Inclement weather can cause your cabin to age faster than it should. We’re not just talking about the exterior—think about all the snow and mud you, your family, and even your pets invariably track inside. At the same time, Mother Nature takes a toll on your siding, windows, and roof.
If your cabin is in an area where winter is routinely harsh, or if it’s been several years since you’ve put much work into the structure, it’s worth looking closely to see if a bit of preventative maintenance is in order. With the right tools, building materials, and know-how, you can restore your beloved cabin to its ideal condition.
Before you stock up on the products you’ll need, review this list of three targeted DIY projects that won’t break the bank but will positively impact the look and feel of your favorite place to spend the weekend.
Inspect Your Porch
Your cabin’s porch is a critical element. It’s likely the first thing you see when you drive up, and it’s the most prominent thing visitors tend to notice. But your cabin porch is far more than aesthetics; it’s where you store firewood, grill meals, and relax with a good book during the summer.
Winter weather can wear on your porch in a few critical ways. First, if your region tends to see heavy snow accumulation, that can warp or even damage your overhanging roof and the supporting joists and posts. Second, if your porch posts are not treated and carefully protected at the base, snow can eat away at them as it melts, refreezes, and melts again each year.
Before you do anything, inspect your porch posts. They hold everything else together, so they’re the single most vital element of your porch. Rigorously examine the base of each one where it goes into the ground and look for signs of rot. Fortunately, if you need to replace one or more of them, the leading home improvement store in your area should have an excellent selection of attractive porch posts ready for your favorite paint or stain.
Refinish or Replace Your Front Steps
Once you’ve dealt with the porch posts and any issues with the railings, it’s time to take a good, hard look at your front steps. Honestly, you should do it before each winter, since your steps are the most common place people will slip and fall when ice builds up.
To each their own, but if your steps show signs of wear, it’s best to play it safe and at least get some new stair treads. For an exterior application like your front steps, find unfinished stair treads durable enough to last at least a decade.
While you’re at it, it’s worth looking at any interior stairs your cabin may have. For example, if you have a loft where the kids sleep, odds are they’re tracking plenty of debris and moisture up the stairs with each use. New stair treads are sound investments to prevent slips and falls and keep the interior of your cabin looking gorgeous.
Consider Adding Insulation
When the weather turns, you tend to keep the wood stove or fireplace in your cabin running almost constantly. And, whether you’re cutting it yourself or paying to have it brought in, your firewood is a precious commodity. You need to use it as efficiently as possible, so the resulting heat should last.
If your cabin isn’t adequately insulated, you’re working way too hard to heat it. That means you’re wasting time and money. Before next winter comes around, consider adding batt insulation to make your wood stove or fireplace more productive.
Usually, the ceiling is an excellent place to start, since some cabins don’t have walls that can fit batt insulation. The prep can be challenging, especially if your ceiling is tongue-and-groove, but a well-insulated ceiling will pay dividends for decades.
About Menards®
Whether you’re a home improvement pro or just taking on your first DIY project, Menards® has a fantastic selection of quality products at great prices to help you get the job done. You can always Save Big Money at Menards®, and when you stop in, you can get helpful guidance from the friendly, knowledgeable staff. From gorgeous new stair treads to smart stone veneer panels and much more, Menards® is known as the low-price leader in home improvement. Menards® has everything you need for backyard projects, interior touchups, and enhancements to achieve better energy efficiency. When you need leading tools, building materials, and maybe even a bit of advice, put a visit to Menards® at the top of your to-do list.
Get everything you need to touch up your cabin from Menards® at https://www.menards.com/
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