Menards®

Tiny homes are becoming incredibly popular, and it’s easy to see why. Many people are drawn to the appeal of a simpler lifestyle, minimalistic décor, and an easy-to-maintain house. Even if you don’t want to live full-time in a tiny home, building one of these neat structures on your property can have many benefits. If you’re an experienced carpenter, you might build your tiny home from scratch using project planning tools from a reliable home improvement center. If you’re a renovation rookie, purchasing a premade tiny home structure and making it your own with unique projects is a great option. However you choose to assemble your small structure, here are three reasons to build a tiny home. Supplement Your Income Whether you live on a quaint sheep farm or in the suburbs of a bustling city, a tiny home on your property can become a thriving short-term rental property. Renting out a small, self-sufficient home on your property to travelers and guests is an amazing way to e...

If your town experienced record-breaking temperatures this summer, you might have enjoyed having an excuse to break out the water balloons, visit your local swimming spot, or indulge in some frozen treats! Even if you know how to make the most of the dog days of summer, your home may need a little help withstanding the heat. Check out these three weatherproofing home improvement projects to get a head start on next summer’s heat waves. Step Up Your Siding If you’ve spent time in Arizona, New Mexico, or any other desert climate, you might have noticed stunning Pueblo-style architecture. This Spanish-influenced style often uses mortar or cement siding to protect a home's exterior from the hot desert sun. If you’re in the Midwest, however, your home probably wasn’t built to handle extreme desert heat, yet we still see super high temperatures in the summer nowadays. Over time, excessive heat and sun exposure can take a toll on the exterior of your home, causing paint to fade, chip, o...

Taking care of a home is like taking care of your health—what you do now will make a big difference in five, 10, or even 20 years. Just as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular checkups can help you feel energized and stay active, taking preventative measures to care for your home can help keep it safe and prevent larger, costlier repairs down the road.  Whether you’re a new homeowner or found your forever home years ago, check up on your house’s health with these three tips. Bulk Up Those Load-Bearing Structures One of the best ways to stay active, healthy, and strong is to exercise regularly. Weightlifting, running, or even simply walking can boost bone density and muscular strength—two things that tend to decline as we age. While you can’t exactly remind your home to do a few sets of push-ups every morning, you can make sure your home stays structurally strong and sound. Regularly inspecting load-bearing beams, walls, and posts can keep your home sturdy and safe. Wh...

Whether you’re starting a complete remodel or making a few specific home improvements, researching the return on investment, or ROI, of a home improvement project is a great place to start. Whether you plan to sell your home in the near future or just want maximum value, choosing home improvement projects that deliver ROI ensures you’re making wise renovation decisions. Batt Insulation Here are three home renovation projects that can boost your home’s value and deliver a great ROI. Improve Your Insulation Regardless of whether you plan on selling your home soon, improving your house’s insulation is a worthwhile upgrade. A well-insulated home has many benefits, from soundproofing to safety. However, one of the most noticeable benefits of insulation will be reflected in your electricity bill. Add a layer of fiberglass batt insulation to drafty areas of your home to make regulating your home's temperature easier on your thermostat and your wallet. The air in your house...

If you’re the proud owner of a historic house, you probably love history, architecture, and a good old-fashioned home improvement project. Older homes have personality, countless unique quirks, and stories built into their walls. Whether your home has been in your family for generations or you finally bought the house of your dreams, living in an older structure can give you a newfound appreciation for preservation and restoration projects. However, owning a home with an extensive past requires a lot of maintenance and patience. To preserve your home's history and personality while keeping it safe, modern, and well-loved, check out these three home improvement ideas for older houses. Refresh Your Storage Most older homes were built with different storage needs than those of today. While your turn-of-the-century structure might have ample basement storage or attic space, these storage options are not very helpful when managing the items you use daily. To improve the...

From playing cards with the neighbors on a warm summer night to watching a spring sunrise with a fresh cup of coffee, you likely have many fond memories on your porch. After all, the porch is one of the most sentimental areas of any home. When you think about growing old with your partner, you probably picture sitting on a front porch together. Batt Insulation However, even if you love your front porch, it likely doesn’t get much use during cold or rainy weather. It’s time to change that by renovating it and turning it into a multi-season space. However, consider these three things before going too far into the project. Start with an Inspection Before you think about adding insulation, screens or glass panels, and other weatherproofing features to your porch, you’ll want to make sure that your space is structurally sound and can withstand the renovation process. A home inspection can help you identify any areas of concern to address, such as electrical or structural issu...

