So you’ve just finished your spring cleaning and now you’re looking to start a new project around the house. Whether you’re searching for a small DIY project to do with the kids or looking into contracting an addition to your home, summer is the perfect season to check off those projects that have been sitting on your to-do list. To give you some inspiration here are some great home improvements and renovations that make for a productive summer!

Insulate Your Home

If this past winter seemed more frigid than usual, it may be time to insulate/reinsulate your home. This project is perfect for the summer as it may require the deconstruction of some walls inside your home. You’ll be able to reap the benefits from this improvement as the insulation can help lower utility costs during cold winters and hot summers. There are several steps in determining which parts of the house require insulation, and these assessments may be done on your own or by a professional. Having an experienced home energy auditor inspect your home will give you an accurate estimate of how much insulation your home may need. The length and cost of this project all depends on the structure and requirements of your home, but the Department of Energy provides detailed lists and suggestions that can help you follow through with your new project.

Time for Some Color

Image via Do It Yourself

Looking for a less invasive project? Painting the exterior of your home is the perfect DIY summer project. Keep in mind, painting the exterior of your house is slightly different than painting the interior. Maggie O’Neill at HomeAdvisor gives us some tips and tricks to use while painting in the summer. Some factors to consider during this project are the weather, time of day, and the preparation of your surface. Before starting your outdoor project make sure you obtain the proper exterior paint that will last. Solvent-based and latex based paints are best for long-lasting color on the exterior of your home. Although painting is a less invasive project, it should be just as time consuming as any other home improvement. Precision and patience are necessary in developing the desired results.

Build a Deck

Image via Newline Design Center

Have you ever wondered what your back yard would look like with a patio deck? Building an outdoor deck is the perfect home improvement project during the summer! Although it may not be significantly time consuming, this tedious addition requires a blueprint and planning that requires construction permits and extra help. The professionals at Newline Design Center guide you through the process before, during, and after constructing your new dream deck. Before you know it the construction of your new deck will be finished and you’ll be ready to host summer barbeques with your family.

Convert Your Basement into an Entertainment Center

Now that you’ve finished spring cleaning, you can now use that extra space in the basement to your advantage and create a cozy and entertaining family room for all to enjoy. This project has plenty of creative freedom, and the end result will be utilized year round. Converting your basement is a great opportunity to bring the family together for creative input, and for perfect family time to be enjoyed once you’ve reached your final product.

Lay New Tile in your Home

Image via DIY Network

If you’re tired of the flooring in your home, laying down new tile is a simple project to make your home just the way you like it. This project leaves plenty of room for creative freedom and allows you to select from various types of tiling. From clay and ceramic tiles, to stone and marble tiles, you’ll have a great number of options to choose from. Knowing what type of substrate you’re working with is helpful in the installation process. Once you’ve selected your tile and have prepared the substrate, drawing out the pattern for your tile is important to determine the accuracy of your job. Knowing the dimensions of your room and doing a dry run (laying out the tiles before actually starting) will help you determine if some pieces of tile need to be adjusted to the specifications of the room. Laying down tile during the summer is easy, and depending on the size of your room it may be the least time consuming project for you this summer!

So whether you’re looking to step up on a ladder and start painting or just making more of your space in the basement, summer is the best season to get these projects done.