Home Improvement

No Mow May is a thing. Not mowing your lawn during May will allow the weeds to flower and provide more food for pollinators.  Eventually, the lawn has to be mowed, and the pollinator food will be cut down. Is it really better to let the grass and weeds grow?

I like to let the lawn grow to about three inches and then mow it down. It is easier to mow when it is shorter, and it looks better too. I tried not mowing in May. I found that it is the only month when the lawn grows and needs mowing.

I really if we wanted to provide habitat for pollinators, we would get rid of the grass and plant wild flowers and native grasses.

I’ll be mowing the lawn in the next couple of days. In fact, I would like to get it done before the weekend so that we can enjoy the yard and picnic table.

If your home is on the market, keep the lawn mowed.

Americans spent an estimated $603 billion on home remodeling projects in 2024, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

The top remodeling projects that realtors recommended to sellers before listing their homes included painting the entire home (50%), painting a single interior room (41%) and installing new roofing (37%). NAR found the primary reasons given by homeowners for renovations were the upgrading of worn-out surfaces, finishes, and materials (27%), improving energy efficiency (19%), desiring a change (18%), and preparing to sell within the next two years (18%).

I painted my office a few years ago. This year I have my eye on the dining room and an upstairs bedroom. There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to put a smile on my face.  I

n 2024, my home improvement projects included some new lighting in the basement, two new windows for the basement, a new water heater, and a new toilet. A neighbor rebuilt the stairs to our back porch.  I  replaced a couple of shower heads and put a new faucet in one of the bathrooms.

There is no place like home.

If you live in the same house long enough you will know the joys of having a new roof put on, and painting or re-siding the exterior. You will get to buy a water heater, install it, and replace the furnace and central AC. Toilets don’t last forever and neither do faucets.

Washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves, and refrigerators all need to be replaced at some point. The countertops wear out and when we replace them we also need a new sink and faucet.  Windows last longer than most house parts and can be repaired, but sometimes they wear out or more commonly rot and you need new ones.

Flooring doesn’t last forever. Hardwood floors will eventually need refinishing, carpeting needs to be replaced and sometimes we tile a floor for the heck of it.

Fences don’t last forever neither do exterior stairs be they wood or concrete.

Pipes have been known to freeze and sometimes we forget to turn off the outdoor water spigots before winter and they have to be replaced in the spring.

I am sure I missed a few things, (like storm doors and exterior doors) but I have personally had every repair mentioned in this article. Next spring I’ll look into some new fencing. We also need new cellar doors and some masonry work and repairs to the steps in the rear entryway.

It would also be nice to give the upstairs bathroom a makeover.

Expensive repairs come at the worst possible time so plan on it if you are a homeowner. If you own or plan on buying an old house make sure to have a few thousand dollars reserved for home repairs each year.

Don’t be surprised if you bought a house last year and need to spend money on maintenance or repairs this year.

Pro tip: Keep track of repairs, save receipts and write the installation date on major appliances, furnaces, boilers, and hot water heaters.

I am not trying to pick on Facebook, but it seems like when something breaks, people go and ask their Facebook friends what they should do. I am referring to minor home repairs and home maintenance.

There is no shortage of bad advice when you ask a random group of inexperienced individuals how to do something that may require the help of a pro.

YouTube doesn’t have all the answers either but some videos can help with small repairs. At the very least they can help a homeowner understand the problem well enough to evaluate free advice on Facebook.

There was the time the central AC unit seemed to be leaking. It turned out to be a clogged hose. I did need help with it but at least I knew what was wrong and didn’t do something stupid like let the repair person sell me a new unit or a large repair job. He cleaned the line and it hasn’t leaked since.

I had some problems with my washer that turned out to be a clogged filter. it was a Youtube video from the manufacturer that showed me how to remove and clean the filter. I am sure my Facebook friends would have had tons of suggestions too but I doubt if any own the same model of washer.

If you want to learn how to bake a tastier potato or how to crochet a hat or how to plant a garden in a straw bale you may find better information on YouTube than anything your friends on social media can provide.

Check the source of the video and if possible find videos from a couple of different sources. You might be surprised by what you can learn.  Sometimes I learn by watching a video that I couldn’t possibly do the work myself.  Yet even if I end up hiring someone I have a better understanding of the project of I approach it from a DIY  point of view.