Some home improvement projects can take some time to complete. Painting the exterior of your home? That may take a few weekends. Redoing the guest bath? You might want to set aside a full month.  Stair Treads Of course, every project is different and can vary depending on the scope of work. This spring, though, you might be walking around your home wondering what you can knock out over the weekend. You know you want to improve your home somehow—but it doesn’t need to be major. This season, it might be time to install a few new porch posts . Or maybe there’s a project lurking above your head that might make a difference on your power bill. Here are a few examples of DIY projects that can take a weekend or less. Support Your Sagging Roofline Over the Porch While not every home has a porch, you may be the proud owner of one. They’re a great place to spend summer evenings simply enjoying the weather (bugs aside). However, as many homeowners learn, the roofline over the porch can sta...

If the arrival of spring has you dreaming of sun-drenched weekend afternoons spent pruning plants and watering garden beds, you’re not alone! Whether you plan to fill your garden with colorful flowers, tasty produce, or a mix of both, one thing is certain: You need an organized storage space for your gardening materials. If the winter months have left your tool or gardening shed disheveled, don’t let it distract from your garden this summer. Spruce up your shed in time for spring so you can make the most of your garden this year. Explore these three ways to make the most of your gardening shed so you can hit the ground running as soon as it thaws. Highlight—Don’t Hide—Your Tool Shed Over the years, your gardening shed may have become a bit of an eyesore. If you pour a lot of time and care into your garden, you don’t want a dreary-looking shed to steal attention from your carefully curated flower beds. By elevating the appearance of your shed, you can make your yard a brighter and ...

There’s nothing quite like watching your child grow up and leave home. To call it bittersweet would be quite the understatement, but it’s a fact of life parents must face. Of course, once a child has moved on to school, work, or whatever’s next, we all have to answer the same question: What do we do with that spare bedroom? After all, space is valuable, and by adapting that empty bedroom to suit a new purpose, you can add considerable value to your home. There are many ways to use an empty bedroom once your child has gone to live somewhere else. Here are four popular ways to convert a spare bedroom. Build an Exercise Room Whether you’re looking to save money on your gym membership or you’d like the convenience of being able to work out whenever it suits you, an exercise room is a superb way to repurpose your newly empty bedroom. Here’s some welcome news: You don’t have to buy big-ticket workout equipment to enjoy your exercise room. A yoga mat, some resistance bands, and a few dum...

There’s no off-season when it comes to home improvement. While you might not be able to do landscaping or some exterior projects in winter, there are plenty of other options to breathe some new life into your home. However, winter brings its fair share of challenges, so it’s crucial you’re ready to face them. Whether you’re replacing stair treads inside or siding outside, here are four questions to ask before you start any winter home improvement project.  Do You Have All the Supplies You Need? The last thing you want to do is make multiple trips to the home improvement store in snowy road conditions. Even worse, you don’t want to delay your project mid-way because you forgot to pick up all the necessary supplies. That’s why it’s extra important to check all the supplies off your list before you start a project in winter. If you’re finishing your basement, do you have enough batt insulation to keep it warm in the cold weather? If you’re installing shelves in the gara...

With fall in full swing and winter right around the corner, it’s time to start preparing your DIY habits for winter. Out with the lawnmowers and outdoor fire pits. In with the holiday lights and leaf rakes. Cold weather brings a unique set of challenges for every project, no matter if you’re a general contractor or a weekend warrior. You’ll have to deal with a new set of circumstances. From preparing your home with high-quality batt insulation to planning projects according to the weather, here are five things to keep in mind when taking on a project in winter. Take Extra Safety Precautions Safety should always be at the top of your priority list, especially when the weather gets cold. There are a whole range of steps you can take to ensure you stay safe while working. Including: • Double-checking that every ladder is secure. • Testing every surface for ice or moisture. • Reviewing weather forecasts before starting outdoor projects. • Wearing warm, layered clothing. • Not rushi...

Whether you’re without an A/C unit or want to save a little money on cooling costs, there are plenty of ways to cool your house down a few degrees this summer. Some are lifestyle changes, while others need a quick trip to your favorite home improvement store. Combine them all, and you’re on your way to a cooler house. From high-quality batt insulation to LED light bulbs, here are five home cooling tips for the summer.  Use High-Quality Insulation When you think of insulation, you might think it keeps heat trapped in the winter. While true, high-quality batt insulation also keeps heat out in the summer. The fiberglass helps your walls repel heat and keep the cool air from escaping. Even if your house is already built and the drywall installed, check for areas that might not be insulated. Attics, garages, and unfinished bedrooms can all let heat in if they aren’t adequately insulated. Apply Heat Control Film to Your Windows While it’s nice to let in the light from the sun, in th...