10 home summer projects to keep you busy

For many, the official arrival of summer signals lazy days and longer nights. But the summer may also be a wonderful time to catch up on maintenance and all your to-do projects around the home.

A number of maintenance tasks can be done to preserve the look and efficiency of your home, while also helping to continue to bring you peace of mind.

Looking to take on some maintenance projects the summer? Here are 10 summer tasks to help keep your checklist on track.

1. Gutter maintenance. Summer can be a time of heavy rains. It's also a great time to ensure your gutters are in top shape before fall leaves arrive.

2. House repainting. After a winter beating, your house may be worse for the wear. The summer is a good time to take on an exterior painting project when days are sunny and longer.

3. Lawn maintenance. Those who live in colder climates may be surprised after the winter thaw to find brown grass or empty patches. Summer is a good time to seed your lawn and replant any landscape that may not have survived winter.

4. Home improvement projects. So many homeowners wait until summer to take on the home improvement projects that have been on their wish lists all year. Looking for ideas? Why not incorporate a fire pit or stone patio into your outdoor environment?

6. Insect control. You may want to protect your backyard barbecues and picnics from unwanted visitors.

7. Driveway repaving. Just like there are potholes created in the street from severe weather damage, your asphalt driveway may need a fresh coat to ensure a smooth ride home this summer.

8. Check your water connections. From outdoor kitchen faucets to your garden hose, now is a good time to make sure everything is in working order.

9. Purge. Now is a great time to clear out that basement, shed or attic and get rid of all those unwanted and unused items.

10. Check windows and doors. During winter months there is a need to keep the cold out and in summer months, a desire is to keep the cool in. Given the mild temperatures, summer is a good time to consider upgrading or replacing doors and windows.