Housework made simple

Laying down a laminate floor is one way to ensure housework made simple... photo by CC user Wasrts on wikimedia

Owning a home should be about the pleasure of living in it. The last thing you want is to do is to become a slave to maintaining it. You don’t want to spend all your weekends and spare time on maintaining your house. So if you building a house, or renovating it, plan to make it low maintenance. Here are some easy solutions if you want housework made simple…

  1. Fiber cement sidings: Fiber-cement siding is the champion when it comes to curb appeal and maintenance time and cost. It comes in a variety of shapes and forms and doesn’t age the way wood does. It’s tough, long lasting and looks good for years. Unlike vinyl siding, fiber-cement is easy to paint, should you decide to change colors down the line. The average life expectancy of fiber-cement siding is 50 years with a repaint cycle of 15 years.

  1. Metal Roofing: Metal roofing is tough and durable. It is one of the most maintenance free roofing materials available. Most metal roofing comes with a 40-50 year warranty. Look for the baked on enamel finish product with waterproofing. While it is more expensive than using shingles, it does not require constant maintenance and replacement like the shingles.

  1. Laminate plank flooring: With laminate plank flooring, you get three benefits. It’s easy to install, the cost is relatively modest and its virtually maintenance free. Laminate flooring has a tough clear plastic coating, which is scratch, moisture and stain resistant. It is dimensionally stable and doesn’t warp over time, due to temperature and humidity changes. Depending on the thickness and composition, life expectancy can range from 15 to 50 years.

  1. Make a maintenance schedule: This is not really an upgrade, but scheduling regular maintenance will lower the total time you spend on it. From maintaining the lawn, to the upholstery and carpet cleaning, to boiler maintenance, make a schedule for everything. Remember, a lot of professional companies can do these tasks at reasonable prices. For instance, quality carpet and upholstery cleaning is a cinch when you outsource the job to someone like Action chem-dry. Look at outsourcing the tasks that take up time and effort.

  1. Quartz countertops: Quartz countertops are a fraction of the price of granite and aren’t porous like marble tops. They are long lasting and come in many different colors and finishes. Quartz countertops are tough, durable, antimicrobial and stain and scratch resistant to boot. Most of the countertops come with a 15-20 year warranty. Maintenance cycle consists of an occasional cleaning with mild soap and water.

  1. Composite decking: From looking nothing like wood, to being virtually indistinguishable from the real stuff, composite decking has come a long way. It doesn’t splinter or chip like wood and it doesn’t require a periodic layer of varnish or enamel. Composite decking is water resistant and a hose down is all that’s needed to clean it. A 20-25 year warranty is standard on this product.

So go ahead and plan these simple upgrades and make your home low maintenance. It will free up your time to do something else that you enjoy.