Is Your Home Aging With You?

Many of us bought our homes when climbing stairs didn’t require a second thought and carrying laundry from the basement felt routine. The house was new, the layout worked, and maintenance seemed manageable.

Over time, both we and our homes have changed. Materials age. Design trends shift. And what once felt convenient may not feel quite as effortless as it used to. The good news is that you don’t need a major renovation to make your home safer and more comfortable for the years ahead. In fact, the smartest updates are often the simplest ones and they’re best made before they become urgent.

A good place to start is right at the front door. Entryways take a beating in New England. Freeze-thaw cycles shift walkways, railings loosen, and lighting fixtures dim or fail. Most household falls don’t happen during dramatic moments; they happen on familiar steps or uneven pavement. Repairing a loose railing, improving exterior lighting, or leveling a walkway may seem minor, but those small corrections make a meaningful difference in safety and confidence, especially during wet or icy months.

Bathrooms are another area worth rethinking. They’re also one of the most common places for accidents, yet many homeowners hesitate to make changes because they don’t want the space to feel clinical. Fortunately, today’s options allow for subtle, well-designed improvements. Grab bars can double as towel bars. Slip-resistant flooring blends seamlessly into modern tile designs. Low-threshold or curbless showers not only look updated, they remove one of the most common tripping points in the home. When these features are incorporated during a planned refresh, they feel like thoughtful upgrades,  not reactive fixes.

It’s also wise to consider how flexible your home’s layout really is. We’re not suggesting everyone relocate bedrooms tomorrow, but it’s worth asking whether your first floor could adapt if needed. Could a den serve as a temporary bedroom? Would relocating laundry to a more accessible area make daily life easier? Even small changes, like replacing round doorknobs with lever-style handles, can reduce strain and make everyday tasks more comfortable.

Lighting is another overlooked factor. As homes age, lighting often stays exactly as it was originally installed. Adding brighter, more evenly distributed light in stairwells, kitchens, garages, and basements improves visibility and reduces shadows. Under-cabinet lighting in a kitchen or motion-sensor lights in a garage aren’t luxury features; they’re practical improvements that make a home function better. Vision changes gradually over time, and thoughtful lighting adjustments help your home keep pace.

Beyond these updates, consistent maintenance becomes increasingly important in older homes. Loose deck boards, worn stair treads, aging caulking, cracked driveways, and deteriorating exterior trim rarely cause immediate problems, but they do compound over time. Staying ahead of those small issues prevents larger repairs later and preserves the integrity of the home you’ve invested in for decades.

One of the most common situations we see is homeowners waiting until something becomes difficult before addressing it and emergency renovations create stress and limit options. Gradual planning allows for better decisions, better design, and often better budgeting. Making small, steady improvements over time keeps you in control.

A well-built home should support you for decades. The goal isn’t to change everything at once, and it certainly isn’t to overreact to normal aging of the house or its owner. It’s simply to ensure that your home continues to work with you. With a little foresight and regular attention, your home can remain safe, comfortable, and enjoyable for many years to come. And that’s always worth planning for.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. For remodeling or home improvement needs, call (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Decorate Safely This Holiday Season

Now is the time of year when we begin to get into the holiday spirit. From trimming the tree to decorating the house, adornments of any kind are a sure fire way to feel festive, even in this current COVID environment. But for all the fun, holiday decorating should be taken seriously to ensure that no one gets injured and you’re not at risk for a potential fire. Here are some things to consider. 

Ladder Safety

When hanging lights and decorations outside of your home, be sure to use a safe ladder that sits on level ground and can hold your weight properly. Always have someone with you to act as a spotter and don’t ever attempt to hang décor that’s out of your reach.

Circuit Breaker

If you’re going for the Griswold effect, make sure you read the labels on your lights to ensure you have the right wattage levels and that they are certified for outdoor use. The last thing you want to do is overload your circuits and end up in the dark or with a nasty shock. Inspect older lights for bad bulbs and stripped wires, and replace problem strands with new ones. I recommend LED lights, which run cooler, are more energy efficient and will have less of an impact on your power bill. Make sure all your lights are plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), which can be found at the local hardware store.

