It’s a New Year, and that means new DIY projects around your home. Right now, you may be making a list of home improvement projects for the coming months. You might be thinking about crawling into your attic to install fresh batt insulation to help with energy savings or painting the living room.
Along with aesthetic and efficiency improvements, safety enhancements can be great for homes with kids, the elderly, and folks with mobility concerns. Of course, having a safer home is good all around. As you make your list of home improvement needs, consider adding these safety-minded projects to the mix.
Grab Bars for the Bathroom (and Other Low-Traction Areas)
Bathtubs and showers can be slippery places. With all that soap and water, there can be little traction under your toes. Bathrooms are prime real estate for grab bars. They provide dedicated hand-holds for anyone who needs extra support. They can also be used as towel bars. You can put grab bars in the bathtub or shower space, or just outside, depending on your bathroom’s design. Just be sure to use appropriate materials (such as waterproof caulking to seal around wall attachments) when working in any space where water is present.
New Interior Stair Treads
Over time, stair treads can become damaged, loose, or worn out. When this happens, it can turn any set of stairs into a major safety hazard. If your home has any stairs, go ahead and inspect them. Check their condition and for wear and tear. In some cases, it may be a quick fix, like tightening the screws under the stairs. In other cases, treads may be worn smooth or simply worn out. New stair treads can make a world of difference. They’re easier to walk on—going up or down—and they’re much safer. For added safety, throw down a strip of traction tape on the leading edge of each step.
Traction Mats Under Rugs
Speaking of traction, if you have any loose rugs around the home, consider placing traction mats underneath each of them. Some rugs lack traction altogether and may easily slide on hard surfaces like hardwood floors, tile, and linoleum. Some rugs do come with traction pads initially, but these can wear out over time. Traction mats don’t just help you foster a safer home as they also help keep rugs in place so you don’t have to move them around all the time.
Night Lights Inside and Out
Adequate visibility is a major part of fostering a safer home. One way to do that is with night lights. For inside, plug-in night lights can help light the way to the bathroom, kitchen, and bedrooms. They’re great for helping everyone find their way around the home at night or in areas with limited lighting. You can get lights that rely completely on power from an outlet or lights with battery backups for when the power goes out. For the exterior of the home, solar-powered lights are hard to beat. You can place them along driveways, sidewalks, and other pathways to promote safety and visibility.
About Menards®
Thinking about all the home projects you want to take care of this year? Make Menards® your first stop for home project success. Menards® is home to the tools, hardware, and materials you need for home improvement projects big and small. From quick home projects like a drawer repair to major renovations like a kitchen remodel, Menards® can help you make it a reality. Menards® isn’t just home to top-quality products, like sturdy porch posts, heavy-duty shelf brackets, or energy-saving batt insulation—they’re also home to savings and weekly deals. As you plan your home projects for the year, there’s one thing you can count on: Save Big Money at Menards®!
Find the tools and supplies you need to improve your home’s safety at https://www.menards.com/
Original Source: https://bit.ly/3SmiT1B
