Home Improvement Tips from the Pros
When it comes to finding the right time to make improvements or perform scheduled maintenance on your Outer Banks home, all you have to do is put yourself in the shoes of a contractor or service provider to see that fall is a great time to get work done. “Most businesses that service Outer Banks homes are not busy during the summer months when the homes are in use but are ready to start upkeep and maintenance in the fall before the harsh weather of late winter and the busy spring season,” explains Jonathan Daniels, owner and president of FullTilt Blinds & Shutters in Kill Devil Hills. “I suggest having industry and trade professionals do an annual check-up in the fall or early winter. A lot of businesses, including ours, offer a type of ‘Inspect and Repair’ service to fix busy summer season damages and prepare for the next season. Trade professionals are looking out for your investments.” Seeking to work with an expert, order replacement furniture (there could be a two-month lead time!), or tackle some fall home renovation yourself? We asked the pros to help us check things off the list this October and November.
Set up a Defense for Your Windows and Doors
FullTilt Blinds & Shutters
506 W. Lake Drive, Unit 1, Kill Devil Hills
252.220.5732
fulltiltblinds.com
The heavy wind and driving rain of an Outer Banks Nor’easter can work water into the crevices, cracks and windowsills of even the best built homes. How to prepare? In addition to checking windows and doors for leaks, removing sand and dirt from sliding door tracks and windowsills, and closing window treatments, take this extra precaution: make sure blinds are resting above the sills by a half-inch, and keep curtains from dragging on the ground or in the tracks of a door. “Windows and doors can leak in cases where there is wind-driven rain, which could cause water damage to window treatments,” says Jonathan Daniels of FullTilt Blinds & Shutters. Your first line of defense against interior leaks should be a larger investment that will pay off in the long run: exterior shutters. “The high salt content of the Outer Banks air requires a higher quality of product to protect your home,” says Daniels, who recommends powder-coated aluminum shutters with stainless steel hardware over vinyl or PVC shutters with low-grade hardware.
Get Creative with a Fall Kitchen Remodel
Cozy Kitchens Group
921 W. Kitty Hawk Road, Kitty Hawk
252.261.2696
cozyk.com
Kitchens are the heart of the home – but once the margaritas have been mixed and the sandy feet have come and gone, yours may be left looking the worse for wear. Come fall, you might find your cabinets’ paint peeling, the doors close to falling off, and that one drawer sliding open with a screech and a limp. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time for a kitchen remodel, and fall could be the right time to go for it. “After a busy summer, the low season is the perfect time for revitalizing your property. This gives you plenty of time to plan your project, hire tradesmen, and order the materials needed to freshen things up for next year,” says the Cozy Kitchens design team in Kitty Hawk. The team suggests having some fun with kitchen design trends. Consider a stunning calacatta backsplash; nature-inspired oak cabinets that remind you of driftwood; or adding resilient quartz countertops that will hold up to the test of your next wave of renters. “The possibilities are endless, and fall is the perfect time,” says the team.
Upgrade Your Flooring this Fall
Kitty Hawk Carpets & Furniture
3506 N. Croatan Hwy. Kitty Hawk
252.261.0496
kittyhawkcarpet.com
An upgrade to your home’s flooring this fall will provide benefits throughout the rest of the year and into the next. The design team at Kitty Hawk Carpets & Furniture says switching out old carpet for new LVP (luxury vinyl plank) flooring is a nice way to “make your rental or home updated or feeling fresh,” adding that fall is “a great time to do any updates in flooring before spring when everyone is scrambling to get their rentals ready for the season last-minute.” LVP is easier to maintain than carpet but be sure to keep your home’s thermostat set to stay above 55 degrees during fall and winter. “Cold temperatures can cause expansion and contraction, leaving gaps in LVP or cupping in hardwood,” advises the design team. Shop LVP, carpet, tile, laminate, and hardwood at Kitty Hawk Carpets. If new flooring isn’t in the cards, consider purchasing an area rug to spruce up an existing great room or game room.
Clean the Drain Lines on Your A/C Unit
Coastal Elements Heating & Cooling
252.548.4202
cehvacouterbanks.com
Many people don’t know there is a condensation drain connected to their air conditioner, where it’s located (hint: it’s often a white PVC pipe leading from your air handling unit to the outdoors), or that spring is the best time to flush it out.
This is something that’s easy to overlook, according to Brian Parks, owner of Coastal Elements Heating & Cooling in Kill Devil Hills, but just a few minutes cleaning the drain could save your A/C next summer. “For people getting ready for the spring and summer, it’s condensation drain line blockage prevention,” says Parks. “Clogged drain lines are one of the simplest things to fix, however they can cause the most unnecessary service calls and equipment downtime if not properly maintained.”
Scheduling this particular maintenance item for the spring is optimal because in most cases, as we come out of winter the condensation line has gone unused for several months. This can result in any remaining water in the line becoming stagnate and congealed, explains Parks. He recommends getting on a preventative maintenance service program so that drain lines get cleaned on a regular basis by a pro. It’s one of the best ways to ensure your A/C runs smoothly when you need it most.
