Summer is a time for vacation, but it’s also a time for you to catch up on those home improvement projects you have been neglecting throughout the year. With workload slightly on the hold, you can now give your home a lift in both beauty and value. While there are many things you can do to enhance the aesthetics and utility of your home, budget-minded homeowners should tackle remodeling projects that can increase the value, energy efficiency, and comfort of their living space. Here are 5 remodeling projects you can do this summer:

Siding Improvement

The exterior design of your home plays a major role in evoking a positive impression of your structure. Replacing your siding not only safeguards your home from windblown materials, but also increases its resale values. Of all the available siding options out there, Remodeling Magazine has rated cement fiber siding as one of the best solutions. It requires minimal maintenance and can potentially increase your home’s resale value by up to 78%.

Upgrade to Energy Efficient Windows

As the temperature begins to rise, you will want to maintain a cool environment without increasing your energy expenditure. Energy efficient windows are tightly sealed to prevent air leakage. You can also coat your windows with low-emissivity (low-e) window glazing to filter out 40% to 70% of the heat. According to Department of Energy, having energy efficient windows enables homeowners to prevent not only solar heat gain in summer, but also indoor heat loss in winter.

Add a New Deck

Although a slightly more costly remodeling project, adding a new deck to your backyard is a great way to enhance the curb appeal of your home. A new deck opens up additional space for you and your family to relax and social in the summertime. Because the project requires a larger upfront investment, Angie’s List recommends homeowners to do more research. When done right, you can recoup approximately 80% of your investment in the home sale.

A Kitchen Mini-Makeover

You don’t have to do a major kitchen makeover. While HGTV reports that homeowners can expect a 60% to 120% return on your kitchen remodeling investment, a complete kitchen overhaul can be expensive. Instead of changing everything, homeowners can focus on energy efficient appliances to save money while improving the appeals and utility of their kitchen. For example, an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher can save you more than 1,600 gallons of water over its lifetime. On the other hand, if all homeowners upgrade to an ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator, the energy cost savings, according to the Department of Energy, would be “more than $400 million each year and 8 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented, equivalent to the emissions from 750,000 vehicles.”

New Paint Job

Finally, re-painting the exterior of your home or a room in your house is a great family activity that allows everyone to have fun and still get something done. Newly painted house also gives your structure a new and upscale look that can attract many eager buyers. Even if you are not planning to sell your home any time soon, it never hurts to have a little change and a little fun.