The Best Outdoor Home Improvements from SOL

Summer is a great time for home improvements, especially for those who want to add a patio, carport, verandah or some other comfortable outdoor space. Not only will guests love relaxing outside, but these kinds of additions to a home can increase its value and make it more attractive overall.

There are several kinds of home improvements that can make a property more enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing, and these additions can be made from a variety of materials. For example, take the verandahs and carports available from SOL Home Improvements. Each of SOL's structures is made from Colorbond steel and can be customised to fit any home. They can even be expanded over remote intermediate posts and bracings to give any home a more streamlined design.

Each carport, verandah and patio is fully engineered and built with quality components that are guaranteed to last for years. SOL also allows customers to choose the profile, colours, span lengths and other aspects of any outdoor space. For those would like to know how a new home improvement will look before making a purchase, SOL's sophisticated ImproveIT software will provide a high-quality 3D image on your computer at the push of a button.

SOL employs the best home improvement experts to design their verandahs, carports and patios, so that homeowners can rest assured that their new structure is stable and designed to suit their home and needs.

A brand new patio or verandah could be exactly what the average residence needs this summer. These excellent home improvements will provide the ideal outdoor space to relax and entertain guests, and they can add a beautiful new appearance to any property. For more information, contact SOL for a quote today!

Your Garage Just Isn't Cutting It

Many people are protective of their cars, as they should be.  After your home, your car is the next biggest physical item you invest in that you use nearly every day.  Since you invest so much money in your car – insurance, repairs, maintenance, etc. – it only makes sense to protect it in any way you can.

Sources of protection come in many different forms, the most popular being the garage.  But sometimes, the garage just isn't enough.  Either it's not practical or it doesn't offer enough space.  Luckily for you, there's another form of protection that's aesthetically sound ...

A carport.

In its most basic form, a carport is an outdoor ceiling held up by four support beams or pillars.  Its goal is to protect your car from the hot Australian sun and other damaging elements that dull paint color.

Even if you already have a garage, there are carport designs that match your needs.  And, if you don't have a garage, there's a handful of designs to match your needs and complement your home's exterior.  Below are three of those design options.

Carport Design #1: Detached Carport

The detached carport is a great option if you don't want your carport attached to your home.  It's also a great option if you own two or more vehicles or have frequent visitors come to your house.  Since one or more of your cars are already taking up space in the garage, it's important to have another source of protection for your other cars or visitors'.

A detached carport might benefit you if you have ...

• a house without a garage 
• a house that's not connected to a main road (see picture)
• more cars than can fit in your existing garage
• extra space on one side of your house

In addition to acting as a space for car protection, a detached carport can also serve as a space for storage.  For instance, if you live in a rural area, you can store animal feed, tools, tractors and other items under your carport.

Carport Design #2: Patio-Connected Carport

If you have an existing patio, a carport can be attached to it fairly easily.  In addition to offering you space to store your car, a patio-connected carport also gives you the opportunity to expand your patio space. 

For instance, when you have visitors over and need more space outdoors, all you have to do is remove your cars from your carport.  It's like having two patios – one that's always there and another when you need it.

This is a great option for people who don't have a garage and are thinking about building an outdoor patio.  You can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.  And, even if you already have a patio with a ceiling, many home improvement contractors can match its style with that of your new carport.

Carport Design #3: Garage-Connected Carport

To many, this carport design looks awkward at first.  But after looking at it for a little while, it makes sense.  Plus, it also starts to look good.  If you have a garage, this carport design is the most practical. 

For instance, if you have a two-car garage and 4 cars, a garage-connected carport can protect two of your cars while the other two are in the garage. If you have more than 4 cars, your carport can be extended.

With the garage-connected design, you can also do a number of other things including ...

• wash your car outside while shielding it from the sun
• use your carport as a source of shade while relaxing outside
• protect cars of visitors from sun and weather if you only have two cars
• and much more ...

With these three different designs, there's definitely an option for you.  All you have to do is discover which one works best with your home.  For help, look at pictures of different designs online or contact your local home improvement contractor.

Three 45-Minute "Front Door" Home Improvements to Make Before Selling Your Home

When you think of home improvements, costly repairs and additions come to mind.  However, there are some simple home improvements you can make that will add a degree of sophistication to your home.  These quick and easy improvements can be completed in about 45 minutes and will help you get top dollar for your home.

It's hard to believe that 45 minutes of work adds any value to your home. 

But it can!

It's important to know that the value you're adding with these improvement isn't monetary-based; it's based on appearance.  When someone comes to your home for an open house or appointment, it's all about first impressions.  These three home improvements will help you make the strongest first impression without investing in a major renovation.

Give Your Front Door a Fresh Coat

If the paint on your front door is looking dull, this is incredibly important.  The best thing is, if you're strapped for time, you don't even have to remove the door.  Simply tape off the areas where you don't want paint and get to work.

This is definitely the quickest home improvement you can make that offers the highest payoff.  There nothing more unattractive than a washed-out front door.

Add a Cornerstone Piece

If you have a large square platform in front of your front door, you shouldn't leave it bare.  Having a garden surrounding the front of your home is great, but a cornerstone piece adds an extra note of residential beauty.

Here are cornerstone pieces you can add to the front of your home:

• Bench with or without cushion
• Stone statue
• Stone bird bath

With a cornerstone piece, the front of your home becomes more substantial and attractive.

Replace Your Mailbox

If your mailbox is at the front of your driveway, it's the very first thing people see when visiting your house.  If you currently have a cheap plastic mailbox that came with the house, replace it immediately.

Go to your local home improvement store and invest in something with a little class.  Make sure it matches the style of your home and isn't unnecessarily large.

Something clean and simple is the perfect option.