Replacing outdated kitchen or foyer flooring with hardwoods, such as this Armstrong Century Farm hand-sculpted wood floor, improves the beauty and durability of high-traffic areas. Photo courtesy of Armstrong. Available at Roberts Carpet & Fine Floors.
From Refund to Remodel Smart ways to invest in your home
Turn taxes into a good thing by using your refund to tackle at least one project this year. According to the IRS, the average American family receives a tax refund of $3,000. Those bucks can take a lot of the bite out of home improvement projects you’ve been putting off. Anthony Rodio, CEO of the contractor referral website Redbeacon.com, shares his expert observations of what’s doable and what’s worth it when it comes to projects for homeowners. 1. Replace your windows Rodio’s top recommendation is replacing windows—even if it’s just a few of them. “Get rid of your drafty windows and stop losing cooled air,” says Rodio. “An average-sized window replacement runs about $300 per window—so this project will take up most, if not all, of your tax return. The good news is that you’ll see the ROI not only in the ‘saleability’ of your home, but also in monthly energy savings.” 2. Paint “Spring’s mild temperatures are great for exterior paint projects, and the weather makes indoor painting easier to ventilate through open windows,” says Rodio. “The size of your home will dictate how expensive this project is, but budget between $1,500 and $3,000 for full painting and priming.”
Replacing windows improves your home’s appearance and energy efficiency. Photo courtesy of Andersen.
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3. Landscape “Now that spring’s here and summer is on the horizon, it’s time to pay attention to your lawn and yard,” he says. “You can easily
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