5 Ways to Add Christmastime Curb Appeal

Preparing your home for holiday guests doesn’t require a lot of work. You can add instant curb appeal with just a few simple touches.

Here are four tips, along with a bonus Simple Solution to hang holiday lights without daming your home!

1. Fill in the Cracks

Concrete driveways can develop cracks following temperature changes and ground movement, among other causes.

Those cracks aren’t just unsightly, they also could be hazardous and cause further deterioration after water’s penetration.

We repaired cracks in this concrete walkway with Quikrete Concrete Repair.

First, use a chisel and hammer to widen the crack to at least 1/4-inch and break away any deteriorating concrete.

Next, remove the loose concrete with a brush.

Load Quikrete Concrete Repair into a caulk gun and force a bead of Concrete Repair deep into the crack.

Use a trowel to smoothen the Concrete Repair immediately after placement. Move quickly — the material will form a skin within 40 minutes and will harden completely between one and two hours.

Afterward, clean the area with a damp cloth.

2. Paint the Porch Rail

Another quick way to impress holiday guests is with newly painted handrails.

To paint metal handrails, use a wire brush to remove any loose or peeling paint.

Next, spray the area with a rust-inhibiting primer.

Finally, apply two coats of oil-based enamel; cans of spray paint work best.