by Shelia West

Created on: January 30, 2010

DIY weekend projects has become a tradition among homeowners and many renters as well.  We look forward to doing projects that we can start and complete in one weekend.  This gives us a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.  Unlike long term remodeling or building projects, DIY weekend projects are usually fairly simply jobs that can be completed in a couple of days.  Howver, this doesn't always mean that they are easy, so be prepared for little setbacks along the way.

Many DIY weekend projects for spring involve cleaning and preparing our homes for the coming year.  We want our homes to have a fresh and clean new look for the many warm days ahead.  And after a long winter, we often look forward to projects that take us outside. 

One of the most common weekend projects is washing down the outside of our house, garage, decks or porches.  Most people will want to rent a small steam jenny for this project unless you already own one.  A steam jenny will make the project faster and easier than trying to do it with a water hose and brushes. 

Once the house and surrounding objects are clean, look for any areas that need a fresh coat of paint or stain.  Window facings and shutters may need painted or cleaned.  Most shutters can be painted easily with spray paint.  Just changing the color of the shutters in one weekend can give a house a whole new look.

Decks may need to be restained or just sealed with water sealant.  This is another top DIY yourself weekend project.  Decks often need yearly maintenance and it is one project we like to get done early.  By checking the deck and any steps yearly, we can easily replace any boards that may have spit before they cause a safety issue. 

Repairs to wooden privacy fences are another top DIY weekend project.  Since most of these repairs are simply replacing warped or broken boards, this can often be completed easily in a weekend.

Cleaning our garages out after a long winter is another weekend project.  It may not seem like a weekend project, but it usually does take at least a weekend to get all the clutter out of our garages.  It is also one project you will appreciate every time you actually have room to pull your vehicle inside on a rainy day.

One last DIY weekend project that many people don't usually list as an actual project is getting their tools, lawnmowers, weedeaters, and other outdoor equipment ready for use.  This project should be at the top of your list.  Maintenance of your equipment will help increase its lifetime and make your life a whole lot easier.  By setting a weekend to change the oil, spark plugs, and do other simple maintenance on all your yard tools and equipment, you will know that you are ready for that yard work.

The end of winter will soon be here and everyone is looking forward to spring.  Get an early start by making a list of all the DIY weekend projects you hope to accomplish this year.  Once you have your list, go over it and rearrange the projects in the order of importance or desirability.  By getting some of them done first, like the maintenance on your tools and equipment, it will help you finish more of the projects.  Of course, you will probably always be adding to the list, so don't expect to ever finish all of them.

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