Custom Rugs are Works of Art for Your Home
Wahi Fine Rugs
724 First Colonial Road, Virginia Beach, VA
757.457.1857
wahirugs.com
Did you know that you can have an area rug custom designed for your home? Whether ornate or minimalist, traditional hand-knotted rugs can be made-to-order just how you want them. “You have total control of the product and can define all its characteristics, starting with the size and materials, and continuing with the colors, design and all the smallest details,” says Adi Wahi, owner of Wahi Fine Rugs, which offers pickup and delivery throughout most of the Outer Banks. Or leave the design to the pros. “You can have a rug in your home that has been designed by famous designers and made from high quality materials by experienced craftsmen,” says Wahi. The Virginia Beach shop collaborates with some of the most famous contemporary designers in the world. “Browsing through the catalog of their works is very inspiring,” says Wahi, likening original designs to museum pieces. “For those who love the world of art, being able to have such models in the home is a privilege not to be missed.”
Understand the Best Storage Techniques for Your Outdoor Furniture
Nags Head Hammocks
1801 Croatan Hwy., Kill Devil Hills
1212 Duck Road, Duck
799 Sunset Blvd., Corolla
252.295.0405
nagsheadhammocks.com
Fall and winter outdoor furniture storage protocols really depend on the kind you have. According to the team at Nags Head Hammocks, which has stores in Kill Devil Hills, Duck, and Corolla, hammocks and stands from the company are fine to keep outside year-round, although storing them inside during the colder months will give them a longer lifespan. Hardwood furniture should be oiled before winter, advises Ryan Williams, general manager of Nags Head Hammocks, and swings should be taken down, so they don’t blow around in heavy winds. Many people love Durawood® furniture and swings, which are virtually maintenance-free and manufactured by Nags Head Hammocks right here in North Carolina. These pieces can even stay out in the rain and snow – in fact, “Don’t cover them in the winter – it creates a humid environment,” says Williams. He does advise homeowners to turn Durawood® pieces over because they can slide in the wind on Trex and other composite decking.
Mundane But Important: Invest in Scheduled Maintenance
One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning
701 W Fresh Pond Drive
Kill Devil Hills
252.591.5438
onehourheatandair.com/outer-banks
Take it from a heating and air conditioning expert on the Outer Banks: regular maintenance can help reduce or eliminate emergency service calls, help prevent unexpected breakdowns, and extend the life of many of your home systems, including your HVAC. “We are all so busy these days, being pulled in a dozen different directions every day, it’s easy to overlook the mundane tasks of home maintenance,” says Brian McDonald, owner of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning in Kill Devil Hills. “Once the vacation rental season is over, we all have a chance to take a breath and catch up on neglected maintenance.
Confirm your HVAC service provider has you on the schedule for your fall/winter maintenance visit.” Replacing air filters is the most important thing most homeowners neglect, says McDonald, adding that inspecting your heat pump outdoor unit for damage, rinsing heat pumps to remove salt and dust from the outdoor coil, and clearing the condensate drain for the AC system of any buildup are also key. For easy service access, “Make sure any bushes or landscaping that grew up during the spring and summer are at least 24 inches from the outdoor unit,” he reminds homeowners.
Find Good Deals on Outdoor Furniture in Fall
Carolina Casual Furniture
9085 Caratoke Hwy.
Point Harbor
252.491.2545
carolinacasual.com
Fall is an ideal time to take stock of outdoor furniture. “Look for the wear and tear such as broken and unsafe items that could cause a hazard or liability and address those problems before they pop up in the spring for your personal use or rental season,” advises Susan McClanahan, owner of Carolina Casual Furniture in Point Harbor, which makes environmentally friendly, long-lasting outdoor furniture from high-density polyethylene (HPDE) lumber. If you determine that it’s time to buy new outdoor tables and chairs, fall is a great time to jump on the opportunity, since order lead times are at their shortest times in off-peak demand months; plus, you can take advantage of 2023 prices. “If you wait until spring, you could face shortages, depleted inventory, and increased prices,” says McClanahan. Her advice for fall furniture storage is to store cushions inside and stack and cover pieces to shield them from all winter elements, including the sun. “Even in the winter, the UV causes premature aging of your investments,” she says, and while it may seem far away now, come summer, you’ll be glad you have a comfortable space for eating watermelon, hosting a BBQ, or sharing a crab boil.
Protect your Deck – it’s Your Home’s Greatest Asset
Beach Painting Contractors
1496 Colington Road
Kill Devil Hills
252.441.8224
beachpainting.com
Closing down your rental property for the summer season shouldn’t simply mean moving the deck furniture. Taking deck care a few steps further can extend the life of everyone’s favorite outdoor space in your home, says Matt Brauer, president of Beach Painting Contractors in Kill Devil Hills. Brauer shares how to set up a barrier for your wooden deck against extreme temperature fluctuations, abundant wind and rain, and blistering sun. First, clean your deck with pressure washing; then look for split boards, loose rails, and splinters. “Once the deck surfaces are clean and all repairs have been made you have some options for coating your decks,” says Brauer, with either sealants, stains, paint, or a combination. Sealants are the most water repellent treatment and lend themselves to the “Old Nags Head” look of natural gray, though they don’t protect against UV rays; stains offer protection against UV damage and have varying levels of pigment; paint provides UV protection but beware – it can trap moisture and lead to bubbling or peeling if wood has not been properly seasoned. “Regardless of your preferences, it’s generally a good idea to protect your decks before the winter weather is here,” says Brauer.
Everyone agrees: Fall is a great time for all kinds of home improvement on the Outer Banks. And just in case homeowners, friends, or family want to make one last quick weekend getaway in fall while the water is still warm, the weather is pleasant, and the restaurants are open, service providers suggest keeping your home accessible and winterization prep to a minimum for as long as you can. Make the most of your fall home repair season — before winter roars in — and you’ll be happy you did.
Author: Danielle Fairfield
