Blog>Expert Advice>Home and garden jobs for the October holidays
Last updated: 24 May 2024
Home and garden jobs for the October holidays
As we head into the colder months, we share some of the top home and garden jobs popular with homeowners during the October half-term holiday.
In this post, you’ll find a selection of home and garden jobs to do during the October holiday, split into three sections:
Key jobs to get your home ready for winter
Tasks to help make your home energy efficient
Larger projects to improve, repair, or protect your home
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
Popular home and garden jobs for the October half-term holiday
For many homeowners, the October half-term holiday is an opportunity to get some jobs done around the house and garden. Why not pick and choose a few from our handy guide? You may even find inspiration for some home upgrades!
Key jobs for October half-term
As we draw the curtains on British Summer Time and the clocks fall back, it's time to prepare our homes and gardens for winter and make the most of our indoor space.
1. Internal decoration
It's no secret that the winter weather encourages us to spend more time indoors, so why not make the most of your indoor space with some internal decoration?
We often see a surge in demand for Checkatrade-approved painters and decorators at this time of year as homeowners look to spruce up their interiors.
Ready to update your space?
Find plenty of inspiration in our guide to choosing the perfect paint colour for any room
Learn what's hot with our guide to the latest paint trends
Budget for professional help with our guide to painter and decorator prices
Find an experienced painter and decorator in your local area
Search your postcode to see who comes highly-rated near you.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
2. New flooring
New flooring can give your home a fresh new feel. Carpet and laminate are two of the most popular upgrades.
Carpets
New carpet ranges from £6 - £60 per m²
Carpet fitters tend to charge between £150 - £250 per day
Learn more about the cost of carpet fitting in our guide.
Laminate flooring
Laminate flooring typically costs between £20 - £60 per m²
Labour costs to fit laminate flooring are usually around £270per day
Find out more about the cost of fitting laminate flooring in our handy guide.
Want to find a trusted and reliable local floor fitter?
Search for approved flooring specialists near you in our leading directory.
3. New internal doors
An internal door update can dramatically improve your home's appearance, help to reduce draughts, and even add value to your property.
Chelsey’s internal door upgrade
Portsmouth-based Chelsey, found a local carpenter through Checkatrade to instantly update her 1960s bungalow with modern, cottage-style doors. Read about Chelsey’s experience finding the right tradesperson for the job and the unexpected benefits this home improvement has brought.
Wondering what it involves? Homeowner Chelsey shares her experience of updating the internal doors in her 1960s bungalow with Checkatrade member Portchester Carpentry.
Curious to know how much it might cost? Find out all you need to know in our internal door cost guide.
4. Outdoor storage
Outdoor storage is a must to help store and protect garden furniture and equipment over winter.
Considering getting a garden shed? Find out whether you need planning permission
Keen to create more space while the garden is out of bounds over winter? Why not install a multifunctional garden room?
Make sure your furbabies can safely escape the rain and cold with a swanky new cat flap
Need some expert help with your home and garden improvements?
Look no further than the Checkatrade site to find trusted and experienced tradespeople. Search your postcode to get started.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
Planning for greater energy efficiency at home
If the cost of heating your home this winter has been on your mind, you're not alone. Energy prices have been a bit turbulent lately, and many homeowners are looking for the most energy-efficient heating options.
1. Understand your energy costs
The first step in seeing if you could create a more energy-efficient home is to take a look at how your home is now.
Take a look at some of our guides to help:
Understand the cost of running your gas central heating and learn the most economical way to use it
Compare the cost of gas vs. electric in our handy cost guide
Read up on eco-friendly heating solutions for your home
Find out more about solar, heat pumps, and biomass heating systems in our renewable heating guide
Thinking about a log burner? We have the lowdown on log burner installation costs
2. Make smart home improvements
Smart home automation is a great way to improve efficiency and gain greater convenience. For example, a Hive thermostat allows you to control your home's central heating from anywhere at any time, which could reduce your heating bills.
3. Book a boiler service
Another way to ensure the efficiency of your heating is to get your boiler serviced regularly. Find Checkatrade-approved boiler engineers now.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
Larger home improvement projects
Finally, we outline some of the top jobs homeowners tend to look at during autumn/winter to ensure their homes are safe, secure, functional, and of course, stylish.
1. Check your roof
A damaged roof should not be ignored. Rather than going away, it will cause more significant damage as water penetrates your home. Damp and mould on internal walls and ceilings could all be signs of problems above.
It's also important to check your gutters. Blocked or damaged gutters will not be able to channel water into your drainage system, which could threaten the structural integrity of your home.
Find out the average cost of gutter cleaning
Understand more about the options for leaking roof repairs
Learn what a new roof might set you back in our roof replacement cost guide
Find an expert roofer near you
An experienced local roofer will quickly and efficiently assess your roof and recommend the necessary action to keep your home safe and secure over winter and beyond.
2. Get damp sorted
Not only is damp unsightly, but it's bad for your health. If your home suffers from damp, now's the time to get it sorted once and for all. We have a selection of articles to help:
Tackling water stains? Find out how to paint over water stains in our how-to guide
Need to remedy damp walls? Our DIY guide explains how to treat damp walls internally
If you need a damp course, you'll be interested in how much a damp course costs
And for help finding a trusted expert, read our hiring guide for independent damp surveyors
3. Update your kitchen or bathroom
Having a new kitchen or bathroom to enjoy is a real treat. We have plenty of ideas to inspire you, handy cost guides to budget for these projects, and advice for hiring the right trades.
Ideas
Gather inspiration for your new sanctuary with our gallery of bathroom renovation ideas
Bathe your kitchen in light with our selection of the best open plan kitchen ideas
Budgeting
Gather pricing info for your kitchen upgrade with our new kitchen cost guide
Look to see how much a new bathroom might set you back with our new bathroom cost guide
Tiling is an essential part of either of these home improvement projects. Get to grips with average tiling costs in our handy guide
Expert help
Easily find the best bathroom fitters in your local area
Struggling to visualise your kitchen transformation? Get the help of an experienced kitchen designer near you
4. Plan a home extension
If you're craving more space, why not investigate the possibility of a home extension? Create the space you desire in your current home - it's often more cost-effective than moving!
Get ballpark figures for all types of home extension with our home extension cost guide
Weigh up the cost of popular home renovations with our handy cost guide
Contact or pay a trade through Checkatrade and you’re covered by our 12-month guarantee of up to £1,000*
Find a local expert
Checkatrade is not only a source of trusted and approved tradespeople. It’s also a hub of helpful information, expert advice, and inspiration to help you confidently tackle your home improvements and repairs.
To find experienced tradespeople to help with your home and garden projects, search your postcode to see who comes highly rated in your area.
See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job
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See the tradespeople we've checked and recommend for your job