your home at a rate of 15 to 23 air changes per hour, which will help it stay cooler and may allow you to run the air conditioner less. Select a fan offering 1 square foot of net free area for every 750 cubic feet per minute of fan capacity. These fans usually have larger footprints than attic fans, so you might want to consider redoing your attic to expand your living space.
Project 6: Remodel the Kitchen
Since summer is the perfect time to dine outdoors, it is also a great time for a kitchen remodel. Consider how you can keep air moving when you’re designing your kitchen remodel. Adding a ceiling fan can make a room feel much cooler. Additionally, check Energy Star ratings to choose the most efficient appliances. When selecting a range hood, look for options that cover the entire range and are ducted directly to the outside. If the sun can shine directly into the room, install an awning or use window treatments to block solar rays.
Project 7: Replace Your Home’s Air Ducts
Your home will stay more comfortable when your air ducts are appropriately designed and put into your home. If you already have air ducts, ask a professional to check them for leaks and ensure they are properly insulated. Either issue can make it more challenging to keep your home comfortable. And if you have hot or cold spots in your home, you may need to change the house’s ductwork.
Project 8: Install New Flooring
The type of flooring you choose can affect how cool your home will stay because some options absorb heat, making it challenging to keep the space cool. Tile is a fantastic choice. Consider using a water-resistant option in the bath and kitchen. Installing wood tile throughout can help unify the space if your home has an open floor plan. Using slate tiles makes it easy to give your home a luxurious touch, and they are naturally cool to the touch. If you live in an area without high humidity, hardwood floors are a great option because they stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Project 9: Install a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Having a programmable or smart thermostat in your home is a terrific option that will allow you to save money almost immediately. Make sure to choose one that is compatible with your HVAC system. Set the unit to automatically control your home’s temperature. That way, your home will stay warm while you are at work and cooler during the evening without any additional effort on your part.
Boost Your Comfort Level and Save Money, Too
Completing these home improvement projects this summer will make your home more comfortable. You may also discover that you save money on your energy bills. Select the projects most applicable to your situation, and schedule any installations before summer ends.
