Instead of going away during the summer, these days many families are opting for staycations. With that trend in mind, we’ve put together a list of summertime home improvement and maintenance tasks to enhance your outdoor living areas, providing enjoyment for the family and adding long-term value to your home.

    So, whether you plan to host a barbecue or pool party this summer or simply spend time relaxing on your patio or deck, these exterior projects will help you create a seamless transition from the indoors to the outdoors.

    Check out our 4 Seasons of Home Ownership: Summer checklist and interactive infographic for the full list of summertime tasks.

    Watch Cleaning and Improving Your Outdoor Living Space for more info.


    Cleaning the Exterior and Outdoor Areas

    Start by cleaning your home’s exterior and outdoor living areas, including siding, patios, decks, driveways and walkways. The HYDE PivotPro Outdoor Cleaning Wand makes for faster and more effective cleaning. Attach the PivetPro wand to a regular garden hose, add liquid soap to the mixing reservoir, and pivot the nozzle to direct the spray.

    To clean your patio furniture and outdoor grill, use the HYDE Quickly Clean Glove and soapy water to remove dirt and grease.

    Danny Lipford with HYDE PivotPro.

    Exterior Maintenance and Repair

    As you were cleaning, you might have noticed cracks in your driveway or sidewalks. Fill cracks with concrete repair caulk. If you have an asphalt driveway, fill any cracks with an asphalt repair material and re-seal the driveway, if needed.

    Scrape any loose paint from your home’s siding or wood trim. Prime any bare wood with an exterior oil or latex primer. After the primer is dry, caulk and putty any holes, gaps, or cracks in the exterior surface.

    Apply two topcoats of exterior paint to the entire surface. Watch Exterior Home Painting Prep Tips for more info.

    Inspect wooden fences, gates and deck boards; and replace any damaged wood. If nails have worked loose over time, replace them with corrosion-resistant deck screws, which will stay put.

    Enhancing the Outdoor Space

    Finally, it’s time for landscaping and adding finishing touches. Pull weeds and add mulch to gardens and planting beds. Improve your home’s curb appeal by hanging new house numbers, installing new outdoor light fixtures, or painting the front door a bold color.

    Lay a paver patio or add amenities to your outdoor entertaining space. Pavestone’s SplitRock system is perfect for outdoor living projects like fire pits, planters, benches, and outdoor kitchen islands. The blocks stack easily, without mortar, to make lasting backyard improvements in as little as one hour.

    Watch How to Build a Backyard Fire Pit from a Kit for details.

    Fire pit and corner bench built with Pavestone blocks.

    Watch the video above to find out more.

    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Danny Lipford

    Danny Lipford

    Founder

    Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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