And in the spirit of the season we at FastenFinder have wracked our brains to come up with a list of the top five gifts for the contractor in your family.  Get shopping with these gift ideas in mind, and look forward to a serious bear hug come Christmas morning.

Warm and wicked work gloves.

1) Warm Workwear – How would you feel if your office was out in the blowing snow of mid-January?  Contractors work hard all year long and they deserve a chance to get warm while they’re out there.  Lined work pants, heavy duty work gloves and even hats will be greatly appreciated.  Nothing frilly and absolutely no plaid scarves, please.

Techie is the new sexy.

2) Techie Toys – Communications have gone high-tech on the construction site, too, so keep your contractor up-to-date with the latest in techie gadgets.  A smartphone or tablet can help them with tons of business stuff, as this list of apps shows, not to mention the fact that these things are just plain fun.

Give them an easy caffeine kick.

3) Single Serve Coffee Maker – He or she may not be a coffee snob, but there is no dealing with him or her until they’ve had their morning java.  Why not speed the process along with a quick brewing single serve coffee maker?  These magical machines allow them to choose their fav hot beverage and will be a great addition to your kitchen counter.

Look for something a little more up to date...

4) Inspiring Literature – We’re not talking Hemingway or Twain here.  What they want is a subscription to a trade magazine (that they don’t get at the office) or a guidebook for fun weekend projects.  Branch out from what they do everyday – get a woodworking contractor a book on stone or an electrician something about home improvements.  The IFI guide is super handy for anyone that wants to learn more about fasteners (but you could just bookmark this blog too… it’s much cheaper).

This contractor needs a garage.

5)  Something Big They’re Saving For – A truck rack, that workbench expansion, a screw gun for deck screws – if there is something for their work that they haven’t bought yet (hey, it has been a tough couple of years), gather your pennies and buy it for them.  They’ll be amazed, touched and doggone grateful, guaranteed.  Just keep the receipt, too.

And from our families to yours, have a wonderful holiday season.  Merry Christmas!

Three Quick and Easy Home Improvement Projects

Give your house a spruced up look that’s sure to impress the in-laws with these three super simple projects.  It may cost you a few bucks, but the awe factor will definitely be worth it.

Beautiful crown molding dresses up every corner of the room. (credit Ken at MyFinishedCarpentry.com)

1)    Crown Molding – Concentrate on the living and dining rooms for the greatest effect, but if you really want to impress, extend the trim to the guest bedroom as well.  Crown molding goes up quick and is all about measuring, cutting and nailing.  With a miter saw (or a hand saw and a manual miter box) and a hammer you can have this decorative trim up in a few hours.

Make sure you opt for a good quality finishing nail with a bright finish.  Designed for a clean look and easily countersunk on your trim, a big five pound box of these will come in handy well beyond this quick project.

A little too much? Dress your porch up with taste.

2)    Dress Up the Porch – Curb appeal carries a heavy weight at Christmas time.  You can cover some of that worn and saggy railing with garlands, but your friends and family (and those caroling singers) are going to see the real deal when they coming knocking.  Try sprucing up the railing with tempered glass sections or adding fascia board to the stairs.  How about whipping together a nice new trellis on the wall using some lumber and a handful of deck screws?  Or create an easy porch tree with a pyramid-shaped wood frame hung with garlands and lights.

Do this on a warm(er) afternoon and get the lights up at the same time.  Bonus points for doing two holiday home improvement projects at once!

Painting an accent wall can add some flair to any room.

3)    Paint It Up – This can be a quick project or an epic task, depending on the size of the room, extra trim and all of those other details.  Gauge the space and figure out whether a fresh coat of paint will be worth the effort of prep, paint and clean-up.  How about painting an accent wall or hanging a border instead?  They’re quick and fresh (and easily removed, or painted over afterward if you’re not happy).

Why Bother?

When everyone gathers at your house for a holiday meal the table settings and culinary presentations take center stage.  But when people come in from across the country (globe?) and are staying over for a few nights, your whole house will be on display.  These quick fixes will give your place that extra special shine.  They’ll also give you something to do on top of all the other madness the holiday season brings.

Now quit stalling and get to it. Oh, and Happy Holidays!