One of the categories of flooring that’s been the most popular with customers is the water-resistant laminate, which is very kid and pet-friendly. (Photo: McDonald Carpet One).
Parents transform homes while kids enjoy camp, enhancing comfort and value
Adding a barn door is quick project and a great way to reinvent a space. (Photo: McDonald Carpet One).
Summer camp can be a chance for growth, enrichment and progress – for parents as well as kids.
Sure, a kid’s trip to camp may seem like the perfect opportunity for parents to take a deep breath and relax. Why not take a load off when the little ones are away? But a child’s getaway at a sleepaway summer camp is the perfect opportunity for parents to practice self-improvement, specifically when it comes to spiffing up the homestead.
We’ve assembled some ideal home improvement projects for the summer months, measures that can augment the home living experience even as they increase property values. These projects are sure to make life better for the entire family, including the kids when they return from a summer away.
Home improvement projects don’t have to be epic in order to be impactful, especially if you’re the kind who specializes in do-it-yourself projects. Focusing on small areas within the home is a good way to kick off broader improvements, and Boulder-based McDonald Carpet One has all the tools one needs to reinvent the spaces that see the most traffic and use.
Specifically, adding a new, water-resistant floor to an entryway, bathroom or kitchen could be the perfect way to take advantage of an empty house during the summer.
“If a consumer is a handy ‘do-it-yourselfer,’ redoing a small bathroom floor or entryway is a perfect away-at-camp project,” said Kelley McDonald of McDonald Carpet One. She pointed specifically to Luxury Vinyl Plank, or LVP, as an ideal option for those with a knack for installation, as well as water-resistant laminates. “One of the categories of flooring that’s been the most popular with customers is the water-resistant laminate, which is very kid and pet-friendly. It’s very stable in our dry Colorado climate, as opposed to wood, which needs humidity to perform properly.”
What’s more, the option is affordable, and McDonald offers custom barn doors to match any new hardwood or laminate floors.
When it comes to home improvement, the summer months offer the perfect opportunity to focus on outdoor spaces. Longmont-based Budget Home Supply offers all the tools and resources needed to make a backyard or patio the perfect place for family gatherings. Whether it’s a matter of adding a new deck, spiffing up outdoor landscaping or giving that patio a new shine, Budget Home has plenty of options.
Specifically, Budget’s Vernetta Angelo points to the best materials for building a new deck, elements that will withstand the unique pressures of a Colorado climate.
“Composite wood for a deck is a great option,” Angelo said. “Composed primarily of wood fibers and recycled plastic, composite wood comes in a wide range of colors and stains, and it won’t warp, split or crack.”
She also pointed to the latest trends in outdoor design, specifically “hardscaping,” which refers to any non-living elements (concrete, rocks, bricks, pavers, stone and wood).
“Hardscaping is the new trend,” she said. “When selecting hardscape products, think about the architectural style of your home, surrounding landscape, size of the project and future projects you want to complete down the road.”
Finally, improving the air circulation within the home itself can make a critical difference in quality of life, no matter the time of year. The right filtration and purification system can be critical in Colorado, whether it’s during the hot months when smog, smoke and other elements are intense, or during the winter when furnaces and heating systems work extra hard.
Longmont-based SAC Mechanical Heating and Air Conditioning offers a wide array of options to improve indoor air quality, measures that can make all the difference for those in the home who may have allergies, asthma or other breathing issues.
“As an HVAC repair and service company, SAC Mechanical offers humidifier installation, air purification and other air quality services to homes and businesses throughout the Boulder area,” SAC states on its website. “Our goal is to improve both health and comfort at home and in the workplace, allowing Coloradans to breathe freely.”
Whether it’s a new floor, a revamped backyard or an improved indoor air circulation system, all of these measures are sure to make the entire family happy and make the quality of life even better for kids returning from camp.
By Adam Goldstein, Raised in the Rockies
