The new year is here and I’m once again taking stock of the home improvement projects I’ve done in the past along with the ones I’m planning for this year. First, a quick look back at some of the past year’s home projects that were both expected and unexpected.

Last Year’s Home Improvement Projects

In 2008 I did a number of exterior as well as interior home improvement projects and I didn’t even get to write about them all. The two biggest improvements to the exterior my home were both done in the backyard this year. I replaced an old wooden fence that ran all the way around my yard and my wife and I put together some flowerbeds using wooden landscaping ties.

Inside my home I finally finished our dining room up by replacing and installing some new baseboard molding around the room and I started taking stock of all the energy I use in my home and began writing about some of the many green and energy saving home improvements I’ve done.

No homeowner goes through the year without some unexpected home repairs cropping up, and last year was no different for me. I unexpectedly had to remove some black dog urine stains from my hardwood floors and I learned that those LED Christmas lights may not save you much money in the long run.

This Year’s Home Improvement Projects

This year I’m also going to focus on some big projects around the home, though like most planned projects I may be limited by both time and money. My home is nearly 50 years old and has generally not been updated in most of that time, so there’s a lot that needs to be done.

Around the outside of the home I would love to tear out all the front flower beds, or what’s left of them, and start from scratch. The front of my house needs some major landscaping help. I have a feeling this might take more than one season to fully complete. There’s also an exterior home improvement project which I’ll probably end up hiring professionals for: my house is soon going to need a new roof, new gutters and, while we’re at it, an updated exterior. I currently have asbestos shingles on my home that have been painted over numerous times over the decades. Some are cracked and falling apart. My home is in bad need of some vinyl siding or some other exterior update, both for aesthetic and insulation reasons.

Inside my home I have a couple big ideas, but the biggest might be refinishing my basement. Our basement is a total disaster right now. We have one partially finished and very dingy room in our basement and the rest of the area is piled high with years of junk. In addition to cleaning out the junk I’d like finish the room down there and turn it into a sort of playroom or family room so we can keep most of his toys down there.

I’m sure there will be plenty of unexpected home repair surprises along the way. I’ll keep you posted with updates and progress as continue to fix up my home over the next year!

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