Avoid Siding Damage

When hanging heavy décor such as wreaths, do not drill holes into your vinyl siding. Once the wreaths have been removed, the holes will enable water to get underneath the material, causing potential mold, mildew, and leaks. Instead, purchase some heavy-duty siding hooks, which can be found at any home goods store this time of year. They will be able to withstand the weight of your decorations without damaging your home.

Roof Caution

If you’re putting Santa and his sleigh to top of your roof, make sure to secure him and any other inflatables tightly to withstand any wind and bad weather. Also, use the opportunity to inspect your roof for any missing or damaged shingles. Finally, take a look at your gutters to make sure they are free from debris and ready for the winter. Roof and gutter wear can cause leaks during the snow season, so it’s better to get them repaired now before it’s too late.

One Last Tip

Speaking of preparing for the snow, here’s one last tip. Grab some reflecting stakes from the hardware store and place them along the perimeter of your yard where it meets the road and your driveway. These place markers will help snow plowers see where your lawn begins and can help them navigate their snow removal without tearing up your grass.  

Do you have another holiday safety tip to share? Send it to me on Facebook. Enjoy the weekend!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Seven Fun Outdoor Projects for the Last Week of Summer

With only one week of summer left, I can imagine that parents and grandparents are pretty exhausted of ideas to keep the kids occupied before school starts. That being said, fall will be here before we know it and the weather will be cool again. So let’s make the most of our last days with some of my favorite outdoor activities that the young ones will love - and you will too. 

Plant a Wagon Herb Garden

Gardening is a great way to teach kids responsibility and it’s a lot less messy than getting a family pet. Grab an old wagon or wheelbarrow from the shed or a local garage sale and drill some holes in it. Then let the kids choose their own herbs to plant and grow. I like basil, mint, cilantro, rosemary, and thyme because they all come up quickly and offer a lot of versatility in the kitchen. 

Build a Lemonade Stand

Entrepreneurship at its finest! There is nothing more fun than helping the kids build a lemonade stand to make a few bucks for a special back-to-school treat. You can nail three pallets together to make a u-shape and then paint it your favorite color. Let the kids make the sign and the lemonade and you’re ready to start selling.

Set Up Yard Game Olympics

Here is a great idea for a group. Get everyone to help set up “Yard Game Olympics” for a friendly competition that will keep the young ones occupied for hours. From croquet to cornhole, sprinkler jumping, frisbee throwing and a good old fashioned game of HORSE - anything goes with this one. Get creative and make it fun. 

Make a S’mores Bar

Sure they are messy but nothing says summer like the gooey mix of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. In my house, we compete for the perfect golden brown marshmallow and the first one who burns theirs is out. We love creating out of the box sandwich ideas too.

Create a Mosaic

Collecting seashells and beach rocks is a popular summer past-time, but what do you do with them once they are home? You can get cement at a local hardware store and mix it according to the directions. Then spread it evenly on a planter, frame, a piece of plywood or even a birdhouse. Then firmly press in your shells or stones and get creative with fun patterns. 

Start a Compost Pile

Here’s a great one to teach kids about recycling and the environment. Choose any large container that you can drill holes into in order to get airflow. A plastic drum will work just fine. Lay a few inches of twigs and straw on the bottom. Then begin adding your compost materials. Alternate between green and brown to keep your pile healthy - green being fruit and vegetable scraps and brown being wood, leaves and garden matter. Green produces nitrogen while brown delivers carbon. Maintaining balance is the key to healthy soil. 

Build Your Own Slip-n-Slide

This was an all-time favorite when my kids were growing up. Grab a 100-foot roll of thick, clear plastic sheeting and a dozen landscaping stakes from the local hardware store. Remove any rocks or sticks from the lawn and roll out your plastic. Fasten it down with the stakes and then squirt some no-tear body wash or soap evenly down the slide. Finally, take the nozzle off the hose and position the water flow right down the middle. Now take a dive!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.