Matt Sneller, owner of Spring-based construction company Sneller Custom Homes & Remodeling, offers four simple projects to do at home.

1. Establish a multipurpose space

With more time being spent at home due to COVID-19, Sneller recommends turning an unused guest bedroom or dining room into a multipurpose space by adding a desk or workout equipment. For open rooms, Sneller recommends installing glass French doors to enhance privacy and limit sound travel.

2. Give the bathroom a facelift

For older homes, revamping a bathroom can be as easy as a fresh coat of paint, Sneller said. Using a scrubbable paint with an eggshell or satin finish is not only child-proof, but also helps withstand moisture built up in the bathroom, he said. Replacing countertops and upgrading plumbing fixtures can also make an older bathroom look new.

3. Add outdoor seating

Sneller said homeowners often have an outdoor patio they avoid using a result of the Texas summertime heat. To create a shady and cool outdoor space, wooden roofed structures such as pergolas offer a more user-friendly, wide-open social area and relief from the sun.

4. Create kitchen storage space

For those wanting more storage space in the kitchen, Sneller recommends installing cabinet and drawer storage products from manufacturers such as Rev-A-Shelf. Sneller said adding fixtures such as waste container mounts, additional drawer systems and Lazy Susans allow for more storage space without large-scale renovations.

Tips for the upcoming hurricane season

With hurricane season in effect through the end of November, Sneller recommends the following tips to help make homes be more flood resilient:

• Trim tree branches to allow proper wind flow and reduce the risk of damaged roofs and windows.
• Install gutters around the home to help redirect water from collecting near the home's foundation.
• Unclog drainage systems from debris during heavy rain.
• Keep sandbags on hand to place at home entrances in the event of a flooding.
• Use the following building materials for a more flood-resilient home:
  • Brick or fiber cement siding for home exterior
  • Cement backer board installation in the bottom 4 feet of the home
  • Closed-cell spray foam insulation
  • Waterproof flooring such as luxury vinyl plank

Sneller also recommend homeowners know their area's base flood elevation, or calculated level of elevation water is expected to rise during a 100-year flood event.

Sneller Custom Homes & Remodeling

17018 Seven Pines Drive, Ste. 100, Spring

832-797-4320

www.snellercustomhomes.com