6 Ways to Make Your Home (Almost) Maintenance-Free

We used to frequent brick-and-mortar shops and keep hard copies of every document; today, we buy our groceries online, stream our favorite videos, and store everything from personal photos to paperwork in the cloud. Well, when it comes to home maintenance, technology moves just as fast: It seems like every time we turn around, there’s a new development designed to reduce our workload—a very welcome trend, given the unrelenting attention a home requires. Fortunately, the building materials industry continues to improve upon durable, low-maintenance products that can reduce or eliminate the time spent on upkeep and repair. If you’re tired of sealing that wood deck, painting that picket fence, or climbing up on that ladder to clean your home’s gutters—and, let’s be honest, no one relishes those backbreaking tasks—maybe it’s time for an upgrade! Take a spin through these 6 advances in building and home improvement materials that can help you speed through your to-do list so you can spend more time doing the things you enjoy.This content has been brought to you by LeafGuard. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

6 Mistakes Homeowners Make Every Summer

Dreams of the summer season tend to focus on long, lazy days spent reading the latest bestsellers, napping in the rope hammock, or watching white clouds drift across a blue sky. But if you’re a homeowner, you know that summer isn’t always a day at the beach. Though storms and storm damage are hallmarks of winter, of course, weather-related hazards are threat throughout the steamy summer months, too. In addition, on those sunny weekend days, there are no shortage of maintenance tasks to complete, not only for aesthetic reasons, but for the integrity and longevity of your home and its components. It may be tempting to put off such projects until the leaves change, but don’t delay. Prevent extensive, expensive problems in the future by tackling these important tasks today.